Reflections from Tokyo

BY THE REV. CANON MICHAEL MOYER, ‘96

One of the most sacred times during the Holy Eucharist is when people come forward to the altar rail to make their communion. Each week, I am both excited and humbled by the diversity of people – from every continent, except Antarctica – who come to the altar rail for communion and blessings at St. Alban’s Anglican-Episcopal Church in Tokyo.

Although the pandemic delayed my arrival by several months, I became rector at St. Alban’s just before Holy Week in 2022. In a place where encountering Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples is commonplace as you walk down the street, it has been eye-opening to navigate a culture in which only one percent of the population is Christian, and of that group an even smaller percentage is Anglican.

I had always thought I would serve a parish outside of the United States someday, but Tokyo was never on my radar. I came to Tokyo for a week’s vacation seven years ago. When I returned from vacation, I watched lots of NHK World (the Japanese cable channel). Several years later when I saw the advertisement for the position at St. Alban’s, I decided to put my name in, thinking it was probably just a pipe dream. It must have been the Lord’s dream for me as well!

St. Alban’s is a place filled with diverse people from many places who share a common language, a common faith, and who worship in the Anglican tradition. For many of our parish family, St. Alban’s is a place to feel “at home,” whether Japan is their place of birth, their location for a few years, or their adopted home country.

Unlike most churches throughout Europe, which are a part of the Episcopal Church or the Church of England, St. Alban’s is a parish of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (The Anglican Church in Japan). We are the only English-speaking church of the Diocese of Tokyo. I strive to participate fully in the life of the diocese, with help from many who serve as interpreters so I can understand what is going on. It has been interesting to present people for confirmation (some of whom are fluent in Japanese and others who make their promises in English) at the diocesan confirmation services. Besides confirmations, I have also had more adult baptisms, which is a great joy.

We offer variety in the way the Eucharist is celebrated. On Sundays, the first Eucharist is a Said Eucharist and is quiet and more contemplative. The second Sunday Eucharist is a Sung Eucharist with choir, organ, and often other instrumental offerings by our parish family. We have recently started a Saturday Evening Vigil Eucharist, which is more contemporary, with piano. Our Midweek Eucharist is celebrated ad orientem. Our church building has unique architecture and was designed by Czech-American designer Antonin Raymond in a Japanese style.

St. Alban’s has many active ministries led by members of our parish family, and we offer many opportunities for growth. From Sunday school for children, to Bible and book studies for adults, we encourage people to reflect on what they’re learning and think for themselves. We also offer the Daily Office via Zoom and are joined by people from Tokyo, throughout Japan, and around the world!

We seek to serve our community in a variety of ways. We continue our commitment to give a tithe of our income to a wide array of organizations who help others. Our Migrant Ministry through the Deeper Service Group (DSG) is growing to meet the needs of others. We are working to build relationships with those who are suddenly placed in the limbo of “temporary release” from immigration centers without resources and with those who are enduring indefinite detention.

I believe that our building has a ministry of its own. It is used by St. Alban’s Nursery School, which was started by the parish in 1972 and continues independently today. I enjoy visiting with the children in the Nursery School at least twice a month. St. Alban’s has a wedding ministry, which, prior to the pandemic, saw 30 to 40 weddings a year. This ministry is building back slowly in recent years. We also have two TwelveStep groups and a local choral group that meet in our church building.

But perhaps the relationship which has gotten the most attention in the past year is our relationship with St. Jude’s Ukrainian Orthodox Mission. For the past 16 years, we have offered our church to St. Jude’s for its worship two Sunday afternoons a month, as well as on other significant occasions. Since the beginning of the War in Ukraine, the Orthodox Mission has gained much attention from the media and those who want to provide help and assistance to Ukrainian Refugees in Japan. The priest who serves the Mission congregation has become a fast friend of mine. We meet monthly for dinner together, and I have been privileged to participate in the yearly Holodomor Remembrance, as well as an interfaith service on the anniversary of the start of the war. I also attended their Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy.

After serving as rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Berlin, Maryland, for nearly 23 years, the Lord has led me to a new opportunity to serve in a place very different from small-town America. It is exciting to live in Tokyo and to be rector of a church filled with diverse people who seek to worship the Lord, serve our neighbor, and provide a space for so many different ministries.