WELCOME!

The Reedley Buddhist Church was established in 1936 with the Rev. Rijun Katsueda becoming the first resident minister. After World War II and the relocation of the Japanese residents, the church was rebuilt in 1952-53 and the Rev. Gibun Kimura became the third minister. In 1961, the Sunday School classrooms, conference room, office, and restrooms were started and completed in 1962. A boyhood statue of Shinran Shonin was donated by Mr. Seichi Hirose of Japan and placed in the U-shaped garden. The entire project was completed and dedicated on April 15, 1967.

Rev. George Shibata, our retired resident minister, began his association with the Reedley Buddhist Church in 1975 and completed 37 years in December, 2011. Rev. Hidehito Sakamoto was appointed as resident minister in March, 2012, until December, 2013. From January, 2014 through July 2015, the church was under the supervision of the Fresno Betsuin. In August, 2015, Reedley had three ministers under a shared system of the seven temples of the Central California District Council of the Buddhist Churches of America: Rev. Kakei Nakagawa, Rev. Alan Sakamoto, and Rev. Matthew Hamasaki. The shared system is coordinated by the Central California Ministers' Association, the CCDC Ministerial Advisory Committee, and the staff of the Fresno Betsuin. In December, 2016, Rev. Alan Sakamoto retired from the BCA. Rev. Matthew Hamasaki left in January, 2018, to become the minister in Sacramento, Rev. Kaz Nakata was assigned to the Central California in August, 2019, and Rev. Mieko Majima was assigned to the Central California in February, 2024. At the present time, Rev. Majima is the supervising minister of the Reedley Buddhist Church.

The church renovated the conference room and added a new kitchen facility in 2004. They added a new wrought iron fence surrounding the property in 2006, updated the hondo in 2007, and completed a storage building next to the small kitchen in 2008. The social hall bathrooms received an update in 2010 and in 2011 the grounds between the hall and the Japanese School building were graded and decomposed granite was added. In October, 2017 the church grounds between the hall the Japanese School building were cemented, and in January, 2018, a solar panel system went into service to minimize the utility costs. During the Covid pandemic, safety measures were taken and an AED was installed in the conference room, touchless features were added to the restrooms, and PPE were added so the members could safely return to church.

The membership is approximately 100 members. The Buddhist Women's Association, the Reedley Dharma School, and the Jr. Young Buddhist Association remain active and support all activities sponsored by the church.

The Reedley Buddhist Church welcomes you to join us at any service and encourages new members to join our organization.

Upcoming Services & Activities

Combined July Shotsuki Memorial Service & Family Dharma Service

Sunday, July 27, 2025 - 10:00 AM

Lunch will be served after the service.

ONLINE SERVICES:

There are services online each Sunday at 10:00 AM provided by the Fresno Bestsuin. Please follow the link: https://mobile.twitter.com/fresno_nishi You can also watch the service afterwards since they are recorded.

Websites for Dharma Talks has been moved to the our LINKS TO WEBSITES page.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!

Reedley Buddhist Church
90th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, April 25, 2026

More information to come!

July Calendar

June

28 Visalia Obon Festival (food sales 5:00 PM and
dancing 8:00 PM) 5:00 pm

July

5 Funeral Service for Mary Uyeda 10:00 am

11 - 13 Camp Dharma at Keola all day

15 Omigaki - Altar Cleaning 6:00 pm

19 Conference Room Reserved - Nishida
Family 9:00 am

19 Fowler Obon Festival 4:00 pm
Dancing - 6:30 pm

22 90th Anniversary Meeting 6:00 pm

22 Reedley Board Meeting 7:00 pm

26 Conference Room Reserved - Tavlan Family 9:00 am
Ikemiya Family Memorial Service 11:00 am

27 July Shotsuki Memorial Service &
Family Dharma Service 10:00 am

The 2025 Reedley Buddhist Church Cabinet and BWA Cabinet

Rev. Majima's Message
July, 2025 Newsletter Article

Rev. Majima's Messsage for Students
July Message

"Saying Thank You with Our Hearts — What Obon Teaches Us”

Have you ever said “Itadakimasu” before a
meal? Maybe your parents or grandparents
say it. In Japan, we say “Itadakimasu” to show
respect and gratitude before eating. It means,
“I humbly receive,” and it’s a way of saying
thank you—not just for the food, but for
everything that made the meal possible: the
sunlight, the rain, the farmers, the cooks, and the life of the animals and plants that became part of our meal.

In the Buddhist tradition, we learn that everything is connected. No one lives all by themselves. We are here because many people helped us—our parents, teachers, friends, and even people we’ve never met. Obon is a special time in summer when we remember our ancestors, the family members who came before us. Even if we don’t know their names, they are part of our story.

During Obon, many families go to the temple. They clean their home altars, visit graves, offer flowers or incense, and say Namo Amida Butsu. When we say Namo Amida Butsu, we are remembering that we are loved, supported, and never alone. It is also a way of saying “thank you” from deep inside our hearts.

Obon is not a spooky holiday. It is a peaceful
and warm time. It reminds us to appreciate
the life we have and to be kind to others.
Even something simple—like saying “thank
you,” offering a flower, or saying Namo
Amida Butsu—can help us feel connected
to the people who came before us and to everyone around us today.

So next time you say “Itadakimasu” or Namo Amida Butsu, remember:
You are never alone. You are part of a big family of life.

Future Activities and Dates for 2025

July 11 - 13 Camp Dharma at Camp Keola (Family Camp)

September 13 BWA Bingo Day - 12:00 noon

November 2 Reedley Food Bazaar - 3:00 - 6:00 PM

A Time to Reflect with Gratitude —
Welcoming the Obon Season

As July begins, we start to feel that the Obon season is drawing near once again. Many of us gradually begin preparing—cleaning the home altar, making plans to visit the cemetery—and quietly getting our hearts ready. Obon is a precious time to remember those who have passed and to renew our sense of gratitude.

In Japan, Obon has long been observed as a meaningful opportunity to express appreciation to our ancestors, to reflect on the interconnection of life, and to touch the teachings of the Buddha.

Our lives are made possible through the support of countless lives—our parents, grandparents, ancestors, and beyond. Recognizing that truth and placing our hands together in reverence is at the heart of Obon.

In our daily lives, we eat, work, and go about our routines as if everything is simply given. But not a single part of our lives is sustained by our efforts alone. When we say “Itadakimasu” before a meal, we’re not just following a custom. We are expressing thanks—for the lives of the ingredients, for the sun, earth, rain and people who nurtured them, and for those who prepared the meal. That small gesture “Itadakimasu” carries a world of gratitude.

In fact, my life continues through the lives of others. To be alive is to receive and carry the weight of countless lives before me. It is a truth that humbles and inspires. I learned to say “Itadakimasu” from my parents, and to recite “Namo Amida Butsu” from my grandmother. Though they have all passed away, it is because of them—because they lived their lives grounded in the Dharma—that I now recite the Nembutsu. Encountering the Buddha’s teaching and walking this path of Nembutsu is, I believe, what they most wished for me.

One of the things I appreciate most is when you say, “Please lead us Gassho.” But in truth, I am not the one leading the Nembutsu—it is you who reminds me to say it, and for that, I am truly grateful.

The Buddha said, “Stay close to good friends.” I truly believe this is one of the most important teachings. Over time, I’ve come to realize just how deeply true those words are. It is through the presence of good people—those who walk the path with sincerity and kindness—that I am reminded of the Nembutsu, and encouraged to live with gratitude.

To place our hands together and say “Thank you,” “Itadakimasu,” or “Namo Amida Butsu” in our everyday lives—this is how we send our gratitude across the river of life to those who have already crossed to the other shore. It is both a sign of thanks and a heartfelt greeting.

Obon is not only a time to remember the departed, but also a quiet moment to recognize that I am here, alive, through the gift of life passed on to me. And often, it is these everyday words—“Itadakimasu” and “Namo Amida Butsu”—that help us realize this truth.

May this summer also be a time of gentle reflection and deep gratitude, as we recite the Nembutsu, embraced by the Buddha and our loved ones who continue to watch over us.

Reedley Buddhist Church
Dharma Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to the 2025 Reedley Buddhist Church Dharma Scholarship recipient, Jackson Hashimoto. He is pictured here with RBC President, Joy Donaldson and Rev. Mieko Majima. Best wishes on your future endeavors Jackson!

Reedley Buddhist Church

​WELCOME!