HONDURAS MISSION TRIP UPDATE
Due to the current political unrest, our Blaine team had decided not to go to Honduras. After meeting this past week, they will continue researching other international mission organizations for a trip in early 2010. The materials they have already purchased and donations received will be used for this future mission trip. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Sekijima, Elaine Chin or Teresa Yagi.
AUGUST COLLECTION – ATLANTIC STREET CENTER (ASC)
Atlantic Street Center states on their website “Nothing is more important than what you do for a child. ASC has been a part of the Seattle community for nearly 100 years, but our century-long history is nothing compared to the futures of the children and families we help.” (www.atlanticstreet.org). Blaine Memorial has been an integral part of their mission. To continue our support, we will collect the following school supplies: (now is the time to buy as there are many back-to-school sales)
Pens, Pencils, Pink Pearl Erasers, Rulers, Pencil Pouches, Lined Paper (college and wide ruled), Markers, Colored Pencils, Crayons, Folders, Composition Books, Back Packs, Construction Paper, Glue (Elmer’s and glue sticks), Scissors.
Please leave your items in the Narthex trunk by August 23rd, NOT 30th.
Thank you for your continued support. Yasu Okubo – Coordinator
MISSION TEAM INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR RIVERTON PARK UMC HOUSE FIX UP – TODAY
An informational meeting will be held TODAY, 11:30 am in the Webb room to discuss a local mission call to help Riverton Park UMC. They have a house which will be used to house a few homeless people in their area and they need a team to help make the interior presentable for simple living. The dates for the mission will be Thursday – Saturday, August 13-15. If you are interested, please attend this short meeting. For more information contact Shig Nishida or Rev. Kathleen.
ATTENTION ALL POST HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH AGE 25
Blaine’s post high school through age 25 group will be meeting every Wednesday night throughout the summer. Please join us at 7:00 pm in the Youth Room as we gather for Faith, Fellowship and Community.
VBS UPATE
Many thanks to all those attending and participating in VBS this week. More to come!!
JAMAA LETU II-WHAT ABOUT THE BOYS? – UPDATE
From the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference: The Task Force reports that as of July 15, $183,910 has been received for the construction of the new boys’ orphanage building in Lubumbashi, Congo. The goal of $225,000 is within reach. The two gifts from the UMC Foundation totaled $40,907. There were pledges of $52,000 toward Tom Wilson’s challenge at Annual Conference of which $9,500 has been received. June receipts, including both the generous offering at Annual Conference and additional gifts, totaled $14,950. Should more funds be received than the initial goal, the additional funds will be used to address inflation and for equipment for the new building such as new bunk beds and kitchen supplies. (Blaine responded to Rev. Kathleen’s challenge to meet our Blaine pledge of $1,000 – we have collected $2,755. Thank you all for your generosity.)
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
Blaine Memorial is making every effort to be an environmentally friendly church as called by God to be good stewards of the earth. We are trying to accomplish this by reducing landfill garbage through recycle and compost options. Also, in terms of costs, for your information, our garbage rate has gone up 31% effective March 31, 2009 and is scheduled to increase again on January 1, 2010. If we continue using the same size dumpster, our annual costs between our old rate and the new rate will increase $990. If we make an effort to throw compostable items into the yellow compost cans and recyclables into the blue recycle cans instead of tossing everything into the landfill garbage cans, we could save money. If we could reduce our garbage by 25%, the increase would be $430, a savings of $660. If we could reduce our garbage by 50%, we would reduce our current cost by $130.
You can help by making an effort to throw items into the correct cans:
YELLOW CANS (compost): All plates, hot cups, waxed cold cups, utensils, napkins, paper towels supplied by Blaine are compostable along with food waste.
BLUE CANS (recycle): Newspaper, mixed paper, aluminum/metal cans, plastic bottles (no lids), glass bottles/jars, flattened cardboard boxes, juice boxes, round dairy tubs, paper or frozen food boxes, milk cartons and bagged plastic bags.
ALL OTHER COLOR CANS (landfill): Plastic wrap, soiled foil, cellophane bags, bottle lids/caps, styrofoam containers, packing peanuts, bathroom trash.
When bringing food items to church, use compostable and recyclable containers or containers that can be brought back home.
We are going to be very intentional in our waste management here at Blaine and we need everyone’s cooperation to see that this works….Thank you for your part in making this happen!!
FYI – BLAINE MEMORIAL SECURITY ALARM COMPANY
For your information, the Brinks Company name has changed to Broadview Security. This is for the office alarm system.
TSUGUO IKEDA IS SEARCHING
Tsuguo loaned his Masters Thesis on the Duzzers to someone some time ago and would like to have it returned. Please call him if you have any information on its whereabouts, 206-725-4556. Thank you!