First Sunday after Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord Sunday

All are Welcome!

  • First Sunday after Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord Sunday
  • January 12, 2025 • 10:00am
  • Hybrid Worship
  • View the PDF

Order of Worship

Prelude
Awesome God
By Rich Mullins
Kathy Onishi
Welcome of Grace and Greeting
Blaine Memorial UMC Land Acknowledgment
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Call to Worship
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2024
Used with permission
George Yates
Invocation (Unison)
George Yates 
Opening Hymn 
Come, Holy Spirit
(TFWS #2125)
Kathy Onishi & Eugene Onishi
First Scripture Reading
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (JLB, CEB) 
Children’s Message
Sai Hanaoka
Prayers of the People
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Special Music
Washed Anew
By Thomas Keesecker
Blaine Memorial UMC Choir 
Second Scripture Reading
Isaiah 43:1-7 (JLB, CEB)
Yuki Sofronas, George Yates
Sermon
God With Us
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Song of Reflection
Spirit Song
(UMH #347)
Kathy Onishi
Introduction to the Offering
George Yates
Offertory Music
Kathy Onishi
Doxology
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
(UMH #94)
Kathy Onishi & Eugene Onishi
Prayer of Dedication
George Yates
Announcements
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Closing Hymn
Blessed Be the God is Israel
(UMH #209)
Kathy Onishi & Eugene Onishi
Benediction
Rev. Karen Yokota Love 
Postlude
All I Need is You
By Dan Adler
Kathy Onishi
Passing of the Peace
Rev. Karen Yokota Love 
Zoom Breakout Room
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
Today’s Flowers
Sharon Maeda

Sermon Questions

  • What does your baptism mean to you? 
  • What trials in your life have felt like passing through the waters or the fires?
  • How has God become more real to you through those experiences? 
  • What might have been your spiritual / emotional set-backs or struggles in times where you felt tested? 
  • What scripture verses did you apply to your situation? Did you reach out to a friend for help? 

Daily Lectionary Readings

Sunday, January 12, 2025:
Baptism of the Lord:
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Monday, January 13, 2025: 
Psalm 106:1-12 
Judges 4:1-16 
Ephesians 6:10-17
Tuesday, January 14, 2025: 
Psalm 106:1-12 
Judges 5:12-21 
1 John 5:13-21
Wednesday, January 15, 2025: 
Psalm 106:1-12 
Numbers 27:1-11 
Luke 11:33-36
Thursday, January 16, 2025: 
Psalm 36:5-10 
Jeremiah 3:1-5 
Acts 8:18-24
Friday, January 17, 2025: 
Psalm 36:5-10 
Jeremiah 3:19-25 
1 Corinthians 7:1-7
Saturday, January 18, 2025: 
Psalm 36:5-10 
Jeremiah 4:1-4 
Luke 11:14-23

Announcements

Last year, the Blaine Youth Group got together for a quick photo at Asian Camp at Camp Gilmore in California. Support our youth by purchasing a delicious Curry Bento today!

BYG Curry Bento Fundraiser for Asian Camp • Today after Worship

Immediately after worship, our BYG will serve Curry Bento Boxes as a fundraiser for Asian Camp Youth Camp. Each Bento comes with chicken curry, sesame ginger salad and an oatmeal raisin cookie for $15.00 each. There is also an option to purchase the  chicken curry and sesame ginger salad for $13.00. Each summer many of our youth attend Asian Camp. Throughout the year, our youth have fundraisers, and each fundraiser helps offset the cost of air transportation, van transportation, lodging and meals before and after Asian Camp. This year, Asian Camp will be in Southern California.

Volunteers finish packing baked goods.

Blaine’s Benefit Sukiyaki NominationsDue Weds. Jan. 22, 2025

Blaine Memorial UMC’s Annual Sukiyaki will be on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Currently, the Sukiyaki Committee is seeking nominations for a beneficiary for the upcoming Sukiyaki event. Please submit a brief description of your recommended beneficiary recipient to the Church Office by Wednesday, January 22, 2025 (for review and approval by Ad Board). Beneficiary Nominations Forms are available in the Church Office.

If you have any questions, please contact Yuki Sofronas at our Church Office.

Prayer and Coffee • Wednesday, January 15, 2025 

Join Rev. Karen for prayer and community on Wednesday (1/15/25) at 9:00AM on Zoom. This is a great way to start your morning, clear and center your mind, all while connecting with God and your prayer community. Hope to see you on Wednesday.

120th/121st Anniversary Sunday Service and Potluck • Sunday, January 26, 2025

(See more photos)

On Sunday, January 26, 2025, Blaine Memorial UMC will have a 120th Anniversary Sunday service with special guests to celebrate and reflect on its 120-year history and look forward to its further growth and development into the next 120 years of service in love.

We’ll honor our church members and friends who have or will have reached by the end of January, the glorious age of 88 and older by reading their names aloud during worship. In addition, we will remember our saints who have passed away in the last year who were 88 and older by the reading of their names.

1967 Easter —Congregation

There will be a potluck gathering and program following the service. There will also be ministry table exhibits of past and present ministries of the church such as music ministry, Sunday School ministry, Youth ministry, mission ministry, sports ministry, etc.

Please join us for the culminating celebration of our 120th anniversary and start of our 121st year! We look forward to celebrating with all our members new and old and our many community friends. All are welcome. We will also have a lunch celebration honoring our 88+ and our 120 years! Stay tuned for more information to come.

Video: “A Season of Stewardship: Blaine Memorial UMC Supports Kimball Elementary”

With challenges such as food insecurity, a harsh economy, and homelessness, Blaine Memorial UMC has teamed with Kimball Elementary School to provide dinners through Thanksgiving Meals and presents through the Giving Tree.

Several members of the Blaine Memorial UMC Community, including its Blaine Youth Group (BYG), share what makes this lay-led ministry vital to the families in the neighborhood.

Visit our Original Videos page to view this story and more!