Spiritual Formation Center

What does the coming of summer mean for you? What new epiphanies do you anticipate with this seasonal change?

A Time to Transition, It’s a New Season

By Anne Arakaki-Lock

I love summer. It’s a time of sunshine, warmth, lots of fresh fruits and flowers, shorts and tee shirts, Popsicles and baseball. In the Pacific Northwest you can sense Seafair in the air, signifying cultural festivals, friends, and food. It’s a fun time. Summer cries out for rest and recreation. It has been a busy winter season at Church. I propose we all take advantage of the new season. We have all worked hard these past few months in so many ways.

“What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time… And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” –Ecclesiastes 3:9-13.

No doubt we have seasons in our lives. We embrace each and know that God is with us all the time.

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near.” –Matthew 24:32 NLT.

Scriptures reassure that it would be a good thing for us to look forward to summer. Let us look forward to the second coming of Christ…to New Life.

Anne-Arakaki Lock is a member of Blaine Memorial UMC.

Lectionary Readings

Sunday, June 29, 2025:
Proper 8 (13)
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 and Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 and Psalm 16
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 9:51-62

Sunday, July 06, 2025:
Proper 9 (14)
2 Kings 5:1-14
and Psalm 30
Isaiah 66:10-14
and Psalm 66:1-9
Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sunday, July 13, 2025:
Proper 10 (15)
Amos 7:7-17
and Psalm 82
Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Psalm 25:1-10
Colossians 1:1-14
Luke 10:25-37

Sunday, July 20, 2025:
Proper 11 (16)
Amos 8:1-12
and Psalm 52
Genesis 18:1-10a
and Psalm 15
Colossians 1:15-28
Luke 10:38-42

Sunday, July 27, 2025:
Proper 12 (17)
Hosea 1:2-10. Psalm 85
Genesis 18:20-32
and Psalm 138
Colossians 2:6-15,
(16-19)
Luke 11:1-13

Announcements

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Our Story Continues!

***Team Blaine prevailed at the 2024 Walk for Rice event!***

35th Annual ACRS Walk for Rice @ Seward Park • June 28, 9:00 am

This year ACRS will hold the Walk for Rice at 9:00 am on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at Seward Park. Team Blaine raised over $11,000 last year (2nd place) and this year’s fundraising goal is $8,000. We’re off to a great start, but still have a way to go to reach our goal.

Help ACRS feed AAPI community members who are experiencing food insecurity by donating to and/or registering to walk with Team Blaine:

Donate Online through Team Blaine:
Team Blaine at ACRS

Mail your donation to the Blaine office:
Checks to “Walk for Rice”, memo: “Team Blaine”

Thanks for your support!
Justine I., Team Captain

Cancelled: Church Retreat, A Message from Harry Tang

We regret to inform you that the upcoming church retreat, scheduled for the weekend of August 22, has been canceled due to low registration.

We understand this may be disappointing news, and we sincerely appreciate your interest and support. For those who have already registered, we’ll reach out to you directly.

Thank you for your understanding and continued commitment to our church community. Stay tuned for future opportunities to gather, reflect, and grow together.

Prayer and Coffee • Wednesdays at 9am

Join us for prayer and community on Wednesdays at 9:00AM on Zoom. Our time together consists of brief check-ins, devotionals, and prayers. This is a great way to continue with Lent, clear and center your mind, all while connecting with God and your prayer community. Feel free to bring a cup of coffee, tea, and a bite to eat. Hope to see you on Wednesday.

Request for Potato Chips and Savory Treats

Thank you, everyone, for bringing in sweet and savory treats for our fellowship time on Sundays. We all enjoy them and are now running low. Please consider bringing in some of your favorite individually wrapped chips to share. Examples are potato chips, Doritos, Cheetos, etc. We appreciate your generosity.

You may drop the treats off in the social hall kitchen area on Sundays or during church office hours.

We are always in need of more helpers in the kitchen for our fellowship time and it’s a great way to get to know others. Please see Julie Lock at jtlock00@gmail.com if you would like to be added to our rotation list. Thank you!

Spiritual Formation Center