- Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
- August 31, 2025
- 10:00AM
- View the livestream
Sermon Questions
- When have you been tempted to seek recognition or status? How might Jesus’ words about humility speak into that moment?
- What does it mean for you personally to take the “lower seat” in your relationships, workplace, or community?
- Jesus challenges us to invite those who cannot repay us—who might that be in your own circle of life and community?
- How would our church—and our neighborhood—look different if we truly lived by the table manners of Jesus?
Order of Worship
| Prelude Gather Us In Words and music by Marty Haugen TFWS #2236 Kathy Onishi |
| Welcome of Grace and Greeting Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| Land Acknowledgement Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| *Call to Worship Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| *Opening Hymn Jesu, Jesu UMH #432 Kathy Onishi and Eugene Onishi |
| Opening Prayer Ron Nobuyama |
| First Scripture Reading Hebrews 13:1-8 (CEB), Jeremiah 29:11 Tsutomu Nagoya, Ron Nobuyama |
| Children’s Sermon Teacher Sai Hanaoka |
| Second Scripture Reading Luke 14:1, 7-14 (CEB) Tsutomu Nagoya, Ron Nobuyama |
| Sermon “Jesus Flips the Chart” Pastor Job Pangilinan (View the Sermon Intro) |
| Hymn of Reflection Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service UMH #581 Kathy and Eugene Onishi |
| Introduction to the Offering Ron Nobuyama (Give online through Realm) |
| Offertory Hymn Together We Serve Words and music by Daniel Charles Damon TFWS #2175 Kathy Onishi |
| *Doxology Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH #94 Kathy and Eugene Onishi |
| *Prayer of Dedication Ron Nobuyama |
| Announcements Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| *Closing Hymn The Servant Song TFWS #2222 Kathy and Eugene Onishi |
| *Benediction Pastor Job Pangilinan |
| Postlude Make Me a Servant Words and music by Kelly Willard TFWS #2176 Kathy Onishi |
| Zoom Fellowship Breakout Room (No Zoom this Sunday) |
| Altar Flowers Miriam Tong |
Daily Lectionary Readings
BMUMC Announcements
Rally Sunday! Celebrate our Church School, Teachers, BYG Leaders, and volunteers!
When: Sunday, September 7, 10:00am
Where: Blaine Memorial UMC
Sunday, September 7 is Rally Sunday! We’ll kick off the beginning of a new church school year! We’ll lift up blessings for the new year and celebrate our Church School Superintendent Sai Hanaoka, Church School Teachers, our BYG Leaders, and volunteers! We’ll also celebrate our kids, youth, and young adults! We’ll have a Blessing of the Backpacks ceremony during worship so please bring your backpacks, devices, and school supplies.
Get to know our new Associate Pastor, Job Pangilinan through our upcoming Cottage Meetings! Contact Arlene Naganawa for more details.
Cottage Meetings with Pastor Job!
When: Sunday, September 21, after Service
Where: Blaine Memorial UMC, more TBD
The Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) and Pastor Job invite you and your family to a Cottage Meeting after service on Sunday, September 21, after worship. A simple lunch will be provided, and we’ll confirm the location on the church campus, soon.
This gathering is a chance for you got get to know Pastor Job. Together we’ll reflect on the theme, “Preparing the Next Generation for the Mission of Christ for the Transformation of the World.” The meet-and-greet will last for about 45 minutes to an hour, ensuring a meaningful yet focused time together. Please RSVP to Arlene Naganawa so we can plan well. We look forward to sharing this special time with you!
Last year, Blaine Memorial UMC gathered family and friends from the community to welcome fall with our Annual Bazaar! Support our congregation through this wonderful event with food, light entertainment, and fellowship.
Blaine Memorial UMC’s Annual Bazaar, beneficiary announced
- When: Saturday, October 4, 2025
- Where: Blaine Memorial UMC
This year’s Benefit Bazaar Beneficiary is Tsuru for Solidarity. Tsuru for Solidarity’s mission is to:
- Educate, advocate, and protest to close all U.S. concentration camps
- Build solidarity with other communities of color that have experienced forced removal, detention, deportation, separation of families, and other forms of racial and state violence
- Coordinate intergenerational, cross-community healing circles addressing the trauma of our shared histories
More details to come! Please save this date and contact the Church Office for questions regarding Bazaar!
Wednesday Morning Coffee and Prayer
- When: 9:00AM
- Where: Zoom
The hour together consists of brief check-ins, devotionals, and prayers. We will continue reading from the July/August 2025 Edition of The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide. This is a great way to start your morning, 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.
Community Announcements
National Japanese American Caucus of The United Methodist Church Convocation
When: October 9-11, 2025
Where: United Japanese Christian Church (Clovis, CA)
Every three years, we seek to gather clergy and laity from our historically Japanese-American congregations. On behalf of United Japanese Christian Church, we are excited to welcome you and we hope you will join us!
Theme
This year’s convocation theme, “Neighbors, Not Enemies,” draws upon the experience of the Japanese American incarceration during World War II and calls us to examine today’s political climate through the lens of justice, memory, and faith. As followers of Christ and members of the NJAUMC, we have a call and responsibility to respond. Together, through worship, workshops, conversations, and healing circles, we will affirm our commitment to stand with those facing discrimination, resist fear-driven policies, and to seek to embody the two greatest commandments that Jesus teaches.
Schedule
Clergy will gather on Wednesday, October 8 and the morning of Thursday, October 9. Then, the laity will join us in the afternoon on the 9th. We are blessed that Bishop Grant Hagiya will preach for us during Opening Worship! We will wrap up with a lunch to-go on Saturday, October 11. Contact Rev. Karen for more info.
Lodging
To book at a special group rate at Fairfield Inn and Suites, please use this link: Book your group rate for United Japanese Christian Church Please make your arrangements as soon as possible as there are multiple events in our area that weekend. The deadline to get the early booking rate at the hotel is September 8, 2025.
Please let Rev. Karen know if you have any questions.
Migrant and Refugee Donation Ministry at Riverton Park UMC!
- When: Tuesday-Friday between 10:00AM-4:00PM
- Where: Church Office
Riverton Park UMC needs:
- Diapers (sizes 3 through 7)
- Diaper wipes
- Kitchen pots and pans
- Paper plates
- Toothpaste
- Long grain rice
- Cooking Oil
Blaine Memorial UMC Collection Hours: Collection items can be dropped off to the Blaine Memorial Social Hall from Tuesday-Friday between 10:00AM-4:00PM. Please call the Church Office at (206) 723-1536 prior to dropping off your items.
View the August 2025 Calendar
