All are Welcome!
- First Sunday after Christmas
- December 28, 2025
- 10:00AM
- View the livestream
Video
Screenshots
Sermon Questions for Reflection
- Where do we see parallels between ancient tyranny (Herod) and modern injustices, and how does God’s intervention offer hope for the vulnerable?
- How do we respond when life feels uncertain, like Joseph, and we’re being led away from what seems safe toward an unknown future?
- Where do we need to “strip off pretenses” (like Herod’s power-hunger) to follow God’s path for our lives, even if it leads to a humble “Nazareth”?
- How can we, like the Holy Family, find our security not in earthly power but in God’s divine, protective presence?
Order of Worship
| Prelude “Glory to God in the Highest” By Jay Althouse Kathy Onishi |
| Welcome of Grace and Greeting Pastor Job Pangilinan |
| Land Acknowledgement Pastor Job Pangilinan |
| Call to Worship Pastor Job Pangilinan |
| *Opening Hymn “Once in Royal David’s City” UMH #250 Eugene and Kathy Onishi |
| First Scripture Reading Matthew 2:13-23 (CEB) Tsutomu Nagoya, Sally Sekijima |
| Children’s Sermon Pastor Job Pangilinan |
| Second Scripture Reading Isaiah 63:7-9 (NRSVUE) Tsutomu Nagoya, Sally Sekijima |
| Sermon “Moving Forward in Uncertain Times” Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| Hymn of Reflection “O Love, How Deep” UMH #267 (Verses 1, 2, 5 and 6) |
| Introduction to the Offering Sally Sekijima |
| Offertory Song “Love Has Come” Worship and Song #3059 Kathy Onishi |
| *Doxology “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” UMH #94 Eugene and Kathy Onishi |
| *Prayer of Dedication Sally Sekijima |
| Announcements Rev Karen Yokota Love and Friends |
| *Closing Hymn/Special Music “Joy to the World/Unspeakable Joy” By Isaac Watts, George Frideric Handel, Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Matt Gilder |
| *Benediction Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| Postlude “Joy to the World/Unspeakable Joy (reprise)” Kathy Onishi |
| Altar Flowers Sharon Maeda |
Daily Lectionary Readings*
| Sunday, December 28, 2025: First Sunday after Christmas Day Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23 |
| Monday, December 29, 2025: Psalm 20; Jeremiah 31:15-22; Luke 19:41-44; |
| Tuesday, December 30, 2025: Psalm 20; Isaiah 26:1-9; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; |
| Wednesday, December 31, 2025: Psalm 20; 1 Kings 3:5-14; John 8:12-19; |
| Thursday, January 01, 2026: Holy Name of Jesus Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 8; Galatians 4:4-7 or Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 2:15-21 New Year’s Day Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalm 8; Revelation 21:1-6a; Matthew 25:31-46 |
| Friday, January 02, 2026: Psalm 20; Genesis 12:1-7; Hebrews 11:1-12; |
| Saturday, January 03, 2026: Psalm 72; Genesis 28:10-22; Hebrews 11:13-22; |
*Daily Lectionary Readings are provided by Bible Gateway and Vanderbilt University.
BMUMC Announcements
Dates to Remember
| Thursday, December 25, 2025 – Monday, January 5, 2026 • OFFICE CLOSED | |||
| Friday, December 27-31, 2025 • Christmas Institute 2025 “Balikbayan” at Lake Retreat Camp | |||
| Wednesday, December 31, 2025 • New Year’s Eve | |||
| Thursday, January 1, 2026 • New Year’s Day | |||
| Sunday, January 4, 2026 • New Year’s Ozoni Soup Meal |
Sunday January 4, 2026: New Year’s Ozoni Soup Meal after Worship!
Ozoni mochi soup will be joyfully prepared and served following worship on Sunday, January 4. The Blaine Memorial Choir will host us in the customary making and serving of this traditional New Year’s rice-cake soup. Each bowl of ozoni comes with the Choir’s heartfelt wishes for a blessed and joyful New Year in 2026. Please join us after worship as we celebrate the New Year together in fellowship and gratitude. Happy New Year from the Blaine Memorial Choir!
Wednesday, January 14, 2026: Wednesday Prayer & Coffee Update
Wednesday Prayer and Coffee will be taking two Wednesdays off. Please join Rev. Karen as we resume our time together on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 9:00 AM on Zoom.
Our time together includes brief check-ins, devotionals, and prayers. It’s a wonderful way to start your morning —clearing and centering your mind while connecting with God and your prayer community. Feel free to bring a cup of coffee or tea, and a bite to eat.
We hope to see you on Wednesday, January 14, 2026!
Holiday Office Closure from December 25, 2025 – January 5, 2026
The Blaine Memorial UMC Office will be celebrating Christmas and Japanese New Year at the end of this month, which will alter our regular business hours. The Church Office will be closed from Thursday, December 25, 2025-January 5, 2026. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Our regular hours are 10AM to 4PM — Tuesday through Friday.
New P.O. Box Address for Blaine Memorial UMC (Paper) Mail!
We have a new mailing address! Blaine Memorial UMC would like to direct all new mail to the following address:
Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 24065
Seattle, WA 98124
Blaine Memorial’s mailing address has changed to a P.O. Box for improved security. Please save this address! Please send your mail and future giving to this address. All new mail that you receive will have the P.O. Box as Blaine Memorial UMC’s new return address.
The Beacon is Now Available!
Our Stories Continue
December 2025
To view the January calendar, click or tap here.