Spiritual Formation Center
Born of God when the Holy Spirit lives in us
By Anne Arakaki-Lock
As we anticipate the lighting of the fourth Advent candle, may we all feel the deep love of God – the love that gave us Jesus.
Remember this song? Sing along with me:
Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Holding my new little granddaughter and singing these words to her, I find myself praying that Malia will grow up always knowing how dearly Jesus loves her. With His love, I know she will find strength and learn to show kindness to others. I trust she will experience joy in her life and be filled with thanksgiving. And when she encounters rough patches, she will know His peace.
“…He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.”
– Romans 5:5
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
– 1 John 3:1
Yes – we are children of God. And He loves us so very much.
Merry Christmas, all.
Anne Arakaki-Lock is a member of Blaine Memorial UMC.
Lectionary Readings
| Second Sunday of Advent | Dec 07, 2025 Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 |
| Third Sunday of Advent | Dec 14, 2025 Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 |
| Fourth Sunday of Advent | Dec 21, 2025 Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 |
| Nativity of the Lord – Proper I | Dec 24, 2025 Christmas Eve, Morn, or Mid-Day Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) |
| Nativity of the Lord – Proper II | Dec 25, 2025 Christmas Eve, Morn, or Mid-Day Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20 |
| Nativity of the Lord – Proper III | Dec 25, 2025 Christmas Eve, Morn, or Mid-Day Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12); John 1:1-14 |
| First Sunday after Christmas Day | Dec 28, 2025 Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23 |
*Daily Lectionary Readings are provided by Bible Gateway and Vanderbilt University.
BMUMC Announcements
Dates to Remember
| Sunday, December 21, 10:00AM • Christmas Music Sunday in the Sanctuary Sunday, December 21, 1:00PM • Blue Christmas Service in the Sanctuary | |||
| Monday, December 22 • OFFICE CLOSED | |||
| Wednesday, December 24, 4:00PM • Christmas Eve Family Worship Service Wednesday, December 24, 7:30PM • Christmas Eve Candlelight Lesson and Carols Service | |||
| Thursday, December 25 • Merry Christmas! | |||
| Friday, December 26 • BYG Christmas Party | |||
| Sunday, December 28, 10:00AM • First Sunday of Christmas Worship | |||
| Thursday, December 25, 2025 – Monday, January 5, 2026 • OFFICE CLOSED |
New! Christmas Eve Fellowship Time will be from 5:00pm – 7:15pm
Christmas Eve is just around the corner! This year at Blaine Memorial UMC, we invite you to enjoy a special Christmas Eve Fellowship Hour from 5:00–7:15 PM on Christmas Eve. If you’re planning to attend the 7:30 PM Christmas Eve Traditional Lessons and Carols Service, we warmly encourage you to come early and share in fellowship beforehand. It’s a wonderful opportunity to gather, connect, and prepare our hearts together for worship. Please note: there will not be fellowship time after the 7:30PM Christmas Eve service. We look forward to celebrating this holy night with you.
New! Cookie Alert for Wednesday, Christmas Eve (12/24) Fellowship Hour Between 5:00pm-7:00pm
COOKIE ALERT! We need your help for Christmas Eve’s Fellowship time which will be between 5:00PM-7:00PM. Can you bring a dozen cookies to share? Homemade or store-bought are both welcome! Please drop them off in the LAC kitchen by 4:00PM. See you there!
New! 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.
Wednesday (12/24) Prayer and Coffee on Zoom at 9:00am
Join Rev. Karen for prayer and community on Wednesday, December 17 at 9:00 AM on Zoom. The time together consists of brief check-ins, devotionals, and prayers. We will read from A Sanctified Art’s Do You Fear? devotional book. 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. Hope to see you on Wednesday.
Prayers of Peace and Comfort for the Grace Mandac Adriano Family
Grace Mandac Adriano, 51, passed away at home surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Grace is survived by her husband, Joseph Adriano and sons Caleb and Ethan. She had a love for cooking, gardening, and she loved being in the outdoors with God’s creation. Grace loved her family and friends with all her heart. She embodied a deep love for the intersection of justice and mercy. Grace’s whole professional career was about getting people housed.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Caleb and Ethan’s Education Funds by making checks payable to American Funds Service Company. Memo: Caleb and Ethan’s Education Funds. Contributions may also be mailed to Joseph Adriano at 12451 84th Avenue S., Seattle, WA 98178.
May Grace rest in peace and let God’s perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Job Opening: Part-Time Youth Director Needed!
The Youth Director at Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church is a dedicated individual with a heart for youth ministry, committed to guiding and mentoring young individuals in their faith journey. This position involves direct engagement with 6th to 12th graders, creating a supportive and encouraging environment for their spiritual growth.
The Beacon is Now Available!
Our Story Continues
December 2025
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