All are Welcome!
- Third Sunday of Easter
- April 19, 2026
- View the livestream
Sermon Questions
- Can you recall a time when your world was “thrown out of place”? How did that experience shape your understanding of where God was in that moment?
- In what ways might you be holding expectations about who Jesus is or how He should act — and how might those expectations be limiting what God is actually doing in your life?
- The disciples recognized Jesus when they invited Him in and shared a meal. What might it look like for you to “open the door” to Christ in your current circumstances?
Order of Worship
| Prelude “The Risen Christ” W&S #3179 Kathy Onishi |
| Welcome of Grace and Greeting Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| *Call to Worship David Ige |
| *Opening Prayer David Ige |
| Opening Hymn “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” UMH #381 Kathy & Eugene Onishi |
| Scripture Reading Luke 24:13-35 (CEB) Tsutomu Nagoya, David Ige |
| Children’s Message Sai Hanaoka |
| Special Music “Open the Eyes of My Heart” Words and Music by Paul Baloche Blaine Memorial UMC Choir |
| Sermon “Surprised, Unsettled, Sent” Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| Hymn of Reflection “Just As I Am, Without One Plea” v. 1, 3, 5 UMH #357 Kathy and Eugene Onishi |
| Introduction to the Offering David Ige |
| Offertory Music Kathy Onishi |
| *Doxology “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” UMH #94 Kathy & Eugene Onishi |
| *Prayer of Dedication David Ige |
| Announcements Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| *Closing Song “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” TFWS #2223 Kathy and Eugene Onishi |
| *Benediction Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
| Postlude “Taste and See” TFWS #2267 Kathy Onishi |
| *Passing of the Peace Rev. Karen Yokota Love |
Daily Lectionary Readings*
| Sunday, April 19, 2026: Third Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35 |
| Monday, April 20, 2026: Psalm 134; Genesis 18:1-14; 1 Peter 1:23-25; |
| Tuesday, April 21, 2026: Psalm 134; Proverbs 8:32-9:6; 1 Peter 2:1-3; |
| Wednesday, April 22, 2026: Psalm 134; Exodus 24:1-11; John 21:1-14; |
| Thursday, April 23, 2026: Psalm 23; Exodus 2:15b-25; 1 Peter 2:9-12; |
| Friday, April 24, 2026: Psalm 23; Exodus 3:16-22, 4:18-20; 1 Peter 2:13-17; |
| Saturday, April 25, 2026: Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34:1-16; Luke 15:1-7; |
*Daily Lectionary Readings are provided by Bible Gateway and Vanderbilt University.
Announcements
Dates to Remember
| Coffee and Prayer with Rev. Karen • Wednesdays | |||
| Sunday, April 19, 11:45 a.m. • Asian Camp Meeting | |||
| Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. • 35th Annual ACRS Walk for Rice, Seward Park | |||
| Tuesday, May 19 • 2026 Educational Scholarship Deadline | |||
| July 24–Aug. 1 • Mission Guatemala |
Asian Camp Meeting in Webb Room
April 19, 2026 | 11:45 a.m. | Webb Room
On Sunday, April 19, at 11:45 a.m., Rev. Karen will host an Asian Camp meeting in the Webb Room. We will review camp costs, fundraising goals and chaperones, and we plan to book flights together on the spot. Please come prepared if you are ready to finalize travel.
Wednesday Coffee and Prayer with Pastor Karen
Wednesdays | 9 a.m. | Zoom
Join Rev. Karen for Wednesday Morning Coffee and Prayer. We will share brief check-ins, a short devotional and prayer together. Bring a cup of coffee or tea and begin your day centered in Christ and connected to one another. The Zoom link will be sent Tuesday.
35th Annual ACRS Walk for Rice
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 9 a.m. | Seward Park
This year, ACRS will hold the Walk for Rice a month earlier than usual, at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at Seward Park. Team Blaine raised more than $12,000 last year (placing second overall), and this year’s goal is $8,000.
We are off to a strong start but still have a ways to go. Help ACRS support AAPI community members experiencing food insecurity by donating or registering to walk with Team Blaine.
Visit www.walkforrice.org and search for “Team Blaine” to donate online. Thank you for your support.
— Justine Ing, team captain
2026 Educational Scholarships
Application deadline: May 19, 2026
Since 1968, Blaine Memorial UMC has been honored to support students in their educational journeys. We welcome applicants of all ages — those entering new programs and those continuing their studies.
Scholarships include:
- Vera Ing Scholarship
- Blaine Memorial UMC Scholarship
- Ted and Margaret Yasuda Scholarship
- Robert and Lucy Sato Scholarship
Applications are available by emailing:
BlaineUMCScholarships@gmail.com
or contacting the church office.
Two letters of recommendation are required. Two letters of recommendation are required.
We look forward to supporting those who are eager to grow, learn and serve.
Thank you to Michelle Vaughan, scholarship chair, for her leadership.
Scholarship recommendation letter reminder
It’s scholarship season! If you need a recommendation letter from Rev. Karen, please request it at least two weeks before the scholarship deadline.
Rev. Karen carries many responsibilities and often receives multiple requests for recommendation letters. Last-minute requests — especially those submitted the night before the deadline — can be very difficult to accommodate, as completing a letter depends on her current workload.
To ensure she has enough time to write thoughtful and effective recommendations, please plan ahead and submit your requests well in advance.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
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