About Our 2026 Educational Scholarships
By Michelle Vaughan
Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church Educational Scholarships support a variety of educational opportunities.
Blaine Memorial Scholarship
For high school seniors and college, trade, undergraduate or graduate students.
Vera Ing Scholarship
For community college or trade school students and community-based internships.
Robert and Lucy Sato Scholarship
For undergraduate or graduate students pursuing engineering, mathematics, nursing, science, technology or related fields.
Ted and Margaret Yasuda Scholarship
For high school seniors or undergraduate students pursuing continuing education at an accredited institution.
Marcus Corsilles
Thank you, Blaine, for your support during this school year. The support and sense of community you have given me have motivated me to continue to succeed. Thank you as well to the Scholarship Committee for giving students like me the opportunity to continue our education.
I also want to thank the Yasuda family for providing scholarship opportunities to those of us beginning our college careers. I plan to use these scholarship funds to help pay for my next quarter of college as I work toward a degree in history.
Once again, thank you, Blaine, for all your support. I hope you will continue to support me throughout my college journey.
Emma Hearn
It has been a privilege to grow up in this community for the past 12 years and to call Blaine my home church. Thank you for the support and love you continue to show me, even though I am attending college out of state. Whenever I visit home during my breaks, your warmth and curiosity about my life at school remind me that I have a loving community in Seattle.
This scholarship will help my family with tuition at the University of Michigan, where I will be entering my second year and studying public health.
Again, thank you for your prayers and support. I love and appreciate you all!
Lynne Onishi
Thank you once again for your support as I enter my third year of the Master of Divinity program at Claremont School of Theology. I want to extend an especially big thank you to the Ing and Sato families for your kind and generous support. The scholarship funds will go toward my tuition, housing and books this year.
You all have been an integral part of my ministry journey. I am grateful and blessed to be part of this community, which has continually helped me grow in my leadership. I praise God for your love and encouragement, which have nurtured my faith during this challenging phase of seminary and vocational discernment.
Allyson Sofronas
I want to thank you for the pivotal role you have played in my faith journey and for your support throughout this past academic year. I am also thankful for how you have helped me stay grounded and grow closer to God. I want to express my gratitude to the Yasuda family, as well as the Blaine congregation.
This fall, I will be entering my junior year and will continue working toward my degree in industrial design and a minor in business at the University of Washington.
Again, thank you for your continued support and generosity. I am incredibly grateful for your guidance and support as I continue my education.
Malia Yamamoto
I will be attending Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science for my second year of medical school. I would like to thank everyone for all the support you have shown me over the past few years as I have worked toward my goal of attending medical school.
In particular, I would like to thank the Sato family for their support as I enter the upcoming school year. With your help, I will be able to continue learning and growing. I hope that one day I can return all the care and love you have shown me.
I look forward to seeing everyone again soon!
Aidan Lew
I would like to thank the Blaine Scholarship Committee for awarding me the Blaine UMC Scholarship for the 2026-27 school year. This church community has been integral to my transition into adult life.
Throughout my time at the University of Washington, I have been able to learn so much about myself and strengthen my connection with God through the fellowships and clubs I have joined. Receiving this scholarship supports me in my academic pursuits, as well as in my continued professional development through the Foster School of Business and extracurricular student organizations focused on growing my faith and continuing my path with God.
I will continue to do my best to make you all proud.
Michelle Vaughan serves as scholarship chair for Blaine Memorial UMC.
Blaine Memorial UMC Weekly Announcements
Dates to Remember
| Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Migrant and Refugee Donation Ministry at Riverton Park UMC | |||
| Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. • Coffee and Prayer with Rev. Karen on Zoom | |||
| Tuesday, Oct. 27 • Annual Reports for All-Church Conference, Due | |||
| Thursday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. • All-Church Conference | |||
| Sunday, Nov. 1 • All Saints’ Sunday • Trunk-or-Treat! |
Thursday, Oct. 29: All-Church Conference
Please mark your calendars for our All-Church Conference on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Social Hall. This will be an in-person meeting only; no online option will be available. Those in attendance will have voting privileges.
During the meeting, we will review the pastor’s 2027 Pastor Support Worksheet; baptisms, memberships and deaths; the accessibility audit; the financial audit; and our accomplishments over the past year. The Rev. Laura Baumgartner from Haller Lake UMC will preside.
Committee Chairs: Extended — 2026 Annual Reports Due Oct. 27, 2026
Please submit your committee’s 2026 annual report to the Blaine Memorial UMC church office at office@blaineonline.org by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. This will give us time to organize and prepare the reports ahead of our meeting.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued dedication and service to our Blaine Memorial community!
Wednesday Coffee and Prayer With Pastor Karen
Oct. 28, 2026 | 9 a.m. | Zoom
Join Rev. Karen for Wednesday Morning Coffee and Prayer. We’ll 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.
Sunday, Nov. 1: All Saints’ Sunday — Remembering Our Saints, Honoring Our Loved Ones
Join us for a special All Saints’ Sunday worship service as we celebrate the lives of our loved ones, honor the saints who have shaped our faith and remember those who have gone before us. Our service will include Holy Communion and elements of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), guided by the knowledge and wisdom of Rev. Cruz and Alma Santos.
All Saints, All Souls and Halloween: A Season of Remembrance
These traditions are connected through a shared time of remembering the dead and celebrating the enduring bonds of love and faith. Halloween, celebrated Oct. 31, comes from All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day. All Saints’ Day, observed Nov. 1, honors the saints and faithful people whose lives inspire us. All Souls’ Day, observed Nov. 2, is a time when many Christians remember loved ones who have died and offer prayers for the departed.
Together, these observances invite us to reflect on life, death, faith and the hope that sustains us. This year, we will bring these traditions together in worship as we remember our loved ones and celebrate the communion of saints.
Remembering Our Loved Ones
As part of our service, we will remember Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church members who died between Nov. 1, 2025, and Nov. 1, 2026. As each name is spoken, a bell will be rung in their honor. We will also celebrate Holy Communion, gathering at Christ’s table in remembrance, gratitude and hope.
We will incorporate an ofrenda, a memorial altar inspired by Día de los Muertos. Traditionally, Mexican families create these colorful altars with photographs, candles, flowers, favorite foods and meaningful keepsakes to honor and remember their departed loved ones.
You are invited to bring an offering for the ofrenda to honor and remember your loved ones, including relatives, friends and animal companions. Photographs, artwork, small keepsakes, tokens, prose and poetry are all welcome. Please bring items you feel comfortable leaving on the altar as we remember and celebrate the lives of those we hold dear.
As we gather in worship, share Holy Communion, ring the bell in remembrance and create space for our memories, may we find comfort in one another and give thanks for the love that continues to connect us across generations.
We look forward to remembering, honoring and celebrating our saints together.
Sunday, Nov. 1: Trunk-or-Treat in the Church Parking Lot!
Join us for a fun-filled Trunk-or-Treat as we celebrate Halloween, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day together after worship!
We’re Looking for Volunteers!
Would you like to participate by decorating your car trunk and handing out treats? We’d love to have you join us! If you’re interested, please sign up using the Trunk-or-Treat Interest Sheet.
Helpful Details for Participants
Decorate Your Trunk
Let your creativity shine! Pinterest and Google Images are great places to find inspiration. Please keep decorations appropriate for all ages and avoid overly scary or gory themes.
Power-Free Décor
There will be no electricity available in the parking lot, so battery-operated lights and decorations are great ways to brighten up your display.
Costumes Welcome
Everyone is encouraged to dress up! Have fun with your costume, but please avoid anything too frightening or graphic. For safety reasons, full-face masks and heavy face paint that make participants unrecognizable are not permitted. Adults should remain easily identifiable.
Treats and Teal Pumpkins
Please plan to bring candy or small prizes for approximately 20-25 children.
Trunk Games
Want to add a little extra fun? Consider including a simple game or activity near your trunk. Please keep the setup close to your vehicle so children can easily participate.
Parking on Event Day
Parking arrangements will depend on the weather. You may be directed to park under the LAC or in a designated area of the parking lot. Please look for signs or check with Adam on Sunday morning for specific instructions.
Event Schedule — Sunday, Nov. 1
- 11:15 a.m.: Begin decorating your trunk immediately after worship.
- Noon: All participating cars should be parked, decorated and ready.
- 1 p.m.: Event ends and cleanup begins.
Thank you for helping make Trunk-or-Treat such a wonderful community tradition! We look forward to celebrating faith, remembering our loved ones, sharing treats and enjoying fellowship with you.
With gratitude,
Jennifer Lew and Adam Drake
Migrant and Refugee Donation Ministry at Riverton Park UMC
Riverton Park UMC needs:
- Diapers (sizes 3-7)
- Baby wipes
- Kitchen pots and pans
- Paper plates
- Toothpaste
- Long-grain rice
- Cooking oil
Blaine Memorial UMC Collection Hours
Donations can be dropped off at Blaine Memorial UMC’s Social Hall Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call the church office at 206-723-1536 before dropping off your items.
Our Story Continues
