Blue Christmas Service

Welcome

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023
7pm
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Order of Worship

Prelude
Yuki Sofronas

Words of Grace and Greeting
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Opening Prayer
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Lighting of a Candle to Symbolize God’s Presence
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Scripture Reading
Psalm 121 (NIV)
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Scripture Reading
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Grounding Hymn
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH #211, Verse 1
Yuki Sofronas

Lighting the Candle of Hope
Reflection by Rev. Karen

Video Presentation
House on a Hill
By Amanda Lindsey Cook

Grounding Hymn
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH #211, Verse 2
Yuki Sofronas

Lighting the Candle of Love
Reflection by Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Luke 7:12-13 (NIV)
Rev. Mia

Grounding Hymn
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH #211, Verse 3
Yuki Sofronas

Lighting the Candle of Joy
Reflection by Rev. Karen

Grounding Hymn
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH #211, Verse 4
Yuki Sofronas

Lighting the Candle of Peace
Reflection by Rev. Karen

Video Presentation
Peace
Bethel Music feat. We The Kingdom

Prayers of the People
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Invitation to Individual Candle Lighting
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Special Music
Breath of Heaven
By Amy Grant
Marina Kozu

Final Prayer
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Benediction
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Postlude
Yuki Sofronas

Announcements

Join us for our Christmas Eve Services!

Sunday, December 24, 10:00AM
• Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship Service

Sunday, December 24, 5:00PM
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Lesson and Carols Service

Holiday Office and Campus Closure

The Blaine Memorial UMC Church Office and the ENTIRE CAMPUS will be CLOSED from December 25-30, 2023 and January 1-2, 2024.

We will have worship on December 31, 2023. The Church Office and Campus will open on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. All groups may resume activities on Wednesday, January 3. This time away gives our pastoral and church staff the opportunity to spend Christmas and the New Year with their families. Thank you for your understanding and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Merry Swift-mas! A Special Film Screening Event • December 22
Join us on Friday, December 22 at 7:00 PM in the Social Hall for a very special concert film screening in the Blaine Memorial Social Hall. Snacks and drinks will be provided. But please RSVP to the event through the QR code or link provided.

Note: this film is rated PG-13 and may contain strong language not suitable for young children. Parental guidance is advised.

Contact Lynne Onishi with questions.
Sign up here!

‘Tis the Season and the Place: Calling for Haiku and Senryu • Deadline: December 22

This year the special Advent and Christmas “ornament” for Blaine MUMC is a haiku contest dreamed up by Shig Nishida. Not just haiku, but also senryu.

Haiku is a 17-syllable poem, conventional in Japanese, in three lines of 5-7-5 syllables. Senryu, like Haiku, are 17-syllable poems about insights into society, people, rather than about perceptions of nature. Senryu are social commentary or criticism, or personal self-reflections. The poem should imply or suggest the season it occurs in, should be focused on the immediate setting or place where the poem occurs, and should try to show a spontaneous insight.

Submit your entry on a 5×7 index card (available in the entrance of the Sanctuary and in the church office) with bold and large font or handwriting in drop boxes or the office by the deadline of December 22. A panel of judges will select poems in each category submitted in Advent and the poets and their poems will be announced in church. This contest is open to members of all ages, and you may submit multiple entries with prizes awarded to winners.

**A beautiful landscape view of green plants on hills and Volcan de Fuego mountains on the horizon in Antigua, Guatemala**

Guatemala Mission Trip Info Meeting • January 21, 2024

Are you interested in going on a mission trip this coming August? Do you have a desire to serve others in an underdeveloped country? Are you not sure about going, but want to learn more?

Blaine will again partner with Mission Guatemala and send a mission team to San Andrés Semetebaj, Guatemala. Please join us for a short informational meeting Sunday, January 21 in the Webb Room at 12:00. If you have any questions, please contact Bob or Donna Sekijima.