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Spiritual Formation Center Comments Off on Spiritual Formation Center

Spiritual Formation Center

Posted by on Jul 11, 2023 in Congregational Care, Spiritual Formation, Weekly Calendar

A drive in Rocha Pinto towards Luanda, Angola (Africa) and away from the sunset. Courtesy of Al Monte Gomes/Wikipedia.

Loud and Clear

By Anne Arakaki-Lock, photo courtesy of Wikipedia

This past Tuesday, Terri Pittman and I paid a visit to one of our beloved elders. It’s a privilege to visit as many friends we know. Don’t we learn and gain something from them every time? Here was our big takeaway on this visit.

The three of us were chatting at the dining room table about an accident that our elderly friend had just avoided. She explained how she stopped her car on the side of the road one day and started getting out on the driver’s side. Though the other car was driving “fast” as she described, she claimed it was her fault. She explained how she had opened her door and the other car clipped her side view mirror as she was about to step out. Fortunately, she was not hurt. But when the other driver stopped and examined his damaged car, she immediately apologized. In turn though, his mirror was broken, she was surprised that he had played down the damage to her. She showed us her own car in the driveway and brushed off the little scratch on her side view mirror.

Our friend then looked at Terri and me and asked, “Isn’t it true: ‘…a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.’?” We both nodded in total agreement.

But the story doesn’t end here: that night I was doing my morning devotions (yes, I was late that day and did my devotions in the evening when I got home). The reading for that day was Proverbs 13, 14, 15. Do you think that was a coincidence that earlier in the day I had just heard Mrs. H quote Proverbs 15:1? The verse wouldn’t have stuck as well if God hadn’t used an angel to say it out loud to me earlier that same afternoon.

Sometimes, in fact, very often for me, God times His lessons so I can hear him even better.

Anne Arakaki-Lock serves as a member of Blaine Memorial UMC’s Congregational Care team.


July Lectionary

Season After Pentecost

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
July 2, 2023
Genesis 22:1-14 Psalm 13 Jeremiah 28:5-9 Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 Romans 6:12-23 Matthew 10:40-42
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
July 9, 2023
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Zechariah 9:9-12 Psalm 145:8-14 Romans 7:15-25a? Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 16, 2023
Genesis 25:19-34 Psalm 119:105-112 Isaiah 55:10-13 Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13 Romans 8:1-11 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
July 23, 2023
Genesis 28:10-19a Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19 or Isaiah 44:6-8 Psalm 86:11-17 Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
July 30, 2023
Genesis 29:15-28 Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128 1 Kings 3:5-12 Psalm 119:129-136 Romans 8:26-39 Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52


Read our latest issue of the Beacon!

The July edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!


July 2023 Calendar

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A Time to Grow! Comments Off on A Time to Grow!

A Time to Grow!

Posted by on Jul 11, 2023 in Pastors' Columns, Prayer, Spiritual Formation, Weekly Calendar

The Revs. John Go and Mia MiKyung Park share their summer garden veggies.

A Time to Grow

By the Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

After Pentecost, the season in the church calendar is known as Ordinary Time, and its liturgical color is green. This color symbolizes the hope of new life that we attain through Jesus Christ. Green represents nature, growth, rebirth, health, hope, and various positive elements associated with overall well-being. Ordinary Time falls between the seasons of Christmas and Easter, during which we engage in observing, discussing, and actively participating in God’s ongoing work in the world. It is a time of growth.

This spring, my spouse and I planted around 15 lettuces in our small, raised vegetable bed. Not too long ago, we harvested about 10 lettuces. When we first planted the tiny lettuce plants we received from our friend, they appeared fragile, and I doubted if they would survive. However, through John’s tender care, determination, and providing them with enough water, they began to take root and grow. After a while, he applied fertilizer when they seemed to not grow as expected. When I look at our small vegetable bed, I am reminded of our children and youth in the faith community and how we can support and help them grow, flourish, and bear fruit. I believe the education of children and youth requires fertile soil of home, school, church, or other spiritual spaces. At church, they can deepen their faith, explore their spirituality, and engage in the community of faith near and far. The faith community offers a supportive network of guidance, mentorship and a sense of belonging. It is within these spaces we provide opportunities for young people to learn about compassion, grace, forgiveness and the values that form the foundation of their characters. I am grateful for Blaine Memorial where we strive to be a rich and abundant soil for our young people and adults as well.

Church School Superintendent, Sai Hanaoka, presents a message for the children during Sunday Worship.

As the school year quickly approaches its end, I am humbled to recall the memories from the past school year. I am grateful for our dedicated Church School Teachers who continue to plant seeds of God’s grace and love in the hearts of our children. Our Church School Teachers meet every Wednesday evening via Zoom for check-ins and to discuss upcoming Sunday activities and events. I am deeply thankful for our Church School Superintendent, Sai Hanaoka, who teaches, guides, and supports our children and teachers. Additionally, I express my heartfelt gratitude to our BYG directors and leaders for their dedication. They gather via Zoom every Monday to check in with each other and discuss upcoming BYG activities. I am excited to prepare for this summer with all these dedicated leaders and congregations as we seek God’s guidance. This summer holds much excitement as we make arrangements to send eight youth to Jr. High Camp, six high schoolers to Asian Camp, and prepare for Vacation Bible School. What a wonderful teamwork we are witnessing as a part of the wonderful team with God and families. We are all wonderfully and fearfully created in God’s image (Psalm 139:14).

The Rev. Mia MiKyung Park presents the Children’s Message during Sunday Worship. “It is within these spaces we provide opportunities for young people to learn about compassion, grace, forgiveness and the values that form the foundation of their characters,” shares Rev. Mia.

The Church School memorization for June is John 10:10 where Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

This Ordinary Time will be a wonderful time of experiencing God’s abundance through the life of Jesus, whom we follow and resemble. Because of the life of Jesus, our true selves are restored and rebuilt by God’s grace, growing as “we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ,” as the Apostle Paul directs us in Ephesians 4:13. May this Ordinary Time be extraordinary as we continue to grow as faithful stewards of our gracious God. Let us embark on the summer with hope and prayer, embracing the blessings that await us. Have a blessed summer!

The Rev. Mia MiKyung Park serves as Associate Pastor of Blaine Memorial UMC.


Read our latest issue of the Beacon!

The July edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!


July 2023 Calendar

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Innovation Hub Update! Comments Off on Innovation Hub Update!

Innovation Hub Update!

Posted by on Jul 11, 2023 in Blaine Youth Group, Church News & Events, Innovation Hub, Small Groups, Weekly Calendar

Reconciling Ministries Virtual Film Screening (Zoom Only) • July 18 & 19

Join the Blaine Innovation Hub and Reconciling Ministries team for a virtual film screening and discussion event. We’ll be watching and discussing the 2019 documentary film UnUnited: Fighting for LGBTQ Inclusion in the United Methodist Church.

We will host 2 different screening dates/times:

  • Tuesday, July 18 from 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
  • Wednesday, July 19 from 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM

The Zoom link to join this event will be shared via email on the day of the event. If you have any questions, please contact Lynne Onishi at lynneonishi@gmail.com.


A group of Blaine young adults and friends went hiking at Twin Falls and enjoyed a lunch together on Sunday, June 25.

New Summer Ministry Ways!

By Lynne Onishi

Greetings from the Innovation Hub!

We’re all looking forward to another summer of hikes, movie nights, fellowship, and adventure. We’re grateful and excited to be doing ministry in new ways that will speak to young people and folks of all ages. Here are just a few highlights of our summer so far. Take a look!

Film Nights:

The Innovation Hub is excited to put on more film and discussion nights this summer! As I’m writing this, the team is planning for a documentary screening and time of discussion around LGBTQ+ folks in the church.

Young Adult Hikes:

Summer is in full swing as our young adult hiking group hits the trails after a long winter season of indoor activities. This hiking ministry provides opportunities for young people to get outdoors, experience creation, and come to know one another more fully as we share in conversation and reflection.

RM Straw Poll:

On Sunday, May 21, the Reconciling Ministries team conducted a straw poll to learn about your attitudes about the reconciling statement and possible affiliation with Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN). This is an important step in our congregation’s discernment process. It is not an official vote, but rather a way for our team to hear from you as we plan our next steps.

Church members participate in a straw poll ballot to voice their vote on becoming a Reconciling Ministries churc.

The straw poll ballot asked congregants to read a “reconciling statement” and then choose a number 1 through 5 to indicate current disagreement or support. We also included space for comments and questions for the team. Of the 73 ballots submitted, 66 ballots indicated support for the statement and affiliation with RMN. There were many important questions raised, and the RM team wants to be intentional about addressing your concerns so everyone in our church feels informed.

Friends met at Seattle First UMC to welcome Pride Parade guests.

Most of the questions we received revolved around the impact of affiliating with RMN. While there’s no way to know exactly how affiliating with RMN will impact our unique congregation, we can look for some resources and words of wisdom from other churches who have done this already. Our team is currently reaching out to other local churches who have been through the process, and we are hoping to put together a panel of church leaders to help answer some of your questions. We also want to offer you more space for questions and conversations with our team. The RM team will be hosting a drop-in time during fellowship hour some weeks after worship service. Please be on the lookout for additional details about this!

Lynne Onishi prepares to serve refreshments to parade attendees at last month’s Pride Parade.

The IH team and RM Task Force are always looking for new folks to join us. If you feel called to lend your voice to these important ministries, we invite you to join us at our next team zoom meeting.

Please contact Lynne (lynneonishi@gmail.com) or any of the other team members for more information. Lynne Onishi serves as the director for the Blaine Youth Group and is the Innovation Hub and Reconciling Ministries Convener.


Read our latest issue of the Beacon!

The July edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!


July 2023 Calendar

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BYG Update! Comments Off on BYG Update!

BYG Update!

Posted by on Jul 9, 2023 in Blaine Youth Group, Church News & Events, Small Groups, Spiritual Formation

BYG Graduation Celebration 2023 Celebrating Graduates: Allison Hall, Malia Yamamoto, and Michelle Yokoyama!

BYG Update: Graduations, summer programs, and more!

By Kaylee Yokoyama, Associate Director, BYG

It’s already that time of the year again! It’s summertime! We’re looking forward to the warmer weather, and time to relax, reflect, and prepare for the upcoming youth ministries next year. This also means that summer camps, retreats, and activities are coming up. BYG will be packed full of exciting opportunities such as Vacation Bible School, Junior High Camp, Asian American Summer Camp, and getting prepared for the upcoming school year. During the summer break, the BYG leadership team will also take the time to debrief, reflect, and plan for the upcoming year.

Michelle, Allison, and Malia!

This month is also special because we are celebrating graduates within BYG!

These graduates include:

  • Allison Hall, graduate from Bellevue High School
  • Michelle Yokoyama, graduate from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Malia Yamamoto, graduate from the University of Washington with degrees in Biochemistry and Sociology
  • Jem Miyake, graduate from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection.

We had the opportunity to celebrate some of these graduates’ wonderful accomplishments with a BYG graduation celebration on June 17th in the Social Hall, with BYG graduates, family, and friends.

We enjoyed playing trivia about the graduates, having a delicious meal together, as well as spending time with one another. We are proud of these graduates and excited to see what’s next in their journey! We wish the graduates well in their future endeavors and know they will do great things!

Another exciting part of summer youth ministries is the camping ministry, such as Junior High Camp and Asian Camp. Junior High Camp was held June 25-30, while the high schoolers are preparing to head to Asian Camp later this month. This month we are also hoping to clean up the BYG room to prepare for the upcoming school year. It is always nice to start the year off with a clean and organized room, so we are hoping to clean the BYG room before we begin again!

Thank you for your continued support of BYG, which has allowed the youth the opportunities to attend camp, grow their faith, and develop meaningful relationships. Thank you Blaine Memorial congregation for supporting the youth in their passions and growth. Long story short be sure to keep your eyes open for updated announcements, fundraisers, and news!

Important Dates for July 2023

  • July 10-14: Vacation Bible School 10am-3pm
  • July 23-28: Asian American Summer Camp
  • TBD: BYG Room Clean up

We are looking forward to a spectacular summer! BYG will not meet on Sunday mornings throughout July and August. We encourage youth and families to attend worship together at 10:00 am in-person and via live stream! Blaine Youth Group (BYG) is a place where youth (6th-12th grade) are invited into a loving community and celebrated as they are. BYG provides a safe environment for youth to build lasting friendships, grow spiritually, learn acceptance of self and others, express compassion for the world, and develop a love for God and neighbor. BYG has a space for any person who is interested.

Directors of Youth Ministry: Lynne Onishi (lynneonishi@gmail.com), Kai Yamamoto (kai.yamamo@gmail.com), and Kaylee Yokoyama (kaylee.yokoyama1@gmail.com).


Read our latest issue of the Beacon!

The July edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!


July 2023 Calendar

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Walking the Talk! Comments Off on Walking the Talk!

Walking the Talk!

Posted by on Jul 9, 2023 in Blaine Youth Group, Church News & Events, Giving, Service Opportunities, Small Groups, Weekly Calendar

Walking the Talk!

By Justine, photos by Ryan Kozu and Audrey Hwang

At the ACRS’ Walk For Rice, Team Blaine raised $11,800 for low-income families!

THANK YOU, BLAINE COMMUNITY!

A big THANK YOU to our Team Blaine walkers and the rest of the Blaine community for everyone’s amazing support with this year’s ACRS Walk for Rice! Team Blaine had a fantastic turnout on June 17th at Seward Park – with close to 50 walkers this year, we were the largest team walking on a misty Saturday morning to support the ACRS Food Bank.

ACRS Executive Director Michael Byun, Rev. Karen, and Justine

At the closing ceremony, Team Blaine was recognized by ACRS as being in second place among all Walk for Rice fundraising teams for raising over $11,500! That is the most Team Blaine has raised in the nine years that I’ve been walking in the Walk for Rice – WAY TO GO!!

Team Blaine members socializing before the walk

Our donations will help ACRS to provide culturally familiar food for low-income seniors and families for many months. ACRS has not yet reached their $325,000 fundraising goal, and they will still be accepting donations during the summer, so it’s not too late to donate to Team Blaine and the Walk for Rice. Thanks so much for your support of this important community resource!

Team Blaine had a strong showing with over 45 walkers at Seward Park!

Justine serves as the captain for Team Blaine for this year’s ACRS’ Walk for Rice.


Read our latest issue of the Beacon!

The July edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!


July 2023 Calendar

Learn More