Last June, the Blaine Ukulele Group of Seattle (B.U.G.S.) take a lunch break after performing two songs at this year’s Pacific Northwest Annual Conference Sessions at Bothell UMC (Bothell, Wash.).

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Senior Pastor Reflection

Harvesting, Giving Thanks, Being Generous

By the Rev. Karen Yokota Love, photos by Aiden Lew, Jesse N. Love

Fall is a season of change. Autumn reminds us that nothing stays the same and that the cycle of life is continual change. In my best moments, I savor the changes of the fall. In my worst, I desperately hold on to every fading flower. I lament the shorter days as it gets dark at 4:00pm and regret lost opportunities. Sometimes change is hard. Autumn can be a melancholy time. Yet I am always reassured when autumn comes, in part because it always reminds me of three great lessons in life. 

Autumn is a time of harvest. Harvest is the intentional gathering of resources for life. It is a time of remembering, connecting, and savoring. It’s no accident that squirrels gather nuts, we pick apples and carve pumpkins. This season is a time to celebrate and appreciate life. It’s a time of memories, a time when relationships come to the fore, accomplishments are celebrated, and setbacks remembered. 

Autumn is also a time for thankfulness. Even when the growing season has been a challenge, or things don’t turn out the way we would like, it is hard not to be thankful at the harvest. Maybe it is no accident that the Thanksgiving holiday occurs right in the middle of autumn. Life is always more generous than we might realize, especially when we look back on it. 

Autumn is a season of generosity, a time when people share the fruits of their labor with others, just as Mother Nature shares hers with us. I don’t think it’s by accident that most churches, schools, and non-profit organizations do their fundraising in the fall. Fall is a generous season. Generosity has a great power for good, because it involves the process of letting go, relinquishing, giving up something in order to help another. Generosity helps both the giver and the one who receives. All three of these autumn lessons, harvesting, giving thanks, and being generous are central to the teachings of Jesus.

He taught them and lived them. And he challenged his followers to do the same. And autumn is a reminder of lessons that need to be learned over and over. 

“For everything there is a season,” as the writer of Ecclesiastes says. But what about tomorrow? The day may be shorter or cooler, but there will always be something to harvest, something to share and something to give thanks for. 

Summer Celebrations

We had an amazing turnout at the Walk For Rice in June. Thank you to Justine Ing who has organized WFR with the Ing Family for decades. The Blaine Ukulele Group of Seattle performed at the Opening Worship at Annual Conference in June. We sent 12 campers to Asian Camp, one counselor, Aidan Lew, and thank you to Malia Yamamoto for being our adult chaperone. We sent 20 missioners to Mission Guatemala to work in dentist ministry, construction work, and VBS. We celebrated new births together, grieved loved ones who passed away, and did day-to-day life together. Thank you to my staff for all the hard work in which they do each day and how they serve the Lord with all of their hearts and souls. I want to welcome back, our resident designer, web master and social media guru, Jesse Love, who took a sabbatical over the summer. 

We celebrated the final days of August with a Blessing of the Animals in the Courtyard. The day was perfect. 

New Lights, Reducing Carbon Footprint

Throughout the Summer, we continued to make improvements to our church building. If you’ve wandered around the Office area, there are new LED lights — we will not only be working in much brighter areas, but we will be conserving a lot of energy. 

We also decided to reduce the amount of printing that we are doing by having an online worship bulletin only. This has saved us $6,000 in printing, ink and paper costs in just two months. There will continue to be further changes as we will continue to make upgrades to our buildings as we work to be a climate community resilience hub in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

May you continue to have a blessed autumn season and a wonderful month of gratitude as we thank God for the abundance of blessings!

The Rev. Karen Yokota Love serves as the Senior Pastor of Blaine Memorial UMC

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Announcements

Wednesday Morning Coffee and Prayer

• When: 9:00AM
• Where: Zoom

The hour together consists of brief check-ins, devotionals, and prayers. We will continue reading from The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide.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.

Contact the Church Office for the Zoom Link.

Lee Activity Center 25th Anniversary

When: Sunday, November 16

Where: Blaine Memorial UMC, Lee Activity Center

You’re Invited! Celebrate Blaine Memorial UMC’s 25th anniversary of the Lee Activity Center (LAC) is on Sunday, November 16, 2025. We’ll have a worship service at 10:00AM with a cake reception after service in the LAC. Help us commemorate this milestone with your presence. Hope to see you there. Questions? Please email the Church Office at the church office (office@blaineonline.org) or call at 206-723-1536.

SAVE-THE-DATE! All Church Meeting (Charge Conference)

When: Sunday, December 7, 12pm

Where: Blaine Memorial UMC

This year’s All Church (Charge) Conference is scheduled for Sunday, December 7 at 12:00 PM. This gathering holds great significance for our faith community as we come together to celebrate our ministries in 2025. SeaTac District Superintendent, Rev. Ferdie Llenado, will preside over the meeting. Church Leaders, please turn in your annual reports by December 1, 2025 and please send them to Yuki Sofronas (office@blaineonline.org).

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Community Announcements

Blaine Memorial UMC responds to food insecurity

When: November Sundays, Tuesdays-Fridays 10:00a-4:00pm (Excluding Veterans Day)

Where: Blaine Memorial UMC Office, Social Hall

From Rev. Karen:

During this past Sunday’s (11/2) sermon message, I addressed the need for food at our local food banks. Across our nation, and increasingly within our Seattle-area, families are facing a deepening struggle to meet their most basic needs. Last Saturday, the federal freeze of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits placed millions of households in a dire position, impacting low-income families, working households, and federal employees living paycheck to paycheck. This is the first time in our nation’s history where SNAP benefits have lapsed. In many cases, these individuals and families are now experiencing food shortages and are faced with making impossible choices between food, utilities, and housing.

This growing food insecurity crisis is not confined to one community or state; it is unfolding across the state of Washington, and across the country. Rising costs of living have already stretched budgets to their limit. Local food banks and nonprofit partners are reporting a significant increase in need, and there is an opportunity for us to help our neighbors who are in need. 

Here’s a list of the most needed foods to help keep shelves stocked at Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) and the Rainier Valley Food Bank. 

Please drop off your new, unopened containers/donations in the black trunk in the Narthex: 

• Seasonings
• Cooking Oil 
• Nuts
• Fish Sauce
• Soy Sauce 
• Gluten-free Foods
• Dried fruit
• Cold/Hot Cereals
• Dry Beans & Lentils
• Grains
• Instant Grains
• Flour
• Sugar
• Popcorn
• Herbs/Spices
• Infant Formula
• Dry Goods (Rice & Pasta) 
• Small Pasta Noodles
• Infant Formula 
• Canned Chicken, SPAM & Tuna
• Instant Mashed Potatoes
• Canned Fruit
• Canned Meals (Soups & Chili)
• Cream of Wheat, Oatmeal & Grits
• Nutrient Replacement Drinks
• Stuffing
• Apple Sauce
• Nut Butter
• Dog & Cat Food 
• Diapers 
• Toothbrushes & Toothpaste 
• Shaving Supplies 
• Feminine Hygiene Products 

If you’d like to give directly to the local organizations, please do so. They have the capacity to purchase food at discounted bulk rates. Please click on ACRS and/or Rainier Valley Food Bank. 

We will take this collection during November. Thank you again for making a difference. Thank you for coming together to create free food opportunities amid delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown. May you continue to be a blessing in the community as we work to provide basic necessities for everyone. 

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The Beacon is now available!

Our Story Continues

• Kimball Elementary Thanksgiving Meals, Giving Tree 2025
• Blaine Memorial UMC raises $12,700 for Walk for Rice!
• Associate Pastor’s Spiritual Reflection: You Are Called
• Spiritual Formation Center: What is Your Burning Bush?

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November 2025

To view the December calendar, click or tap here.

Learn More