Celebrating our Church School, BYG Leaders, and Graduates of 2023!
By Rev. Mia MiKyung Park, Associate Pastor
As we rapidly approach the end of the fall 2022-Spring 2023 school year, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our Church School teachers and youth group leaders. Throughout this post pandemic year, we have encountered numerous challenges, twists, and turns, but we have navigated them all with God’s grace and integrity. I am truly grateful for the entire church community coming together, united in faith. I want to extend a huge thank you to our Church School teachers and the members of the BYG Leadership team. Their dedication and love for our children and youth are immeasurable. When I think of Christian Education, the lyrics of the Hymn of Promise come to mind:
“In the bulb, there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; In cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free.”
I am filled with hope as I witness our children and youth growing in God’s love and grace, knowing that they are nurtured by our care and prayers. It brings me immense joy to reflect on another abundant and blessed year, and I want to take this opportunity to give a resounding shoutout to our Church School teachers and BYG Leadership team once again! Thank you so much for your dedicated hearts, all teachers and leaders!
Church School
Sai Hanaoka, Church School Superintendent
Arlene Mitsui, Teacher
Sylvia Wong, Teacher
Susan Lee, Teacher
Kim Furugori, Helper, not pictured
Dawn Sakaguchi-Tang, Teacher
BYG Leaders, Helpers, with Graduates of 2023
Lawrence Paltep, Outgoing Director
Lynne Onishi, Director
Kaylee Yokoyama, Assoc. Dir. Youth Ministries
Kai Yamamoto, Assoc. Dir. Youth Ministries
Michelle Yokoyama, Leader and College Graduate
Malia Yamamoto, Leader and College Graduate
Mariko Ronan, Leader
Kobe Yamamoto, Leader
Collin Ikeda, Advisor
Lorissa Ricord, Advisor
Jarrett Shirouzu, Advisor
Jenna Tong, Advisor
Joshua Santos, New Leader
Edwin Santos, New Leader
Jem Miyake, College Graduate
Allison Hall, H.S. Graduate
Read our latest issue of the Beacon!
The June edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!
A few of our young adults explored Discovery Park in Magnolia to resume our hiking ministry for the summer!
Innovation Hub Update
Celebrating the Pride of Blaine
By Lynne Onishi
I can’t believe summer is just around the corner! The young adults are excited to pick up our hiking ministry, enjoy sunshine and fellowship in God’s creation, and work with our film crew about the possibility of more outdoor movie nights in the courtyard! The Reconciling Ministries team is excited about all things during Pride Month!
I’m getting ready to wrap up my one-year Ministry Innovation fellowship at Wesley Theological Seminary. Throughout the year, I’ve been learning about church innovation alongside a cohort of young adults. Together, we’ve spent the last several months connecting with pastors and church leaders who want to see new life in their ministries. I’ve gained so much from synthesizing what I’ve experienced in this program with my ministry work at this church. Perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that we are not alone in our struggles. Churches all across the country are having the same conversations we’re having about the future of the Church, sustainability, the ever- changing culture, and the irrelevance of the Church in young people’s lives.
Now is a critical period in which the Church can respond to these needs and problem-solve. But that requires a shift in how Church happens. It requires that young people lead these conversations and, in return, the Church listens to and believes young people. That’s much easier said than done.
Our Young Peoples Survey from 2022 revealed that only half of those who grew up in a faith community were still active members as young adults. We heard stories of both beautiful community and heartbreaking pain young people experienced within churches and youth ministries. And we heard calls from young people for the church to respond to today’s crisis in a way that communicates to the world who Jesus is and what God stands for.
As we prepare to take a vote on our affiliation with the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), I am mindful of the many fears that accompany making a public declaration. But this is a path many of our neighbor churches and Japanese American Caucus churches have already walked. We are not alone in this. Participating in the RMN is an opportunity to align our mission with what Jesus calls us to do as Christians – to side with the marginalized and oppressed and resist evil in all its forms (racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, etc.).
Churches join the RMN by voting to adopt a reconciling statement, which must receive support from 75% of the congregation. This statement is a declaration to both one another and the public that our congregation is committed to inclusivity and justice:
We celebrate God’s gift of diversity and value the wholeness made possible in community equally shared and shepherded by all. We welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status, and so much more. We acknowledge that we live in a world of profound social, economic, and political inequities. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed.
To believe this statement is only part of the story. To declare this statement is another. To declare this belief means that we will be held accountable for acting like we believe it. And I believe that we are ready to proclaim this Good News to our community!
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 IH team members for more info.
Important dates for June 2023
Sunday, June 25 Pride Sunday, Reconciling Ministries
Friday, June 30 IH Film and Discussion Night
Read our latest issue of the Beacon!
The June edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!
Thank you to the Watanabe Family for today’s flower arrangement. Bob K. Watanabe, 98, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Bob’s Celebration of Life service was yesterday, June 10 at BMUMC. May Bob rest in peace.
Semi-continuous: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Genesis 24:10-52; Mark 7:1-13
Complementary: Psalm 100; Exodus 6:28-7:13; Mark 7:1-13
Announcements
33rd Annual ACRS Walk for Rice • June 17, 9am
This year ACRS will hold its in-person Walk for Rice at 9:00 am on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Seward Park! Team Blaine’s fundraising goal is $7,000. Help ACRS feed AAPI community members who are experiencing food insecurity by joining or donating to Team Blaine! Go to Team Blaine’s page at ACRS’s website to donate! Or mail your donation to the Blaine office (checks made out to “Walk for Rice”, memo: “Team Blaine”) . Thanks for your support! Read more.
Special Edition Print from Blaine’s own, Glenn Mitsui! • Purchase here
From the Asian Counseling and Referral Service:
To celebrate the return of Walk for Rice to Seward Park, we are thrilled to offer a special-edition art print designed by local artist Glenn Mitsui, the son of Sam Mitsui, who co-founded the first Walk 33 years ago.
“The piece celebrates the beauty of the park, which my dad loved. He ran the loop and swam to the buoys countless times…In short, Walk for Rice and Seward Park were two of my father’s loves. It was an honor to try to capture why in this piece.”
All proceeds from this special art print will benefit the ACRS Food Bank, which provides culturally familiar foods to immigrants, refugees, elders and families throughout King County.
Join or support a fundraising team and walk with us at Seward Park on Saturday, June 17!
Join us for Father’s Day Lunch! • Sunday, June 18
Following Worship in the Social Hall Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 18 as we celebrate Father’s Day by honoring the father, father-figures and men of Blaine! Join us after worship service in the Social Hall to celebrate Father’s Day!
Music of Summer Sunday! • June 25 in Worship
Join us for a special worship service with Music Sunday at Blaine! We will kick off the summer with music from the Blaine Memorial Choir, BUGS, some special music and soloists. Join us for a full worship service filled with music! This will be the last day where the Blaine Memorial Choir will perform before taking a summer break!
We are preparing for this year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) from July 10-14! This year’s theme is Food Truck Party on a Roll with God! We are asking kindly for the following items:
Portable Picnic Table with foldable seats: We are looking to borrow this from Saturday, July 8-Sunday, July 16.
Koinobori/Fish kite decorations: Indicate your name on each item so we can return it to you! Small packs of snacks including: granola bars dried fruit juice boxes soda pop
Hygiene products: soap toothbrushes toothpaste shampoo conditioner deodorant shaving gel hand sanitizer Please leave your donations in the black treasure chest box in the Narthex and feel free to contact Pastor Mia at miablaine2020@gmail.com and/or Susan Lee at blainevbs@gmail.com with questions.
Summer Camps & VBS 2023! • See Dates
This summer’s Camping Ministries and Vacation Bible School schedules are out! Save dates for your children and youth!
June 25-30 Jr. High Camp (for incoming 6th-9th graders): Registration is now closed
Thank you all for generously donating sweet and savory treats for post-worship fellowship time. Currently, we need more chips and savory items: wrapped bags of chips (potato chips, Doritos, Cheetos etc.) would be appreciated. Drop off your donations to the Narthex, Church Office, or Social Hall either on Sunday or during Church Office Hours (Tuesday-Friday 10:00AM-4:00PM). Help serve refreshments on Sundays after worship by contacting Julie Lock at: jtlock00@gmail.com
Ongoing Donations for Afghan and Ukrainian Refugees
Items being collected: At this time, we have an abundance of some items and so we are NOT in need of clothing or children’s toys. Especially needed items are women’s products, toothpaste, personal care items, rice cookers, blenders, mixing bowls, microwave ovens, toasters, mixers, irons, dish sets, towels, and blankets.
Blaine Memorial UMC Collection Hours: Collection items can be dropped off to the Blaine Memorial Social Hall from Tuesday – Thursday between 10:00AM-4:00PM. Please call the Church Office at (206) 723-1536 prior to dropping off your items. South King County Response Center Collection & Volunteer Hours: The Donation Center is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays from 10am-2pm, same time as the Tukwila Pantry at 3118 S. 140th St. Seattle.
Please text Kim Parks at (206) 683-1707 when you would like to help. Please wear a mask and bring a marking pen and measuring tape if possible. Please contact Donna Sekijima at: donnasek@outlook.com and/or Anne Arakaki-Lock at: aarakakilock@gmail.com.
Read our latest issue of the Beacon!
The June edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!
It’s almost summer! When we asked the youth what they were most excited about in the upcoming weeks, we heard over and over again how much they’re looking forward to the end of the school year and the arrival of summer break. As this school year winds down, BYG is excited to celebrate our graduates and return to summer camps once more!
This is also a time of much transition for our leadership team. In April, Lawrence Paltep stepped down from his director position and we have since welcomed our two new associate directors: Kaylee Yokoyama and Kai Yamamoto! Let’s hear how they came to lead BYG…
Hello, my name is Kaylee Yokoyama. I am currently a sophomore at the University of Washington studying psychology. I have been a Blaine Youth Group leader for the past two years, and I am excited to step into this new role as an Associate Director of Youth Ministries. I have been attending Blaine since I was three years old, and Blaine to me is a welcoming faith community, where I grow in my faith and have developed many meaningful relationships. In my experiences as a youth, I have felt the warmth and guidance that BYG provided me. As a youth, I always admired my leaders and directors. I hope to provide the same comforts to the youth as an associate director and contribute to fostering a community of inclusion. I am excited about supporting the youth in their passions and engaging in opportunities to continue growing BYG. I hope to contribute to making BYG a community where youth can explore their faith through service, relationships, and curiosity.
Greetings, Blaine Community, my name is Kai Yamamoto, and I am excited to be working with Lynne and Kaylee as an Associate Director of Youth Ministries! I have been attending BYG since 6th grade and have been a part of BYG ever since. BYG has always been a special place for me, as it was a community of people who were around my age that also cared and looked out for me. After I graduated high school, I became a BYG leader to help facilitate and preserve this community. When Lawrence and Lynne approached me about this opportunity, I decided I wanted to take on this role, to ensure that this community will be there for both our current youth and future youth.
I am excited to be working with Lynne and Kaylee to plan different events and work with our youth to keep our community thriving!
Sunday, June 18 Last BYG Sunday Gathering of the school year
June 25-30, 2023 Junior High Camp
BYG meets on Sundays at 10:00 AM. We will gather in the sanctuary for the beginning of worship service before transitioning over to the Nishida Room for BYG time after the children’s message. Our last Sunday BYG Gathering of the school year will be on Sunday, June 18. BYG will be on break over the summer!
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.
Director of Youth Ministry: Lynne Onishi, lynneonishi@gmail.com Associate Directors of Youth Ministry: Kai Yamamoto, kai.yamamo@gmail.com and Kaylee Yokoyama, kaylee.yokoyama1@rev-karen
Read our latest issue of the Beacon!
The June edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!
ACRS Executive Director Michael Byun and Rev. Karen Yokota Love hold up Church Member Glenn Mitsui’s special edition ACRS art print. You can purchase your copy at ACRS.org.
News from our Senior Pastor
Celebrating the Harvest
By Rev. Karen Yokota Love
“Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the first fruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.”
– Exodus 23:16
June is here, which means that summer is just around the corner! Summer is a season known for cultivating and bearing good fruit. There is just nothing like a sweet, sun-ripened, summer cherry. Could we say, it is like a taste of heaven? Summer is known to be ‘harvest time’ in the Pacific Northwest with the cherries, blueberries, marionberries to name a few. Farmers are busy, reaping and bringing in the fruits of their labors.
We, too, at Blaine Memorial are busy celebrating the hard work of our students and teachers as June signals the end of another school year. This month, we are celebrating our high school and college graduates, Church School teachers, BYG directors and leaders, dads, and father-figures alike. It also marks the season of summer activities including the National Japanese American United Methodist Caucus’ Jr. High Camp and Asian Camp, as well as, Blaine Memorial UMC’s Vacation Bible School. You are invited to celebrate our dads and father-figures at our Sunday, June 18 worship service with a special lunch provided for all of our father and father-like figures.
Thank you to our Church School teachers, BYG directors and leaders for all the flexibility, commitment, and love that you’ve demonstrated this year to our growing children and youth. You’ve all done a fantastic job continuing to share God’s good news! We also celebrate the fruits of the harvest as we honor and celebrate the good work in The Pacific Northwest Conference:
May 24, 2:00pm PNW Clergy Session (online)
June 2 & 3, 6:00pm PNW Focus Sessions (online)
June 13, 9:00am PNW Opening Worship
June 13-15 PNW Plenary Sessions
June 13, 7:00pm PNW Memorial Service
June 14, 11:30am PNW Retirement Service
June 15, 11:00am PNW Service of Commissioning and Ordination
June 15, 6:00pm GNW Closing Worship
Each of these meetings and worship services are both in-person and online this year and will be available for your viewing at a later date. This year’s PNWAC representatives are Ron Nobuyama, George Yates, Lynne Onishi and myself. Rev. Mia MiKyung Park is a member of the Oregon-Idaho Conference so she will be attending her Annual Conference prior to the PNW Conference Sessions. Please visit https://pnwumc.org/ac2023 for the full schedule.
Finally, Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) Walk for Rice is on Saturday, June 17 at Seward Park from 9am-12pm. Walk with Blaine for a great cause to help those who are experiencing food insecurity. Join Team Blaine and read more, here.
During this season, continue to celebrate joys and lift up your concerns. Continue to pray for friends, family, and the stranger. Together, may we grow into all that Christ longs to pour into us, Christ’s body. May we continue to pray and shout for joy as we cover everything we do with God’s guidance, presence, and love to transform lives in every way possible.
May the Holy Spirit continue to open our hearts to receive God’s abundant grace, that it may flow through us, offering healing and hope to everyone around us.
Rev. Karen Yokota Love serves as the Senior Pastor of Blaine Memorial UMC.
Read our latest issue of the Beacon!
The June edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!
Celebration of Teachers, BYG Leaders and Graduates of 2023
Thank you to the Yorozu Family for today’s flower arrangement. Arthur S. Yorozu, 95, passed away on September 26, 2022. Arthur’s Celebration of Life service was yesterday, June 3, 2023 at BMUMC.
