Church News & Events

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost Comments Off on Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Posted by on Sep 9, 2023 in Blaine Youth Group, Church News & Events, Congregational Care, Giving, Innovation Hub, Pastors' Columns, Prayer, Sermons, Service Opportunities, Small Groups, Spiritual Formation, Sunday Worship, Weekly Calendar

Welcome!

Order of Worship

Prelude
Kathy Onishi
Welcome of Grace and Greeting
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Call to Worship
(Based on Psalm 149)
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Opening Hymn
Jesus Loves Me
(UMH #191)

Eugene and Kathy Onishi
Opening Prayer
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
First Scripture Reading
Psalms 148 (NRSVUE, Japanese Living Bible)
Sai Hanaoka, Tsutomu Nagoya
Special Music
Every Move I Make
Church School and BYG
Rally Sunday Celebrations!
• Presentation of our Church School Teachers, BYG Directors and Leaders
• Blessing of the Backpacks, Devices and School Supplies

Revs. Karen and Mia
Special Music
10,000 Reasons
Praise Team
Second Scripture Reading
Romans 13:8-14 (NRSVUE, JLB)
Lynne Onishi, Tsutomu Nagoya
Sermon
Putting on the Lord Jesus
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Hymn of Reflection
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Praise Team
Introduction to the Offering
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Doxology
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
(UMH #94)

Eugene and Kathy Onishi
*Prayer of Dedication
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Announcements
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Closing
Hymn Shine, Jesus, Shine
(TFWS #2173)

Eugene and Kathy Onishi
*Benediction
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Postlude
Kathy Onishi
Passing of the Peace
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Sermon Reflection Questions

  1. Reflect on what it means to owe nothing to anyone except to love (vs. 8). How does this change your perspective on your daily choices, actions, alignment with the exhortation in the verse, and relationships with others?
  2. In verse 11, Paul urges us to wake up from our slumber. What areas of your life might need awakening or renewal in your walk with Christ?
  3. Paul mentions “putting on the Lord Jesus Christ” in verse 14. What practical steps can you take to clothe yourself daily in Christ’s attributes and virtues?

Daily Lectionary Readings

Monday, September 11, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 121; Exodus 12:14-28; 1 Peter 2:11-17
Complementary: Psalm 119:65-72; Leviticus 4:27-31; 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:11-17
Tuesday, September 12, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 121; Exodus 12:29-42; Romans 13:1-7
Complementary: Psalm 119:65-72; Deuteronomy 17:2-13; Romans 13:1-7
Wednesday, September 13, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 121; Exodus 13:1-10; Matthew 21:18-22
Complementary: Psalm 119:65-72; Leviticus 16:1-5, 20-28; Matthew 21:18-22
Thursday, September 14, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 114; Exodus 13:17-22; 1 John 3:11-16
Complementary: Psalm 103:8-13; Genesis 37:12-36; 1 John 3:11-16
Friday, September 15, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 114; Exodus 14:1-18; Acts 7:9-16
Complementary: Psalm 103:8-13; Genesis 41:53-42:17; Acts 7:9-16
Saturday, September 16, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 114; Exodus 15:19-21; Matthew 6:7-15
Complementary: Psalm 103:8-13; Genesis 45:1-20; Matthew 6:7-15

Announcements

Rally Sunday! • Today

We will introduce our Church School teachers and talented BYG leaders for the 2023-2024 church school year! After our worship and fellowship, we invite all parents to gather in the Nishida Room for a Parents’ Meeting. (Children and youth will go to the Gym.)

Celebrating the Re-Appointment of our Pastors with a Blaine Potluck! • Next Sunday, September 17 at 11:30am

Please join us on Sunday, September 17 at 11:30am in the Lee Activity Center as we gather to celebrate the reappointments of our beloved pastors for their outstanding pastoral leadership at our church! What’s a better way than to show our appreciation than by having a ‘Blaine’ potluck? This will be the first potluck that we’re having since the start of the pandemic! Blaine potlucks have always been synonymous with special occasions and celebrating our pastors is definitely a special occasion.

We are asking folks to contribute. (If you are single, please feel free to bring just one of the items):

A – H: main dish/salad

I – S: main dish/rice

T – Z: main dish/dessert

We hope that you can join us next Sunday, September 17 to joyfully celebrate Rev. Karen, Rev. Mia, Rev. Jeney and Rev. Mark!

Wednesday Meditation & Prayer • September 13 at 9am

The Wednesday Prayer group continues to meet each week. Our time together consists of a check-in question centering around United Methodist Founder John Wesley’s famous question, “How is it with your soul?” Our time together continues with a few readings from The Upper Room Magazine September/October edition. Finally, we end our time together with a pastoral prayer. We hope you can join us!

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Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Comments Off on Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Posted by on Sep 2, 2023 in Blaine Youth Group, Church News & Events, Congregational Care, Giving, Innovation Hub, Pastors' Columns, Prayer, Sermons, Service Opportunities, Small Groups, Spiritual Formation, Sunday Worship, Weekly Calendar

Welcome!

Prelude
From the Rising of the Sun
Anonymous

Psalm 113:3 Kathy Onishi
Welcome of Grace and Greeting
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Call to Worship
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Opening Hymn
Holy Ground
TFWS #2272

Eugene and Kathy Onishi
Opening Prayer
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
First Scripture Reading
Romans 12:9-21 (CEB, JLB)
Kobe Yamamoto, Tsutomu Nagoya
Children’s Message
Dr. Stephen Sumida
Second Scripture
Colossians 3:23-24 (CEB, JLB)
Kobe Yamamoto, Tsutomu Nagoya
Sermon
Labor of Love
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Hymn of Reflection
Together We Serve
UMH #2175

Eugene and Kathy Onishi
Holy Communion
Rev. Karen Yokota Love, Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
Introduction to the Offering
Rev. Kobe Yamamoto
*Doxology
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
UMH #94 Kathy Onishi
*Prayer of Dedication
Kobe Yamamoto
Announcements
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Closing Hymn
Go Forth for God
UMH #670

Eugene and Kathy Onishi
*Benediction
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Postlude
Bless His Holy Name
Andrae Crouch

Kathy Onishi
Passing of the Peace
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Sermon Reflection Questions

  • In the U.S., Labor Day is a day to honor what?
  • As of 2022, how many people in the United States work from home, at least part-time?
  • When you think of the work you do in life, whether in your office, your classroom, your store, or at home, in what way is your work a “labor of love”?
  • How might you see everything you do in life as a loving response to God’s love for you?

Daily Lectionary Readings

Monday, September 4, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18; Exodus 4:10-31; Revelation 3:1-6
Complementary: Psalm 17; 2 Samuel 11:2-26; Revelation 3:1-6
Tuesday, September 5, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18; Exodus 5:1-6:13; Revelation 3:7-13
Complementary: Psalm 17; Samuel 11:27b-12:15; Revelation 3:7-13
Wednesday, September 6, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18; Exodus 7:14-25; Matthew 12:22-32
Complementary: Psalm 17; Jeremiah 17:5-18; Matthew 12:22-32
Thursday, September 7, 2023:
Semi-continuous:
Psalm 149; Exodus 9:1-7; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
Complementary: Psalm 119:33-40; Ezekiel 24:1-14; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
Friday, September 8, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 149; Exodus 10:21-29; Romans 10:15b-21
Complementary: Psalm 119:33-40; Ezekiel 24:15-27; Romans 10:15b-21
Saturday, September 9, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 149; Exodus 11:1-10; Matthew 23:29-36
Complementary: Psalm 119:33-40; Ezekiel 33:1-6; Matthew 23:29-36


Announcements

Church Office will be Closed in observance for Labor Day

The Church Office will be closed on Monday, September 4 and Tuesday, September 5 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. We will resume normal office hours on Wednesday (9/6). Blaine Memorial UMC’s normal office hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10:00AM-4:00PM. Thank you for your labor and hard work! Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Join Us for Rally Sunday on Sunday, Sept. 10!

Please join us on Sunday, September 10 at 10am for Rally Sunday where we will introduce our Church School teachers and talented BYG leaders for the 2023-2024 church school year! After our worship and fellowship, we invite all parents to gather in the Social Hall for a Parents’ Meeting.

Please join Rev. Karen for a time of meditation and prayer on Wednesday, September 6 at 9am.

The Wednesday Prayer group continues to meet each week. Our time together consists of a check-in question centering around United Methodist Founder John Wesley’s famous question, “How is it with your soul?” Our time together continues with a few readings from The Upper Room Magazine September/October edition. Finally, we end our time together with a pastoral prayer. We hope you can join us!

Bazaar 2023 is coming!

Learn More
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Comments Off on Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Posted by on Aug 27, 2023 in Blaine Youth Group, Church News & Events, Congregational Care, Giving, Innovation Hub, Pastors' Columns, Prayer, Sermons, Service Opportunities, Small Groups, Spiritual Formation, Sunday Worship, Weekly Calendar

Welcome!

Order of Worship

Prelude
Sanctuary by John Thompson and Randy Scruggs
Kathy Onishi
Welcome of Grace and Greeting
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Call to Worship
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
*Opening Hymn
As a Fire is Meant For Burning
TFWS #2237

Eugene and Kathy Onishi
Opening Prayer
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
First Scripture Reading
Romans 12:1-8 (NRSVUE, JLB)
Joshua Santos, Tsutomu Nagoya
Special Music
God With Us
Blaine Praise Band
Celebrating our Scholarship Recipients
Allison Hall, Joshua Santos Kai Yamamoto, Kobe Yamamoto Kaylee Yokoyama, Michelle Yokoyama
Prayers of the People
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Second Scripture
Matthew 5:14-16 (NRSV, JLB)
Joshua Santos, Tsutomu Nagoya
Sermon
Living Your Faith
Michelle Vaughan
Hymn of Meditation
Breathe on Me Breath of God
Eugene and Kathy Onishi
Introduction to the Offering
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
*Doxology
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
UMH #94

Kathy Onishi
Prayer of Dedication
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Announcements
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Closing Hymn
I Will Follow
by Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Reuben Morgan (with Blaine Praise Band)

Eugene and Kathy Onishi
*Benediction
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
Postlude
I Will Follow
by Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Reuben Morgan (with Blaine Praise Band)

Eugene and Kathy Onishi

Sermon Reflection Questions

  • Think about the practices you use to live your faith. What other ideas or practices can you incorporate into your daily life to allow you to live your faith more fully?
  • Do you “shine your light” for others? What does that mean to you?
  • How can we be more open about shining our light?

Daily Lectionary Readings

Monday, August 28, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 8; Exodus 1:1-7; Romans 2:1-11
Complementary: Psalm 18:1-3, 20-32; 1 Samuel 7:3-13; Romans 2:1-11
Tuesday, August 29, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 8; Exodus 2:11-15a; Romans 11:33-36
Complementary: Psalm 18:1-3, 20-32; Deuteronomy 32:18-20, 28-39; Romans 11:33-36
Wednesday, August 30, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 8; Exodus 2:15b-22; Matthew 26:6-13
Complementary: Psalm 18:1-3, 20-32; Isaiah 28:14-22; Matthew 26:6-13
Thursday, August 31, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b; Exodus 2:23-24; Ephesians 5:1-6
Complementary: Psalm 26:1-8; Jeremiah 14:13-18; Ephesians 5:1-6
Friday, September 1, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b; Exodus 3:16-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12
Complementary: Psalm 26:1-8; Jeremiah 15:1-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12
Saturday, September 2, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b; Exodus 4:1-9; Matthew 8:14-17
Complementary: Psalm 26:1-8; Jeremiah 15:10-14; Matthew 8:14-17


Announcements

Join us after worship today! End-of-Summer BBQ and BYG Bake Sale!

Join us immediately after worship in the Social Hall for a delicious BBQ with hot dogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers! Support our BYG Camping Ministries, as well! They’ll sell delicious baked goods, homemade cookies, brownies at the BYG Bake Sale! The proceeds from the Bake Sale will go directly to Youth Camping Ministries.

Kimball Elementary School to Reopen: Ribbon-Cutting Event on Thursday, August 31, 4pm-6pm at Kimball Elementary

Blaine Memorial UMC is invited to Kimball Elementary’s Grand Opening! We’ll help Kimball celebrate the completion of the new school building! We’re meeting in front of the Blaine Memorial UMC Bus Stop at 3:45pm and we’ll walk over to Kimball together. Parking is limited. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30pm with guided tours to follow.

Innovation Hub presents: Family Film Night on Friday, Sept. 1!

RSVP to Family Film Night! When? Friday, September 1, 6:30pm-8:30pm in the Social Hall! We’ll be watching a family-focused film rated PG or G. A light dinner and snacks will be provided! Please RSVP to this event by Thursday, August 31. ! If you have any questions, please contact Lynne Onishi at lynneonishi@gmail.com. Register now!

Join Us for Rally Sunday on Sunday, Sept. 10!

Please join us on Sunday, September 10 at 10am for Rally Sunday where we will introduce our Church School teachers and talented BYG leaders for the 2023-2024 church school year! After our worship and fellowship, we invite all parents to gather in the Social Hall for a Parents’ Meeting.

Bazaar 2023 is coming!


Read the latest issue of the Beacon!

View this month’s calendar!

Learn More
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Comments Off on Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Posted by on Aug 20, 2023 in Blaine Youth Group, Church News & Events, Congregational Care, Giving, Innovation Hub, Prayer, Sermons, Service Opportunities, Small Groups, Spiritual Formation, Sunday Worship, Weekly Calendar

Welcome!

Order of Worship

Prelude
Aha Bushi
Mako Willett
Welcome of Grace and Greeting
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Call to Worship
Based on Psalm 133
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Opening Hymn
As the Deer (x2)
TFWS #2025

Michelle Vaughan, Neal Komedal, and Miriam Tong
Opening Prayer
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
First Scripture Reading
Matthew 15:21-28 (CEB, JLB)
Jordan L., Tsutomu Nagoya
Children’s Message
Sai Hanaoka
Special Music
Amazing Grace
Leann Onishi and Mako Willett
Second Scripture
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 (NRSVUE,JLB)
Jordan L., Tsutomu Nagoya
Sermon
God’s Irrevocable Gifts and Calling
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Hymn of Reflection
God Will Take Care of You
UMH #130

Michelle Vaughan, Neal Komedal, and Miriam Tong
Introduction to the Offering
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
Offertory Music
Traditional Okinawan song
Leann Onishi and Mako Willett
*Doxology
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
UMH #94

Michelle Vaughan, Neal Komedal, and Miriam Tong
Prayer of Dedication
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
Announcements
Rev. Karen Yokota Love
*Closing Hymn
In the Garden
UMH #314

Michelle Vaughan, Neal Komedal, and Miriam Tong
*Benediction
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Postlude
17th Century Irish Piece
Leann Onishi

Sermon Questions

  • What’s a good way for Christians to react when they know God’s gifts and calling are unchanging? How does this make them feel about their life’s purpose when they feel unsure or worried about their lives?
  • What would be a good practice to affirm that God is always faithful in our everyday lives? How does it change the way we make choices, relate to others, and see things?

Upcoming Lectionary Scriptures

Monday, August 21, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 130; Genesis 43:1-34; Acts 15:1-21
Complementary: Psalm 87; 2 King 5:1-14; Acts 15:1-21
Tuesday, August 22, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 130; Genesis 44:1-34; Romans 11:13-29
Complementary: Psalm 87; Isaiah 43:8-13; Romans 11:13-29
Wednesday, August 23, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 130; Genesis 45:16-28; Matthew 8:1-13
Complementary: Psalm 87; Isaiah 66: 18-23; Matthew 8:1-13
Thursday, August 24, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 124; Genesis 49:1-33; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Complementary: Psalm 138; Ezekiel 28:11-19; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Friday, August 25, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 124; Genesis 49:29-50:14; 2 Corinthians 10:12-18
Complementary: Psalm 138; Ezekiel 31:15-18; 2 Corinthians 10:12-18
Saturday, August 26, 2023:
Semi-continuous: Psalm 124; Genesis 50:15-26; Matthew 16:5-12
Complementary: Psalm 138; Ezekiel 36:33-38; Matthew 16:5-12


Announcements

Neighborhood Community Meeting • Tuesday, August 22 • 5pm-6pm

The City of Seattle will host a Neighborhood Community Meeting on Tuesday (8/22) from 5pm-6pm in the Lee Activity Center. The purpose of the meeting is to give the neighbors an opportunity to voice the ongoing challenges with our homeless neighbors and the mental health challenges in our local neighborhood. District 2 Councilmember Tammy Morales will be present as well as other vital community partners such as Kimball Elementary School and our neighbors. You are invited to come to this meeting to support our neighbors, community, and Blaine Memorial UMC. We will open our doors at 4:30pm to the public. The meeting will begin promptly at 5pm. Hope to see you there!

Next Sunday: Scholarship Sunday Worship (with BBQ and a BYG Bake Sale afterwards) • Sunday, August 27 • 10am

We’ll celebrate this year’s Blaine Memorial UMC scholarship recipients of the Vera Ing Scholarship, Blaine Memorial UMC Scholarship, Yasuda Scholarship, William S. Yorozu Scholarship, and the Robert S. Sato Scholarship. Immediately following worship, we’ll have an End-of-Summer BBQ and the BYG will host a Bake Sale to celebrate! Congratulations … we’re so proud of you! The proceeds from the BYG Bake Sale will benefit Camping Ministries.

Kimball Elementary School to Reopen: Ribbon-Cutting Event • Thursday, August 31 • 4pm-6pm at Kimball Elementary

Blaine Memorial UMC is invited to Kimball Elementary’s Ribbon Cutting event — we’ll help Kimball celebrate completion of the new Kimball Elementary School building! • Thursday, August 31, 2023 • 4pm – 6pm • Ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30pm with guided tours to follow.

Bazaar 2023 is coming!


Read the latest issue of the Beacon!

View this month’s calendar!

Learn More
Innovation Hub Update Comments Off on Innovation Hub Update

Innovation Hub Update

Posted by on Aug 15, 2023 in Church News & Events, Innovation Hub, Service Opportunities, Spiritual Formation, Weekly Calendar

The Innovation Hub hosted a viewing of “UnUnited: Fighting for LGBTQ Inclusion in The United Methodist Church” with discussions and fellowship.

Continuing talks, connections

By Lynne Onishi

This summer has been full! June and July were jam-packed with activities, youth camps, hikes, and film screenings. I also attended our Pacific Northwest Annual Conference Session in mid-June, celebrated Pride Sunday with other Seattle-area reconciling UMC congregations and attended my first Minidoka pilgrimage. I’ve also been inundated with a series of Supreme Court rulings that have devastating consequences for young people of color, students of all ages, and queer folks. It’s been joyful, frustrating, uplifting and exhausting all at once.

Amid all this, I’ve been thinking a lot about how the Church often fails to connect with young people. My conversations with Blaine young adults, my fellowship cohort in DC, and other ministry colleagues across the country have led me to question the way the Church often frames these struggles. I see churches asking, “How do we attract more young people? How do we convince young people they need the church? How do we get young people to commit to the church?” Though these are valid questions to ask, I don’t think they get to the heart of the matter.

I’d like to see the local church asking more self-reflective questions, like: “What’s the role of the local church? What is the purpose of our particular church community in this neighborhood at this time in history?” Once a church can identify its context and solidify its calling, it can begin to ask different questions. For example, a church may discern that their purpose is to foster community and connect people to the Divine. They may identify that they have a unique calling to be multi-generational, but they are missing a generation of young people. Instead of assuming young people need the church, what if the church asked young people what they needed? The church could ask young people how they want to be welcomed into community or how they connect with God. This leads to an entirely different model of ministry that’s rooted in the local church’s identity and purpose but doesn’t make incorrect assumptions about young people.

During our PNW Annual Conference session in June, I listened along as Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth boldly proclaimed that the Church is getting out-churched by other organizations and groups that are reaching young people far more effectively. And I must agree. There’s so much the Church can learn from other communities. The Innovation Hub team at Blaine Memorial is in a unique position to listen to the needs of young people, learn from other community organizations, and find ways for the church to provide for these needs. But we hope this spreads beyond our small team. To sustain the goodness happening at Blaine Memorial, we need to begin asking different questions on a church-wide, neighborhood-wide, community-wide scale!

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 or any of the other team members for more information.

Our Innovation Hub film ministry and Reconciling Ministries teams hosted a documentary and discussion event. We watched the film “UnUnited: Fighting for LGBTQ Inclusion in the United Methodist Church,” which chronicled the story of the 2019 General Conference. The film included several interviews with United Methodist pastors and church leaders from across a spectrum of viewpoints. We learned about the UMC’s struggle to include and advocate for LGBTQIA+ persons, and we had thoughtful discussions about our role as a United Methodist congregation.

Contact Lynne Onishi (lynneonishi@gmail.com) with questions about the Innovation Hub team or Reconciling Ministries.


Bazaar 2023 is coming!

Read the latest issue of the Beacon!

View this month’s calendar!

Learn More
Innovation Hub hosts virtual film screening event Comments Off on Innovation Hub hosts virtual film screening event

Innovation Hub hosts virtual film screening event

Posted by on Aug 15, 2023 in Church News & Events, Innovation Hub, Small Groups, Spiritual Formation, Weekly Calendar

Innovation Hub hosts virtual film screening event

By Lynne Onishi

On July 18 and 19, the Reconciling Ministries (RM) team hosted a virtual film screening event. Using Zoom to bring everyone together, we watched the documentary film “UnUnited: Fighting for LGBTQ Inclusion in the United Methodist Church” and had a discussion about the film and our own experiences in the UMC. The documentary follows the story of several faith leaders as they head into the historic 2019 general conference of the UMC. These pastors guide us through the history of LGBTQ+ exclusion in the denomination since 1972, and they offer context as the film crew captures footage from the 2019 conference.

After watching the one-hour film, we stayed after to reflect on what we learned. We shared questions about the future of the denomination and the future of our beloved church. It was a beautiful expression of our community coming together to share stories of hope, despair, grief, curiosity, and support for one another.

If you’d like to see more virtual film events in the future, let us know! Contact Lynne Onishi or anyone on the RM Team with comments and suggestions.


Bazaar 2023 is coming!

Read the latest issue of the Beacon!

View this month’s calendar!

Learn More