Senior Pastor Reflection
Marveling at God’s Masterpiece
By The Rev. Karen Yokota Love
I just returned from my month off of rest and time of renewal and it was marvelous. I spent much of my time in nature and marveled at God’s creation: “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 God is our master artist.
All of God’s works are originals. Original thoughts, original concepts, original drawings, original scenes of nature which include the ocean, the mountains, and the sky. God’s own creation moves and inspires God to continue painting, creating, sculpting, for us to receive and see. It’s up to us to be good stewards of this Earth and all of God’s resources. May we do just that.
Much has happened since my return: we celebrated graduations: Allyson Sofronas, Aidan Lew, Mariko Ronan, and Kai Yamamoto; confirmands: Emma Hearn and Joshua Akiyama; we celebrated the nurturing work of our Church School Teachers, BYG Director, and Associate Directors and Leaders. We said farewell to Rev. Mia MiKyung Park as she’s been appointed to a new faith community at Redeemer UMC in Kingston, WA with a Blaine potluck celebration. I am truly grateful for the blessings and opportunity to work with Rev. Mia and to create some great ministry with her for the past four years! We blessed and celebrated her ministry.
Read more about this year’s Pacific Northwest Annual Conference Sessions.
At this year’s PNW Annual Conference, which was in Richland, WA. Ron Nobuyama, and George Yates served as your Annual Conference delegates. Lynne Onishi, Lawrence Paltep, Edwin Santos and Joshua Santos served as assistants to the PNW Conference Staff. Rev Mia and I were present as your clergy representatives. Resident PNW Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth announced my appointment to continue to serve as your pastor for the July 2024-June 2025 appointment year. I look forward to what this new year will bring to us and masterpieces that will be created through our ministry together.
Summer signals our annual rituals of gathering with friends at Jr. High Camp, Asian Camp and VBS. We just sent and blessed our campers, counselors and chaperones as they journey to Jr. High Camp at Camp Lodestar in Wilseyville, CA. Asian Camp will be in Southern California at Camp Gilmore, located in Calabasas, CA. Blaine is sending eight campers and two chaperones. It’s wonderful to see our Church School kids, youth and young adults meeting new friends, reconnecting with old friends while finding new ways to connect with God.
This year’s VBS times will be on consecutive Sundays: July 28, August 4, 11 and 18 from 10AM-12:30PM. Our theme is Operation Restoration – Mending God’s World. The focus is on mending, repairing, and restoring relationships with God, people, and creation which offers a theologically constructive and empowering message for all. Most of its treatments of scripture illuminate this theme in sound and fruitful ways. Click here to enroll now!
This is the first year Blaine Memorial UMC has attended the Seattle Pride Parade as a reconciling congregation in the United Methodist Church. We continue to work on the outreach, affirmation, and inter-sectional ministry with and for LGBTQIA+ people at Blaine Memorial UMC.
Finally, I give thanks as I remember and honor the legacy of a spiritual giant — the late Rev. James M. Lawson Jr., known as “the architect of the Civil Rights Movement,” who died on June 9, at the age of 95. He served as the pastor of Holman UMC in Los Angeles from 1974-1999 and served as pastor emeritus until his death. I had the chance to meet him while I attended Claremont School of Theology. He deeply influenced my faith by teaching United Methodists how to do public acts of nonviolent protest. The Rev. Lawson could make anyone take off any rose-colored glasses they had on, while believing that change is possible. Without his spiritual guidance, moral example and deep understanding of the principles and practices of nonviolent protest, the Civil Rights Movement as we know it might not have existed. May he rest in power.
With so much going on in the world, those who are brave, and intentional about spreading God’s love, must rise and create better ways of showing love and compassion. As always, as the landscape of our church continues to evolve and change, it’s great to be in community with you. You are such a blessing. You are loved and a child of God. Be the hope and may you be filled with God’s grace!
The Rev. Karen Yokota Love serves as the Senior Pastor of Blaine Memorial UMC.
Announcements
Blaine Memorial Church School and Blaine Youth Group Summer Schedule
| July 13-20, 2024 (incuding travel time) • Asian Camp at Camp Gilmore (Incoming 10th – 2nd year college) |
Blaine Benefit Bazaar Nominations • Due Friday June 28
The Bazaar Committee is seeking nominations for a beneficiary for the upcoming autumn bazaar! Submit a brief description of your recommended beneficiary recipient to the Church Office by Friday, June 28, 2024 for review and approval by Ad Board. Save the date: Blaine Memorial UMC’s Annual Bazaar will be on Saturday, October 5, 2024. If you have an organization in mind, please fill out the Beneficiary Nominations Form provided by our Church office. Contact Yuki Sofronas for more info.
View the Beacon!
July 2023 Calendar
