Innovation Hub – Page 14 – Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church

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Third Sunday After Pentecost

Posted by Admin on Jun 18, 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!

June 18, 2023
Hybrid Worship
Thank you to Miriam Tong for today’s altar flower arrangement!
Continue scrolling for today’s bulletin or view the print version

Order of Worship

Welcome of Grace and Greeting
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

*Call to Worship
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn

*Opening Hymn
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (UMH #400)
Eugene and Kathy Onishi

Opening Prayer
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn

Scripture Reading
Romans 5: 1-8 (CEB, JLB)
Pam Yorozu and Tsutomu Nagoya

Children’s Message
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Commissioning of our Jr. High Camp Campers & Chaperones
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Recognition of Ordination for Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Special Music
How Great Thou Art
By Stuart K. Hine, arr. by Craig Courtney
Blaine Memorial Choir

Scripture Reading
Matthew 9: 35 – 10: 23 (CEB, JLB)
Pam Yorozu and Tsutomu Nagoya

Sermon
Wise and Innocent
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Hymn of Response
Blessed Assurance (UMH #369)
Eugene and Kathy Onishi

Introduction to the Offering
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Doxology
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (UMH #94)
Kathy Onishi

Prayer of Dedication
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Announcements
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

*Closing Hymn
The Summons (TFWS #2130)
Eugene and Kathy Onishi

Benediction
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Postlude
We Are Called
Words and Music: David Haas
Kathy Onishi

Passing of the Peace
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Sermon Reflection Questions

What are different ways where you are moved to provide a compassionate response, to outreach and proclaim, and to do the work of God in the world?
Where do you face persecution and suffering because of your faith in Christ? What specifically makes that suffering particularly difficult for you?
Who are the people doing good kin-dom work in your midst?

Upcoming Lectionary Scriptures

Monday, June 19, 2023
Semi-continuous: Psalm 126; Genesis 23:1-19; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Complementary: Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45; Joshua 1:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Semi-continuous: Psalm 126; Genesis 25:7-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
Complementary: Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45; 1 Samuel 3:1-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Semi-continuous: Psalm 126; Nehemiah 9:1-8; Luke 6:12-19
Complementary: Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45; Proverbs 4:10-27; Luke 6:12-19

Thursday, June 22, 2023
Semi-continuous: Psalm 86:1-10; Exodus 12:43-49; Hebrews 2:5-9
Complementary: Psalm 69:7-10, 16-18; Jeremiah 18:12-17; Hebrews 2:5-9

Friday, June 23, 2023
Semi-continuous: Psalm 86:1-10; Genesis 35:1-4; Acts 5:17-26
Complementary: Psalm 69:7-10, 16-18; Jeremiah 18:18-23; Acts 5:17-26

Saturday, June 24, 2023
Semi-continuous: Psalm 86:1-10; Ezekiel 29:3-7; Luke 11:53-12:3
Complementary: Psalm 69:7-10, 16-18; Jeremiah 20:1-6; Luke 11:53-12:3

Announcements

Join us for Father’s Day Lunch! • Today!

We’ll celebrate Father’s Day with a Hawaiian-themed plate lunch by honoring our Dads and the father-figures in our lives! Join us after worship 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 the Music of Summer Sunday at Blaine! We’ll kick off the season of Summer with music from the Blaine Memorial Choir, Blaine Ukulele Group of Seattle (B.U.G.S.), and special music with soloists. This will be the last day where the Blaine Memorial Choir will perform before taking a summer break!

Puyallup Valley JACL at Blaine Memorial • Next Sunday, June 25

The Puyallup Valley JACL will be at Blaine Memorial UMC with their remembrance gallery of names next Sunday, June 25. This is a name wall that honors and remembers each family who was assembled at the Camp Harmony Assembly Center in Puyallup, WA in 1942. The wall of names will be displayed in the Social Hall. Please come to see your family name. They are researching to ensure that all names are spelled correctly.

The Puyallup Valley Chapter of the JACL seeks support and endorsement of its effort to build the “Puyallup Assembly Center” Remembrance Gallery on the Washington State Fair (WSF) located in Puyallup, Wash. It will be located inside the iconic grandstands, where up to 1 million annual visitors will pass.

This project works…

To honor the over 7,600 Japanese and Japanese Americans who were unjustly removed from their homes and imprisoned on the Puyallup fairground during WWII.
To highlight the social injustices of this wartime experience and make comparisons to those being denied justice today to ensure this part of history is never repeated.

Pride Month Film Night • June 30, 6:30pm-8:30pm

RSVP here or contact Lynne Onishi for more info.

VBS Collections • July 8-16

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.

VBS 2023 and Asian Camp!

This summer’s Camping Ministries and Vacation Bible School schedules are out! Save dates for your children and youth!

July 10-14
Vacation Bible School
10am-3pm
Register now: blainevbs.square.site

July 23-28 Asian Camp
(for incoming 10th grade-2 years post-high school)
Register by June 25, here

Sumi Strokes of Summer Exhibit • July 5 – August 24

Puget Sound Sumi Artists (PSSA) presents Sumi Strokes of Summer, an exhibit of Sumi Fine Art and a memorial tribute to its founder, Fumiko Kimura (December 1929-March 2023), and a retrospective of 37 years of PSSA art. This event will be held at the Premier Gallery at the Puyallup Activity Center (210 West Pioneer, Puyallup, WA 98371), July 5 – August 24, 9am-4pm, M-F (except holidays). Read more.

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!

What’s Happening in June 2023

Learn More

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The Pride of Blaine

Posted by Admin on Jun 13, 2023 in Blaine Youth Group, Church News & Events, Innovation Hub, Small Groups

*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!

Learn More

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Second Sunday After Pentecost

Posted by Admin on Jun 11, 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

June 11, 2023
Hybrid Worship
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.
Continue scrolling for today’s bulletin or view the print version

Order of Worship

Prelude
As the Deer
Words and Music: Martin Nystrom
Miriam Tong

Welcome of Grace and Greeting
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn

Call to Worship
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn

*Opening Hymn
Be Still My Soul (UMH #534)
Neal Komedal and Miriam Tong

Opening Prayer
Rev. Shalom Agtarap

Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 (NRSVUE, JLB)
George Yates and Tsutomu Nagoya

Children’s Message
Sai Hanaoka

Sermon
Off the Sidelines
Rev. Shalom Agtarap

Hymn of Response
Grace Alone (TFWS #2162)
Neal Komedal and Miriam Tong

Introduction to the Offering
Rev. Shalom Agtarap

Doxology
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (UMH #94)
Miriam Tong

Prayer of Dedication
Rev. Shalom Agtarap

Announcements
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn

Closing Hymn
We Are Called (TFWS #2172)
Neal Komedal and Miriam Tong

Benediction
Rev. Shalom Agtarap

Postlude
He Is Exalted
Words and Music: Twila Paris
Miriam Tong

Passing of the Peace
Rev. Shalom Agtarap

Zoom Breakout Room
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn

Sermon Reflection Questions

Are there people that you have considered “not worth the trouble?” What is the rubric that goes into that conclusion?
How do you discern when someone is “beyond help” and when someone should be given more chances?
What shared values at Blaine Memorial UMC support this?

Upcoming Lectionary Scriptures

Monday, June 12, 2023:

Semi-continuous: Psalm 119:41-48; Genesis 16:1-15; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:2

Complementary: Psalm 40:1-8 ; Leviticus 15:25-31; 22:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:2

Tuesday, June 13, 2023:

Semi-continuous: Psalm 119:41-48; Genesis 17:1-27; Hebrews 13:1-16

Complementary: Psalm 40:1-8; Hosea 8:11-14; 10:1-2; Hebrews 13:1-16

Wednesday, June 14, 2023:

Semi-continuous: Psalm 119:41-48; Genesis 18:16-33; Matthew 12:1-8

Complementary: Psalm 40:1-8; Hosea 14:1-9; Matthew 12:1-8

Thursday, June 15, 2023:

Semi-continuous: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Genesis 21:1-7; Hebrews 3:1-6

Complementary: Psalm 100; Exodus 4:18-23; Hebrews 3:1-6

Friday, June 16, 2023:

Semi-continuous: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Genesis 24:1-9; Acts 7:35-43

Complementary: Psalm 100; Exodus 4:27-31; Acts 7:35-43

Saturday, June 17, 2023:

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!

Pride Month Film Night • June 30, 6:30pm-8:30pm

RSVP here or contact Lynne Onishi for more info.

VBS Collections • July 8-16

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

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

July 10-14
Vacation Bible School
10am-3pm
Register now: blainevbs.square.site

July 23-28 Asian Camp
(for incoming 10th grade-2 years post-high school)
Register by June 25, here

Ongoing Request for Chips and Savory Treats

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!

What’s Happening in June 2023

Learn More

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Senior Pastor News, June 2023

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

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!

Learn More

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Seventh Sunday of Easter

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

Welcome!

May 21, 2023
Hybrid Worship
10am in the Sanctuary
Continue scrolling for the bulletin or view the printed version

Order of Worship

Prelude
Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness
By James K. Manley
Kathy Onishi

Welcome of Grace and Greeting
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Call to Worship
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Opening Prayer
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

*Opening Hymn
Sois la Semilla (You are the Seed)
(UMH #583)
Eugene and Kathy Onishi

First Scripture Reading
Acts 1:6-14 (CEB, JLB)
Terri Pittman & Yuki Sofronas

Children’s Message
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Special Music
O Jesus, I Have Promised
By J.E. Bode, A.H. Mann
Blaine Memorial Choir

Mission Moment: ACRS/Walk For Rice
Michael Byun, Executive Director;
Audrey Hwang and Justine

Second Scripture Reading
John 17:1-11 (NRSVUE, JLB)
Terri Pittman & Yuki Sofronas

Sermon
The Struggle for Love
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Hymn of Response
Blest Be The Tie That Binds
Eugene and Kathy Onishi (UMH #557)

Reconciling Ministries Moment #3
Arlene Naganawa

Introduction to the Offering
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Doxology
(UMH #94) Kathy Onishi

Prayer of Dedication
Rev. Mia MiKyung Park

Announcements
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Closing Hymn
They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love
(TFWS #2223)
Eugene and Kathy Onishi

Benediction
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Postlude
Across the Lands
By Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Kathy Onishi

Straw Poll
Arlene Naganawa
Not at in-person worship? Send your vote by May 21, 2023 at 2pm to blaineoffice@yahoo.com. This method is not anonymous.

Passing of the Peace
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Zoom Breakout Room
Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn

Sermon Reflection Questions

What is a stream of Christian spirituality that you feel at odds with?
How is the Spirit inviting you to integrate some of their practices into your life?
What is a fragment of your story that you are ashamed of?
How is the Spirit inviting you to integrate it back into your life?

Upcoming Lectionary Scriptures

Monday, May 22, 2023
Psalm 99; Leviticus 9:1-11, 22-24; 1 Peter 4:1-6

Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Psalm 99; Numbers 16:41-50; 1 Peter 4:7-11

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Psalm 99; 1 Kings 8:54-65; John 3:31-36

Thursday, May 25, 2023
Psalm 33:12-22; Exodus 19:1-9a; Acts 2:1-11

Friday, May 26, 2023
Psalm 33:12-22; Exodus 19:16-25; Romans 8:14-17

Saturday, May 27, 2023
Psalm 33:12-22; Exodus 20:1-21; Matthew 5:1-12

Announcements

Reconciling Ministries Straw Poll

Today after worship

The Reconciling Ministries Team will conduct a straw poll on Sunday, May 21. This poll is not a final vote on affiliation with Reconciling Ministries. The team is simply conducting a poll of our congregation to better understand your thoughts, feelings, and concerns about the reconciling statement. The vote will take place after the service is finished, and your participation is required.

VBS Volunteers Meetings

May 21 & June 4

We will be holding volunteer meetings on the following Sundays: May 21st and June 4th, after the service, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm in the Webb Room. If you are planning to volunteer at VBS this year, please make sure to attend these meetings.

Wednesday Coffee & Prayer

May 24 • 9am on Zoom

Please join Rev. Karen for a time of meditation and prayer on Wednesday, May 24 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?”

Please join us! Brew a fresh cup of coffee or steep some tea. This is a great opportunity to pause in the middle of the week to check in with others. The Zoom link will be sent out prior to gathering on Tuesday.

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: https://give.acrs.org/team/498138 to donate online! Or mail your donation to the Blaine office (checks made out to “Walk for Rice”, memo: “Team Blaine”) . Thanks for your support! Read more.

Blaine Cookbook needs your recipes!

Due May 31

Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church will release a 120th Anniversary Edition of “Let’s Dine!”, the latest in a series of cookbooks produced by Blaine Memorial over the past 70 years. This cookbook will commemorate the 120th Anniversary of Blaine Memorial, with a scheduled release of January 2024. We are seeking submissions for the 2024 cookbook and are calling on you to contribute! Read more.

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.

This summer’s Camping Ministries and Vacation Bible School schedules are out!

Please save the dates for your children and youth! Summer Camps & VBS 2023!

June 25-30
Jr/High Camp (for incoming 6th-9th graders) Jr. High Camp registration is open now! Please register your youth by May 31!

July 10-14
Vacation Bible School 10am-3pm VBS registration is open now! Visit the VBS 2023 page and bookmark it for updates!

July 23-28
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Reconciling Statement Vote

Posted by Admin on May 18, 2023 in Church News & Events, Innovation Hub, Prayer

Reconciling Ministries Team

Celebrating God’s Gift: Diversity

By Lynne Onishi

Greetings from the Reconciling Ministries (RM) team at Blaine! The RM team is a lay-led group of congregation members who are passionate about LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the church. We are here to help guide this church through a process of discernment as we consider affiliating with the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN).

To affiliate with RMN, our church must vote to adopt a Reconciling Statement. We want to hear what you think about this statement before we take a final vote, so we are conducting a straw poll on May 21. As we prepare to take a straw poll, we invite you to look at the Reconciling Statement below:

“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.”

Why are you a part of the team?

I am a member of the Reconciling Ministry Team because I know a family whose son is non-binary. I have seen their fear when prejudice and hate were directed toward their child. And I have seen their reaction to be one of honesty, courage, and love. I believe the church can come alongside families like this to provide support and community.

Terri Pittman

I am part of the Reconciling Ministries Team because I grew up in this church and have always felt included, yet also off to the side, and want to see a place that is welcoming and affirming to all.

Dale H. Watanabe

I am a member of the Reconciling Ministries Team because we, as a church, love God and God’s people. We can show our love by openly expressing welcome to our friends who are often marginalized and hurt, even though that may not be our intention. As a teacher, I worked with many youth who suffered pain and rejection because of their sexual identities. Sometimes, the pain was too much to bear. Offering an accepting (Christian?) community can metaphorically and literally save lives.

Arlene Naganawa

Reconciling Ministries Team

Yoshi Kuramoto, Arlene Naganawa, Lynne Onishi, Lawrence Paltep, Terri Pittman, Mariko Ronan, Jarrett Shirouzu, Jenna Tong, Dale Watanabe, Malia Yamamoto

The Reconciling Ministries Team invites all who are interested to join in our work! Visit rmnetwork.org for more information.

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