Pastors’ Columns

Spiritual Summer: A Time for Spiritual Strength

By the Rev. Karen Yokota Love

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

-Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Summer is a time of rest and relaxation, some are enjoying the last few days of vacation, and, for some, school is beginning. As I look back at summers past, I see a trail of beautiful and bittersweet memories. Beginnings and endings. Transitions. Vacations. Some summers overflowed with joy and other summers were filled with deep sadness and pain. The common thread is that every summer was unique and had its own story to tell. Just as every natural summer has a story, so does every spiritual summer. We will each walk through the spiritual seasons many times. Autumn is a time of change. Winter is a time of barrenness and preparation. Spring is a time of rebirth. Finally, summer is a time for bearing fruit and embracing the abundant life that surrounds us.

The key to embracing our spiritual summer, no matter what time of year it is, is to remember to seize the joy of the season. This is a time to feel the heavenly warmth on our face and revel in the beauty that surrounds us. Relax, have fun, celebrate, and abide in gratitude for the blessings that surround. Fall and winter will come, but don’t let thoughts of the unknown rob you of the joy of the moment.

As I write this, I’m on an airplane returning from Asian Camp, trying to make our way back to Seattle. Many of our youth ventured off to Asian Camp and had a wonderful time connecting with new and old friends while growing deep in their faith with Christ. We sang many of our favorite camp songs including my favorites (they say they’re oldies but goodies, now) Matthew 11 and Days of Love. 

Asian Camp was at a different location which was new to all of us. For the past 20+ years, both Jr. High Camp and Asian Camp convened at Camp Lodestar, located in the Northeastern part of California. This year, Asian Camp was at Camp Gilbert, nestled in between the foothills of Santa Monica and the Santa Susana mountains in Calabasas, CA. New changes are on the horizon because beginning next year, both Jr. High Camp and Asian Camp will be combined and will be a singular model of camp. Since this was the final year of Asian Camp being set aside, there were rituals of farewell and many memories were shared as they looked back at the decades of camp. 

This year’s camp also served as the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Asian Camp and featured many alumni of Asian Camp from years past. There will be a 50th Anniversary Asian Camp Gathering in the fall on October 12, 2024. 

We are grateful for the hospitality from Faith UMC in Torrance, CA. A huge loving shoutout to Rev. Allison Mark, Darrell Mark, and Nathan Buck for picking us up at the airport and driving us around, for arranging the transportation to the campsite and for showing us Raising Cain’s! We loved the fried chicken! Thank you for taking care of us and showing us parts of Southern California!

A highlight at Asian Camp was hearing different campers, counselors, and directors share their faith stories. Each day in the afternoon, we would gather in the amphitheater to hear two or three campers willingly share their faith journeys of how they found God and how this relationship transformed their lives. 

Likewise, I believe we are all inspired when we talk about our faith and hear our peers talk about their faith stories. Throughout the 2024-2025 year, we will hear different church members’ call/faith stories. Overall, faith sharing can be a great benefit to one’s spiritual life, not only because you accompany others in their spiritual journeys, but also because you can see the different ways that the Holy Spirit is at work. 

I’m grateful for lay member, Anne Arakaki-Lock, who provided her faith story on Sunday, July 14. Thank you for guiding us and being our first model of how we can share our stories. 

As Blaine Memorial UMC continues to live into Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth’s M.I.L.E. framework, we will spend this year focusing on enhancing laity leadership and lay-led ministries. Leadership is inspired by each one of us being called to share about our own unique faith journeys. 

Finally, the Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League is unveiling the Camp Harmony Remembrance Gallery at the Washington State Fairgrounds on August 30, 2024. Blaine Memorial UMC members are invited to attend and see the new gallery for the first time. It will include free admission on opening day at the fair. Please respond to blaineoffice@yahoo.com if you are interested in carpooling with us to Puyallup. 

As we look at Autumn, I’m excited to announce that we’re having our well-known Blaine Bazaar! This year’s Bazaar is on Saturday, October 5, from 11am-6pm. This year, we’re bringing back our signature dish: salmon. We’ll have a new menu item which is vegetarian yakisoba. We’ll also have our favorites which include BBQ chicken, curry, baked goods, and a Farmer’s Market. 

Among my prayers this month is for August to be a month of summer blessings. I leave you with this summer blessing by an unknown source: “Take time to claim your strength; this is a gift from God. Take time to have fun; it is God’s way of teaching you your strengths. Take time to grow yourself; only you can grow you. Take time to trust yourself; God trusts you. Take time to be self-reliant; it is better than being dependent. Take time to share with others; they will bless you and you will bless them. Take time to have hope; you are a child of God.”

May you be well and be the hope for the future! 

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

Lectionary Readings

Announcements

Prayers and Coffee on Zoom • Wednesdays at 9am

Join Rev. Karen for prayer and community on Wednesdays at 9:00 AM on Zoom. Our time together consists of brief check-ins, devotionals, and prayers. 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. Hope to see you on Wednesday.

The Beacon is now available!

Read more:

• Walk for Rice: BMUMC raises $11,500 for low-income families!
• Blaine Memorial 120th Anniversary Aprons!
• Junior High Camp 2024: Finding Your True Self
• Innovation Hub Update: Lynne to attend Claremont Seminary!
• Asian Camp 2024: Why AC is important for the future

Bookmark blaineonline.org for more infomation!

Vacation Bible School 2024 Continues!

• August 18

Theme: Operation Restoration – Mending God’s World Time: 10am to 12pm, including lunch

Location: BMUMC Church School Classrooms

Registration: $20 per Sunday per child, Additional Campers from same family $15. We will register your kiddo on the day of VBS. If you have not registered it is still not too late. We will continue to accept new registrations all the way up to the last day of VBS Sunday! Visit blaineonline.org for registration!

Email: blainevbs@gmail.com to enroll now!

Register here!

2024 Guatemala Mission Trip

From August 16 through August 24, a Blaine mission team (20 from Blaine Memorial and 3 from Mt. Vernon First UMC) will be going on a trip to Guatemala in Central America. We will be working mostly with the indigenous Mayan people near the town of Panajachel by Lake Atitlan with a UMC related organization, Mission Guatemala (www.missionguatemala.com). Mission Guatemala is “a faith-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to help meet the basic needs and improve the quality of life of under-served and impoverished Guatemalan peoples through health, education and nutrition initiatives and missionary service”. We will have a Vacation Bible School with crafts, games, lots of laughter and fun.

Our construction crew will help build a kitchen at the junior high school in Godinez. Our dental team will be serving Mission Guatemala’s scholarship children at the medical clinic in San Andres, Semetabaj. Most of all, we will be building friendships with the missionaries and staff at Mission Guatemala, with the local families living in the area, and with our team members. We are excited about the opportunity to share and receive God’s love with people of a different culture.

We ask Blaine church members to please pray for safe travels, building relationships with those we meet and showing Christ’s love through our actions and words. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Team Members: Anne Arakaki-Lock, Joshua Akiyama, Milo Choe, Nina Choe, Judy Kuo, Laura Gilbert, Kenji Guess, Alice Ikeda, Howard Nakase, Jill Nishi, Katelyn Nakase, Zachary Nakase, Janet Sekijima, Margaret Sekijima, Bob Sekijima, Donna Sekijima, Lourdes Tifre, Pastor Zulma Tifre, Stacy Lopez, Martin Yagi, Teresa Yagi, Pearl Yamamoto, Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Tsuru for Solidarity Presents: Liberation Obon!

September 1, 2024, 1:00pm to Dusk

Outside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) 1623 E J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421

Shut down NWDC! Liberation Obon will celebrate ancestors and resilience to end immigrant detention! Join La Resistencia and Tsuru for Solidarity as we protest wrongful imprisonment.

Activities will include:

• Traditional circle and street folk dancing
• Children’s art making
• Giant Daruma!
• Community food trucks Healing ceremonies
• Speakers from inside NWDC

Wear your heritage clothing! Blaine will organize a group to go to the obon after worship! Please contact Rev. Karen is you’re interested in participating!

Afghanistan and Ukrainian Refugee Donation Ministry

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 include 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 at the Blaine Memorial Social Hall from Tuesday-Friday between 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. 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, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 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. Other Questions? Please contact Donna Sekijima or Anne Arakaki-Lock.