Small Groups

All are Welcome!

• Sixth Sunday of Easter
• May 25, 2025, 10:00AM
• View the Livestream
• Save the PDF

Sermon Questions

1) Suppose that Jesus asked you the question right now, “Do you want to be healed? Fully healed?” How would you answer?

• What in you needs healing right now?
• Why might you not want to be healed right now?
• What will healing really involve?

2) Suppose you were the paralyzed man. Which would you rather have — physical healing, or spiritual healing?

3) Jesus did not ask the Pharisees if they wanted to be healed. What do you think their response would have been?

Order of Worship

Daily Lectionary Readings

Announcements

Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC) and NVC Foundation presents: 80th Annual Memorial Day Service @ Lake View Cemetery • Monday (5/26), 10:00am – 11:00am

Each year, Blaine Memorial participates in the NVC Memorial Day service. This year, Rev. Karen will provide the Invocation and Bruce Yamamoto will provide the Christian Reflection. This will be the first year where Blaine Memorial UMC will present a wreath and our representatives will be Jerry Ikegami and George Yates.

Final Sunday to pick up lost and found items in the Social Hall! • Today 

Lost something? If you have misplaced any items while at the church, you can check the Lost and Found area. The Lost and Found is currently located on three tables in the Social Hall. Items of high value (such as iPhones, eye glasses, and car keys) are kept safely in the Church Office.

The Lost and Found items will be left out on the tables in the Social Hall until the end of day on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Afterwards, all unclaimed items will be donated to Goodwill. 

If you are looking for a specific item or have any questions, please call the Church Office at (206) 723-1536.

Thank you for recycling chip bags during Fellowship Time!

For the past three Sundays, we’ve collected chip bags during Fellowship Time. Dale Watanabe and Arlene Naganawa are gracious to offer and use their personal Ridwell subscriptions to responsibly recycle the chip bags from Blaine’s Fellowship Time. 

However, we are unable to collect items from church members’ homes. Since they are using their personal accounts, the collection bags are small. If you would like to subscribe to Ridwell, sign up at ridwell.com. 

Please put your bags that you use during Fellowship Time in the box located in the social hall near the kitchen. Thank you for helping us to be good stewards of our planet!

Prayer and Coffee • Wednesdays at 9am 

Join Rev. Karen for prayer and community on Wednesdays at 9:00AM on Zoom. Our time together consists of brief check-ins, devotionals, and prayers. This is a great way to continue with Lent, 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.

Special Film Screening: “One Fighting Irishman” • Thursday (5/29) at 6:00pm

Join Densho and Sharon Yamato for a screening of “One Fighting Irishman” at Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church on May 29, 2025 at 6:00PM.

The night will start off with Blaine Memorial UMC church member, Glenn Mitsui’s short film, “Wakasa Spirit Stone”. Stay after for a post-film Q&A with both filmmakers. Don’t miss this powerful evening of film and reflection! Thank you to 4Culture and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture for supporting this event!

35th Annual ACRS Walk for Rice @ Seward Park • June 28, 9:00 am

This year ACRS will hold the Walk for Rice at 9:00 am on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at Seward Park. Team Blaine raised over $11,000 last year (2nd place) and this year’s fundraising goal is $8,000. We’re off to a great start, but still have a way to go to reach our goal.

Help ACRS feed AAPI community members who are experiencing food insecurity by donating to and/or registering to walk with Team Blaine:

Donate Online through Team Blaine:
Team Blaine at ACRS

Mail your donation to the Blaine office:
Checks to “Walk for Rice”, memo: “Team Blaine”

Thanks for your support!
Justine I., Team Captain

View the May 2025 Calendar

View the latest issue of the Beacon newsletter!

Click the image above to view our latest issue or view past issues here.

Our Story Continues

• Senior Pastor Reflection – Find Joy…In EVERYTHING! (What brings you joy?)
• 2025 Educational Scholarships • Application period open through May 15, 2025
• In Photos – Sukiyaki Benefit connects neighbors, supports disaster relief
• BYG Update – Staying Grounded During Lent
• Spiritual Formation Center: Being at the Table

All are Welcome!

• Second Sunday of Easter
• April 27, 2025, 10am
• Hybrid Worship (View livestream)
• View PDF Bulletin

Sermon Questions

• Is it hard to believe without seeing proof or evidence?
• Share some examples of this from your life when you had doubt.
• Read John 20:24-29. How would you describe Thomas’ attitude, both before and after Jesus appeared to him? 
• What can we learn from Jesus’ encounter with Thomas that can help us respond to people who have doubts? 
• Read John 20:29-31. How can someone who has not seen the evidence that Thomas and the other disciples saw come to faith in Jesus as the risen Lord and Savior?

Order of Worship

Daily Lectionary Readings

Announcements

Let’s Recycle Potato Chip Bags as we commemorate Earth Day! 

To continue our church track record of proper recycling and helping the earth one little step at a time, Arlene Naganawa and Dale H. Watanabe have a favor of you. We will begin a trial collecting used chip bags from social hour to recycle with our subscription to Ridwell.

Please put your bags in the box located in the social hall near the kitchen. If you have a subscription too and want to help out, please contact Arlene or Dale – we are looking for at least one more that is on a different pick-up schedule!

Special Charge Conference Meeting on Zoom • Thurs., May 1, 7pm

Inviting Ad Board, SPRC and Trustees Leadership to Attend. The purpose of the special charge conference is to approve the salary and benefits package of Job Pangilinan, incoming Associate Pastor, effective July 1, 2025. Rev. Karen Yokota Love will preside over this Special Charge Conference. Rev. Karen will send out a Zoom link prior to the meeting.

Seattle Japanese American Community Gathering @ LAC • May 3, 2:00PM-4:00PM

At this gathering, there will be discussions on connecting the history of Japanese American WWII incarceration to the current moment and united against mass detention and deportation. Please register here to participate.

Read the latest issue of the Beacon!

Click the image above to view the latest issue. Or, view past issues here.

Prayer and Coffee • Wednesdays at 9am 

Join Rev. Karen for prayer and community on Wednesdays at 9:00AM on Zoom. Our time together consists of brief check-ins, devotionals, and prayers. This is a great way to continue with Lent, clear and center your mind, all while connecting with God and your prayer community. We will discuss the significance of Lent. Feel free to bring a cup of coffee, tea, and a bite to eat. Hope to see you on Wednesday.

2025 Educational Scholarships • Application period open through May 15, 2025

The Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church Educational Scholarships are designed to support the mission of the church through supporting a multitude of educational opportunities. We are proud to have helped students in their pursuit of continuing education since 1968. We encourage all applicants; from those just entering their next phase of education to those returning to complete or pursue continued education. 

We are blessed to offer the following scholarships:

• Vera Ing Community College/ Trade School Scholarship
• Robert and Lucy Sato Scholarship
• Blaine Memorial Scholarship
• Ted and Margaret Yasuda Scholarship

Applications are available through emailing Michelle Vaughan or through the church office. All scholarships will consider, but are not limited to, elements such as grades (if applicable), personal essay, church participation and finances. Applications and two (2) letters of recommendation must be received no later than May 15, 2025 for consideration. We are looking forward to applicants excited about pursuing their education.

For more information, visit and bookmark the Educational Scholarships 2025 page.

Ireicho: Book of Names • See Dates, Sign Up Now!

Request to stamp the Ireicho: Book of Names in Seattle, in Puyallup, and on Bainbridge Island in 2026!

The Irei Project, in conjunction with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Puyallup Valley Chapter and Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, is pleased to offer appointments to stamp the Ireicho at the Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church in Seattle on March 27, 2026, at the Expo Hall and Remembrance Gallery in Puyallup on March 28, 2026, and at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial on March 29 and March 30, 2026. Stamping is by appointment only.

Sign up now!

Currents: An Operetta featuring Gail Nomura and Shigeru Nishida in a Discussion Panel • May 7, 2025, 7:00PM

Join Gail Nomura and Shig Nishida at McMenamin’s Anderson School, Hayne’s Hall in Bothell, WA on May 7, 2025 at 7:00PM at Currents: An Operetta! The event is free, both you’ll need to register here.

Location: Haynes’ Hall, 18607 Bothell Way NE- Bothell

All ages welcome!

View the April 2025 Calendar