Small Groups

Blaine Memorial UMC church members attend Opening Day at the WA State Fair to view the Remembrance Gallery.

---

Remembrance ushers in Autumn events, ministerial opportunities

By the Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Although I love all four seasons, I have a special fondness for autumn. Autumn ushers in cooler temperatures, shorter days, and brilliant colors. You can’t miss fall or ignore it. I love walking around the neighborhood and admiring the variations of color in the leaves, the plants, and the cold crisp air. 

Autumn without a doubt signals one event that comes to mind: BAZAAR (order now!)! As I write this, the church is hustling and bustling as we prepare for our annual Benefit Bazaar on Saturday, October 5 from 11:00AM-6:00PM. This year’s beneficiary is Mission Guatemala.

Autumn also signals great celebrations. Please mark these important dates on your calendar:

• World Communion Sunday is on October 6. We’ll remember our diversity and heritage in the church. We’ll celebrate our similarities and differences, and we’ll see that there’s more that unites us than divides us. 
• A Trunk-or-Treat will be on Sunday, October 27 after worship. 
• Stewardship Sunday begins in worship on November 3.
• All Saints Sunday is on November 3. This year’s worship service is designed to show honor and reverence to our saints in the Blaine Memorial UMC community who passed away in the last year from November 1, 2023-October 23, 2024. We will give thanks to each of them. Each of the departed names will be read aloud and a bell will be rung.

In August, the Puyallup Valley JACL unveiled the Puyallup Assembly Center Remembrance Gallery at the Washington State Fairgrounds. The gallery tells the story of our very own Blaine Memorial church members and Nikkei in Washington State who were removed or otherwise affected by Executive Order 9066 during WWII. 

Blaine Memorial UMC brought two different groups to multiple days of special unveilings of this exhibit. Our first adventure was on Survivors Day, where the official ribbon cutting happened. Blaine had 15 people in attendance. People who survived the Puyallup Fairgrounds assembly center and anyone who was incarcerated at any of the camps were invited. I was privileged to provide the Opening Prayer and blessing of the space.

The second event we attended was on opening day of the Fair where we brought 30 church members to see the gallery. For the first time, many saw their names on the Remembrance Gallery wall, some spoke with news crews and others told stories to their grandchildren. Some experienced the sights, sounds, and smells of a replica 1942 horse stall living quarters to better understand those living conditions. Afterwards, we all explored the Fair together. 

The Gallery is a unique combination of a memorial and historical experience. Over 7,600 names of Japanese and Japanese Americans who were all wrongfully incarcerated on the Puyallup Fairgrounds will permanently be displayed.  

On September 1, after worship, Blaine members caravaned to the Northwest ICE Processing Center (formerly known as the Northwest Detention Center), where Japanese American anti-detention activists hosted a colorful and lively first-ever “Liberation Obon.” The Obon served as an opportunity to bring the community directly to the site of Processing Center where they witnessed firsthand the barbed wire fences, armed guards and ever-present threat of violence – the same conditions Japanese Americans faced in camp. With taiko drums and music, it also let people inside know that they are not alone or forgotten. Japanese Americans have a moral obligation to advocate in solidarity with those who are detained today.

Let this special time of autumn and change transform and enlighten you. Be courageous, be kind, and be the hope for the future! 

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.

Read about Mission Guatemala in the latest Beacon!

Blaine Memorial Bazaar and Mission Guatemala

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Mission Guatemala. Mission Guatemala helps meet the basic needs and improve the quality of life of underserved Guatemalan people through health, education, and nutrition initiatives and meaningful missionary service. Together, we can make a difference!

Bazaar: Volunteers Needed!

We cannot do this without our trusted volunteers to help out at Bazaar! We need help grilling, cooking, making ohagi, selling baked goods, etc. Please sign up in the Social Hall. 

Please contact Lesley Okura (okura5@aol.com) if you have any questions.

Volunteer Pie-Makers Needed!

We are in GREAT need for many volunteers, at least 30 people for Pie Making, on October 3 at 10:00AM! We will be working in the LAC to make and bake pies for the Bazaar! 

Baked Goods Also Needed!

Do you love to bake? We need baked goods donations for our Bake Goods booth at the Bazaar! We’re seeking donations of baked mochi, manju, brownies and cookies. Please bring them in on Saturday, October 5 before 10:00AM!

Purchase Anniversary Aprons, October 5!

Wow, we are so grateful and excited to see the many rice bags that were generously donated to us recently by Jean Okazaki! Jean’s daughter, Kathleen, read of Blaine’s need for more rice bags and responded! Now our capable and hard working sewers are busy making more of our special 120th Anniversary Aprons.

They will be available for sale at our upcoming Bazaar on October 5th or through the church office. They are $40 and we are happy to accept more; the additional dollars would be considered a donation.

Fall Book Study: “Context: Putting Scripture in Its Place”

You’re invited to join Rev. Dr. John Miyahara (UMC Navy Chaplain), Rev. Brian Lee (Simpson UMC in Arvada, CO), and congregation members of the Japanese American United Methodist Caucus in a 6-week book study. We will be reading Context: Putting Scripture in its Place. Please note that reading the book isn’t required!

Books are available in the Church Office for $17.00. The study will begin on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 from 6:30-8:00 PM. The Zoom link will be sent out closer to the beginning of the book study date. Please contact Rev. Karen will any questions.

Asian Camp 50th Anniversary Event (Southern California) • October 12

Calling all Asian Camp campers, counselors, directors, past and present! RSVP for this years AC 50th anniversary event on October 12! RSVPs & ticket purchasing is due by August 20th, 2024.

• Visit withjoy.com/asiancamp
• Ticket purchasing will be done through PayPal found at njaumccamps.org/50th OR checks made out to NJAUMC Camping Ministries, sent to our Camping Board Finance Chair Carol Tondo at 2313 Pacific Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.

In addition, the Sunday following (10/13), we will be having a joint gathering/service at Centenary UMC at 2PM. Join us in continuing to fellowship together as we celebrate 50 years of camp! Please contact Rev. Karen if you have any questions.

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.

View the October 2024 Calendar

Learn More