Everyone smiles for a whole Asian Camp photo in the camp T-shirt!
Asian & Jr. High Camps: Thank you!
By Kai Yamamoto
Thank you for your continuous love and support. This year, we sent eight campers along with two adult chaperones to Junior High Camp, and six campers and two adult chaperones to Asian Camp! We could not do this without you! Thank you for buying our bake sale goods, candles, cards, donating, and praying for us.
Rev. Mia preaches a sermon about how “we all have obstacles in our lives” at Jr. High Camp. The theme was based on Disney’s Ratatouille.
Year after year, youth continue to look forward to camp – a space to grow spiritually and strengthen bonds with friends from Blaine Memorial and churches in Oregon and California. Youth participated in a variety of activities including worship, small groups, and games with fellow youth around the same age.
Two group photos of the Blaine Memorial youth campers at Jr. High Camp.Our BYG campers enjoy a fun week of Asian Camp with plenty of outdoor games, worship, workshops, and the “messy day” experience.
Parents also look forward to sending their kids to camp. They know it’s a space where their kids are cared for and will make memories to cherish forever. As our youth are already preparing to attend camp next year, we are starting to plan more fundraisers to support our youth to attend camp! Please look out for future fundraisers in the coming months! Thank you so much for your love and support!
Kai Yamamoto serves as an Associate Co-Director for the Blaine Youth Group.
The BYG leadership team poses for a group photo at their leadership retreat last year (August 2022). We couldn’t do BYG without our leaders and directors!
BYG Update
By Kai Yamamoto
Upcoming Events
Bake Sale Aug. 27
BYG Leaders Retreat Sept. 9
Rally Sunday Sept. 10
Camping Ministries Sunday TBD
As we progress through the summer, the Blaine Youth Group has been taking a break from our regular Sunday morning meetings. Although we have not been meeting on Sundays, our youth have been able to gather and fellowship together!
Prior to BYG’s summer break and youth leaving for Junior High Camp, BYG gathered one last time to fellowship and prepare for the summer!
The JHC campers and adult chaperones gather for a photo at the airport before taking off for camp.
This past June, we sent eight youth to JHC, where they were able to spend a week together growing and developing their faith together at Camp Lodestar in California.
Our BYG also helped at Vacation Bible School this year! They did a wonderful job guiding the campers in their faith journeys and walked alongside Jesus throughout the week. At VBS, the youth could be found shepherding and helping as station teachers.
BYG also held a room cleanup day! We gathered the youth together for fellowship and clean the BYG room as we prepare for next year. It is always great to start the new year with a clean room! We organized several different drawers and bins. We also vacuumed and cleaned the furniture and floors to give us a fresh start for the new year of BYG!
Lawrence, Kaylee, and Michelle support BYG’s Bake Sale!
BYG is also planning a Bake Sale this August! As the youth are already preparing to go to camp next summer, the funds from this bake sale will help provide the youth and their families an opportunity for them to go to camp! Thank you for all your support and we hope to see you at the bake sale!
As fall is rapidly approaching, the BYG leadership team will be preparing for the next school year. Like last year, the leadership team will gather for a retreat to reflect on past years of BYG and begin plan for this next year of BYG. BYG leaders will continue to meet throughout this summer and brainstorm ideas for future BYG nights and events.
BYG will not meet on Sunday mornings throughout the month of August. We encourage youth and families to attend worship together at 10:00am in-person or via live stream!
Blaine Youth Group (BYG) is a place where youth (6th-12th grade) are invited into a loving community and celebrated as they are. BYG provides a safe environment for youth to build lasting friendships, grow spiritually, learn acceptance of self and others, express compassion for the world, and develop a love for God and neighbor. BYG has a space for any person who is interested.
Director of Youth Ministry: Lynne Onishi, lynneonishi@gmail.com; Associate Directors of Youth Ministry: Kai Yamamoto, kai.yamamo@gmail.com and Kaylee Yokoyama, kaylee.yokoyama1@gmail.com
Blaine Memorial UMC members gather around the newly revamped Minidoka Honor Roll with an additional 150 names added.
Summer pilgrimage offers reflection on gratitude
By Rev. Karen Yokota Love, additional photos by Ryan Kozu, Roger Tanioka, and Kai Yamamoto
Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Matthew 17:7-8
We are deep into the summer months now as we approach mid-August. For many people it is a time of rest and relaxation, some are enjoying the last few days of vacation, and, for some, school is beginning.
Why do we look forward to vacations so much? Even if we enjoy our regular routine, whether at home, school, or in the office, we also enjoy doing different and fun experiences. We even use an interesting word to describe these events. We call them, “recreational.”
(L-R): Rev. Karen, Lynne Onishi, and Marina Kozu enjoy Karaoke Night at the pilgrimage.
As I reflect on that word, recreation, it means to “re-create” or “create anew.” It implies that what is being re–created in your life is, well … in need of it! After all, things wear down, and our own energy and spirit can wear down over time as well. A few days away from our usual daily routine can help us develop a different overall perspective that can come from a relaxing time at the beach, or a hike to see a beautiful and scenic mountainside, or just about any great vacation place.
Even staying at home for a “staycation” can help! Matthew 17:7-8 offers something that will never fade, never diminish, and never wear down. Jesus knows his disciples are about to enter a secular world to bring the message of salvation and love to a sometimes, hostile world. Jesus knows it will be hard and stressful work at times. He wants them to rely on something that will always be at full strength for them wherever they are.
Jesus took several of his closest friends to a mountaintop and was transfigured before them. No one today knows exactly what happened, but the testimony of his disciples was that it was wonderful. They never forgot it and it stayed with them for the rest of their lives. Jesus replicated that event through the holy ritual of Holy Communion. Jesus continues to be the daily bread that sustains the disciples in all of their future adventures – no matter how stressful.
The very best “re-creation” comes from time spent with Our Lord! We had the opportunity to recreate ministry adventures this summer and bring a new twist on everything!
Many of our youth went to Jr. High Camp and Asian Camp and had a wonderful time connecting with new and old friends while growing deep in their faith with Christ. I’m also grateful for a wonderful week of Vacation Bible School (VBS) which proved to be another successful year with this year’s theme, “Food Truck Party.”
VBS Leaders and Shepherds lead the VBS campers with Food Truck Party in song and dance!
I also had the opportunity to serve as a faith leader at this year’s Minidoka Pilgrimage. Around 250 pilgrims journeyed to Twin Falls, ID, 131 miles southeast of Boise. The three-day event consisted of educational lectures, and workshops at the College of Southern Idaho. We shared meals and made new friends. On Saturday, we hopped on charter buses to visit the Minidoka Incarceration site in Hunt, ID. Stories were told – tragic stories, as well as stories of great healing. Today, the site continues to hold a mixture of memories and strong emotions – feelings of denial, distrust, shame. There is also a keen sense of joy and recognition of community and love who care for each other. This year’s pilgrimage theme was grounded with the question, “What kind of ancestors do we want to be?” (The typography on the front cover is created by Artist and Designer Erin Shigaki.)
National Parks Services Regional Director Anna Tamura (right) explains to the group that they are in a barrack that multiple families inhabited while incarcerated during WWII.
The pilgrimage was attended by former incarcerees, their family members, friends, and allies. It offers an opportunity to safely revisit the land and the memories amidst family, friends, supporters, and National Park Service officials. On the final day of the pilgrimage, the National Park Services unveiled a revamped Honor Roll of those who were incarcerated who served in the military. The Honor Roll listed an additional 150 names. We also learned about the existential threat that Minidoka currently faces from the massive Lava Ridge wind farm. If the wind farm is built, it will destroy the sacred land of Minidoka and that could erase the preservation and sacredness of the site.
(L-R): Jesse Love, Rev. Karen Yokota Love, Anna Arakaki-Lock and Dale Kaneko enjoy God’s beauty at the Zephyr Point retreat.
At the end of July, I was honored to serve as the primary speaker at the NCJCCF Zephyr Point Church Retreat at Lake Tahoe, NV. I spent a week guiding 50 participants through a journey about aging. Aging can happen through three areas of life that we all need to face which encompasses moving through our grief, having gratitude, and seeing God’s grace. The week was woven together with pilgrims’ faith journey stories, golfing, swimming, line dancing, learning about other church ministries, Japanese card making, and learning how to use the Apple iMovie software program to create and edit video! Blaine’s very own Dale Kaneko taught the group how to use iMovie and folks were asked to create 30-second videos. The week proved to be a time to get deep with our small group friends, and closer to Christ, and, of course, to have fun!
As we look towards autumn, I’m excited to announce that we’re having our well-known and much anticipated Blaine Memorial Bazaar! This year’s Bazaar is on Saturday, October 7, from 11am-5pm. We’ll have our favorites which include BBQ chicken, udon, curry, baked goods and a Farmer’s Market.
Among my prayers this month is for August to be a month of summer blessings. May your time with each other be relaxing and joyful. May the arrival of autumn also be a time of celebration and hope.
The Rev. Karen Yokota Love serves as the Senior Pastor of Blaine Memorial UMC.
Welcome of Grace and Greeting Rev. Dr. Mark C. Hearn
*Call to Worship Based on Psalm 105:1-11 Rev. Dr. Mark C. Hearn
*Opening Hymn Surely the Presence of the Lord (x2) UMH #328 Eugene and Kathy Onishi
Opening Prayer Rev. Dr. Mark C. Hearn
First Scripture Reading Matthew 14:22-33 (CEB, JLB) Allison Hall, Tsutomu Nagoya
Children’s Message Sai Hanaoka
Second Scripture Reading Romans 10:5-15 (NRSVUE, JLB) Allison Hall, Tsutomu Nagoya
Special Music I Will Follow Words and Music by Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, and Reuben Morgan The Blaine Praise Team
Prayers of the People Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
Sermon Beautiful Feet of Sharing Good News Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Hymn of Reflection Since Jesus Came into My Heart (vs. 1-3) TFWS #2140 Eugene and Kathy Onishi
Introduction to the Offering Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
*Doxology Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH #94 Eugene and Kathy Onishi
Prayer of Dedication Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
Announcements Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
*Closing Hymn Together We Serve TFWS #2175 Eugene and Kathy Onishi
*Benediction Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Postlude Kathy Onishi
Sermon Questions
How does today’s passage emphasize the importance of verbal communication and personal interaction when sharing the gospel?
What does it mean for our feet to be considered “beautiful” in the context of sharing the good news? What are the responsibilities and privileges of being messengers of the good news?
What are some practical ways we can embody the concept of “beautiful feet” in our daily lives?
How can we make the balance between proclaiming the gospel with words and living it out through our actions? How does the concept of sharing the good news go beyond individual salvation and impact the growth and transformation of communities and societies?
Upcoming Lectionary Scriptures
Monday, August 14, 2023: Semi-continuous: Psalm 28; Genesis 37:29-36; 2 Peter 2:4-10 Complementary: Psalm 18:1-19; Genesis 7:11-8:5; 2 Peter 2:4-10
Saturday, August 19, 2023: Semi-continuous: Psalm 133; Genesis 42:1-28; Matthew 14:34-36 Complementary: Psalm 67; Isaiah 56:1-5; Matthew 14:34-36
Announcements
BYG to make sandwiches after today’s worship for Tent City 3!
BYG will make deli sandwiches for Tent City 3 after Fellowship Hour today! They will deliver the food with the donations that were collected at VBS to their location site in Northeast Seattle. If you are a BYG member and would like to participate, please talk to Lynne, Kai or Kaylee after worship!
Sumi Strokes of Summer Exhibit Now and until 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 is at the Premier Gallery at the Puyallup Activity Center (210 West Pioneer, Puyallup, WA 98371), From now until August 24, 9am-4pm, M-F (except holidays). (L) “Looking Back”by Fumiko Kimura
Save-the-Date:
Scholarship Sunday, BBQ and BYG Bake Sale on Sunday, August 27, 10am!
Saturday, August 12, 2023: Semi-continuous: Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Genesis 37:5-11; Matthew 16:1-4 Complementary: Psalm 85:8-13; 1 Kings 18:41-46; Matthew 16:1-4
Announcements
Kubota Garden Walk • August 12, 8:30AM
Meet at Blaine Memorial Join the Innovation Hub for a quiet walk and some spiritual reflection!
We will gather at 8:30 AM in the Blaine Memorial UMC parking lot and carpool to Kubota Garden at 9817 55th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118 (there is limited parking on-site). Please wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes and consider bringing a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. If folks are hungry after the walk, we will get okazu pan at Umami Kushi afterwards. Contact Lynne Onishi with questions: lynneonishi@gmail.com. Sign up here.
Prelude Would I Have Answered When You Called By Ralph Vaughan Williams Kathy Onishi
Welcome of Grace and Greeting Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
*Call to Worship (Based on Psalm 105:1-11) Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
*Opening Hymn Open the Eyes of My Heart by Paul Baloche Eugene and Kathy Onishi, Michelle Vaughan, Miriam Tong, and Neal Komedal
Opening Prayer Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
First Scripture Reading Romans 8:26-39 (NRSVUE, JLB) Sylvia Wong, Mike Takahashi
Children’s Message Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Special Music Blessed Be Your Name By Beth Redman, Matt Redman Eugene and Kathy Onishi, Michelle Vaughan, Miriam Tong, Neal Komedal
Sermon Life as Christians II Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Hymn of Reflection Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone By J. Newton, C. Tomlin and L. Giglio Eugene and Kathy Onishi, Michelle Vaughan, Miriam Tong, Neal Komedal
Introduction to the Offering Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
*Doxology Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (UMH #94) Eugene and Kathy Onishi
Prayer of Dedication Rev. Dr. Jeney Park-Hearn
Announcements Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
*Closing Hymn Forever by Chris Tomlin Eugene and Kathy Onishi, Michelle Vaughan, Miriam Tong, Neal Komedal
*Benediction Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Postlude It Is Well with My Soul By Philip P. Bliss and setting by John Carter Kathy Onishi
Passing of the Peace Rev. Mia MiKyung Park
Sermon Questions
What are the roles of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian?
According to Romans 8:28, what assurance do Christians have in their journey of life?
Based on today’s passage, how can Christians find strength and courage to live boldly for and with Christ, no matter the circumstances they encounter?
What practical steps can Christians take to strengthen a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit and experience the guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
Upcoming Lectionary Scriptures
Monday, July 31, 2023: Semi-continuous: Psalm 65:8-13; Genesis 30:25-36; James 3:13-18 Complementary: Psalm 119:121-128; 1 Kings 3:16-28; James 3:13-18
Saturday, August 5, 2023: Semi-continuous: Psalm 17:1-7, 15; Genesis 31:1-21; Matthew 7:7-11 omplementary: Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21; Isaiah 44:1-5; Matthew 7:7-11
Announcements
“Looking Back” by Fumiko Kimura
Sumi Strokes of Summer Exhibit • Now – 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.
RM Q&A Session • Today!
Join the Reconciling Ministries team for a drop-in Q&A session on Sunday, July 30 during fellowship hour! We will meet in the Webb Room (adjacent to the social hall) for some fun treats and conversation about the reconciling ministry process. Please stop by to chat with the team, find resources, enjoy snacks, and join in some fun activities! All are welcome. Contact Lynne Onishi for more info!
Save the Date: Blessing of the Animals • Next Sunday, Aug. 6
Blaine Memorial UMC will have a Blessing of the Animals worship service on Sunday, August 6, 2023, at 10:00AM in the Blaine Courtyard. Everyone is invited to bring pets (or pictures of pets) for the blessing. Dogs should be on leashes and other pets should be in appropriate carriers. Hope to see you there with your furry friend!
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 – Friday 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 July edition of the Beacon features stories from our church in celebration of Summer! Download the PDF!
