Celebrating our Church School, BYG Leaders, and Graduates of 2023!
By Rev. Mia MiKyung Park, Associate Pastor
As we rapidly approach the end of the fall 2022-Spring 2023 school year, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our Church School teachers and youth group leaders. Throughout this post pandemic year, we have encountered numerous challenges, twists, and turns, but we have navigated them all with God’s grace and integrity. I am truly grateful for the entire church community coming together, united in faith. I want to extend a huge thank you to our Church School teachers and the members of the BYG Leadership team. Their dedication and love for our children and youth are immeasurable. When I think of Christian Education, the lyrics of the Hymn of Promise come to mind:
“In the bulb, there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; In cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free.”
I am filled with hope as I witness our children and youth growing in God’s love and grace, knowing that they are nurtured by our care and prayers. It brings me immense joy to reflect on another abundant and blessed year, and I want to take this opportunity to give a resounding shoutout to our Church School teachers and BYG Leadership team once again! Thank you so much for your dedicated hearts, all teachers and leaders!
Church School
Sai Hanaoka, Church School Superintendent
Arlene Mitsui, Teacher
Sylvia Wong, Teacher
Susan Lee, Teacher
Kim Furugori, Helper, not pictured
Dawn Sakaguchi-Tang, Teacher
BYG Leaders, Helpers, with Graduates of 2023
Lawrence Paltep, Outgoing Director
Lynne Onishi, Director
Kaylee Yokoyama, Assoc. Dir. Youth Ministries
Kai Yamamoto, Assoc. Dir. Youth Ministries
Michelle Yokoyama, Leader and College Graduate
Malia Yamamoto, Leader and College Graduate
Mariko Ronan, Leader
Kobe Yamamoto, Leader
Collin Ikeda, Advisor
Lorissa Ricord, Advisor
Jarrett Shirouzu, Advisor
Jenna Tong, Advisor
Joshua Santos, New Leader
Edwin Santos, New Leader
Jem Miyake, College Graduate
Allison Hall, H.S. Graduate
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
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!
Celebration of Teachers, BYG Leaders and Graduates of 2023
Thank you to the Yorozu Family for today’s flower arrangement. Arthur S. Yorozu, 95, passed away on September 26, 2022. Arthur’s Celebration of Life service was yesterday, June 3, 2023 at BMUMC.
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.
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.
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 Asian Camp (for incoming 10th grade- 2 yrs. post-high school)
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
The Beacon newsletter is ready for viewing!
Printed versions are available in the office, sanctuary, and social hall!
