Pastor’s Letter
Greetings Siblings in Christ,
I truly give thanksgiving for our faith community that gathers at BMUC. I give thanks for the ministries and missions that we offer and the people we serve. I am grateful to be among you all and, with those of us who have been here for a season or more, to welcome new folx in to our community. Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!
We have been doing much these past several months from Winter Necessities Kits, to Lenten practices, to Easter celebrations, to our Bazaar, which is just completed and our upcoming Pentecost celebration on June 8, when we also welcome 3 new persons as members into our faith community (See article later in this newsletter.)
After this period both I and our Lay Members to Annual Conference, Olivia and Paul Iwahashi, will attend Annual Conference Session in Sacramento from June 26-June 29.
Before this time and for a brief period afterwards I will take some holiday time. During that time, we will have three different guest preachers with three different preaching themes, spiritual giftedness, and styles and all full of the power of the Holy Spirit.
UMC Licensed Pastor Chris Logan will preach June 15. Chris is a powerful and gentle preacher with a strong desire to help open pathways for people to experience and be led by the holy Spirit into their giftedness. It will be his first time preaching at BMUC. On June 23 and July 6, Rev. Judith Pruess-Mellow, retired deacon in the UMC will preach and lead worship on the gift of our earth creation and the sacredness of our earth as a resource to be cared for and healed. Many of you have already witnessed and received the preaching and praying gifts of Rev. Judith and I know you will welcome her on these two Sundays. On June 29, Greg Suzuki will preach leading us in spiritual faithfulness and the power of the Holy Spirit.
I know that you will welcome all of them with grace and joy the way you do the many who come to our community seeking spiritual care and nurture and community.
Our Congregational Care Ministers, Lee Marrs leemarrs45@gmail.com , Greg Suzuki gsuzukinc@gmail.com , and Mike Williams msw31855@gmail.com will be available for your spiritual care. Should you need pastoral care, Rev. Sam Park, Pastor of Albany UMC, will be available. Our Congregational Care Ministers have his personal contact information to connect you with him as the need arises.
As part of my holiday time, my family is gathering for a family reunion in my home state of Michigan over the July 4 holiday. It will be the first time my whole family is gathering together since my little brother, Ken’s, sudden and untimely death last April. I do ask for your prayers of joy and comfort as we gather to celebrate and have fun without his physical presence. Kenny was quite fond of our family reunions and especially fond of the fireworks and somewhat competitive rivalries we have in our various sports and games. It will be a bittersweet time for us as we continue to move forward in love and justice.
Blessings to you all and
Salaam, Shalom,
Rev. Pam
Thank You Bazaar 2025 Leads and Volunteers
Bazaar 2025 Leadership Team
Lois Kaya, Lee Marrs, Olivia Iwahashi, Paul Iwahashi, Greg Suzuki, Rev. Pam
From more than 3 months ago until this week, most of us at BMUC have been thinking about, suggesting ideas, sharing information, signing up to volunteer and help in some way for a successful BMUC Bazaar 2025. And, indeed it was successful – people laughed, some came for the first time, some volunteered for the first time.
We want to say, “Thank you!” to everyone who stepped up to help, stepped out of their comfort zones to help in different areas and who helped to make it a joyful and fun event both for volunteers and for our guests. THANK YOU!! Please do enjoy and we look forward to Bazaar 2026!
PENTECOST SUNDAY CELEBRATION
With New Members
Rev. Pamela L. Kurtz, Pastor
Pentecost Sunday, the 50th day after Easter, is a grand celebration of the birth of the Christian community – the day on which the Holy Spirit came upon those who had gathered in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension into heaven after his resurrection. It is on Pentecost that the gathered disciples were praying when the mystical experienced of wind and flames came upon them and they spoke in many different languages, familiar to many who had gathered in Jerusalem, but not to the disciples. It was on that day that we are told that thousands of Jews and some gentiles became faithful followers of the Risen Christ. The disciples then gathered them and taught them and trained them in the faith of Jesus the Christ.
It is on this Holy Sunday that we wear red, orange, yellow, colors of the flames of fire and we sing joyful Pentecost songs. SO PLEASE COME WEARING THE COLORS OF FIRE!
It is also the Sunday that many Christian churches, our included that new members into the United Methodist Church. This year we are blessed to welcome 3 people into membership in the United Methodist Church and particularly into membership in our local church.
