Remembering Rev. Umeko Kagawa Momii

Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)

Dear friends,

I share the sad news of the passing last night (August 19) at home of the Rev. Umeko Kagawa Momii, who had just entered hospice care following a rapid decline earlier in the week. She was 92 years old.

Rev. Momii was the first Japanese woman ordained by the United Presbyterian Church, in November 1981, and served at Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church in Salinas, CA, prior to being called as the associate pastor for Japanese language ministries at Japanese Presbyterian Church of Seattle from 1990–1995.

Rev. Momii was preceded in death by her husband John in 2018 [obituary with photos].

Though she and John were long retired by the time I began serving at Presby twelve years ago, I was blessed to continually welcome them and provide pastoral care to them to the ends of their lives.

Please pray for God’s peace for her extended family and especially daughter Machiko, with whom she had been living, Machiko’s husband Marcus, their children Joji and Kitsune, and numerous caregivers as they grieve.

Thanks be to God that Rev. Momii has completed her baptism and walks in newness of life with the Lord!

Faithfully,

J. P.

Rev. Dr. J. P. Kang
Associate Pastor
Japanese Presbyterian Church of Seattle