A Joyful Noise August 2025
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Senior Warden Message
Tom Young, Senior Warden
Tom Young
Participation
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. (1 Peter 4:10)
July feels like a “vacation” month because the Bishop’s Committee doesn’t hold its regularly scheduled meeting. But our church has been just as busy as ever. Evening Prayer has been happening every Wednesday evening. Zimzum Discipleship started up. Canon Cristi Chapman came and led our July 20 Eucharist, then followed it by providing a very good Q&A session at coffee hour. The Red Door expansion progressed nicely, going from bare ground to a foundation to a tall structure that now has openings for doors and windows, topped by a slanted roof.
It’s also a good time of year to join in on our dynamic church, as people have left for the summer or have moved. We’ve got opportunities! The Altar Guild, Hospitality Team, Red Door Thrift Shop, Zimzum, Choir, scripture reading, Usher ministry, and Pastoral Care ministry are all seeking more hands, feet, and hearts. We all have gifts to share, made whole by everyone’s participation. I have heard from multiple sources that Christ Church is the model of Total Common Ministry in our Diocese!
And finally, I hope you will join us at our annual Mass on the Grass this Sunday. The Pacific Lutheran University Steel Band will provide the music as only they can.
Mass on the Grass
Sunday, August 3
10:30 am
Mass on the Grass Holy Eucharist
Christ Church will host their annual outdoor service, Mass on the Grass, on the church grounds, with The Rev. Courtney Jones presiding. Our friends at Celebration Church Anacortes, St. James’ Church Sedro-Woolley, and St. Paul’s Church Mt. Vernon have been invited. We will once again be welcoming the Steel Band from Pacific Lutheran University as our musical guests.
The Pacific Lutheran University Steel Band
A potluck picnic will follow the service. Pulled pork sandwiches and beverages will be provided. We ask that if your last name begins with the letter A-L, please bring a side dish or salad; M-Z, please bring dessert.
Please bring a friend! All are welcome!
And, lastly, your own folding chair might be handy.
A Service of Celebration
MJ Barrett
You are invited to a service to celebrate The Feast of the Transfiguration and the Renaming of MJ Barrett.
Wednesday, August 6
6pm Holy Eucharist
A reception for MJ will follow in the Parish Hall Gathering Room
All are welcome.
A Festive Altar Party
Thank you to all for making The Rev. Canon Cristi Chapman’s visit in July a festive and welcoming event.
Christ Church Bishop’s Committee
Are you interested in serving on the Christ Church Bishop’s Committee?
If so, please chat with Senior Warden Tom Young, People’s Warden Margaret Whatley or any of our current BC members: Martie Arnold, Ed Barton, Diane Guinn, Geoff Holmes, Siriana Simonsen, Margaret Whatley, and Kris Whitely, to learn what is involved. The new term begins January 2026.
Children’s Faith Formation: Godly Play
Godly Play will meet one Sunday in August.
Please check your Weekly Update for the date.
Storyteller: John Okerman
Please meet in the Church for the 10:30 am service.
We will leave after the Announcements at the beginning of the service and will be back in time to celebrate the Eucharist with our church family.
All ages are welcome.
Learn about Christ Church’s faith formation program for children at
Godly Play.
Adult Faith Formation: Zimzum Discipleship
Zimzum Discipleship sessions are held on 2nd & 4th Sundays
12:15 pm
Parish Hall Conference Room
All are welcome.
Questions? Please contact Betty Anne McCoy, bamccoy41@gmail.com
Zimzum discipleship is a practice centered around intentionally creating space in one's life for God, others, and the created world. Zimzum bids us to fully become the people that God has created us to be by making space in our lives to cultivate those practices that can nurture our souls and lead us to a Christ-centered life.
Questions regarding Zimzum? Please contact The Rev. Courtney Jones, therevecj@gmail.com, or visit Diocese of Olympia Zimzum Discipleship.
August Designated Plate Offering
The Rev. Vicki & The Rev. Eric
Our loose plate offering on August 17 is designated for the Christ Church Clergy Discretionary Fund. The fund is administered by our deacons, Rev. Eric Johnson and Rev. Vicki Johnson.
The Christ Church Discretionary Fund is established by the Bishop’s Committee in the name of the church. The fund is set aside for the use of the clergy, at their discretion. The clergy “discretion” is limited in that the money may not be used for clergy’s personal expenses, or to pay for items which are in fact operating expenses of the church. Generally, the monies are used to confidentially assist parishioners or others in the community facing a crisis expense or need that they would otherwise be unable to meet, e.g., a medical bill or extraordinary car repair, emergency housing, or scholarship for a faith formation program. The clergy maintain the discretionary account records confidentially; the operating procedures of Christ Church direct an annual audit by the Wardens. While some churches fund a discretionary account as part of their annual budget, that is not the case at Christ Church. Presently, the clergy discretionary account receives money through occasional designated donations from congregants, and donations to the church or to individual clergy in conjunction with burial or other sacramental services. Donations in any amount are always welcome.
Donations by check should be made to Christ Church with Clergy Discretionary Fund in the memo line. Thank you!
Bishop’s Committee
The Bishop’s Committee will meet on August 18.
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom.
All are welcome to attend.
Deacon Eric’s Monthly Update
The Rev. Eric Johnson
The Reverend Eric Johnson
Old Friends Club at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church
The Old Friends Club (OFC) is a community-based social respite program that provides friendship and belonging for those living with dementia and much-needed respite for their caregivers. On 14 July, Tom Young, Jason Wells and I held a virtual meeting with the Rev. Kristy Farber, senior pastor at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church (MIPC) to discuss the operation of the Old Friends Club at their parish. This was a follow-up to a meeting held earlier in the month with Tanya Su, Program Coordinator for OFC at MIPC.
Here’s what we found out:
The Old Friends Cub is a mission of Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. Thus, there is no use-agreement between the church and the OFC. The OFC program director and assistant are employees of the church.
The Old Friends Club meets once per week with 12 members (the max capacity). They opened in September with 4 participants; six months later they had expanded to a dozen, and six clients are now on the waiting list.
Volunteers for the program are a mix of church members and volunteers throughout Mercer Island (much like the Red Door Thrift Shop). Currently there are 17 volunteers; two volunteers prepare lunch each week; one volunteer prepares baked goods for breakfast.
Both the director and assistant are retired social workers.
The cost for members: $400 per month (meeting each Thursday from 10:00 - 2:00).
Start-up funding for the Club came from a grant from the City of Mercer Island ($10,000) plus a grant from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at Mercer Island ($4,000). They are budgeted to close out 2025 at $118.64 in the black).
Each week has a different program/theme (e.g., collectibles, pictures of parents, national park day [with an indoor picnic lunch], etc.)
One Parish-One Prisoner
One-Parish One Prisoner is an effort to equip parishes—faith communities small or large, traditional or rag-tag—in every American town to build supportive pre-release relationships with just one person returning to their community from prison.
On 30 June I spoke with Pastor Stephanie Hankey about Westminster Presbyterian’s selected prisoner (as reported in the 3 July 2025 Weekly Update ) and with the Rev. Dexter Kearny, a Presbyterian pastor, and Parish Mobilizer for One-Parish One Prisoner (3 July 2025 Weekly Update).
Armed with that information I signed the no-commitment Interest Form, so we can find out more about the program.
Here are some of the basics of the program:
A Two-Year Covenant Journey with Your Team (7-10 people) & Releasing Friend
Prison letters, monthly learning, relationship-building, reentry planning (6-9 months)
Reentry work, personal accompaniment, and monthly learning (12-15 months)
Reflection and discernment forward (3 months)
Just 4 Hours / Month / Participant (average)
Read Monthly Learning Modules: .5 hour
Gather In Monthly Team Meetings: 1.5 hours
Write Letters (or emails or phone calls): 1 hour
Rolling Away Stones (JPay setup, housing prep, driver’s license, etc.): 1 hour
As soon as we make a decision to move ahead with the program, the OPOP team will step ahead together with us.
Wednesday Prayer Services
Maggie Collinge
Centering Prayer
Weekly on Wednesdays
1:15 - 1:45 pm
All are welcome at this short, simple service: a scripture reading, 20 minutes of silence, an intercessory prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer. Questions? Please contact Maggie Collinge, 360 202-5588.
Evening Prayer
Weekly on Wednesdays
6:00 - 6:30 pm
All are welcome.
Men’s Group
The Men’s Group meets weekly on Fridays.
9:00 – 10:00 am
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Questions? Please contact The Rev. Eric Johnson.
All are welcome.
Red Door Thrift Shop
*The Red Door Thrift Shop has a new phone number: 360-202-9966.*
Christ Church’s Red Door Thrift Shop is located at 1019 Seventh Street in Anacortes.
360-202-9966, Red Door Thrift Shop
Red Door Shopping Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 10am – 3pm
Red Door Donation Hours:
Monday & Wednesday: 10am – 1pm
Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 10am - 3pm
Profits generated at the Red Door Thrift Shop fund Christ Church’s Community Support program.
Shoppers, Volunteers, & Donations are always welcome!
Celebrations!!!
Happy Anniversary to…
…Betty Anne & Frank McCoy on August 6
……Judith & Lorne Render on August 20
Happy Birthday to…
…Bob McElroy on August 3
……Myrna McIalwain on August 9
………Charlene Corbin on August 21
…………Mark Perschbacher on August 25
Please send the month & date of your birthday, baptismal date, anniversary, and/or other special occasions so we can help you celebrate your blessings in the Joyful Noise.
Sunday Services
Please check your Weekly Update for each week’s Servers & Hymns.
YEAR C
3 August 2025
The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 13
9:30 am Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 O Avenue, Anacortes
Presider:
10:30 am Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
Presider: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Deacon: The Rev. Vicki Johnson
Homilist:
Readings:
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
Psalm 49:1-12
Colossians 3:1-11
Luke 12:13-21
10 August 2025
The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 14
9:15 am Chandler’s Square Holy Eucharist
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 O Avenue, Anacortes
Presider: The Rev. Keith Axberg
10:30 am Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
Presider: The Rev. Keith Axberg
Deacon & Homilist: The Rev.
Readings:
Genesis 15:1-6
Psalm 33:12-22
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Luke 12:32-40
17 August 2025
The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 15
9:30 am Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 O Avenue, Anacortes
Presider:
10:30 am Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
Presider: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Deacon: The Rev. Vicki Johnson
Homilist: E
Readings:
Jeremiah 23:23-29
Psalm 82
Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2
Luke 12:49-56
24 August 2025
The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 16
9:30 am Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 O Avenue, Anacortes
Presider:
10:30 am Christ Church Morning Prayer
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
Presider:
Homilist:
Readings:
Isaiah 58:9b-14
Psalm 103:1-8
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 13:10-17
31 August 2025
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 17
9:30 am Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 O Avenue, Anacortes
Presider:
10:30 am Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
Presider: The Rev. Keith Axberg
Deacon: The Rev. Vicki Johnson
Homilist: E
Readings:
Sirach 10:12-18
Psalm 112
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14