Weekly Update 31 October 2025
Reflection
The Rev. Eric Johnson
All Saints: We’re All Connected
The Rev. Eric
Johnson
Before we take our first breath, an umbilical cord binds us to life, to nourishment, to love. We are not self-made; we come from someone, and we belong to someone.
Our belly buttons remind us that each of us begins life connected — not separate, but joined.
The cord is cut, yet the connection remains. Within each of us flows the story of those who came before — parents and grandparents, ancestors and saints, all the way back to Adam and Eve.
The communion of saints is not only a spiritual bond but a physical one. The same lifeblood that pulsed through their veins pulses through ours. The same breath of God that animated Adam and Eve fills our lungs today.
All Saints’ Day reminds us that we are never alone. We are woven into a vast and living tapestry — one people across time, joined not only by faith, but by the very life of God that connects creation to Creator.
On this All Saints’ Day 2025, I am thankful for that holy connection of life and love —unbroken, eternal, and ever drawing us toward the heart of God.
Deacon Eric
Sunday Services
Sunday, 2 November 2025
All Saints’ Sunday
Year C
Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
9:30 am
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 “O” Avenue, Anacortes
Presider: June Cook
Christ Church Holy Eucharist
10:30 am
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
The service is also available on YouTube.
Servers
Presider & Homilist: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Deacon: The Rev. Eric Johnson
Eucharistic Minister: Jim Minton
Altar Guild: Mary Gronholt
Bread Ministry: Jim Minton
Readers: MJ Barrett, Judy McClelland
Ushers: Jerlyn Caba, Geoff Holmes
Organist: Lynne Berg/Mark Perschbacher
Eucharistic Visitor: June Cook
Coffee Hour Host: Stewardship Committee
Readings
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
Psalm 149
Ephesians 1:11-23
Luke 6:20-31
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.
Hymns
H 287 - For All the Saints
WLP 767 - Baptized in Water
LEVAS 14 - Soon and Very Soon
H 448 - O Love, How Deep
H 293 - I Sing a Song of the Saints of God
All Saints’ Sunday
On this special Sunday, we’ll commemorate the saints and remember our departed loved ones. You will be invited to light a candle in memory of a loved one and to add the name of a departed loved one to the Youth Group’s Dia de Los Muertos ofrenda in the church.
The service will conclude with a Remembrance at the Memorial Garden.
This Sunday is also Ingathering Sunday, when we joyfully gather our 2026 pledge cards for a blessing. There will be a special Coffee Hour, hosted by the Stewardship Committee, following the service. All are welcome.
Adult Faith Formation
Book Study: The Four Vision Quests of Jesus
Following Coffee Hour
Facilitators: Maggie Collinge & Melissa Simonsen
Parish Hall Conference Room
All are welcome to join in a thought-provoking exploration of The Four Vision Quests of Jesus by Steven Charleston, Episcopal bishop and member of the Choctaw Nation.
Sessions continue on November 16 & 30.
Dinner at the Brick
Christ Church hosts Dinner at the Brick this Sunday.
Find more information in the November edition of A Joyful Noise.
Announcements
A Joyful Noise November 2025
Find all the November news at A Joyful Noise November 2025.
Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday at 2am.
Community Support Committee Meeting
Friday, November 7
11am
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom
All are welcome to help evaluate requests for disbursement of the community support funds generated at Christ Church’s Red Door Thrift Shop. The committee will then make a recommendation to the Bishop’s Committee.
If you would like to join this effort, please email Community Support Committee Chair Rev. Eric Johnson at anacorteseric@gmail.com.
Red Door Thrift Shop Expansion Project
Diane Guinn
We’re excited to say that the Red Door Expansion project is very close to being finished. Now we are looking at how we are going to best utilize our new space. We are in need of a few shelving units for display and/or storage. If you have anything you think might work for us, please contact Diane Guinn. You can text a copy of what you have to 360 982-3614. We can arrange pickup.
Thank you,
Diane Guinn
Red Door Thrift Shop Committee
Weekly Prayer Services
Maggie
Collinge
Centering Prayer
Weekly on Wednesdays
1:15 - 1:45 pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
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
Christ Church Sanctuary
November 5 Presider: Sharman Badgett-Young
All are welcome.
The Rev. Eric
Johnson
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.
The Red Door Thrift Shop
Dawn Jex
Dawn Jex, Red Door Manager
Hello Everyone,
This morning the Thanksgiving goods are all out on Display and next week we will be starting with all of the Christmas glitter and tinsel. The holiday season is here with all of the Christmas carols, the smell of turkey roasting in the oven, and sweet memories with family.
Thank you in advance to everyone who will be working so hard to price and display all of the items that will be coming over from the garage in the very near future. It's a lot of work and we couldn't do it without your help.
Red Door Giving - One of our cashiers, Julie Lee, had a great idea this morning. She thought maybe we could do something to help anyone in need of food this season. We have placed a box near the front door that is labeled "Food Donations." We will collect shelf stable foods and then give them to a local food bank/food ministry in our community. We also have a printout on the front counter of local food ministry options for anyone who may need it. Thank you, Julie, for this very tangible way in which we can be the helpers.
Towel Rags - I have noticed that when I take full size towels that are in less than perfect condition (Towel Rags) and mark them $1.00 PETS. They sell very quickly. So let's make that our standard procedure. Let’s save towels that would otherwise go in the rag bin for that purpose. Everyone needs a Pet Towel! Thank you.
Hope you all are doing well and that you are snuggled in by the fireplace reading a good book and drinking some tea. Next week is November already and we should be making decisions about our grants soon!
Happy Early Holidays,
Dawn
Christ Church’s Red Door Thrift Shop is located at 1019 Seventh Street in Anacortes.
Red Door Thrift Shop
360.202.9966
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!
Day by Day
Day by Day daily devotions may be accessed at the following link:
Day by Day Daily Devotion.
Prayer List
Please offer prayers of thanksgiving for the life of Carleton Manning and keep his wife, Creamy, and their family in your prayers.
Jim, father of Stephanie
Gaylene
Veronica
Shelley
Mary
Diane
Rev. Rilla & family
Linda, sister-in-law of Lynne
Myrna
Arra, aunt of Carol
Sandy
Dale
Zoanne
Linda
Tom
Karen
Leslie
Diana
Val
John
Foundation for Academic Endeavors
Cedar, Pete & Charlene, and Brendan, family & friends of Mary