Weekly Update 28 November 2025

Reflection

The First Sunday of Advent

The following Reflection is from Arts & Faith: Advent, IgnatianSpirituality.com

Preparation
As we begin this time of quiet prayer, I invite you to find a comfortable place to sit with your back straight and your legs planted on the ground. Allow yourself to notice your breathing as you breathe normally. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Take a few moments and close your eyes, preparing yourself to listen to what God may be saying to you during this prayer. As you sit with your eyes closed, use these or similar words: “Here I am, Lord. Here I am.” When you are ready, open your eyes and pray.

The Mountain of the Lord’s House

Imagine you are climbing up the mountain of the Lord. As you start the path is wide with beautiful trees and flowers along the way. You fill your lungs with the cool, clean air. As you continue you notice the path is becoming narrow and steep. There seem to be more rocks sticking up from the ground. You find yourself a little out of breath as the air becomes thinner the higher you climb. You decide to rest on a large rock to catch your breath. You look up the path to see how much more you need to climb. You see someone in the distance. He’s looking at you. It looks like his hand is waving for you to come. Though you are alone, you are not afraid. In fact, you feel a pull, a desire to go this person.

You are standing in front of him. He is dressed in long robes that are moving gently in the mountain air. He smiles at you and asks, “What are you seeking on this path?” What do you say to him? What are you seeking?

“I am the prophet Isaiah. This is the mountain of the Lord. It is rich with life and dreams. What dreams do you bring to this place?” What are the dreams you bring to this mountain? What are your dreams that you want to share with the Lord?

Isaiah looks at you with eyes that know how to dream. “My dreams beat swords into plowshares. They are dreams of peace, of life, of hope.” What are the swords in your heart that need to be changed? What are the swords that wound you and hold you back from dreaming and from climbing the mountain of the Lord? Give those swords to Isaiah, the prophet, the dreamer. Ask him to help you change them into something life-giving.

“I will change your swords into plowshares so you can till the soil of your soul and know that God is with you. Are you ready for this dream to be real?” You look into the eyes of this dreamer, Isaiah, and you say, Yes. Yes, I am ready. Isaiah smiles at you and takes your hand in his. He looks at you with eyes filled deep with hope and life. He understands you. “Come,” he says, “let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

Concluding Prayer

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Sunday Service

Sunday, 30 November 2025
The First Sunday of Advent
Year A

Christ Church Holy Eucharist

10:30 am
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
The service is also available on YouTube.

Servers
Presider: The Rev. Diane Ramerman
Deacon: The Rev. Eric Johnson
Homilist: Maggie Collinge
Altar Guild: Judith Render, Lorne Render
Eucharistic Minister: Jason Wells
Bread Ministry: Jim Minton
Readers: Todd Fifield, Jerlyn Caba
Ushers: MJ Barrett, Margaret Whatley
Eucharistic Visitor: Shirley Barrett
Organist: Lynne Berg
Coffee Hour Host: Kay Landis

Readings
Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.

Hymns
H 61 - Sleepers, Wake!
H 601 - O Day of God, Draw Nigh
H 11 - Awake, My Soul
WLP 721 - Sounds of Ending All Around Us
H 68 - Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers

Bulletin Link: 30 November 2025
YouTube Sunday Service Link

Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour follows the service.
All are welcome.

Adult Faith Formation
Book Study: The Four Vision Quests of Jesus
Book Study concludes this Sunday, November 30.
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.

Announcements

Memorial Service for Bob Reiten

Sunday, December 7
Service begins at 3pm.
Sharing of memories begins at 2pm.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
555 SE Regatta Drive, Oak Harbor
All are welcome.

The Salvation Army’s 2nd Annual Church Week
Bell-Ringing Event

The Rev. Eric Johnson

The Rev. Eric
Johnson

Event Overview
The Salvation Army is organizing its second annual Church Week red kettle bell-ringing event. This initiative aims to bring together local faith communities to support the Salvation Army’s mission during the holiday season. I have volunteered for Monday, December 8, 2025, and I hope that both Christ Episcopal and the Center for Spiritual Living will once again join forces to form a team, building on the success we achieved together last year.

Bell-Ringing Schedule and Locations
Participants will be ringing bells at two locations: one entrance at the Market and both entrances at Safeway. The event will run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. To accommodate volunteers’ schedules, the day will be divided into one- or two-hour shifts, as was done previously.

Tom, Sharman, & Dan
‍ ‍ December 2024

Community Impact
Having churches ring the bells throughout the week will save the Salvation Army $2,448 in staffing expenses. These savings will be redirected to provide food and other essential services to our community.

Volunteer Information
If you can volunteer for one or two hours, please contact me at AnacortesEric@gmail.com to sign up and support this meaningful effort. Let me know when you would be available, and I’ll enter than on the schedule.

Weekly 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
December 3 Presider: Todd Fifield
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.

The Red Door Thrift Shop

Dawn Jex

Dawn Jex, Red Door Manager

Hello Everyone!

YOU ALL ARE THE BEST!

Because of you, the shop is all moved in and ready to go for next week! I am so proud of each and every one of you who made this possible. From husbands showing up to help, cashiers coming in to move boxes, donations folks coming in to clean.... It is all done. (To be honest there are a few Christmas boxes left to price but just a very few!)

You are amazing. 

Have a great Holiday and we will start fresh next Monday and back to our normal schedule!

Hugs,
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

Pat, mother of Dan
Creamy & family
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