Weekly Update 16 January 2026

Reflection

Mark
Perschbacher

Mark Perschbacher

In the Gospel last week, we heard the well known passage where Jesus asks John to baptize him, and when he does, the Holy Spirit descends “like a dove”  followed by a voice that says “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” According to Biblical scholars, there are 90 plus references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.  Some of the more familiar references include Acts 2 where “tongues of fire” descend and those around are able to speak in a variety of languages.  The Holy Spirit reaching out to Mary so that she can conceive Jesus is a cornerstone in the Christmas saga.  In Acts 4, a passage reads, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” What exactly is the Holy Spirit? Is it a force, a being, something that is given to us?  I have heard it described as a quiet, still presence that can be communicated with, the very embodiment of God inside us, a force that sends us out to do good works, a source of comfort, something that God sends to help us maintain our faith here on Earth, and many other things.  I tend to lean toward the force that sends us out option.  How does the Spirit make itself known to you?

Sunday Service

Sunday, 18 January 2026
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Year A

Morning Prayer

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

Servers
Presider: Melissa Simonsen
Homilist: Sharman Badgett-Young
Altar Guild: Melissa Simonsen
Readers: Jason Wells, Tierney Wells
Ushers: Jerlyn Caba, Geoff Holmes
Organist: Lynne Berg
Coffee Hour Host: Men’s Group

Readings
Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-12
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.

Hymns
H 7 - Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies
H 530 - Spread, O Spread, Thou Mighty Word
H 707 - Take My Life
H 304 - I Come with Joy to Meet My Lord

Bulletin Link: 18 January 2026
YouTube Sunday Service Link

Designated Plate Offering

The plate offering this Sunday is designated for Chaplains on the Harbor. Chaplains on the Harbor are a group of chaplains who seek to build a freedom church of the poor by pastoring, organizing, and empowering the leadership of poor people in Grays Harbor County. 
Donations by check should be made to Christ Church with Chaplains on the Harbor in the memo line. Thank you!

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

Announcements

A Joyful Noise January 2026

Find all the January news at A Joyful Noise January 2026.

Bishop’s Committee Meeting

Monday, January 19
5:30—7:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom
All are welcome to attend.

Commissioning of Worship Leaders

Sunday, January 25
We will be commissioning our Worship Leaders at the 10:30 am service.

Annual Meeting

Sunday, January 25
Following the 10:30 am service
Parish Hall Gathering Room
We will be electing two new Bishop’s Committee members.
Nominees are Diana Hunt and Jim Minton.

Christ Church Leadership Retreat 2026

Saturday, January 31
10:00am–4:00pm
Christ Church
Theme: “Equipped for Shared Ministry”

Who Should Attend
Congregational leaders, including the Bishop’s Committee, chairs of ministries, members of various committees, and the Ministry Support Circle.

What to Expect
Facilitators include the Vicar, Wardens, and (pending confirmation) a representative from the Bishop’s Office.

Our goals for the day are to renew our shared leadership, orient new leaders, and discern a common vision for mission in 2026 and beyond. 

After lunch, committee members who are not part of the Bishop’s Committee or Ministry Support Circle may depart. The BC and MSC will continue with their respective annual retreat meetings, including the BC’s organizational work for the year ahead.

If you serve on the BC, MSC, or chair/participate in a committee, please plan to attend as we enter 2026 equipped for our shared ministry together.

Altar Flowers

You are invited to provide altar flowers for our Sunday services.
Flowers may be given in honor or memory of a loved one or in celebration of any occasion.
Please sign up on the Flower Chart in the Parish Hall Gathering Room or notify Altar  Guild Directress Mary Gronholt.
A check for the recommended donation of $45 may be made to Christ Church with “altar flowers” in the memo line. Please notify Marcy 2 weeks prior to your date with the dedication you would like printed in the bulletin. Many thanks to all of you who have so generously provided flowers.

Dinner at the Brick

Christ Church will host Dinner at the Brick on February 8, led by Stephanie Galbraith & Dan Moore.

‍ ‍ Dan & Stephanie

Dinner at the Brick, a program of Westminster Presbyterian Church, offers a free dinner to the community each Sunday at 4:30 pm.

Volunteers are needed to help with several jobs, including shopping, cooking, serving, setting up, and cleaning up. To volunteer, please contact Stephanie at sdgalbraith1963@gmail.com or Dan at dam1966@mac.com.

Evening Prayer

Weekly on Wednesdays
6pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
All are welcome.

Men’s Group

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 Update

Dawn Jex

Dawn Jex, Red Door Manager

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the middle of January already! I hope you all are finding ways to stay warm and cozy amidst all of this rain! Thank goodness it's only for a season, right? I know some of you will ask if we are open next Monday for MLK Day. While we honor his memory it is not a day we are normally closed. We will be open next Monday for donations and set up. 

Just want to take a quick minute here to reiterate that we are now doing some pricing a little bit differently. I am focusing on purses and belts at this time. All purses and belts should be priced individually. We have been getting quite a few expensive bags - those can go in my office for Shawna to research. Please attach tags securely using the plastic pricing gun if possible. We will no longer be using signage or wording such as, "If it doesn't have a tag, it's only $4."

Cashiers - Please remember no tag = no sale on these items. Thank you. 

Since we have moved into the new building, I am seeing that some of you are getting frustrated with how the space is arranged. Some volunteers want more table space, some volunteers think it's too crowded. It is my job to set up the spaces so that they are the most open and workable for the whole team so things can move smoothly through the process. 

Mostly, Debbie and I are seeing that too many donation bins are being pushed into the pricing area. This is not helpful for our pricing team as this makes them feel crowded and overwhelmed. Please remember to put only three bins on the long white pricing table on the west wall.  We can also place two bins on the long brown wooden table.  The black rolling cart (media cart) can be used to bring bins into the pricing area if needed.

If the donations is full and there is no more room in the pricing area for bins there are a few things we can do: One of the donation crew can go into pricing and help them price or take items out to the floor (we can train you :),  Donations can close temporarily until we catch up, we can be choosier about what/how many items we are keeping. But work together with pricing please - don't just pile bins hoping they will catch up. Currently we have more donation volunteers than pricers. 

Donations - all glass canning jars should come in to be priced - these go like HOT CAKES! Ive seen a few in the recylce bin lately. The recycle bin in donations is only for paper. 

I think that's everything for now. I will be working on the calendars today and should be able to get them out to you shortly. 

Big hugs and thanks for being a part of the Red Door Team. 
Dawn Jex

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

John, brother of Lynne, & family
Pat, mother of Dan
Creamy & family
Jim, father of Stephanie
Gaylene
Veronica
Mary
Diane
Rev. Rilla & family
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