Weekly Update 17 April 2026

Reflection

John Okerman

“Come and See”

John Okerman

Last Friday I watched Artemis II successfully return, ending a ten‑day journey beyond the far side of the moon. Four astronauts — three men and a woman — traveled farther from Earth than anyone in human history and returned home safely. As I watched their capsule bob in the Pacific, I saw something rare in our divided world – diverse groups of people working with each other towards a common goal.

People of many backgrounds were working in harmony with each other in order to complete a mission larger than any one person. Engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, U.S. Navy sailors, divers, aviators, and ship crews joined the astronauts to bring them home. Welders, mathematicians, pilots, technicians — people with different beliefs, politics, and life stories — united because the mission mattered to them and to the world.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, John 1:29–42 tells a similar story. When John points to Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God,” ordinary people are drawn into something greater than themselves. Andrew and Simon Peter, the first disciples do not begin with perfect understanding or agreement; they begin with a simple invitation from Jesus: “Come and see.”

Both moments — a modern space mission and the calling of the first disciples — reveal what becomes possible when people look beyond themselves and respond to a shared purpose. Artemis II shows what human beings can accomplish when we work together. The Gospel shows what God can accomplish when we follow Christ together.

“Come and see.” Let us answer that invitation by loving our neighbor, working in unity, and making our world a better place.

Sunday Service

Sunday, 19 April 2026
The Third Sunday of Easter

Holy Eucharist

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

Servers
Presider: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Deacon : The Rev. Vicki Johnson
Homilist: Maggie Collinge
Eucharistic Minister: Melissa Simonsen
Altar Guild: Martie Arnold, Jim Minton
Bread Ministry: Stephanie Galbraith & Dan Moore
Readers: Jason Wells, Tierney Wells
Ushers: Jim Minton, Margaret Whatley
Organist: Lynne Berg
Eucharistic Visitors: John Okerman, June Cook
Coffee Hour Host: Wells Family

Readings
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116: 1-3, 10-17
1 Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.

Hymns
H 174 - At the Lamb’s High Feast
WLP 767 - Baptized in Water
LEVAS 146 - Break Thou the Bread of Life
H 208 - The Strife is O’er
H 296 - We Know that Christ is Raised

Bulletin Link: 19 April 2026
YouTube Sunday Service Link

Designated Plate Offering
The loose plate offering this Sunday is designated for the The Diocese of Jerusalem. Donations by check should be made to Christ Church with Diocese of Jerusalem in the memo line.

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

The Reverend Courtney Jones

Faith Formation
Sunday Morning Shenanigans:
Exploring the Episcopal Church and Its Liturgy
This Sunday, April 19
12:15 - 1:15 pm
Parish Hall Conference Room
Topic: The Liturgy of the Table
Facilitator: Rev. Courtney & friends
Questions will be invited! 
All are welcome.

Announcements

A Joyful Noise April 2026

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

A Family in Dire Need

The Rev. Vicki Johnson

The Rev. Vicki
Johnson

As many of you may know, a recent murder-suicide occurred in Anacortes. This tragedy leaves behind two young adult daughters and three children in elementary and middle school.

Westminster Presbyterian Church has set up a fund to help the family. The following is an edited excerpt from a letter received from a parishioner at the church.

Bruce and Mitzi left behind their 25-year old daughter, Hannah, and 21-year old, Calli, as well as 3 younger kiddos that they adopted many years ago.  Hannah and her fiancé, Manny, were living in the MIL unit (while finishing college) and have stepped up to take custody of the 3 children (3rd, 6th, and 8th grade).  Calli was living at UW in her 3rd year of college and has since moved here. 

After the traumatic deaths of their parents, they proceeded to learn that the parents were bankrupt. The house is in foreclosure, and their cars are soon to be repossessed. They have nothing. Imagine being in college/tech school and immediately being responsible for 3 kids.  Fortunately, the family attorney is working pro bono to help with all things required to gain custody of the 3 kids, apply for state services, and manage the foreclosure. The kids will eventually get Social Security Survivors Benefits.

Our church, WPC, is holding this family up and will do everything we can to support them as they create a new path for their lives.  Hannah and Manny, along with Calli, are now parenting these kids and figuring out how they can also finish college.  We are working with the community to raise money but it is hard for people to fathom just how much support is needed. 

You may help provide support via: 

WPC - Emergency Fund 
1300 9th Street
Anacortes WA 98221

 OR

Go Fund Me: Support for Hannah, Calli, and Family after Loss

Please help in whatever way you feel called.
The Rev. Vicki Johnson

Amnesty International Letter

MJ Barrett

This month’s Amnesty International letter, which calls for the release of Dr. Sarah Bireete, will be available to sign this Sunday in the Parish Hall Gathering Room.
Questions? Please contact MJ Barrett.

Cathedral Day

Saturday, April 25
St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle
Christ Church congregants Mary Ellen Huggins and Jason Wells will be received into the Episcopal Church.
Find more information at Cathedral Day 2026.
If you are interested in carpooling, please contact June Cook.

Zoom Presentation: Grief As a Threshold Experience

Maggie Collinge

Maggie
‍ ‍ Collinge

Please join me to watch a ZOOM presentation, offered through the Diocese of Olympia’s Wisdom School.
Wednesday, April 29
6:45 - 8:45 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
This Zoom presentation will be facilitated by The Rev. Cano Rich Weyls.

A Suggestion: Join in Evening Prayer (6pm every Wednesday in the Sanctuary) before the presentation.

Grief as a Threshold Experience

Grief is a human response to any sort of loss in life. The experience of grief is a liminal space, a threshold between what was and what is, between presence and absence, between the known and the mysterious. In this session, we will explore various forms of grief and move beyond classical stage theories to examine the cognitive, social, cultural and spiritual dimensions of grief and recovery. We will concentrate upon the profound spiritual growth that can happen as people learn to live with their grief in a new way.

This Week at Christ Church…

Bishop’s Committee Meeting

Monday, April 20
5:30pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
All are welcome to attend.

Centering Prayer

Weekly on Wednesdays
1:15-1:45 pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
All are welcome.
Questions?
Please contact Maggie Collinge, 360-202-5588, collingmargaret72@gmail.com

Evening Prayer

Weekly on Wednesdays
6:00-6:30 pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
April 15 Presider: The Rev. Vicki Johnson
All are welcome.
Questions?
Please contact The Rev. Vicki Johnson, 509-302-7364, vicki_johnson66@yahoo.com

Men’s Group

Tom Young

Weekly on Fridays
8:00 - 9:00 am
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Questions?
Please contact Tom Young, 425-263-1916, seathos@comcast.net
All are welcome.

The Red Door Thrift Shop Update

Dawn Jex

Dawn Jex, Red Door Manager

Hello Everyone,

As most of you will have noticed, Debbie and I have been doing some Spring Cleaning in the shop. We have moved a few things around, made displays look more approachable and cleared out some of our Prime Real Estate areas. AND our customers are noticing! We have received multiple positive remarks on how nice the shop looks over the last couple of weeks. Yay!

So yes, this means some things have moved. We are trying to move all of the small "fiddly" plastic buckets of items into the back room - specifically those that were right across from the cashier - into the back room. So if you cannot find something, please ask Debbie or I and we will let you know where to find it. We are also creating a more "circular' flow to both retail spaces. Research shows that circular shopping spaces are more friendly and welcoming to shoppers - who knew? We learn something new every day!

We are in Mother's Day season, Spring and Camping and our displays should be reflecting that in the next couple of weeks. Father's Day will follow soon after and we will hit Summer displays quickly after. As we move into summer please only keep full swimsuits for women. That would be both pieces of a bikini or a one piece. Both men and women's swimsuits are in a bin under the west window. 

In donations, we are now storing winter items in the big green garbage bin. Please keep only items that are brand new with tags, high quality or brand names. Thank you! We also are storing heavy winter coats on the rack above the goodwill boxes and on that top shelf is where we are keeping anything for Oyster Run in September. 

I will be out of town for the rest of the week. I'm heading to Salem, OR to help my mom recover from knee replacement surgery. I will be back on 4/21. Debbie will be in charge while I'm gone. Refer any questions or texts regarding the shop to her. Her phone number is on the bulletin board in the pricing area. 

Thank you all for what you are doing to make The Red Door such a huge success. It takes ALL of us doing our part to make this thing run. YOU are doing great!

I AM looking to delegate the monthly calendars to someone. If you are good with computers and would be willing to help me update the calendars once per month - please let me know. This would be a great way to volunteer from home. 

See you soon,
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

Proceeds 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

Rev. Eric & Lynette
Charlene
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
Pete & Charlene & family, Rachel, Heather, and Billie, family & friends of Mary