Weekly Update 1 August 2025

Reflection

Mark Perschbacher

Mark Perschbacher

This has been an emotional rollercoaster sort of summer. The announcement of our younger son Kai’s engagement in May, and plans for the upcoming engagement party in Seattle this weekend have filled our lives with joy. My drumming group has performed at several great venues which also has added to the summer fun. The passing of my dear friend Terry several weeks ago served as a stark reminder of how near mortality is in this life. Terry and I worked together back in the early 2000’s and became great friends. He introduced me to telemark skiing, and we shared many wonderful days together in the great outdoors. He had been battling cancer, and most recently, debilitating back pain. When I last saw him in late May, he was a shell of his former self. We talked over the phone constantly, and for months now, the calls ended with him signing off, “Love you man,” which I always repeated back. Terry was raised Catholic in Scranton PA, but had rejected organized religion years ago. He was one of those spiritual but not religious folks, and we had many insightful discussions about faith, God, etc. On one of our last calls, he mentioned that he wanted to come to “my church.” I suggested that he check out St. Paul’s in Bellingham since he was now largely immobile, and St. Paul’s was much closer than Christ Church. His response was, “I want to go to your church.” Unfortunately, he was never able to attend. For years now, I have been offering prayers of healing for him which I made a point of telling him about. The purpose of this reflection isn’t to expound about my recent loss of a friend, but to remind us to talk to people about all the good things we do here at Christ Church; it does make a difference.

Sunday Services

Sunday, 3 August 2025
The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Year C Proper 13

Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
9:30 am
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 “O” Avenue, Anacortes
Presider: Shirley Barrett

Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Mass on the Grass

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

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, St. Paul’s Church Mt. Vernon, and St. Paul’s Church Bellingham have been invited.  We will once again be welcoming the Steel Band from Pacific Lutheran University as our musical guests. Please bring a friend! All are welcome! And, lastly, your own folding chair might be handy.

Pacific Lutheran University Steel Band

Servers
Presider & Homilist: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Deacons: The Rev. Eric Johnson, The Rev. Vicki Johnson
Eucharistic Minister: MJ Barrett
Altar Guild: Mary Gronholt
Bread Ministry: Jim Minton
Readers: Jason Wells, Tierney Wells
Ushers: Diane Guinn, John Guinn
Musicians: The Pacific Lutheran University Steel Band
Eucharistic Visitor: John Okerman

Readings
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
Psalm 49:1-12
Colossians 3:1-11
Luke 12:13-21
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.

Hymns
Let Us Talents & Tongues Employ
Take My Life
We Are Marching in the Light of God
Know That God is Good
Hallelujah!

Bulletin Link: 3 August 2025
YouTube Sunday Service Link

Identifying Ribbons
Dear Friends,
As you all know, this Sunday is our Annual Mass on the Grass.  We have invited members of Celebration Lutheran Church as well as St. Paul’s Mt. Vernon and Bellingham, and St. James’ Sedro-Woolley.  Many of the folks from those churches attend every year and since we also have a few new members at Christ Church this year, it might be nice to provide some means of identifying who’s who.  To this end, we’re introducing ribbons!  Bright red for Christ Church, Purple for St. James’, Blue for Celebration Lutheran, Green for St. Paul’s Mt. Vernon, and Maroon for St. Paul’s Bellingham.  When you pick up your bulletin, you’ll be given a ribbon to drape around your neck.  I hope you will be as enthusiastic as I am about this means of getting to know our church neighbors at this lovely event.
In faith,
Grace Minton
Hospitality Ministry

Potluck Picnic
A festive 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.  
All are welcome.

Announcements

A Joyful Noise August 2025

Find all the August news at A Joyful Noise August 2025.

A Service of Celebration

MJ

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.

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.

The Rev. Vicki
Johnson

Evening Prayer
Weekly on Wednesdays*
6:00 - 6:30 pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
All are welcome.
Questions?
Please contact The Rev. Vicki Johnson, 509-302-7364.

*On Wednesday, August 6, we will celebrate The Feast of the Transfiguration and the Renaming of MJ Barrett with a Holy Eucharist service.

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
Weekly News

Dawn Jex, Red Door Manager

Dawn Jex

Hello Everyone!

Our annual picnic potluck is scheduled for Monday, August 11th at 4 pm. We will be meeting at Washington Park at the large party pavilion on the east side of the park near the large gravel parking lot. This area can be found on the first road to the right as you enter the park. Please bring your own folding chairs if you'd like to have them, your own drinks if you have a preference, or maybe a blanket to sit on the grass if you want. The picnic area has several picnic tables for our use as well.

Personally, I'd like to invite you all to our Home Dedication Ceremony on Saturday 8/9. It will be a public open house type of event. Eric Johnson will be attending to do a prayer of dedication for our townhome. The address is 1210 29th St and the event will be from 11-1. Parking is on the street. 

At the shop: Things are going really well. You are all rock stars! We are still making the same amount of money as before construction started. Folks are still finding us to leave donations - almost TOO many donations to process, and the shop has been full of people. 

Thank you to everyone who stepped in to fill the shifts I have been asking about for donations in August. I have all of those dates covered now. We are still looking for a few more permanent volunteers. I'd like to have at least one more person on Friday afternoons to help price hard goods. Please invite your friends and neighbors. 

Big Hugs,
Dawn

P.S. We received the news yesterday that we are able to move into the townhouse on Thursday this week. Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement. 

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

Bob & Gaylene
Diane
Rev. Rilla & family
Linda, sister-in-law of Lynne
Creamy
Myrna
Arra, aunt of Carol
Sandy
Dale
Zoanne
Linda
Tom
Karen
Leslie
Diana
Val
John
Foundation for Academic Endeavors
Brendan, Glen & family, and Sandy, family & friends of Mary