Weekly Update 24 July 2026

Reflection

Jim Minton

‍ ‍ Jim Minton

In this week’s Gospel reading, Jesus is once again teaching in parables. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

This brought to mind my own spiritual journey which probably had its origins when I was a young lad. My grandmother would read bible stories to us kids when we were little. I remember fondly the stories of Daniel in the lion’s den, David and Goliath, and of course Mary and Joseph. She was a very devout Presbyterian and she found great comfort in her belief and reading the Bible. But like most children, as I grew older and (I thought) wiser, those stories became just that…stories. As the years passed I would occasionally make some kind of half-hearted attempt to find some kind of higher power, but never was very successful. When I got sober in 1987 I found that one of the primary foundations of the AA program was cultivating a belief in a “power greater than yourself”. Some people chose nature, some the AA group itself. I remember one guy picked a doorknob, but then he was a bit strange. I remember hearing one man say “if you pick something for a Higher Power, pick something that can love you back”. It was many years later that I finally found that power, and it was God. That tiny little mustard seed that was planted by my grandmother all those years ago finally took root! I can’t claim that it has become “the greatest of shrubs” yet, but I continue to water and fertilize it regularly so that one day it might become that tree. Thanks be to God!

Theology Potluck

Saturday, July 25
5:00 pm
Fifield Farm, 1119 41st Street, Anacortes
Presentation: The Usefulness of Heresy
Presenter: John Delautre

Sunday Service

Sunday, 26 July 2026
The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 12

Morning Prayer

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

Servers
Presider: Jim Minton
Homilist: Todd Fifield
Altar Guild: Mary Gronholt
Readers: Jason Wells, Tierney Wells
Ushers: Diane Guinn, John Guinn
Organist: Lynne Berg
Coffee Hour Host: Myrna McIalwain

Readings
1 Kings 3:5-12
Psalm 119:129-136
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.

Hymns
H 388 - O Worship the King
H 530 - Spread, O Spread, Thou Mighty Word
H 488 - Be Thou My Vision
H 574 - Before Thy Throne, O God

Bulletin Link: 26 July 2026
YouTube Sunday Service Link

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

Announcements

A Joyful Noise July 2026

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

Mass on the Grass

Outdoor Holy Eucharist Service
Sunday, August 2
10:30 am
Christ Church lawn
Presider: The Rev. Keith Axberg
Homilist: The Rev. Vicki Johnson
Musical Guests: The Steel Band from Pacific Lutheran University
A Potluck Picnic will follow the service.
Invite a friend! All are welcome.

Centering Prayer

Maggie
‍ ‍ Collinge

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

The Rev. Vicki
Johnson

Weekly on Wednesdays
6:00-6:30 pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
July 29 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 All,

Hoping to keep this short and sweet today. 

Please remember to sign up on the bulletin board for what you'd like to bring to share for our volunteer potluck which will be on Wednesday 8/26 at Washington Park. If you forget to sign up on the bulletin board, just email me and I will add you and your food to the list. Please and Thank you. 

In the ongoing effort to make The Red Door a little bit better every month, Debbie and Milly and I are spearheading an effort to change the way we display clothing. After a quick trip to Soroptimist to see how they are doing things, we decided to try displaying the clothing by category. All shirts together, all skirts together. This process should be completed this week with new rack tags that label each section and size tags as well. It's going to look amazing. I know it might sound a little confusing but just take a look the next time you are in the shop and you will see what I'm talking about. It's all about making it easier for our customers to find items and for us to know where to place items.

We have been getting compliments left and right! Did you know that every time someone checks out through our square system they are sent a chance to give us feedback? Yep. And all of the comments over the last month have been positive. So keep loving on our customers. You are the best outreach that we have. YOU create the atmosphere of welcome and belonging. Good Job everyone!

For August, calendars are on the bulletin board. We have two donation crew members that will be out all month - one on Wednesday 10-1 and one on Friday afternoon 12:3-3. Anywhere else on the calendar that you see someone circled - that means they are out. If you'd like to help with a shift just write your name down in that area or let me know. 

Thank you everyone. Keep up the good work!

Hugs all around,
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

Tony
Family & friends of Creamy
Rev. Eric & Lynette
Charlene
John, brother of Lynne, & family
Diane
Myrna
Arra, aunt of Carol
Sandy
Dale
Zoanne
Tom
Leslie
John
Ken & Dana, Pete & Charlene & family, and Rachel, family & friends of Mary