Weekly Update 7 August 2026

Reflection

Ed Barton

‍ ‍ Ed Barton

This weekend’s epistle is from Paul's Letter to the Romans, and if you’ve ever sat in a pew and groaned when the reader announced, "Today’s reading is from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans," you are not alone. 

Let’s be honest: our relationship with the Apostle Paul can be, shall we say, a bit, um, complicated. Paul gets a bad rap. He’s often viewed as the strict, long-winded theology professor who writes in run-on sentences and never lets anyone have any fun.

But let's cut the guy some slack! When he wrote to the church in Rome around 57 AD, he was playing the role of a long-distance mediator. The Roman church was a muddled mix of Jewish and Gentile believers who were constantly bickering over food laws and holidays. Paul wasn’t trying to be a party pooper. He is essentially the tired parent in the front seat of a station wagon (you remember those, right??) spinning around to yell, "I don't care who started it, we are all saved by the exact same grace!"

In Romans 10, Paul reminds us that you don’t have to climb into heaven or dive into the abyss to find God.

And then, he takes an absolutely bizarre turn into podiatry...
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

If you have ever looked at a human foot, "beautiful" is probably not the first word that comes to mind. 

Now, imagine a first-century Roman foot. No pedicures. Just thin leather straps, blisters, calluses, and a thick coating of dirt, manure, and gravel from walking miles on unpaved Roman roads. First-century feet were, by all objective standards, not “beautiful.”

But Paul calls them beautiful.

Why? Because those disgusting, dusty, calloused pedes are what carry the message of the Gospel to people who desperately need to hear it. The beauty isn't in the feet themselves. The beauty Paul speaks of is in their movement.

It is a funny but humbling reminder for us as we hear Paul’s call to carry forth the Gospel in today's epistle. We don’t need to have "beautiful" lives or polished personalities to share the Gospel message with others. We just have to be willing to get our “feet” a little dirty, step out of our comfort zones just a bit, and walk toward someone who needs to hear the Gospel message of grace, peace, forgiveness, and love. We need to live the Gospel ourselves and, through our example and willingness to share our experience, show others the way to the grace of Christ in their own lives.

"...and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:2)

Walk in love on your beautiful feet this week and live the Gospel!

Sunday Service

9 August 2026
The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 14

Holy Eucharist

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

Servers
Presider: The Rev. Keith Axberg
Homilist: Ed Barton
Eucharistic Minister: Shirley Barrett
Altar Guild: June Cook, Kris Whitely
Bread Ministry: Jim Minton
Readers: Todd Fifield, Judy McClelland
Ushers: June Cook, Margaret Whatley
Eucharistic Visitor: John Okerman
Organist: Lynne Berg
Coffee Hour Hosts: Myrna McIalwain & Margaret Whatley

Readings
1 Kings 19:9-18
Psalm 85:8-13
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.

Hymns
H 410 - Praise, My Soul, the KIng of Heaven
WLP 773 - Heal Me, Hands of Jesus
H 398 - I Sing the Almighty Power of God
MHSO 83 - If You Love Me
H 388 - O Worship the King

Bulletin Link: 9 August 2026
YouTube Sunday Service Link

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

Mary Ellen
‍ ‍ Huggins

Faith Formation
Scripture: Continuing the Conversation
12:15 – 1:15 pm
Parish Hall Conference Room
Facilitators: Todd Fifield & Mary Ellen Huggins
All are welcome as we share our thoughts and study the scriptures more deeply. 
Questions regarding Faith Formation? Please contact Mary Ellen Huggins, 425-330-3640, hugginsmaryellen@gmail.com

Announcements

A Joyful Noise August 2026

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

August Theology Potluck

Saturday, August 15
5 pm
Fifield Farm
We will continue our conversation with John Delautre on Early Church History and Heresy.
All are welcome.
Questions? Please contact Mary Ellen Huggins.

Guest Presider & Homilist

The Rev. Canon
Carla Robinson

Sunday, August 23
10:30 am Holy Eucharist service

We will welcome The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson as our presider and homilist. Rev. Robinson is the Canon for Multicultural Ministries and Community Transformation in the Diocese of Olympia.

A festive Coffee Hour will follow the service, with time for conversation with Canon Robinson.

National Crop Walk

Christ Church will be participating in the National Crop Walk on Saturday, September 20. The Crop Walk has worked to end hunger one step at a time for over 57 years.

Our team is called Anacortes Christ Episcopal Church.  

The walk will begin at the Depot and follow the Tommy Thompson Trail - about 3.1 miles.

Questions? Please contact Mary Ellen Huggins, 425-330-3640, hugginsmaryellen@gmail.com

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

Todd Fifield

Weekly on Wednesdays
6:00-6:30 pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
August 12 Presider: Todd Fifield
All are welcome.

Men’s Group

Weekly on Fridays
8:00 - 9:00 am
During August, the Men’s Group will meet for breakfast at The Brown Lantern.
All are welcome.

The Red Door Thrift Shop Update

Dawn Jex

Dawn Jex, Red Door Manager

Hello Everyone,

I want to start this week's email with some good news. One of the Non-profits that we supported last year - Family Promise - has been in the news due to the new tiny home community they are building. Thank you Doug Miller for keeping us in the loop so that we can celebrate along with Family Promise!

Things at the shop are going smoothly. Thank you for your patience with the new clothing organization. We are still working out a few kinks but overall it is looking great and I've heard some positive feedback. Sales are going really well and we might even have a banner year! (We will wait and see but I'm excited!) Sales this week are: Blue tagged clothing half price, men's shirts half price, craft items half price. 

We have just finished up with displays for Arts Fest and will be working toward merchandising for Football Season and Back to School very, very soon! I know - it happens too fast. 

The calendars are on the bulletin board, If you are looking to help fill some shifts, if a name is circled that means they are out on that day. Please and Thank you. Volunteer Appreciation Potluck is later this month on Wednesday 8/26. Sign up sheet is also on the bulletin board. 

Thank you so much for what you do. This shop would not run without you. We wouldn't be who we are without you and the atmosphere here would not be welcoming and open if it weren't for you. 

Hugs Y'all
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

Family & friends of Dee, Diane, Sarah, and Creamy
Tony
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