Weekly Update 18 September 2026

Reflection

Mark Perschbacher

Mark
Perschbacher

I was somewhat surprised by the changes made to the Prayers of the People on the first Sunday of this month. There is a decidedly environmental focus now as we celebrate the Living Water Season of Creation. Being a lifelong science nerd, the topic of what an amazing and powerful substance water is never ceases to amaze me. It is of course critical to the life of all beings on this planet. It can also be a frightening destructive force, as the recent glacier collapse in Nepal reminds us.

Scripture is chock full of references to it; according to AI there are 722 times water is mentioned. It appears in the first sentence of Genesis. In John 4, we are introduced to the concept of “living water” which represents something quite different. When talking to the woman at the well, Jesus tells her that if she asks for living water, she will never be thirsty, and that it will become a spring gushing up to eternal life. Acknowledging our responsibility for protecting God’s creation is a very important endeavor, as is giving thanks for the living water of faith which also flows from the Creator, washes over all of us, and is just as renewing to our souls as a drink of cool water on a hot day.

Sunday Service

20 September 2026
The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 20

Season of Creation
Holy Eucharist

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

Servers
Presider: The Rev. Rilla Barrett
Homilist: Tom Young
Eucharistic Ministers: Ed Barton, Jim Minton
Altar Guild: Martie Arnold, Jim Minton
Bread Ministry: Stephanie Galbraith & Dan Moore
Readers: Jason Wells, Tierney Wells
Ushers: Diane Guinn, John Guinn
Organist: Lynne Berg/June Cook
Eucharistic Visitor: John Okerman
Coffee Hour Hosts: Mary Ellen & Wes Huggins

Readings
Jonah 3:10-4:11
Psalm 145:1-8
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.

Hymns
H 48 - O Day of Radiant Gladness
H 654 - Day by Day
H 424 - For the Fruit of All Creation (Alternate tune)
H 331 - Now, My Tongue, the Mystery Telling
H 291 - We Plow the Fields

Seasonal Bulletin & Insert
We will be using a seasonal bulletin during Season of Creation, which encompasses all the Sundays in September and the first Sunday in October. Please keep your bulletin to use the following Sunday or return it to the Usher. Each Sunday, an insert with the readings and hymns for that Sunday will be provided.

Bulletin Link: Season of Creation Bulletin
Bulletin Insert: September 20
YouTube Sunday Service Link

Designated Plate Offering
This Sunday’s loose plate offering is designated for the Salvation Army Food Bank.

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

CROP Hunger Walk
Christ Church will be participating in the 2026 CROP Hunger Walk this Sunday at 2pm as Team Anacortes Christ Episcopal Church. The 3.4 mile walk begins at The Depot and follows the Tommy Thompson Trail.
Please consider registering to walk or donating to this important community event. To register to be a part of Christ Church’s team or make a donation, please visit the CROP Hunger Walk website, click “Join or start a team” and then search for “Anacortes Christ Episcopal Church”.
Questions? Please contact Mary Ellen Huggins, 425-330-3640, hugginsmaryellen@gmail.com

Announcements

A Joyful Noise September 2026

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

Anti-Racism Training

The Rev. Canon
Carla Robinson

Saturday, September 26
10 am - 3 pm
Zoom
Please register to attend to obtain the Zoom link.

This one-day training experience, offered by the Diocese and presented by The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson, is based on “Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: The Antiracism Training Manual of the Episcopal Church.”

We will begin with the conviction, grounded in the Baptismal Covenant, that we are all children of God who still bear the image of God. From there, we will learn (or refresh our learning) about the history and teachings of the Episcopal Church regarding race and racism. Participants will analyze the dynamics of power and oppression so that they can engage in the visioning of an alternate reality for the church and society. That vision for us is the creation of the Beloved Community. As we are always in a state of becoming, this training seeks to help us move along the path of dismantling racism.

Register to attend at Anti-Racism Training.

Blessing of the Animals

Sunday, October 4
Following the service
Christ Church lawn
Presider: The Rev. Keith Axberg

Please bring your beloved pet to Christ Church for a Blessing! There will be Blessing Certificates and, of course, Treats!

Please invite your friends and neighbors, human, furry, and feathered. All are welcome.

Questions? Please contact Shirley Barrett.

New Offering:
Last Things: Preparing for a Christian Death

Ed Barton

Sundays in October
12:15* - 1:15 pm
Parish Hall
Ed Barton will lead us through what we believe about death and resurrection, what the Prayer Book offers at the bedside and the funeral, and the basic documents that let your wishes be honored.

October 4
What We Believe Happens
*This session will begin following Blessing of the Animals.

October 11
The Church at the Bedside

October 18
The Documents that Carry Your Wishes

October 25
Your Funeral and Your Last Gift
At this session, you will have the opportunity to fill out a Christ Church funeral planning record.

Come to one session or all four.
The series closes on All Saints Sunday, November 1.
Questions? Please contact Ed Barton.
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.

Meditation/Silent Prayer

Todd Fifield

Weekly on Wednesdays
5:00 - 5:15 pm: 1st period Meditation
5:15 - 5:20 pm: Walking Meditation or Break
5:25 - 5:40pm: 2nd period Meditation
Christ Church Sanctuary

Come dwell in silent prayer. This is a quiet, intentional time to be still in God’s presence–to pray, reflect, or simply rest. There will be two 15-minute periods of silent prayer, with a 5-minute walking meditation/break between them. Come for one period or stay for both. No experience is necessary; Todd will guide you through the time.
All are welcome.
Questions? Please contact Todd Fifield.

Evening Prayer

Sharman
Badgett-Young

Weekly on Wednesdays
6:00-6:30 pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
September 23 Presider: Sharman Badgett-Young
All are welcome.

Men’s Group

Tom Young

Weekly on Fridays
8:00 - 9:00 am
Parish Hall Gathering Room
All are welcome.
Questions? Please contact Tom Young.

The Red Door Thrift Shop Update

Dawn Jex

Hello Everyone,

I want to start this email with a BIG thank you to everyone who helped out last week while I was in Oregon with my mom. And because I know you all will ask - She is doing ok. Not great, but OK. We brought her home from PT Rehab for a broken pelvis and got her all set up at home with caregivers, Physical and Occupational Therapy and everything else we could think of. Now it is up to her to keep moving and work toward healing. Prayers for her would be greatly appreciated. 

The shop looks great this morning. We are displaying Oyster Run Leathers and also some Fall items. Full Fall and Halloween will go out very soon, I promise!

Specials this week are: White tagged clothing is $1. All Coffee related items are half price, Lamps are also half price. 

We are also moving all of our winter and fall clothing items from the storage area out to the floor for sale so we have a lot of fun wool hats, sweaters and boots coming out now!

In donations, we should now be saving Summer items that are brand new/with tags or of high quality. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone this week!

Happy Fall!
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

Val
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