Reflection
The Rev. Vicki Johnson
What’s the Big Deal?
The Rev. Vicki
Johnson
“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.” (Matthew 25: 14-15)
Whenever I hear or read the “Parable of the Talents” it always reminds me of something I did that will stay with me the rest of my life. I always thought that the servant who received the one talent was being unfairly punished for burying his talent in the ground. What was the big deal? The person who gave him that talent got it back! Then I remembered something that happened many years ago when I was in the Navy.
The Navy life could be stressful, with little sleep, and expectations that were different than civilian life. In the midst of that a shipmate came up to me and asked me what my secret was. She had noticed that with all that was going on around us I was calm. There was this peace within me. She needed to know my secret? I knew what my secret was. It was my faith. It was trusting that God was with me, guiding me through each day. It was going to church and being fed by God’s word. It was being surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ who would walk with me when I was down. I knew what my secret was and yet I turned to my shipmate and said, “I don’t know.” I don’t know what gives me that peace. Unfortunately, the many months we worked together I never did tell her. My shipmate, as far as I know, never had the opportunity to experience that peace that comes from knowing God. I hid my talent in the ground! The treasure God had given me I kept safely hidden away and my shipmate suffered because of that.
The “Parable of the Talents” reminds us that the talents, the spiritual gifts that God gives to each of us, are meant to be used. They are not to be hidden away. Trust me, to hide them in the ground is a big deal!
Sunday Service
15 November 2026
The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 28
Holy Eucharist
10:30 am
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
The service is also available on YouTube.
Servers
Presider & Homilist: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Deacon: The Rev. Vicki Johnson
Eucharistic Minister: MJ Barrett
Altar Guild: Martie Arnold, Jim Minton
Bread Ministry: Stephanie Galbraith & Dan Moore
Readers: Grace Minton, Jim Minton
Ushers: June Cook, Margaret Whatley
Eucharistic Visitors: Shirley Barrett, John Okerman
Organist: Lynne Berg
Coffee Hour Hosts: Mary Ellen & Wes Huggins
Readings
Zephaniah 1:7,12-18
Psalm 90:1-12
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30
Readings may also be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.
Hymns
H 53 - Once He Came in Blessing
H 551 - Rise Up, Ye Saints of God!
WLP 721 - Signs of Endings All Around Us
H 617 - Eternal Ruler
H 680 - O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Bulletin Link: November 15 Holy Eucharist
YouTube Sunday Service Link
The Reverend
Courtney
Jones
This Sunday we welcome The Rev. Courtney Jones, former Vicar at Christ Church, as our Presider and Homilist.
Designated Plate Offering
Our loose plate offering this Sunday is designated for the Anacortes Family Center. Donations by check should be made to Christ Church with Anacortes Family Center in the memo line. Thank you!
Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour follows the service. Rev. Courtney, who now serves in the Diocese of Olympia as Canon Missioner of Total Common Ministry Churches and Dean of the Iona School for Ministry, will join us. All are welcome.
Faith Formation
Zimzum Discipleship
12:15-1:15 pm
Parish Hall Conference Room
Please join us for this small-group practice rooted in reflection, conversation, and shared spiritual growth.
Announcements
A Joyful Noise November 2026
Find all the November news at A Joyful Noise November 2026.
This Week at Christ Church…
Bishop’s Committee Meeting
Monday, November 16.
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom.
All are welcome to attend.
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 pm
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. No experience is necessary; Todd will guide you through the time.
All are welcome.
Questions? Please contact Todd Fifield.
Trans Day of Remembrance Service
Wednesday, November 18
6:00 pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
Please join us for a Trans Day of Remembrance Service. Since 2012, the Episcopal Church has been a force for trans people’s rights. Each year, Episcopal Churches around the U.S. remember the trans, non-binary, and two-spirited lives lost in the past year.
All are welcome.
This service will take the place of the Evening Prayer service.
Bulletin: November 18 Trans Day of Remembrance Service
Men’s Group
Tom Young
Weekly on Fridays
9-10 am
Parish Hall Gathering Room
All are welcome.
Questions? Please contact Tom Young.
Val Long Memorial Service
Val Long
Saturday, November 21
1:00 pm
Presider: The Rev. Dianne Andrews
Christ Church Sanctuary
Per Val’s request, please wear bright, happy colors!
A reception will follow in the Parish Hall Gathering Room. All are invited to share a champagne toast and Val’s favorite sweets.
The Red Door Thrift Shop Update
Dawn Jex
Hello Everyone happy holidays everyone!
If you haven't been in the shop lately, you should really stop by. It is looking fabulous here. We still have a lot of beautiful dishes and cookware for Thanksgiving and we are in the process of flooding the store with holiday merchandise. If you're not in the holiday mood, you will be once you step inside the Red Door! The Charlie Brown Jazz helps with that!
The calendars for November and December are on the bulletin board. If you look at the calendar and see a name circled in Red that means that shift is open and available. We have a lot of people out in November and December so feel free to pick a shift if there is one that works for you.
For November, we will be closed on Thanksgiving day and Black Friday. We appreciate you working hard all year long. This is a great time to have a few days off with your family and friends to celebrate all the things for which we are grateful. And please know that we are very grateful for each of YOU!!!
In December, we will be open on Christmas Eve since we close at 3 PM. Then we will be closed on Christmas Day.
Big Hugs and Holiday Cheer,
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
Tino & family
Family & friends of Val, 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
Mary
Pete, Charlene, & Rachel, family & friends of Mary