A Joyful Noise March 2025
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Senior Warden Message
Tom Young, Senior Warden
The Season of Lent is Coming
. . . let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily distracts, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (from Hebrews 12:1–2)
Tom Young
What does Lent (my favorite season of the liturgical year) mean to you? Lent motivates me to mindfully renew my faith, my commitment to God. To hit the pause button on some worldy thing that so easily distracts me. To me, the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, is like New Year’s Day, with Shrove Tuesday being “New Year’s Eve.” January 1 resets our calendars, while March 5 resets our spiritual calendars.
In the secular realm, people make New Years’ resolutions: “I’m going on the Mediterranean diet.” “I’m going to read more classics.” “I’m going to join a gym and get in shape.” “I’m going to spend more time with my (grand)kids.” “I’m going to lose 20 pounds - no, 30!” On this Ash Wednesday we’ll be reminded that we are dust and to dust we shall return (Gen. 3:19). Or as I like to put it: we are stardust and to stardust we shall return. The day before, Shrove Tuesday (our “new year’s eve”), let’s celebrate on the eve of Lent and enjoy some pancakes and protein served up by the Men’s Group. Let’s ring out the old and ring in the new!
Preparing for Lent 2025
The Rev. Courtney Jones
Consider trying a Lenten Rule of Life this year!
What is a rule of life?
Check out our guide from last year.
If you are interested in participating in Rule of Life meetings during Lent, please contact Grace Minton at gminton@pacific.net or The Rev. Courtney at therevecj@gmail.com.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Tuesday, March 4
6pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Hosted by the Men’s Group
All are welcome.
Shrove Tuesday 2024
Ash Wednesday Services
Wednesday, March 5
Noon
6pm
Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes
Christ Church Sanctuary
Presider & Homilist: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Faith Formation Series with Reverend Courtney
I Will with God’s Help
The Reverend
Courtney Jones
Faith formation series with Rev. Courtney continues in March and April.
Class meets at 12:30 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Sessions will be held March 2 & 16, and April 6.
This series is a deep dive into the Baptismal Covenant. Bring your questions or bring your expertise - there’s room for both in this series, which is meant to be a ministry toolkit for all!
March 2
Evil, Sin, and Return
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? - A brief exploration of what we believe about evil and sin, and what it means to repent. The sacramental rites of Confession and Unction will make an appearance in this session.
March 16
Proclaim by Word and Example
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ? - Evangelism in word and deed - what is the Good News and why is it Good News? What does it mean to share the Good news? Do I actually have to say something?
April 6
Seek and Serve and Striving for Justice
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?- What does it mean to seek and serve Christ? Who is my neighbor? A toolkit for becoming better neighbors. We will also be reflecting on our Christian commitment to justice, and what that might look like in our place and time.
For more information, please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/iwillwithgodshelp/home
Lenten Faith Formation: Episco-Questions
These “bonus” sessions were designed to accompany the formation series I Will with God’s Help but are open to all. -The Rev. Courtney
Ash Wednesday, Lent, Confession, Unction
Wednesday, March 5
4:30—5:30 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom
Host: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Lent + Centering Prayer
Sunday, March 9
12:15—1:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Host: Maggie Collinge
Evangelism, the BCP, Baptism/Confirmation/Reception
Wednesday, March 19
4:30—5:15 pm
Zoom
Host: The Rev. Courtney Jones
“Telling our Stories” Part I—A Gathering to Get to Know Each Other
Sunday, March 23
12:15—1:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Hosts: The Rev. Diane Ramerman & June Cook
The following congregants will be sharing their stories:
Mark Perschbacher
MJ Barrett
Ed Barton
Kay Landis
“Telling our Stories” Part II—A Gathering to Get to Know Each Other
Sunday, March 30
12:15—1:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Hosts: The Rev. Diane Ramerman & June Cook
The following congregants will be sharing their stories:
Tom Young
Zoanne Hyland
Geoff Holmes
Judy McClelland
“Let All Things Be Done for Building Up”
Wednesday, April 9
4:30—5:15 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Host: The Rev. Diane Ramerman
Come ask your questions about TCM, how to get involved, the history of our congregation, or really any manner of things related to our ministry!
Holy Week + ?
Sunday, April 13
12:15—1:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Host: June Cook
Pastoral or Confession Appointments
I’ll be available during Lent to meet with folks for pastoral or confession appointments. You can secure an appointment by going to my pastoral calendar and booking the time or emailing me at therevecj@gmail.com.
—Rev. Courtney
Dinner at the Brick
Christ Church will host Dinner at the Brick on March 16, led by Stephanie Galbraith & Dan Moore.
Dan & Stephanie
Dinner at the Brick, a program of Westminster Presbyterian Church, offers a free dinner to the community each Sunday at 4:30 pm. The dinner is temporarily being held at Anacortes Lutheran Church, while Westminster undergoes renovations.
Volunteers are needed to help with several jobs, including shopping, cooking, serving, setting up, and cleaning up. To volunteer, please contact Stephanie at sdgalbraith1963@gmail.com or Dan at dam1966@mac.com.
Lenten Evening Prayer
Wednesdays
March 12 & 26
April 2 & 9
6pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
Lenten Taize Service & Soup Supper
Wednesday, March 19
6pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
Presider: The Rev. Eric Johnson
Musicians: The Banjo Band
Soup Supper at 6:30 pm
All are welcome.
Mid-week Holy Eucharist Service
The Annunciation of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Tuesday, March 25
Noon
Christ Church Sanctuary
Presider: The Rev. Diane Ramerman
All are welcome.
Youth Group
In March, Youth Group will meet on the 5th & the 19th in order to join in the Ash Wednesday and Lenten Taize services.
Services begin at 6pm, with dinner following.
All youth in Middle School & High School are welcome.
Youth Group Leaders are Melissa Simonsen, Mark Perschbacher, and The Rev. Courtney Jones.
March Designated Plate Offering
The plate offering on Sunday, March 16, is designated for the Diocese of Jerusalem.
The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia has maintained a long-standing companion relationship with the Diocese of Jerusalem which is home to about 7,000 Anglicans worshipping within 28 different congregations. It also is responsible for 30 institutions including schools, hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, retirement homes and guesthouses. The archbishop oversees all these parishes and institutions spread over 5 separate countries or territories: Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. The politics of each region make the administration of these ministries difficult and challenging. The Diocese actively responds to needs for healthcare and education in areas where many cannot afford it, making no distinction between religion, ethnicity, or gender. The diocese considers education to be a vital bridge-building contribution that helps bring stability to an otherwise troubled region.
Learn more at Diocese of Jerusalem.
Donations by check should be made to Christ Church with Diocese of Jerusalem in the memo line. The offering will be sent to the Diocese of Jerusalem through American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Thank you!
Nametags
Maggie Collinge
Let’s talk about name tags. Name tags come and go every few years. They are worn for a while and then they are forgotten as people remember each other’s names. There have been several ideas put forth. Thanks to Grace Minton, all the members of the Bishop’s Committee and the Ministry Circle now have name tags and are encouraged to wear them. Another idea is that those who want to wear a name tag could wear one that they already have from another organization. Maybe we could have a Name Tag Sunday and see how many different groups are represented in our congregation. There are several new people attending church these days, which is wonderful! Not all people are comfortable wearing a name tag and wearing one is not a requisite for worshiping at our church. If anyone attending church would like to have a name tag, I will make sure that you are provided with one; just let me know.
Maggie
360-202-5588
Bishop’s Committee Meeting
The Bishop’s Committee meets on Monday, March 17.
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom.
All are welcome to attend.
Red Door Thrift Shop
Christ Church’s Red Door Thrift Shop is located at 1019 Seventh Street in Anacortes.
360-293-8027, Red Door Thrift Shop
Red Door Shopping Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 10am – 3pm
Red Door Donation Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10am – 1pm
Profits generated at the Red Door Thrift Shop fund Christ Church’s Community Support program.
Shoppers, Volunteers, & Donations are always welcome!
Celebrations!!!
Happy Birthday Wishes to…
…Zoanne Hyland on March 3
……Lorne Render on March 5
………Maja Simonsen on March 12
…………Erick Simonsen on March 14
Please send the month & date of your birthday, baptismal date, anniversary, and/or other special occasions so we can help you celebrate your blessings in the Joyful Noise.
Church Services
Please check your Weekly Update for each week’s Servers & Hymns.
YEAR C
2 March 2025
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
9:30 am Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 O Avenue, Anacortes
10:30 am Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
Presider: The Reverend Courtney Jones
Readings:
Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2
Luke 9:28-43a
9 March 2025
The First Sunday in Lent
9:15 am Chandler’s Square Holy Eucharist
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
Presider: The Rev. Keith Axberg
10:30 am Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
Presider: The Reverend Keith Axberg
Readings
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13
16 March 2025
The Second Sunday in Lent
9:30 am Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
10:30 am Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Christ Church Sanctuary
Presider: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Readings:
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17 - 4:1
Luke 13:31-35
23 March 2025
The Third Sunday in Lent
9:30 am Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
10:30 am Christ Church Morning Prayer
Christ Church Sanctuary
Presider: The Rev. Vicki Johnson
Readings:
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9
30 March 2025
The Fourth Sunday in Lent
9:30 am Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
10:30 am Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Christ Church Sanctuary
Presider: The Rev. Keith Axberg
Readings:
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32