A Joyful Noise October 2024
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Senior Warden Message
Grace Minton, Senior Warden
Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
Grace Minton
Jim and I took a wonderful but brief trip to Vancouver BC this week to visit the Museum of Anthropology. We’ve been back and forth across the border many times but on this trip I was particularly moved by the words engraved on the Peace Arch: Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity. The people of this country and indeed much of the world are in a particularly divisive time now, and it is especially important to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. We have neighbors whose political beliefs are opposite to ours, but it doesn’t matter because they’re friendly folks with a really nice dog, so there is a commonality.
In an article in the Christian Century, Debie Thomas writes “Whether we use religious language to describe it or not, we are starving for coherence, for awe, for connection, for meaning.” We find that connection in our own daily reflections and prayers, in the close listening to our preachers, and in our celebration of the Holy Eucharist. We also find that connection in volunteer work and exploring new ways to bring people together as in the Potlucks for Democracy which Deacon Eric introduced us to last week. Let’s commit to working on our connections so that we can all dwell together in unity.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19)
Memorial Service
The congregation is invited to a Memorial Service for Larry Collinge.
Friday, October 4
2pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
A Reception in the Parish Hall will follow.
Larry Collinge Memorial Bulletin
Blessing of the Animals
All are welcome.
Sunday, October 6
Following the 10:30 am service
Please bring your beloved pet to Christ Church for a Blessing! You may also bring a photo of your pet to be blessed.
Presider: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Blessing Certificates & Treats!
All are welcome.
Youth Group
Youth Group will meet on October 9 & 23 .
6-7:30 pm, beginning with dinner
Parish Hall Gathering Room
We use the Journey to Adulthood (J2A) youth ministry program, endorsed by the Episcopal Church. The lessons are organized around self, society, and spirituality and allow youth to explore these themes through discussion, Bible study, games, crafts, and the occasional off-site trip or service project.
Youth Group Leaders are Melissa Simonsen, Mark Perschbacher, and The Rev. Courtney Jones.
Gentle Yoga Class
With Dawn Jex
Saturdays, beginning October 12
10-11am
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Suggested Donation: $5
Please bring your own yoga mat.
All are welcome.
Fall Discernment Series:
Who Are the Ministers of the Church?
The Reverend
Courtney Jones
Our Fall Discernment series continues on October 20 and November 3 & 17.
Following the 10:30 am service
Parish Hall Conference Room
Facilitator: The Rev. Courtney Jones
October 20
Orders of Ministry
This session will focus on the four orders of ministry (laity, bishops, deacons, and priests) and how they work together to form a healthy church.
Find all the information at
Who Are the Ministers of the Church?
October Designated Plate Offering
Diocese of Olympia Refugee Resettlement Office
The plate offering on Sunday, October 20, is designated for the Diocese of Olympia Refugee Resettlement Office.
Founded in 1978, Diocese of Olympia’s Refugee Resettlement Office (RRO), an affiliate of Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, serves refugees and asylees in the Seattle area. Their clients come to them from everywhere in the world, seeking guidance and assistance in building a new life in America and achieving economic self-sufficiency. The RRO accomplishes their mission through resettlement, job placement activities, and business development programs that promote self-employment.
Find more information at Diocese of Olympia Refugee Resettlement Office.
Donations by check should be made to Christ Church with Refugee Resettlement Office in the memo line.
Thank you!
Diocesan Convention Workshops
All Are Invited to a Day of Education at Diocesan Convention
Our Clergy, Delegates, and Alternates will be attending Diocesan Convention at the Tacoma Convention Center on October 25 & 26.
Friday, October 25, has been set aside as a Day of Education and all congregants are welcome at the 36 workshops that are being offered.
A list of the workshops, along with descriptions and presenters, may be found at Diocesan Convention Workshops. Participant registration is $10 and covers Friday and Saturday. This includes Friday & Saturday plenary sessions with the Bishop, workshops Friday, the business meeting Saturday, liturgies, and exhibits. You may register to attend the convention as a workshop participant at the Diocesan Convention homepage. Scroll down to “Register Today” and then scroll down to “Participant”.
Christ Church’s Geocache is a Hit!
Sharman Badgett-Young
Christ Church’s geocache had nine visitors during its first two months. Geocaches often have many visits early on from local, active geocachers. Below are visitor’s comments. Our geocache is a hit!
7/8/24 – What a great puzzle; took me a little bit to get the final cords but was able to finally figure it out. Giving a favorite point.
7/8/24 – Beautiful muggy warm evening to be out and about, geocaching. This is my first time walking around these grounds. I particularly liked the fully bloomed lavender.
8/17/24 – This kind of puzzle is one of my favorites - because it’s a kind I can solve, and I often learn something. As I pulled up to GZ [Ground Zero] I appreciated the commitment to the theme. Very nice hide, too.
8/25/24 – I solved this quick puzzle yesterday... On the drive over, I realized I chose the worst day of the week to look for the cache, considering where GZ is. However, I stayed extremely quiet while searching for the cache, and I left with no difficulties. Nicely stocked container. Thanks for the puzzle and the quality hide! ... What a wonderful community geocachers are!
9/4/24 -- I really enjoyed solving this one!
9/8/24 – This was one of our favorite puzzles and a clever way to solve one, also great swag in the container… Thanks for the puzzle and for placing this new Geocache.
Bishop’s Committee Meeting
The Bishop’s Committee meets on Monday, October 21.
5:30 – 7:30 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom.
All are welcome to attend.
Amnesty International October Petition
The Rev. Eric Johnson
Rocky Myers: 30 Years on Death Row, Despite Flawed Proceedings
On the first two Sundays in October, we will have petition available to sign on behalf of Rocky Myers, a Black man with an intellectual disability, who has spent three decades on death row in Alabama for murder.
A jury convicted and sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of his white neighbor. The trial judge overrode their decision and imposed a death sentence — a practice now outlawed in Alabama. In the U.S., race is the single biggest predictor of who will be given a death sentence. Black defendants are 7.5 times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder than white defendants.
Rocky Myers grew up in New Jersey in poverty. At 11, he was diagnosed with an intellectual disability. His assigned lawyer for post-conviction appeals abandoned his case without notice, making him miss key deadlines for judicial appeals. Key testimonies against him were tainted by inconsistencies and allegations of police pressure, with one later recanted as untrue. Rocky Myers faced execution in 2004 and 2012.
Our petition will ask the Governor of Alabama to address all flaws in his case and commute his death sentence.
Looking Ahead to November…
Community Support Meeting
The Rev.
Eric Johnson
Friday, November 1
11am
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom
Church congregants and Red Door Thrift Shop volunteers are invited to join Community Support Chair Deacon Eric Johnson in developing a recommendation for distribution of funds through Christ Church’s Community Support Program. This recommendation will be passed on to the Bishop’s Committee who will, at their November meeting, vote to provide funding to various community organizations.
Funding for Christ Church’s Community Support Program is provided entirely by the profits generated at the Red Door Thrift Shop.
Ingathering Sunday
Sunday, November 3
We will joyfully gather our pledge cards for a special blessing at the 10:30am service. If you would like to mail or drop off your pledge card early, we will include it in the blessing on Sunday.
A special Coffee Hour, hosted by the Stewardship Committee, will follow the service.
…& December…
Bellringing for the Salvation Army
The Rev. Eric Johnson
Volunteer bell ringers are crucial to The Salvation Army’s holiday fundraising efforts. When we ring bells at the iconic Red Kettles, we help provide food, shelter, hope and other essentials to our neighbors in need.
This year, Lt. Brett and Lashon Harrison are offering us a special opportunity to help during Church Week 2024 on Friday, 6 December (St. Nicholas Day and, coincidentally, my birthday). (CTK and Westminster Presbyterian have already taken Tuesday and Wednesday.)
We will ring bells at The Market and both doors at Safeway from 10 AM to 6PM. Depending on the number of volunteers, we could split this up into one-or-two-hour slots. And I’m checking about our partnering with another congregation. Having churches bell ring all week for the Salvation Army will save $2,448 in staffing costs, and they can put that towards providing food and other services to our community. The Salvation Army has had a tough year financially, and they hope to have a big Christmas to catch up.
If you can help for one or two hours, please contact Deacon Eric at AnacortesEric@gmail.com
Red Door Thrift Shop News
Dawn Jex
Dawn Jex, Red Door Thrift Shop Manager
As the weather turns colder and crunchy leaves begin to fall, we move into our busy season at The Red Door.
We move boxes from the garage, price items and put out holiday displays. Halloween went out the last week of September and Thanksgiving won’t be far behind.
As we enter this busy season, I can’t help but feel grateful for this job. Thank you for your love and support and prayers and for trusting me with this mission.
It is an amazing thing we are doing,
Dawn
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…
…Betty Anne McCoy on October 7
……Helen Simonsen on October 26
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.
Sunday Services
Please check your Weekly Update for each week’s Servers & Hymns.
YEAR B
6 October 2024
The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 22
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
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 8
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-26
13 October 2024
The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 23
9:15 am Chandler’s Square Holy Eucharist
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
Presider: The Reverend Keith Axberg
1300 O Avenue, Anacortes
10:30 am Christ Church Holy Eucharist
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
Presider: The Reverend Keith Axberg
Readings
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
Psalm 90:12-17
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31
20 October 2024
The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 24
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 Reverend Courtney Jones
Readings
Isaiah 53:4-12
Psalm 91:9-16
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10:35-45
27 October 2024
The Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 25
9:30 am Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
10:30 am Christ Church Morning Prayer
Christ Church Sanctuary
Presider: Melissa Simonsen
Readings
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Psalm 126
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 10:46-52