Weekly Update 21 February 2025
Reflection
Shirley Barrett
Shirley Barrett
The Greatest Commandment: Love God with your whole heart, soul and mind AND love your Neighbor as yourself.
The Hardest Commandment: Love your enemy.
Both of these commands require love that is not just love as an emotion or a one-time commitment to try to be nice, but love as a continual and unconditional action...and taken on as a conscious decision to share the same Abba Love that Jesus brought from His father to us. Agape Love!
Not only did Jesus share His Agape love, but He taught us how to share it with our ‘neighbors.’
Being the heart of His Way, the true Christian Way, we are challenged ‘to love without boundaries, to serve without hesitancy and to always put the wellbeing of others in focus, withholding any grudges, taking no revenge, giving without expectation of return’ (Churchleaders.com March 5, 2024)
This command has been given not only as the Christian Way but the way of many different faiths and cultures as what is called the “Golden Rule.”
“Do onto others; as you would have them do onto you.”( Christianity)
“That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow.” (Judaism)
“No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.” (Islam)
“Hurt not others with that which pains you” (Buddhism)
To state this succinctly: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)
And who is our neighbor, who is our enemy?” All of us! All God’s children! Those who practice good, those who don’t; those we agree with, those we don’t; sinners and saints. All!
When Jesus was asked who His family was, He answered: “ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister and mother.”
When asked, “Who is our neighbor?”, He answered with the parable of the Samaritan, teaching us emphatically that anyone that comes into our presence, anyone who we can share His Agape Love with, is our neighbor.
The Good message in this week’s gospel: “Go and do Likewise.” (Luke 10:37)
Sunday Services
Sunday, 23 February 2025
The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Year C
Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
9:30 am
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 “O” Avenue, Anacortes
Presider: June Cook
Christ Church Morning Prayer
10:30 am
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
The service is also available on YouTube.
Servers
Presider: Melissa Simonsen
Homilist: John Okerman
Readers: Diane Guinn, Sandy Mathis, John Guinn
Ushers: Jerlyn Caba, Geoff Holmes
Altar Guild: Melissa Simonsen
Organist: Lynne Berg
Coffee Hour Host: Myrna McIalwain
Readings
Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Psalm 37:1-11
1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
Luke 6:27-38
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.
Hymns
H 390 - Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
H 613 - Thy Kingdom Come, O God!
H 593 - Lord, Make Us Servants of Your Peace
H 657 - Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Bulletin link 02/23/2025
YouTube Sunday Service Link
Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour follows the service. All are welcome.
Announcements
A Joyful Noise
Find all the February news at A Joyful Noise February 2025.
Preparing for Lent 2025
The Rev. Courtney Jones
The Reverend
Courtney
Jones
This year the season of Lent will start on Wednesday, March 5th - Ash Wednesday.
Before Lent starts . . .
Consider trying a Lenten Rule of Life this year!
What is a rule of life?
Check out our guide from last year.
Informational Meeting
Wednesday, February 26th, 12-1PM on Zoom
Can’t make the session but wish you could?
Email Rev. Courtney.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Tuesday, March 4
6pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Hosted by the Men’s Group
All are welcome.
Ash Wednesday Services
Wednesday, March 5
Noon
6pm
Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes
Christ Church Sanctuary
Presider & Homilist: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Youth Group
Wednesday, February 26
6-7:30 pm, beginning with dinner
Parish Hall Gathering Room
All youth in Middle School & High School are welcome.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Thursday, February 27
10:30 - 11:30 am
Parish Hall Gathering Room
All are welcome.
Centering Prayer
Weekly on Wednesdays
1:15 – 1:45 pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
All are welcome to join in this short, simple service: a Scripture reading, twenty minutes of silence, an intercessory prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer.
Questions? Please contact Maggie Collinge.
Men’s Group
The Men’s Group meets weekly on Fridays.
9:00 – 10:00 am
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Questions? Please contact Deacon Eric Johnson.
The Red Door Thrift Shop
Weekly News
Dawn Jex, Red Door Manager
Dawn Jex
Hello Everyone and Welcome to your last update for February,
I don’t know about all of you, but I feel the need for good news and a positive outlook this week.
I’d like to take a moment to welcome and thank all of our most recent volunteers for joining our team! Claire, The Elders, Diana, Elise and Liz, Myrna and Leslie. Thank you for making The Red Door your choice. Thank you for bringing your smiles and gifts and talents to us. You make this place happier and run smoother. We appreciate each of you.
I’d also like to thank those of you who have been here a while. Thank you for staying. Thank you for working extra shifts. Thanks for covering for your coworkers. Thank you for saying yes more often than not. You all make my job full of joy.
I’d also like to thank the “behind the scenes” crew. Gary, Jim, Geoff, the Linen Ladies, The Red Door Committee, The Bishops Committee and all of the Church members who pray for us. I see you. I feel your support. Thank you for holding us up. We need you!
And last but not least, I’d like to thank Debbie for being my right-hand woman. You have made my job so much easier. I can get twice as much accomplished with you here and when you are running the shop I am totally at ease. Thank you.
For 2025- I am looking forward to making more money than ever before. The more we make, the more we can give away!
I’m looking forward to bringing on even more volunteers. I’d like to have one more “cashier assistant” on Thursday Mornings from 11-1. This person helps the cashier during our busy hours, helps package up items, acts as a greeter, opens the locked case, and keeps an eye on customers. I'd also like to add some "loss prevention" shifts. People who have time to just be present to help keep folks from taking things which is happening more lately.
I’m looking forward to groundbreaking on our addition. I don’t have a lot of control over this one but we can all pray that the diocese gives us the “go ahead.” And we can continue with our fundraising efforts so that we do not need to get a loan to start construction.
And I’m looking forward to all of the connections we make. The new customers, new donors, the continued sense of ease and conversation inside the walls of The Red Door. The Sanctuary that folks feel when they come in. Because that’s a big part of this mission too. We want to build an environment where everyone feels welcome and safe. Where love and acceptance for all people is felt.
Keep up the good work. You are seen and appreciated!
I’ll be out of town 2/19-2/26.
See you when I’m back.
Dawn
Christ Church’s Red Door Thrift Shop is located at 1019 Seventh Street in Anacortes.
Red Door Thrift Shop
360.293.8027
Red Door Shopping Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 10am – 3pm
Red Door Donation Hours:
Monday & Wednesday: 10am – 1pm
Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 10am – 3pm
Profits 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
Keegen
Dale
Zoanne
Linda
Tom
Karen
Leslie
Diana
Val
John
John & Mary
Tony & family, Brendan, and Jennifer, family & friends of Mary