Weekly Update 18 April 2025
Reflection
The Rev. Courtney Jones
The Rev.
Courtney
Jones
When we renew our Baptismal Covenant at the Easter Vigil, we agree to “strive for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human being.” In a contentious season in our national life, these lines of the Baptismal Covenant seem even more important than they may have before - and yet, I think many of us wonder if living into our baptismal identity will really make a difference in light of the enormity of the world’s injustices. Can our own strivings for justice and peace really make meaningful change?
I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Gareth Higgins (author of How Not to be Afraid). The conversation turned to how to make a difference in this time where it seems like bad stuff is constantly in the headlines. He suggested this: “I think people should devote 90% of their activist energy to the causes that their own gifts are particularly suited to - the things that they either really know a lot about or can learn a lot about. I think we need more people specializing in helping in the way that they can best help. And the other 10% of their activist energy should go to helping other people with the causes to which those people are called.”
I think this is great stewardship advice. Often we hear about stewardship in the context of giving a pledge to a congregation, but this is only one facet of how we are called to be stewards. We can be good stewards of money, sure, but we can also be good stewards of our health, good stewards of the environment, or good stewards of the way that we use our time.
As Gareth Higgins suggested, we can make the biggest impact in our sphere of influence when we take the time to first consider our own particular gifts and abilities when it comes to activism, and then specialize - wholeheartedly leverage our particular talents in service of some aspect of bringing forth God’s justice and peace. None of us can single-handedly heal the woes of the world, but working together as the body of Christ, we can truly make an impact.
This Easter season, we can live more deeply into our calling to become a people who strive for justice and peace, because we know that, ultimately, the outcome does not depend on us. As the great Easter hymn says,
“The strife is over, the battle done,
the victory of life is won;
The song of triumph has begun, Alleluia!
The powers of death have done their worst,
But Christ their legions hath dispersed:
Let show of holy joy outburst. Alleluia!
He closed the yawning gates of hell,
The bars from heaven’s high portals fell;
Let hymns of praise his triumphs tell! Alleluia!
Lord by the stripes which wounded thee,
From death’s dread sting thy servants free,
That we may live and sing to thee. Alleluia!”
(Hymn #208, “The Strife is O’er”)
Good Friday Service
Friday, April 18
Noon
Service of Solemn Collects & Anthems
The offering at this service is designated for the Diocese of Jerusalem.
Presider: The Rev. Cristi Chapman
Deacon & Homilist: The Rev. Eric Johnson
Bulletin Link: Good Friday
The Great Vigil of Easter
Saturday, April 19
8pm
Holy Eucharist & Holy Baptism
We will begin on the church lawn with the Blessing of the New Fire, then proceed to the Sanctuary.
Stephanie Galbraith will be baptized at the service.
Presider: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Homilist: Emily Sander
Bulletin Link: The Great Vigil of Easter
Sunday Services
Sunday, 20 April 2025
The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Sunday
Year C
Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
9:30 am
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 “O” Avenue, Anacortes
Presider: The Rev. Eric Johnson
Christ Church Holy Eucharist
10:30 am
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
The service is also available on YouTube.
Servers
Presider & Homilist: The Rev. Courtney Johnson
Deacon: The Rev. Vicki Johnson
Eucharistic Minister: Jason Wells
Readers: Carleton Manning, Creamy Wilkins-Manning
Ushers: June Cook, Jim Minton
Altar Guild: Martie Arnold, Zoanne Hyland
Bread Ministry: Stephanie Galbraith, Dan Moore
Organist: Lynne Berg
Eucharistic Visitor: June Cook
Coffee Hour Host: Hospitality Team
Readings
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
John 20:1-18
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.
Hymns
H 207 - Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Alleluia!
WLP 783 - Heleluyan
H 205 - Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing!
H 182 - Christ is Alive, Let Christians Sing
LEVAS 41 - Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia
Bulletin Link: Easter Sunday
YouTube Sunday Service Link
Coffee Hour
A festive Coffee Hour and Easter Egg Hunt will follow the service.
All are welcome.
Announcements
A Joyful Noise April 2025
Find all the April news at A Joyful Noise April 2025.
Memorial Service for The Reverend John Filler
Sunday, May 18
3pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
All are welcome.
Pastoral Care Ministry Meeting
Tuesday, April 22
4:30 - 6:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Bishop’s Committee Meeting
Thursday, April 24
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom.
All are welcome to attend.
Centering Prayer
Weekly on Wednesdays
1:15 - 1:45
Christ Church Sanctuary
All are welcome at this short, simple service: a scripture reading, 20 minutes of silence, an intercessory prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer. Questions? Please contact Maggie Collinge, 360 202-5588.
Evening Prayer
Evening Prayer will now be held weekly on Wednesdays.
6pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
All are welcome.
Men’s Group
The Men’s Group meets weekly on Fridays.
9:00 – 10:00 am
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Questions? Please contact The Rev. Eric Johnson.
All are welcome.
The Red Door Thrift Shop
Weekly News
Dawn Jex, Red Door Manager
Dawn Jex
Hello Everyone!
We are right in the middle of April and Holy Week. We wish you all a meaningful Easter Week and a wonderful time with family.
As we move through Easter, we begin to focus on celebrating Mother's Day and all the women who love and encourage us through our lives. I'm lucky enough to still have my mom around but I also have many women who are like mothers to me. Women who lift me up, encourage me, hug me when I need it and even give me good advice when necessary! I hope you have some women like that in your life.
This week our sales are: pink tagged clothing $1, dresses and skirts half price, all pillows half price and Easter bunnies 50 cents each!
Debbie is in the process of moving summer items over to the shop from storage so you will be seeing lawn chairs, beach balls, and blow-up gadgets very soon. We are already getting a lot of shorts and swimsuits, sandals and summer hats. So come by the shop and take a look to pick up some new summer togs. If you are a clothing pricer - all shorts get prices on the left hip and go in the bins below women's jeans. This will save us some room on our metal clothing racks.
I am in the process of updating our volunteer roster. So if you have a recent change of address or emergency contact feel free to send me a seperate email so that I can have the most recent information. I may send some of you a quick email when I have time.
Shifts available for this week are:
Hard Good Pricer Friday 4/18 10 - 12:30
Donations Tuesday Mornings 10-12:30 Ongoing
We DO have a holiday this month. We will be closed on Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day.
I hope you all are enjoying our sunshine and if you haven't been up to Cap Sante yet to see the beautiful view from the Lions viewpoint - you should really go check it out. It's lovely.
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
Michael & Rev. Rilla
Myrna
Mary and family
Arra
Sandy
Keegen
Dale
Zoanne
Linda
Tom
Karen
Leslie
Diana
Val
John
Brendan, Jennifer, Glen, Donna, & Family of Tony, friends of Mary