Reflection
Mark Perschbacher
I’ve been thinking about blessings.
I just arrived home from a trip to Ghana, which I took with another member of the West African percussion group that I perform with here in Anacortes. We were hosted by Saeed, the leader of our group, who returns to his homeland for two months each year. Chris, my bandmate, describes herself as “spiritual, not religious”. During our visit, we attended the practice sessions of the band Saeed plays with in his homeland. At the end of each session, I was asked to offer a prayer. Several times I asked God to continue to pour blessings down upon all present. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting and receiving a blessing from our host’s uncle, the Grand Imam of Ghana. He is a peaceful, well-loved man who is recognized by the leaders of many religions. During our stay, we often spoke about how blessed we were to be able to make the trip.
On the night that we were scheduled to leave Ghana, our plane experienced a mechanical issue and our flight was delayed 24 hours. Luckily, the airline provided rooms in a 4-star hotel. We luxuriated in air-conditioned splendor and amazing and abundant food. We did fly out the next day but, due to a delayed start, it appeared we would miss our non-stop connecting flight to Seattle. At the last minute, though, we were the last passengers to board that flight. Several times on the flight back, Chris fervently thanked God for the incredibly blessed experience of the trip, including the friends we made, the room in the hotel, and our last minute connection home. It’s interesting how non-religious people will sometimes have moments of belief when either they are faced with overwhelming difficulties or when really wonderful things happen.
28 January 2024
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Year B
Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
9:30 am
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 “O” Avenue, Anacortes
Presider: Ms. June Cook
Christ Church Holy Eucharist
10:30 am
Christ Church Sanctuary
1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes
The service is also available on YouTube.
Servers
Presider: Reverend Courtney Jones
Deacon: Rev. Deacon Eric Johnson
Homilist: Shirley Barrett
Eucharistic Minister: Ed Barton
Readers: Diane Guinn, John Guinn
Ushers: Diane Guinn, John Guinn
Altar Guild: Martie Arnold, Zoanne Hyland
Bread Ministry: Tina Smiley
Organist: Lynne Berg
Coffee Hour Hosts: Ed Barton & Emily Sander, Hospitality Team
Readings
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28
Hymns
LEVAS 14 – Soon and Very Soon
H 530 – Spread, O Spread, Thou Mighty Word
H 493 – O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
H 321 – My God, Thy Table Now is Spread
H 380 – From All that Dwell Below the Skies
Bulletin Link: Sunday, 28 January 2024
YouTube Sunday Service Link
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting follows the service.
Refreshments will be served.
Please join in. All are welcome.
Announcements
Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 28
11:45 am
Parish Hall Gathering Room
Refreshments will be served.
We will be voting to elect three Bishop’s Committee members, as well as Diocesan Convention Delegates and Alternates.
The Bishop’s Committee has approved the following slate of nominees:
BC 2-year term: Diane Guinn
BC 3-year term: Tina Smiley
BC 3-year term: Tom Young
Convention Delegates:
Sharman Badgett-Young & Tom Young
Convention Alternates: Ed Barton & Emily Sander
In addition, Treasurer June Cook will be presenting the 2024 Operating Fund Budget, approved by the Bishop’s Committee at their December 2023 meeting.
Please plan on attending the meeting. Your participation is important to the life of our church.
All are welcome.
Looking Ahead to February…
Discernment Activities
Courtney Jones
Reverend Courtney Jones will lead the following activities:
Rule of Life Discussion
Please join in a discussion about preparing a Rule of Life for Lent.
Thursday, February 1
1pm
Zoom
Spiritual Gifts Inventory
We will complete a short but informative assessment of our spiritual gifts, followed by discussion about how those gifts could be offered to God.
Sunday, February 4
Following the 10:30 am service & Coffee Hour
Parish Hall Gathering Room
As always, all are welcome.
Candlemas Service
Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, will be celebrated with a Holy Eucharist service.
Friday, February 2
Noon
Christ Church Sanctuary
Please bring candles to the church to be blessed for your use at home throughout the year. These blessed candles will serve as symbol and reminder that Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is with you always.
Presider: The Reverend Diane Ramerman
Candlemas Service Bulletin
Go and Do Likewise
Pastor Terry Kyllo, Executive Director of Paths to Understanding, has just published his latest book, Go and Do Likewise: Following Jesus into our Common Humanity, which explores Christian motivations for working with and respecting people of diverse cultures and traditions. You are invited to join Terry for a conversation about his book.
Thursday, February 1
6:30-8:00 pm
Burlington Lutheran Church
134 E. Victoria Avenue, Burlington
Seven in ten Americans feel the nation is dangerously divided. We are living in bubbles, isolated from people with other perspectives, traditions, and cultures. We are also dangerously unequal. Many people do not have adequate access to opportunities to care for their family and community.
We know that the road we are on leads to a bleak future – but what can we do?
Pastor Terry Kyllo set out to find answers. He spoke with leaders from diverse backgrounds—Indigenous, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Secular, and Christian. Their collective wisdom was enlightening. They believe that building trust starts with getting to know each other, collaborating for the common good, and publicly respecting one another. It sounds simple, yet it’s incredibly powerful. It also sounds like Jesus, who said: “love your enemies, pray for those that persecute you, do good to those who harm you.” (Matthew 5:44)
Christians are in a unique place of power, possibility, and responsibility in America. We have churches in every neighborhood. We can build bridges with people of diverse traditions and cultures in part because many people in the community know us. When we eat together, share stories, work for the common good, and honor each other in public, ripples of hope reach the whole community.
As Terry worked to overcome prejudice and encourage interfaith relationships, he often heard Christians ask, “Is it okay for faithful Christians to work with people of other traditions?” To make interfaith work possible, this question needs answering. As he responded, he realized that it wasn’t just one question, but many. Terry realized that he had grown up in a church that taught:
-Christianity is the only way to God
-Christianity is God’s only way to usOn his own journey as a follower of Jesus, Terry slowly realized that Jesus taught no such thing. His new book, Go and Do Likewise: Following Jesus into our Common Humanity builds on Terry’s conversations with hundreds of Christian congregations, pastors, and leaders of many traditions. He helps Christians to find their “why” for knowing, working with, and publicly partnering with people of all traditions. He writes:
I no longer believe the Christian tradition teaches that it is merely permissible to work with people of diverse cultures. I have come to believe that knowing, respecting, and working with people of diverse traditions is an inherent part of being faithful to Jesus. -Terry KylloOnly together can we build the future we long for and that our children deserve. Only together can we meet this moment of division and inequality. Doing so is faithful to Jesus and his mission in the world.
To prepare for a Conversation with Terry, think about these two questions:
-What leads Christians to resist working with people of diverse cultures and wisdom traditions?
-When do we see Jesus working with and respecting people of diverse traditions?Terry’s book is available in print, E-book, and audio book wherever books are sold.
Learn more about Terry Kyllo, his new book, and Paths to Understanding at Paths to Understanding.
Online Youth Confirmation Series
Youth ages 13 – 18 are invited to explore the sacrament of Confirmation with their peers from around the Diocese.
Sundays, February 4 – April 21
7:00 – 8:30 pm on Zoom
You will be preparing for confirmation with Christ Church at Cathedral Day at Saint Mark’s Cathedral on April 27. Each week there will be a different guest teacher who will lead the lesson and discussion. Facilitated small groups will provide time for conversation with peers of the same age.
More information and registration is available at Diocese of Olympia Youth Confirmation Series.
Questions? Please contact Reverend Courtney Jones.
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.
Men’s Group
The Men’s Group meets weekly on Fridays.
9:00 – 10:00 am
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom.
Questions? Please contact Deacon Eric Johnson.
The 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!
Day by Day
Day by Day daily devotions may be accessed at the following link: Day by Day Daily Devotion.
Prayer List
- Lurinda
- Hill Family
- Roy
- John & Mary
- Frank
- John
- Patricia, Craig, & Kathy, friends of Mary
- Tony, Bill, Sergei, Igor, Yaraslov, Tatiana, and Tom, Rhonda & family, friends of Jean
Pledges & Offerings
Thank you for your pledges and offerings to Christ Episcopal Church.
Your gifts may be placed in the Sunday offering, mailed to Christ Church, 1216 Seventh Street, Anacortes WA 98221, or placed in the mail drop, next to the front door of the parish hall.