Weekly Update 4 April 2025

Reflection

John Okerman

John Okerman

Who is on Your List of Appalling People?

During Lent, I’ve been following daily readings from the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, a community rooted in prayer, worship, and sharing God’s love. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector: one boasts of his righteousness, while the other humbly seeks God’s mercy. Jesus chooses the tax collector—the “appalling” person—over the self-righteous Pharisee.

Pharisees were devout and upright, much like many of us who attend church and love Jesus. Yet, Jesus also sought out tax collectors, seen as corrupt and excluded by society. His actions remind us that no one is beyond His love.

Today’s world mirrors this divide. Polarization, partisanship, and tribalism often create an "us vs. them" mindset. Who do you view as “appalling”? Those with differing political views, other religions, younger generations, immigrants, or non-native English speakers?

Jesus welcomes those we may deem “appalling” and loves them just as much as He loves us. If loving them feels difficult, remember that God loves them—and isn’t finished with them, or us, yet. Thanks be to God!

Sunday Services

Sunday, 6 April 2025
The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Year C

Chandler’s Square Morning Prayer
9:30 am
Chandler’s Square Retirement Community
1300 “O” Avenue, Anacortes
Presider: 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: The Rev. Courtney Jones
Deacon: The Rev. Eric Johnson
Homilist: Sharman Badgett-Young
Eucharistic Minister: Jim Minton
Readers: Jerlyn Caba, Todd Fifield
Ushers: Jerlyn Caba, Geoff Holmes
Altar Guild: Mary Gronholt, Val Long
Bread Ministry: Jim Minton
Organist: Lynne Berg
Eucharistic Visitor: Maggie Collinge
Coffee Hour Host: Melissa Simonsen

Readings
Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8
Readings may be found in the Episcopal Lectionary.

Hymns
H 398 - I Sing the Almighty Power of God
H 679 - Surely It Is God Who Saves Me
H 441 - In the Cross of Christ I Glory
H 152 - Kind Maker of the World
LEVAS 165 - Higher Ground

Bulletin link 04/06/2025
YouTube Sunday Service Link

Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour follows the service. All are welcome.

The Rev.
Courtney
Jones

Faith Formation Series with Reverend Courtney
I Will with God’s Help
Our Lenten faith formation series with Rev. Courtney concludes this Sunday, April 6.
Class meets at 12:15 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room

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

Announcements

A Joyful Noise April 2025

Find all the April news, including the schedule for Holy Week and Easter services, at A Joyful Noise April 2025.

Pastoral & Confession Appointments

The Rev. Courtney Jones is available during Lent to meet for pastoral and confession appointments. Please make an appointment with Rev. Courtney by visiting her pastoral calendar and booking a time or by emailing her at therevecj@gmail.com.

Lenten Faith Formation: Episco-Questions

The Rev. Diane
Ramerman

“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!

Lenten Evening Prayer

Jim Minton

Wednesday, April 9
6pm
Christ Church Sanctuary
Presider: Jim Minton
All are welcome.

Rule of Life Meeting

Grace Minton

Thursday, April 10
5:30-6:30 pm
Parish Hall Gathering Room & Zoom
All are welcome.
Please contact Grace Minton for more information.
Information on developing a Rule of Life is available at Rule of Life.

Centering Prayer

Maggie
Collinge

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 Rev. Eric
Johnson

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

Good Morning Everyone and Happy April!

Things at the shop are going very well. We DO have a few shifts that need coverage still:
—Next Tuesday (4/8) in Donations from 12:30-3pm 
—This Thursday (4/3) Morning Clothing Pricer 10-12:30 (and possibly the 10th)
—Tuesday Afternoon clothing Pricer 4/8 and  4/22
12:30-3.  

As we enter April, Easter is approaching. Just a reminder that we will remain open on Good Friday and the Monday after Easter. However, since we are all volunteers, if you need time off on either of those days, please let me know. Our next official holiday, when we will be closed, is Memorial Day on May 26th

As we get closer to the end of April we will begin to highlight Mother’s Day which is May 11th. We will also continue to highlight the Tulip Festival and Quilt/Art Shows. Right after that we will highlight Memorial Day with themes of picnics/bbq and red white and blue colors. 

A quick reminder of price/policy updates:
—January - Adult books $1/$2, All kids books 50 cents
—February - Clothing Bins - everything is $1.
—March - No Tag = No Sale (please call supervisor for pricing)

No changes for April yet other than the diocese has approved us to go ahead and get a commercial loan to cover all of the outstanding costs for our addition! This is big news for us. Things are starting to move! Before you know it, Ed's Shed will be moved over to the church and we will be renting a container in which to do our Receiving so that groundbreaking can begin. I don't have any dates yet but just you pray and watch it happen!!!!

And Just a little story to let you know how we are helping in our community.
Last week on Tuesday,  a member of our community dropped off a few boxes and mentioned that there had been a death in their family and they were cleaning out the house. She told me that another local shop was coming to get everything the next day. I gave her my business card and told her to let me know if they needed any help. The next day she called and said that the other local shop was not coming as their truck was full. As I could hear tears in her voice I told her I would be right there to get what I could pack in my car. I just knew we had to do everything we could to help these folks. I arrived and we filled my car with boxes - just a fraction of what was in the home. I also took a moment to pray for this mom and sister who had lost their loved one. 

I then told them that if they could load up all of the rest of the boxes and bring them to the shop the next day we would take it all. I didn't give them a list or tell them we couldn't take this or that. I didn't want them to have to worry about anything. - Just bring it and we will go through it. We were packed to the brim in the donation shed for three days working through these items. We received heartfelt thanks for helping them. It's a very good day when you can help someone in their time of need by just doing your job. Good Job everyone who helped load, unload, go through items, price and pick up. Y'all are rock stars in my book!

And finally, 4/8 Tuesday at 6 pm, the Anacortes Police Department is offering a free Theft Prevention Training/Information Session. This meeting is open to anyone wanting to attend. It will be held at the APD at 1218 24th St in the Court Room. Please come with your questions/concerns. 

See you soon!
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