Weekly News & Events

Orcas Island

Orcas Island

Worship Services

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August 16 – 12th Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday Worship in person at 1:15 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 242 Main Street, Orcas Island, Washington 98245

Live Online worship via Zoom at 11:00 a.m.

Notice: Connection directions sent via email, or contact the church email. The Weekly Bulletin available online includes directions.

This Week's Events

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Announcements

Announce-Orcas

Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Bible Study via Zoom, Becky Moore host

Wednesday 12 noon, Emmanuel Church

Music series throughout the summer. See Announcements and Events Calendar.

Pastor's Note

This Sunday’s strange story of the Cannanite woman isn’t always easy to hear, but sometimes getting help isn’t either. Let us encounter this story more deeply of a woman seeking for her daughter and stubbornly refusing to be turned away. May her persistence remind us of all who seek crumbs from the tables of the world also deserve to be fed. May there be enough for all.

Our transition groups have been hard at work across our branches, sharing in meetings and making room in their summer travel and visitor schedules! With all the moving pieces your Transition Facilitator Erik Samuelson and I have discerned that a slower schedule for all will benefit LCSJI during this process. We agreed that we will both stay on through the end of the year (and beyond) if helpful in the transition process. This will give us ALL some breathing room as we keep figuring out our way forward. May we continue to hold one another gently and ask the spirit to keep guiding us as we work together for the future of the Lutheran Church in the San Juan Islands.

– Reconciling in Christ Statement –

(updated 2026)

As a Reconciling in Christ Congregation, we are committed to racial equity and, just as Christ welcomed all people unconditionally, we welcome people of all races, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, ages, cultures, languages, abilities, and political views. We seek to be a diverse ELCA community rooted in God’s gracious love.

A Note About Zoom & Microphones. We will continue experimenting with our amplified service at Friday Harbor which is also our zoom service. We are hoping this new configuration of microphones will help those in the space and those in zoom to hear the service! We are grateful to Rowan our sound tech for their assistance with this project! We appreciate your patience as we ensure all is in working order over the next few weeks!

Music at Emmanuel – Wednesdays @ 12:00pm during the summer! Wednesday noon series. Admission is by free-will offering to benefit the Emmanuel music scholarship fund in support of Orcas Island students attending music camps. https://www.visitsanjuans.com/eventdetail/73344/music-at-emmanuel

Caution: Someone is impersonating Pastor Emma’s and Pastor Abby’s (St. David’s Episcopal) email. Be careful when responding to emails from them, especially when asking for ‘help to purchase gifts for “staff.”‘ The tip-off (aside for asking for financial help) is the email address: frrev0591@gmail.com. There may be no salutation, just a “Good morning,.” so be sure to double check the return address before you respond. If in doubt, contact them directly by phone.

Adding an announcement: Please forward your written listing to Steve Simpson by Thursday. Be sure to include all relevant information (who, what, when, where, why, how). Unless otherwise specified, announcements will be listed for one week and events will be listed weekly until the event date.

Coming Events

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- Weekly Reflections -

In addition to preaching a weekly sermon, Pastor Emma sends out short weekly reflections that cover scripture, current events, church news, and other items of interest. Past reflections are available at Sermons and Reflections.

Friday Harbor: Wild Church – August 25 @ 7:00pm Jackson Beach Park
Come experiment with Wild Church as we wonder & wonder along the shoreline with creation and our friends at Saint David’s Episcopal Church. Let nature share in our worship, adding in their own unique chorus welcoming the Summer Solstice! Please bring what you need to be comfortable, like a chair or blanket, sturdy shoes, water bottle or other materials for reflection.

Adding a coming event/announcement:

Please forward your written listing to Steve Simpson by Thursday for inclusion in that Sunday’s bulletin. For additional events, please write to the parish administrator Jonna at sanjuanlutherans@gmail.com to get your meeting or event added to the all-church calendar. Be sure to include all relevant information (who, what, when, where, why, how). Unless otherwise specified, announcements will be listed for one week and events will be listed weekly.

Weekly update for PNW Synod of the ELCA is available here.

Prayers

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Our Prayers – August

Healing: Rich Barker, Bill Lowe (friend of Samantha Bryner), Barbara S., Helena (granddaughter of Craig & Krispi), Dave Staehlin, Christine, Janet, Lilly.

General/Support: George and family (brother of Lilly Handler), Ann Brewer (caring for parents), Jim (son-in-law of Joan & Gordon Eustis), Scott and Marie, Mary, Steven, Rachel (friend of Lilly Handler), Ryan, Andrew and Andrew’s son Tre’vion (healing).

For pastoral care needs, and to add requests for Sunday Prayers, please contact Pastor Emma: email pastoremmad@gmail.com

Also of Note

Also of Note 3

WRITING CHECKS: Checks to be deposited to the church’s bank account should be made payable to “Lutheran Church in the San Juans”. If you would like to designate your gift in any way, please note that in the memo line. Thank you! - From your Financial Secretary.

Email changes: Please contact Steve Simpson to make changes to the email distribution list for these notes. Please also contact Jonna, the parish administrator so that address and email changes may be saved for the church directory.