SPECIAL EVENTS

Photo provided by Salish Sea School

Create a Light for the Salish Sea:
Let's Help Light Up This Orca!

Kyra from the Salish Sea School will be helping us to make luminaries in our Fellowship Hall on November 18, 3:30 pm until about 6:30 pm. Class size is limited to about 25 people. These luminary "lanterns" will be made for the Winter Solstice Luminaria Walk in Washington Park on December 20th, 4-6 pm. You can make a luminaria for the walk, without participating in the walk as others in our congregation will be honored to carry your crafted luminary!

The Salish Sea School's goal is to have every individual Southern Resident Killer whale represented by a person and a luminary. There are currently 76 member orcas in our local waters across J, K, and L pods. This event speaks to us from Brad's Creation messages recently shared.

We have reached our limit of 25 unless someone has to cancel but visit the Salish Sea School for other workshops.

Please join in this community event and maybe wear a UMCA sweatshirt available by then!

Play Music on the Porch Day: Play for Peace

"What if for one day everything stopped... And we all just listened to the music?"

On August 29 starting at noon, about 50 people showed up to just play, sing, or listen to music. May have been our first but already looking forward to next August! The weather was amazing; the food really good; the music energizing, but the community was the best! So good to join in with Anacortes Singing Resistence! Music brought together people from across the city. Thank you to all who came.

A Summer Sizzle: Bertilson BBQ Bash

A spectacular sunny Saturday shared with friends! A huge thank you to Bob and Ginger Bertilson for a memorable day at their Guemes Island home! Over 30 enthusiastic participants came to sing, play, eat, and enjoy the beachfront view, but mostly to enjoy each other's company.

Pastor Brad was part of this impressive jamming group! Brian taught us a Swedish song while Nola and Effie-Jo kicked up their heels!

Thank you to ALL who helped and attended. This is what belonging looks like!

Katheryn Parker Presentation: June 27, 2026

Katherine Parker, the missionary we’ve supported for years, visited with us again after three years. She shared important and enlightening progress in her work in Nepal - especially among the women. Through this warm and enlightening presentation, she shared how slowly things are changing to give women more freedom and confidence. It is so empowering to see how our UMCOR donations are making a difference.

Pride Parade/Booth 2026

We had a great turnout of almost 20 people involved with the Pride Parade and UMCA booth on Sunday. So many joined in to make UMCA’s presence known! Even Lizzie showed up to throw her “bone” in the mix! Thank you to all for putting into action our motto of Welcoming Fully, Serving Graciously, and Loving Openly.

Barn Bash 2026

What a fabulous time we all had at our first (but certainly not last) barn bash. People brought their voices, instruments, and just their presence! There were munchies, drinks, and plenty of space to relax, unwind, and enjoy the company.

We played all kinds of music—new favorites, old classics, and anything in between that was suggested. We had violins, viola, guitars, ukuleles, harmonicas, recorders, flutes, drums and even a banjo, cello and Nyckelharpa! And all in Pat V’s barn!

What will the Musical Adventurers plan next!

An older man and woman standing inside a rustic barn with hay bales, looking at the camera. The man wears a cowboy hat and western shirt, and the woman is in a southwestern style jacket with earrings. In the background, a man in a hat is working near a counter.

Two people are seated in a wooden room. The man on the left has a beard, glasses, and is playing a banjo. The woman on the right has short gray hair, glasses, and is smiling. There is a keyboard in front of them and a book on the floor nearby.

A rustic wooden barn with a shingled roof in front of a forested hillside under a clear blue sky.

Group of musicians playing instruments and singing at a rustic indoor event with string lights hanging from the wooden ceiling.

Three women and one man are sitting at a table in a rustic setting, with one woman in the middle holding two bottles of soda and smiling. The table has a green tablecloth, a bouquet of flowers, and various drink bottles. The surroundings include wooden walls and exposed beams, with hanging light bulbs overhead.

A small group of people gathered in a rustic barn, with some sitting on hay bales, watching a person play the violin, while a music sheet titled "Wayfaring Stranger" is projected on a white sheet on the wall.

A group of people gathered inside a rustic wooden barn for a musical performance. Several musicians are playing instruments, including a violin and a hammered dulcimer, while others are reading sheet music. String lights are hanging from the ceiling, and a projector screen displaying sheet music is on the right side. Some people are seated on hay bales, and a table with snacks and drinks is in the background.

Indoor gathering of people seated on hay bales and chairs, playing guitars and music, with a large sheet displaying sheet music on a wall, in a rustic barn with string lights and large open door showing parked cars and trees outside.

A group of five people standing outdoors in a rustic area with wooden beams, string lights, and some tables in the background. The group is smiling and appears to be at a social gathering or event.

A group of people gathered in a rustic barn with wooden walls and hanging string lights, performing or rehearsing music with guitars, a keyboard, and sheet music, during the daytime.

A brown horse grazing in a fenced grassy area with a weathered wooden barn and tall pine trees in the background under a blue sky.

People sitting outdoors in a sunny area with a white truck and red car behind them. There is a pile of gravel, a yellow cart, and a large trash can nearby. The background has trees, a white fence, and a small orange building.

Spring Tea 2026

UMCAnacortes held its seventh annual Spring Tea on Saturday, April 18th. The tea is one of the largest fundraisers the church does as a part of its outreach program. Registration fees and proceeds from a silent auction support several of our local charities. Event coordinator, Effie-Jo Lindstrom, and her team spent over three month planning this year’s event which was attended by over 100 people. The 2026 event raised over $8000, the largest amount yet.

Our annual mission/outreach fundraising event. This is a delightful afternoon event for all to gather, enjoy good tea, small nibbles, and bid on fabulous silent auction items.

Who benefits
Proceeds from ticket and silent auction sales benefit these organizations: depending on how much is raised!

Anacortes Family Center
A Simple Gesture
Helping Hands Food Bank
NAMI of Skagit County
Jaama Letu Orphanage a UMC orphanage in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Boys and Girls Club

Thank you to our generous corporate/business and individual donors.

A large room decorated for a celebration with multiple round tables covered in white tablecloths, set with teapots, cups, and plates. The ceiling has hanging lights and children’s paper decorations, while the walls feature colorful banners and a large sky and clouds mural.

Two elderly women with glasses sitting at a table during a gathering or event. One woman is wearing a white cardigan and has a name tag that reads Martha Snook, while the other woman is wearing a colorful patterned blouse and has a name tag that reads Becky. They are looking towards the camera. On the table, there are name tags, a sheet of paper, and pens. In the background, there is a door labeled 'CUSTODIAN' and a table with colorful items and signs.

A group of eight people seated around a table at a social gathering, with food and teapots on the table, in a decorated indoor space with windows letting in natural light.

A group of elderly people sitting at a long banquet table during a celebration or gathering, decorated with colorful lanterns and a blue sky-themed backdrop with clouds.

More to come!

Group of men standing in a line at a banquet table, dressed in semi-formal attire with bow ties, some wearing gloves. A woman sitting at the table is visible in the foreground.

A woman wearing glasses, a denim jacket, and a floral shirt standing in a decorated hall with many people, tables, and festive decorations.

A bald man wearing glasses, a white dress shirt, a black bow tie, and blue gloves holding a silver tray, smiling at an indoor event. In the background, there is a quilted fabric with colorful triangles, a person in a straw hat, and a window with green trees outside.

A man wearing a light blue dress shirt, black pants, a brown bow tie, a beige fedora with a black band, black glasses, and blue gloves, smiling at camera at a social gathering or party indoors with other guests seated at tables, some wearing name tags.

A smiling older woman with curly gray hair and glasses sitting at a table in a decorated room. She is wearing a floral apron with lemons and other plants on it, and a sleeveless top. Behind her are chairs, a cart, and a table with colorful items, possibly at a gathering or event.

Two men engaging in conversation in an indoor setting, with a woman wearing a hat in the background and a blue curtain overhead.

Two men dressed in white shirts, one with glasses and a black bow tie, the other with a gray cap and red bow tie, standing together indoors against a wooden wall.

Two elderly men with glasses and light-colored hair sitting side by side indoors with bookshelves and a potted plant in the background.

Environmental Justice: Southern Resident Orcas

As one of her last Girl Scout projects, our own Cedar researched and developed a very informative presentation on our orcas. Complete with a good audience and pizza, she made a strong appeal to protect our orcas. Presentation can be seen below. Thank you, Cedar!