Welcoming priest and church. Not anti-white or mixed family like some of the other churches in the…read morearea. Still Christian.

Well, it had to happen…read more.. We've been in or about PT for three years. All the while, St.Paul's has been sending out various messages to come visit her. She's a beautiful old white board church (built by shipbuilders, I'm told) which is located next to the belltower at the top of a cliff overlooking "Downtown" and the Port Townsend marina. So...when an advert appeared in the Port Townsend Leader saying "Come to Our Launching: All welcome, free barbeque", well...the lure to explore this fine piece of architecture was just too strong. Never having been inside an Episcopalian church in my lifetime, I went. And thoroughly enjoyed myself. In the first place, it wasn't inside. It was outside on the terrace. In the second place, its Robin Williams favorite church (check the website for this jokes if you don't believe me...) And its friendly to a fault. Did I mention that I ran into a friend of a friend from San Francisco? (My friend is his teddybear maker..go figure.) Or that the material clearly states "All welcome." (And by *all* you know that saints, sinners, straights, gays, rich, poor *and* little nebbishes such as myself were intended to be included in that all-embracing "All.") So I had a grand time, got to tell a few of my favorite stories to a new (and apparently appreciative) audience. Got to participate in a fine, uplifting and somewhat unconventional church service. In blue jeans. And got to meet a bunch of people that I would have been unlikely to have met elsewhere. And I must say, the BBQ was mighty fine, too. "Welcome home" said the Rev. Elizabeth Bloch. And danged if I didn't believe her. Give the place a go when you are in town.

So there I was, wandering about Port Townsend on a summer's…read more afternoon when I noticed a sandwich board near a corner. "Candlelight Concert Tonight" 7:00 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church 609 Taylor Street. Said I to myself...I've seen all the movies at the Rose and the Rosebud. Watched all the plays that I care to. Maybe I'll go to the concert. It'll give me a chance to see the inside of this little church without being too obvious. Showed up at the appointed hour. Paid a small donation at the door. (Used for funding various charities about town and for the upkeep of the building.) Listened to two really fine groups. The first, a baroque recorder ensemble. The second, singers of a baroque chorale in their first public performance. (This latter group was formed when friends met at a local farm.) Good music, fine little wooden church, the oldest in Port Townsend. Uptown...with a view of Puget Sound. Beautiful organ (not used in this particular performance.) Friendly, fine, inclusive congregation and minister...Rev. Ankeny, who, if I remember correctly is also an actor. T'was a very nice evening and well worth the paltry donation.. worth a repeat visit for visitors and residents alike. My mother would have be sooooooo proud of me! (Her first word was "Beethoven.") Surprises are around every corner in Dream City, and this little church was certainly one of them. There's a concert every month, and many musical events happening weekly. Check out the website at: http://www.trinityumcpt.org for current activities.

This wonderful church gave a huge donation to feed the senior saturday Food Bank. They now will…read morehave fresh produce all Fall and Winter. They also donated a large sum to feel all the pets at the Port Townsend Food Bank. Such an amazing and caring group of people.

THIS ORGANIZATION OF ECHHO is amazing, and the volunteer drivers very giving and friendly people…read morewho have decided to serve others in a very meaningful way. Thank you John L., Frank G., Chris and Nancy for your help as I was rehabbing from knee replacement surgery. I will also thank Jeffrey for his patience and expertise in scheduling and getting all the free right equipment! Sincerely Tye Hillger