Blog Archives

Newsletter for June 19, 2026

6/22/2026

0 Comments

St. Aidan's June 19, 2026 update

The mission of St. Aidan's is to make disciples by proclaiming Christ as Lord and making a difference in our community.

Visit our website

Join us for "In Person Worship"

Sunday, June 21, at 10:00 am

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

St. Aidan's Episcopal Church

14301 S. Black Bob Rd,

Olathe, KS 66062

913-764-3050

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Fr Steve Rottgers

10 am Holy Eucharist

Serving on Sunday

Acolyte: Ben Strain

Altar Guild: Sarah Smith

Lector: Nicholas Allsup

Intercessor: Carolyn Sturgeon

Ushers: Paul and Jill Reed

Counter: Paul Reed and Karon Wintrode

Be Our Guest: Carolyn Sturgeon

The Liturgy of the Word

June 21, 2026

ATTENTION: ROTA SERVERS!!!

Starting to prepare July and August. Please let me know if you have dates you are gone. [email protected] 913 226 3565

Click here for May/June Rota

Click here for July/August Rota

Remember that if you cannot serve please find a substitute and let the office or Jane know. If you have requests for in advance contact Jane Bush [email protected]

Thank you! Jane Bush

St. Aidan's updates

Our garden team has our coneflowers looking spectacular

From the Rector:

June Ponderings

I’m writing this a bit late in the month given the need to support Mary in her recent bout with pneumonia and still getting energy back from that and the prior dance with heart blockages late in May. She and I most certainly appreciate all of your prayers and cards of support! As of a recent appointment, she still has some of the aspirant in her right lower lung and still needs to be on oxygen. She is stronger but will still need some time to completely bounce back.

We are now also up to our eyeballs in World Cup Soccer. It’s been fun to watch the games but also the high morale of the fans following their favorite team. I feel this event comes close to or may even surpass the energy of the Olympic Games. Those are coming later in the year as well. All of this bracketing the 250^th celebration of our Country’s birth! It will be a spectacular summer!

I also know that with the coming summer days, many of you will be travelling to fun and restful places. I pray for safe travels and refreshment of your souls and that you will be able to return from your time away with new energy and fun stories of your experiences! I do ask for you to remember St. Aidan’s in your prayers and arrange for your financial support to continue while you are gone. I thank you in advance for that!

During the coming summer months, as many of you have heard, St. Aidan’s is in discussions with a Montessori school that is looking for a new and larger home. It will be 3–6-year-olds and will be about 20-24 in number. They will be using our nursery area and part of the parish hall on Monday-Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM. Their head mistress has been doing this for 35 years and is well versed in children’s education via the Montessori method that enables self-exploration, focused experiences, collaborative sharing, care for one another and building a community of love and peaceful exploration of this world we live in. I will give more information about this exciting new venture as more details unfold during the phases of development.

Along with all of this, we come to the celebration of Father’s Day and give thanks for those who have provided their gifts to the raising of children, supporting their wives and the building of a home to support them. You may have also been that favorite uncle, grandparent, neighbor next door, teacher or just an all-around nice guy! We celebrate all of you!

June is also Pride month and we acknowledge that some of our community are called to a lifestyle that is also a part of our modern culture.

It’s going to be an exciting summer filled with all types of experiences and ways to celebrate one another and this great country that is a gift to each of us. Blessings on your travels and may you be refreshed and return to us safe and spiritually invigorated!

Fr. Steve

May and June Birthdays and Anniversaries!

June

Trevor Gullach 6/4

Cecilia Strain 6/4

Dominic Strain 6/4

Chris Graham 6/22

Jane Bush 6/24

Laurie Bush 6/26

June

Krista and Chris Graham 6/8

Jane and Jim Bush 6/10

Mark and Gunda Pretzel 6/10

Paul and Jill Reed 6/14

Mark and Norma Sappenfield 6/16

Pastoral Concerns and Prayer Requests

Pastoral Concerns:

In case of pastoral emergencies, please contact Fr. Steve Rottgers at 205-223-3638 (call or text) or email him at [email protected].

Prayer Requests:

Please email any prayer requests to the office [email protected]

Diocesan Happenings

Bishop Search

Dear friends in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas,

We're writing to keep you apprised of our progress as the Search Committee for the XI Bishop.

The period for the receipt of applications closed a few weeks ago, and we have been prayerfully considering each applicant. This phase of discernment includes going over résumes, listening to sermons, and conducting Zoom interviews and background checks. This work will continue throughout most of June, culminating in an in-person discernment retreat June 26-27. After final discernment and consultation, we look to commend a slate to the Standing Committee in early July. Once a slate has been named, we will step out and the Transition Committee will step in. You will hear from them as they prepare us for the election in October and consecration in April of next year.

We're grateful for the trust extended to us by the Standing Committee, and we're thankful for the people of this diocese on whose behalf we serve.

Discernment in sacred community takes place over time. We know that God guides this work. Please continue to pray for this effort, and for the Holy Spirit to assist us.

Yours in Christ,

Torey Lightcap and Scott Howard

Co-Chairs, XI Bishop Search Committee

September 14-18 — Meet and Greets
October 23–24, 2026 — Electing Convention, Grace Cathedral, Topeka
April 17, 2027 — Ordination and Consecration, Grace Cathedral, Topeka. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe will officiate.

Discerning God's Call Retreat - August 22

Discerning God’s Call is a weekend welcoming all seekers in the Diocese of Kansas created to support their response to God with their lives. Hosted by the Commission on Ministry and led by the Canon for Spiritual Life and Clergy Care, Discerning God’s Call is strongly recommended for those exploring ordained ministry and for others who are interested in exploring more formal lay ministry.

Learn more and register online.

Help Identify Military Veterans Within Our Kansas Parishes

The Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia of the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries recently began a new Veterans Ministry Commission to help identify the veteran, military, and military-connected members in our parishes. The broader effort is intended to create better ministry opportunities to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our very unique and diverse military populations.

Please consider taking this survey Veterans Ministry Survey - Intellistack.

The Living church is a newsletter for the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion that we subscribe to. If you are interested in reading it, the March PDF is attached here. Living Church PDF

BackSnack Program

2026--2027

St. Aidan’s is partnering again with Harvesters in the Backsnack program. This year we will be partnering with four Olathe Elementary Schools.

Thanks to all our faithful volunteers that make this ministry possible. For more information on the BackSnack program, please contact Don Seifert at

[email protected]

We are done for the year!

Johnson County Food Ministry at Center of Grace

St. Aidan's helps prepare and hand out meals at Center of Grace in Olathe, on the fourth Thursday of the month. Dinner prep is at 3:00 pm and at 5:00 pm we distribute food at Center of Grace.

Next Outreach at Center of Grace is on May 28th, 2026

*** Also, we need your help by bringing individually wrapped desserts for the Center of Grace to St. Aidan's by noon on that Thursday.