All Categories

Newsletter for December 12, 2025

12/13/2025

0 Comments

St. Aidan's December 12 , 2025

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, December 14, at 10:00 am

Third Sunday of Advent

St. Aidan's Episcopal Church

14301 S. Black Bob Rd,

Olathe, KS 66062

913-764-3050

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Fr. Steve Rottgers

10 am Holy Eucharist

Serving on Sunday

Acolyte: Ben Strain

Lector: Anne Brunner

Intercessor: Clarice Ewing

Ushers: Kathy Mencer and Myke Chovanec

Counter: Carolyn Sturgeon and Tom Mencer

Altar Guild: Jane Bush

Be Our Guest: Jane Bush

The Liturgy of the Word

ATTENTION: ROTA SERVERS!!!

Click Here for December 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 Janet Seifert [email protected]

Thank you! Jane Bush [email protected]

From the Rector...

I know that I wrote this for my first month here at St. Aidan’s in January, but I feel it is so much more fitting for out time now as we have forged a priest/community relationship. I wanted to re-submit it for reconsideration now that we are walking together in faith as we begin the season of Advent and close out 2025.

Who are You going to be in the Nativity Pageant?

Years ago, when I was the rector of Christ the King Episcopal Church in York County, VA, we were in the midst of preparing for the Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant that would be assembled while singing Silent Night, after the reading of Luke’s account and just as Santa would arrive in silence to receive Holy Communion before his nightly travels. (I’ve communed Santa for 34 years)

The big question was, “What are you going to be for the Nativity Pageant?” We always made provisions for new and extra children who would show up so they could participate even at the last moment. There was always room for extra Angels and Shepherds. Mary, Joseph, were hard to have duplicates as well as only one Baby Jesus. Angels and Shepherds could abound!

When asked, my middle child confidently stated that he was going to be a Frog! When questioned, he stated very assuredly that there had to be a frog at the manger side for the birth of Jesus! Several levels of negotiation occurred with him and the Pageant director and a segue to being “A Star” was a sufficient settlement to his desire to be unique and different. His face beamed with a broad smile as his looked out from the center of a 3’X 2.5’-8 point yellow star covered in glitter! He shined with all his might with great Joy!

So, my question to all of you, “What are you going to be in the Nativity Pageant?”

If an Angel, then you are amongst the first Evangelist that over ages have proclaimed the “Good News” of God Being with Us in Human Form! Your music, your voices are heard above the drone of life due to your melody, your lyrical message that you proclaim, and the sound of singing and musical instruments always demand attention by those caught in the dullness of everyday life. You bring Joy to hearts, and a bounce to our walk as well as a message of Hope, Love, Grace, Mercy and Purpose! We Need Angels and Glad You have Selected That!

If a Shepherd, then you are the ones with a Pastoral Heart for People and desire Health, Safety, Justice and Well-Being to All! You are the “Heart” of the Community that looks with attention to the gathering of Community, the Welcoming of New Members to the Flock, and Seek Out those who become Lost or to the Edges of the Assembly of the Faithful. You also know the need to Protect the Meek as well as Understanding the practice of the Swaddling of Lambs that were laid in stone mangers to protect them from blemish. Those selected lambs were destined to be used for sacrifice, in many ways like the child that was swaddled in linen and laid in the manger that night. Great things were expected, yet attention needed to be provided for the newborn Savior. They got that message! We Need Shepherds to help welcome those who come to our communities of faith and to pay attention to their long-term-care while they are present with us!

Even though not as numerous, Wise Men are an option for some! Leadership is sometimes a lonely journey that involves long distances, discipline and an awareness of vision and potential change. It’s like seeing a far-off star and knowing of a portent of dramatic change and wanting to be a part of that process, being drawn to see what is happening and a courage and confidence to seek it, acknowledge it, and then to share it to all you meet, even those who would do us harm (Herod’s in the World) and still have the strength to find a new way. Bringing gifts is a way of saying, “We affirm your “Leadership” status with Us and we as colleagues will also be willing to be Led by You when Your (Jesus’s) Vision and Message Reign Supreme and for the betterment of All! We Need Leaders (Kings and Queens) to Lead, to hold a Hopeful Vision and to help All find a Better Way for a Kingdom of God here on Earth!

So, who are You?! An Angel, A Shepherd, A King/Queen, or are you called to the unique role of Frog or Star? If so, I hope You Shine brightly with God’s Love, Mercy and Hope! Pierce the Darkness that wants to envelope us and Make God’s Presence Illuminate paths for Leaders, Shepherds and Angels to Gather to make a difference in people’s lives and to invite others to join the Journey of Faith!

If a Frog, I hope you use your unique voice to be heard when everyone else’s is not! Maybe perhaps you are like John the Baptist, a rare unique personality that pointed to the coming Savior like Elijah and prophets of old! Make your hoarse voice be heard prophetically that attention needs to be paid to what is happening around us! Jump from place to place and make Him (Jesus) known on whatever pad you land upon! There had to have been a Frog somewhere at the scene of the Nativity! I’m sure of it!

To All, Merry Christmas, Hoppy New Year and a Blessed Epiphany!

The Rev. Dr. Steven R. Rottgers+

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]

Happenings

Bishop Search

Nov 3 the Bishop Search committee published the Diocesan profile and start accepting applications through Dec 5. Click here for profile.

Christian Contemplative Prayer

January 18^th 1pm-3:30pm, Christian Contemplative Prayer, Zoom

Have you always wanted to know more about meditation practices within Christian faith? This is a short course on Christian Contemplative prayer. Canon Lisa Senuta will guide this class and offer ways to support your own at home practice.

Great is God's Faithfulness

Feb 7, 2026, 9am-11:30am, Great is God’s Faithfulness, Zoom

We all need a “bridge over troubled waters” yet we seldom intentionally learn what the scriptures, and spiritual teachers have to say about the importance of grief in our lives. This zoom course is for people who desire to spend some time reflecting on the positive process of grief that energizes us for new ways of being, living and trusting God.

BackSnack Program

2025-2026

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

Summer is upon us, and Back snack will resume in October. The Pack are to be picked up on Wednesdays, and delivered on Thursdays.

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]

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]

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 January 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.