Newsletter for September 7, 2025

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Newsletter for September 7, 2025

9/9/2025

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St. Aidan's September 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, September 7, at 10:00 am

Thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost

St. Aidan's Episcopal Church

14301 S. Black Bob Rd,

Olathe, KS 66062

913-764-3050

Join Us for an Ice Cream Social to celebrate our Feast Day on Sunday September 7, after services.

Sunday,September 7 , 2025

Fr. Steve Rottgers

10 am Holy Eucharist and Feast Day

Serving on Sunday

Acolyte: Don Seifert

Lector: Mark Sappenfield

Intercessor: Anne Brunner

Ushers: Janet Seifert and Norma Sappenfield

Counter:Don Seifert and Tom Mencer

Altar Guild: Karon Wintrode

Be Our Guest: Janet Seifert

The Liturgy of the Word

ATTENTION: ROTA SERVERS!!!

Click here for the September 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

Come Labor On, a Burden or a Joy?

Having just finished Labor Day Weekend, and everyone getting back to a lifestyle that is focused on kids being back to school and summer vacations being done, I remember the familiar hymn, “Come Labor On”. I just looked it up in the hymnal and recall the drone-like melody and cadence of the verses, but the part that stands out in my mind is, “Come Labor On”! To be honest, my inner self can go in two directions with this call!

First, I hate yardwork! My chore while growing up was mowing the grass. I hated it and regularly prayed that the Sears mower that had a spring-loaded crank to start it would break. Only a few times did the pot metal gear break, and I’d be saved a few days until it was repaired. I was once asked by my father to roto till the garden, which I did but shared that the plants on one side of the garden were extremely hard to till! My father’s face went white! I didn’t know that it was his 2^nd year asparagus that I had doomed! I’m also not a big fan of leaf raking or snow removal. I view all of these as a Labor of Necessary Burden. I am not a fan and will do them if necessary and if a local teen isn’t available and willing to be paid to do the same. My neighbor with the snowblower is an angel!

However, on the other hand, I love working with people! I am energized by celebrating the Sunday Eucharist. I love teaching and mentoring! I have initiated and coordinated the coming of the Presiding Bishop to Kansas City and holding a revival at the Power and Light district with 6,000 in attendance! I’ve organized and led trips of pilgrimage to Israel, Rome, England, Scotland and a trip to Disney World, Seaworld, Epcot and sites in Orlando for a group of 21 teens, via Amtrak. I’ve created a 375^th Anniversary Celebration for a parish in Colonial Virginia, again including the presence of the Presiding Bishop of that time.

So, what’s the difference? I think and feel sincerely that it is all about attitude, perspective and matching need with skills giftedness and passion. We each have a lane that we accel in and enjoy and other venues that it is a pure Labor of Love to do. Other events for the same person is like pulling teeth and punishment to endure for only as long as they must! And that is why we are not all alike and are varied as the colors of the light spectrum.

Here at Saint Aidan’s, we have that varied rainbow presence with saints that enjoy flowers and yard work, there are those with the gift of hospitality, some with organizational skills, some with public speaking abilities and some who can project comfort just by their presence. I celebrate the diversity of all of you and look forward to seeing what great things are in store for us as a community now that we are engaging the “Program Year” and the season of Fall. If we pay attention to what God is calling us to do, we will hear, “ ..and a glad sound comes with the setting sun, “Servants well done!”

In His Loving Service, Fr. Steve+

Join the St. Aidan’s Garden Team

St. Aidan’s Garden Team (formerly Green Team) welcomes anyone with a passion for gardening to help keep our church grounds looking their best. No mowing required—we contract that out!

Your Role

• Plant perennial flowers, plants, seeds

• Water - especially during summer months

• Weed, thin, and trim existing plants

• Spread mulch (annually)

• Participate in Spring clean-up

How It Works

We’ll gather monthly, as needed, for a 20–30 minute planning session to review garden priorities and assign tasks based on availability and interest. Our goal is simple: To maintain the church’s curb appeal and ensure that St. Aidan’s remains a welcoming beacon in the community.

Get Involved

Interested in joining? Contact Kurt, Jr. Warden, or Anne/Clarice, our resident garden gurus. We’ll add you to the official volunteer list for seamless communication and coordination

Kurt Gordon

Bishop Search Committee Invites Responses to Survey

As we search for the XI Bishop of Kansas, it's important to gather as much information from as many individuals as possible. What do YOU think we should seek in a Bishop? The characteristics you identify as vital to leading our Diocese will guide our discernment process.

All congregants and clergy within our diocese are invited to complete the survey. At the end of the survey, you will be given a chance to respond to questions about which you wish to comment.

You will need about 30 minutes to fill out the entire survey and to make comments. You cannot save your responses and return to the survey later, so please complete the survey in one sitting.

The survey can also be downloaded as a PDF and printed for those who may have limited internet access. Surveys completed this way can be sent to the Search Committee c/o the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas by regular mail at 835 SW Polk, Topeka, KS 66612, or preferably scanned and emailed to the Very Rev. Torey Lightcap [email protected].

Thank you for your time, your thoughts, and your continued prayers.Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the hearts and minds of those who will search for a new bishop to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please submit survey responses by September 11 at 5 pm.

Bishop Search Survey - Click Here

Survey Link

Women's Trip to the Overland Park Arboretum

The Daughters of the King are sponsoring a trip to the Overland Park Arboretum on September 25th, at 11:00am. This is for all of the women of the parish. The cost is $17.00 which includes entry into the Arboretum and the cart tour. If you have any questions, contact Kathy Mencer. [email protected] Participation is limited at 11 total participants.

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]

BackSnack Program

2004-2025

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 September 25 2025

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