Newsletter 12/20/2020

News - Worship 5pm Saturday, 10am Sunday / 9am Adult/Youth Educ

Newsletter 12/20/2020

12/21/2020

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St. Aidan's Weekly Newsletter

Fourth Sunday of Advent 12/20/20

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

St. Aidan's Sunday Services will be on Facebook Live until Epiphany, January 6, 2021. Resuming in-house services will be decided by the Bishop.

Check UNISON, FACEBOOK, and our Website for Schedule Updates.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT TO ACCESS THE LIVE BROADCAST.

December 20 Sunday Worship Service

Holy Eucharist RITE II, 10:00 am - Rev. Tom Baker

Sermon: “Home For the Holidays”

If you are watching our online worship service, please use the attached Worship Booklet below. It includes our Lectionary Readings and Hymns.

Click Here for the Worship Booklet

The Lectionary Readings are: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38. NRSV

Click Here for Lectionary Readings

ROTA for Sunday, Dec. 20

Lectionary Reader for Dec. 20 is Paul Reed or Fr. Tom Baker

If you are unable to serve on your scheduled Sunday, please find your replacement.. Sharon Seidel

Click here for the November-December 2020 ROTA

Fr. Tom's Talk ...

On Monday, December 21 all are invited for an online Blue Christmas service on Facebook live at 6 pm. If you can not watch it live, remember the good thing about Facebook is that once it is posted you can watch it at a time and day that is convenient for you.

This time of year is filled with expectations for all to have the Christmas spirit. The world is full of songs and presents, tinsel and lights. People are supposed to be happy and joyful. For many, who experienced the loss of a loved one, much of that is missing. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other disease that puts a question mark over our future, makes parties and joviality painful for many people. For those who associate Christmas with carols and ornaments and family, it can seem strange to focus on the darkness of grief. But darkness has always been a part of the Christmas story. Acknowledging our darkness, our grief, is crucial to healing.

A Blue Christmas service recognizes that the holiday season is often difficult for those who have experienced a loss. Goodness knows 2020 has been filled with tremendous loss. The loss of normalcy, family gatherings, eating out, the loss of jobs, homes, and over 300,000 lives. Our service will include prayers, scripture readings, a short sermon and those watching can participate by lighting candles in their home. We hope you join us for this comforting service of prayer.

Please let me know if you’d like to sit down and talk or enjoy a coffee, at a social distance of course, or feel free to call me at 785-670-0158, or email me at tbaker1102@yahoo.com. My office hours are Monday - Thursday 10 am - 3 pm. … Fr. Tom

(The angel Gabriel said), "for nothing will be impossible with God," And Mary answered, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

Luke 1:37-38

The mother of Jesus is held up to us as the example of a faithful servant who put her life totally into God's hand. This can be a difficult choice, for we often have no idea what God's plan for us will be. We do however have the promise of Mary's son that God is a loving parent, the one who will always be with us and carry us into God's kingdom.

Sunday, Dec. 20 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

9:00 am: Adult Forum - via Facebook Live and ZOOM

10:00 am: Spiritual Communion Service, Facebook Live

Monday, Dec. 21

6:00 pm: Blue Christmas Service - on Facebook Live

A gentle, contemplative, comforting prayer service for those carrying pain or loss during this season. All are encouraged to have in their homes 4 candles to light during the service (you may use the candles on your Advent Wreath).

Click Here for the Blue Christmas Worship Booklet

Wednesday, Dec.23

12:00 pm: Noon Day Prayer - on Facebook Live

Thursday, Dec.24

5:00 pm Christmas Eve Services- on Facebook Live

... Due to cold weather, caroling has been cancelled.

... The online Christmas Eve Worship Booklet will be sent out next week via Constant Contact. It will also be posted on our website.

Thursday, Dec. 25

NO Christmas Day Service

Sunday, Dec. 27 - First Sunday After Christmas

NO Adult Forum on Dec. 27 or Jan. 3

10:00 am: Spiritual Communion Service, on Facebook Live

Click Here for St. Aidan's December 2020 Calendar

Click here to see Updated December Birthdays and Anniversaries

Pledges and Offerings Until St. Aidan's Reopens

Send your pledges and offerings to the church office.

You may also donate online.

MAKE SURE YOU DESIGNATE ST. AIDAN'S IN THE DROP DOWN BOX.

Click here for Donation form.

Vestry News

Please consider serving on the St. Aidan's Vestry for 2021.

If you are interested, please contact Julie Wojtas, 630-865-3931.

Christmas Poinsettias

Memorial Donations

Poinsettias will be purchased for the Altar again this year. If you would like to make a Memorial or Thanksgiving donation, please send your check to the church and in the memo line designate Poinsettias. Please include the names you would like honored so they can be included in the worship booklet for Christmas. Thank you.

Links for the ZOOM events are also available on the website, under EVENTS.

Adult Forum

Sunday at 9 am, Facebook LIVE, or via ZOOM - (if you choose) December 20th will be the last one for this year.We will resume on January 10th.

Theme, Shepherds and Wisemen

Reading, Isaiah 9:2-7

Click Here for Advent 4 Study Doc

Reflection music, “Sabbath Prayer” Fiddler on the Roof

Click Here for Advent 4 Study Music

Join Adult Forum ZOOM Meetin g

... Meeting ID: 885 7588 5412

... Passcode: 992430

Download the following Adult Forum iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Adult Forum Weekly Calendar

"Cup of Cocoa" with Fr. Tom - ZOOM

Due to popular demand Cup of Cocoa will continue on ZOOM after the first of the year.

...Look for updated information on Unison.

Join Cup of Cocoa ZOOM Meeting

... Meeting ID: 899 2559 3328

... Passcode: 563904

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Cup of Cocoa Calendar

BackSnack Program

St. Aidan’s is in our second decade of working with five Olathe Elementary Schools in this important ministry.

... See St. Aidan's Facebook and Web page for more information about BackSnacks.

Click here to see the BackSnack Packing and Delivery Schedule for 2020-2021

Johnson County Food Ministry at Center of Grace

No ministry Outreach for St. Aidan's at The Center of Grace in December.

... See St. Aidan's Facebook and Web page for more information regarding this ongoing ministry. St. Aidan's serves the fourth Thursday of the month.

Pastoral Concerns and Prayer Requests

Pastoral Concerns:

In case of pastoral emergencies, please contact Fr. Tom Baker at

785-670-0158 (call or text) or email him at tbaker1102@yahoo.com.

Prayer Requests:

Please email any prayer requests to Karon Wintrode, and she will post them on Unison. kwintrode22@comcast.net.

The parish email system is accessible through our website – www.staidansolathe.org See Julie Wojtas (630 865-3931) for information or any questions.

Be sure to check Unison for all updated information regarding St. Aidan's.

Thanksgivings and Prayers

Thanksgivings –

We give thanks for the birthdays of Nikki Crowell, Tom Mencer, Richard Grove, Addison Graham and David Kuhn. We give thanks for the people of St. Aidan’s and the privilege of serving each other, our church and our community throughout the year. We give thanks for the faithfulness and resilience of St. Aidan's parish as we all work together during this difficult time, finding new ways to stay connected in spite of the challenges.

Cycle of Prayer –

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for our Full Communion Partner, the Philippine Independent Church.

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer we pray for the people of Benin, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo..

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Grace, Winfield.

For Our Parish Leadership –

We pray for our rector, Rev. Tom Baker and his wife, Cherie. We pray for the members of the Vestry: Senior Warden Julie Wojtas, Jane Bush, Mark Sappenfield, Sarah Smith and Kathy Mencer; for the Vestry Clerk, Carolyn Sturgeon; for our Treasurer, Tim Tatlock; and for our delegates, Carolyn Sturgeon, and Sarah Smith.

For Our Troops, Veterans, and Law Enforcement –

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women in the service and law enforcement at home and broad. Defend them with your grace; give them courage; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

For the Departed –

Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that all your faithful people may at the last enter into your unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Guidance and Grace

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Healing –

Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve your sick servants, and give your power of healing to those who minister to their needs, that those for whom our prayers are offered may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.