Newsletter for 12/13/2020

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

Newsletter for 12/13/2020

12/12/2020

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St. Aidan's Weekly Newsletter

Third Sunday of Advent 12/13/20

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

FOR COVID19 INFORMATION, CLICK HERE!!!

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

See announcements below for information on Adult Forum and other online meetings.

Check UNISON and FACEBOOK for Schedule Updates.

Our Sunday service is broadcast live on our Facebook page.

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

You can access Facebook through our website.

Click Videos and you will see the Live Broadcasts. There will also be a red LIVE indicator if it is in progress.

Be sure to check in a few minutes early.

December 13 Sunday Worship Service

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

Sermon: “The Unexpected Choice”

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: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Luke 1:46-55 (Canticle 15); 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28. NRSV

Click Here for Lectionary Readings

ROTA for Sunday, Dec. 13

We are online only for now...

Lectionary Reader for Dec. 13 is Mark Sappenfield or Fr. Tom Baker

Click here for the November-December 2020 ROTA

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

Fr. Tom's Talk ...

Well, it happened to me about three days ago. I was hit hard by Covid fatigue. No, I’m not sick or contagious! For many, Covid fatigue is when the frustrations and stress of living in a pandemic world becomes too much. I felt a lot like the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness for over forty years. During their long journey they were tired, constantly complaining, and didn’t want to be where they were. Some of the people wanted to go back to Egypt, back to being slaves where, they said, at least they had food, a roof over their head, and a bed to sleep in instead of constantly living in the wilderness. Other Israelites wanted to continue the journey, to try and just hang on, get through one day at a time until they reached the Promised Land.

Like the Israelites, this pandemic has been an anxious time for all of us. A time of wilderness where everything we once knew as “normal life” has changed and may never be the same again. Even the best of us reached a moment of feeling lost, out of energy, at the end of their rope. There are others of us who have done anything to make things normal during this pandemic: children going to school, holding sporting events, eating out, not wearing a mask.

It struck me that during their journey God’s greatest miracles happened in the wilderness; parting of the Red Sea, manna in the desert to feed the tribes of Israel, and water from the rock to refresh them. It seems God does God’s best work in the midst of wilderness. Remembering that, my Covid fatigue lessened. Instead of hoping God would lead me out of the wilderness, I found God in the wilderness.

Here’s to hoping that when we find ourselves suffering from Covid fatigue, we will stop and find God with us in our “wilderness”.

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 spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Isaiah 61:1-2a

These familiar words of the prophet are welcome during Advent... really, at any time. For God's spirit has fallen upon each of us, and in our own way, each of us has been anointed to bring good news, to bind up, to proclaim liberty and release. Think of those who will experience the Lord's favor through our faith and our actions.

Click Here for St. Aidan's December 2020 Calendar

The Calendar at St. Aidan's has been revised because of COVID19.

Sunday, Dec. 13- Third Sunday of Advent

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

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

11:15 am: St. Bridget's Chapter of the Daughters of the King meet via ZOOM

as shared via Unison.

Monday, Dec. 14

6:00 pm: Advent Lighting Prayer - Facebook Live

...See Announcement Below

Wednesday, Dec.16

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

2:00 pm: BackSnack Delivery

5:30 pm: Vestry Meeting

Thursday, Dec. 17

6:00 pm: Cup of Cocoa with Fr. Tom - via ZOOM!

...See Announcement Below

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 only

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."

Please Note ... All services will be on Facebook LIVE.

Links for the ZOOM events (posted below) are also available on the website, under EVENTS.

** Adult Forum

Adult Forum is on Sunday at 9 am, Facebook LIVE, or via ZOOM - (if you choose). Dates: December 13, 20.

** Adult Forum - Advent Week 3 Sunday, Dec. , 2020

Theme, Mary and all creation

Click Here for Advent 3 Study Doc

Music for reflection, “Ave Maria” Beyoncé

Click Here for Advent 3 Study Music

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

Adult Forum Weekly Calendar

Join Adult Forum ZOOM Meetin g

... Meeting ID: 885 7588 5412

... Passcode: 992430

Advent Lighting - Facebook LIVE

For those who want to celebrate Advent Lighting in their own home, tune in to Facebook LIVE, and Fr. Tom will be doing a prayer at 6 pm each of the following dates to celebrate the lighting of the candles. December 14, 21.

"Cup of Cocoa" with Fr. Tom - ZOOM

Join Fr. Tom for a "Cup of Cocoa" via ZOOM on these dates in December to catch up and chat about anything you would like! December 17 at 6 pm.

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

Cup of Cocoa Calendar

Join Cup of Cocoa ZOOM Meeting

... Meeting ID: 899 2559 3328

... Passcode: 563904

Noon Day Prayer with Fr. Tom and the Prayer Book

Please join us for Noon Day Prayer on Wednesdays. It is on Facebook only.

Looking Ahead: Christmas Schedule

On Facebook LIVE

- Stay tuned for Updates

December 21 at 6 pm: Blue Christmas Service

December 24 at 5:30 pm: Christmas Eve Service

... Caroling out in front of Church after the service! If we are doing an online service only, still join us at 7:30 for caroling!

December 25 at 10 am: Christmas Day Service

Pledges and Offerings: Until St. Aidan's reopens, you can send your pledges and offerings to the church office. 14301 S. Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS 66062

Angel Tree Ministry!

A Big Thank You to all who have participated in the Angel Tree gift giving program. We so appreciate your help purchasing a gift or gifts for these children of inmates. All the 20+ Angels have been chosen and we have received several donations to help with this project. Angel Tree is such a great program to assist in this way to bring families together.

If you missed the chance to pick up or request an "Angel" and would still like to participate, donations are welcome to help purchase gifts. Many families have some other children living with them that are not listed on the application, so we like to be able to give them a small gift also. Your donation can help to assist in that manner. Checks should be made out to St. Aidan's with Angel Tree in the memo line.

Please deliver your gift/gifts by December 13th to the church, office hours are Monday-Thursday, 10am-3pm, or on Sunday morning, Dec.13th, from 11am-12pm. Please have the whole "Angel Label" attached by tape or string (we'll remove the bottom & stick it on your package). Please include a sticky note identifying the item you are giving.

THANKS SO VERY MUCH!!

Questions? Contact:

Barb Belt -913-55-9001 -text or call

or Carolyn Sturgeon -913-499-9375 -text

St. Bridget's Chapter of the Daughters of the King - Food Ministry!

St. Bridget's Order of the Daughters of the King has started an all-parish food ministry. We will strive to keep on hand at the church seven grocery paper bags of food (with a long shelf-life) to be available for Father Tom to give as needed.

We will use the Harvesters' Most Wanted Food List to guide us in filling our grocery bags. We invite any parishioner who would like to help with this ministry to contact any Daughter on Sunday after church or text/call Carolyn Sturgeon at (913) 499-9375

Click Here to see the Harvesters' Most Wanted Food List

BackSnack Weekly Pick-up and Delivery

2 pm Pick-up Wednesday at St. Aidan's for Thursday Delivery

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 is closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas. No ministry Outreach for St. Aidan's at The Center of Grace in November or 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.

Click here to see Updated December Birthdays and Anniversaries

Thanksgivings and Prayers

Thanksgivings –

We give thanks for the birthdays of Cherie Baker, Rev. Robert Shawn Streepy and Kathie Kleeman. 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 Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht.

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer we pray for the people of Cape Verde, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer, we pray for St. Stephen’s, Wichita.

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.