Newsletter for December 12, 2021

St. Aidan's Weekly Newsletter

Sunday 12-12-2021

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

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Join us for 'in-person' worship on Sunday, Dec. 12. It is the Third Sunday of Advent!  “Our Vestry has decided that those who are fully vaccinated need not wear a mask during Sunday services unless they feel safer wearing one. We ask those who are not vaccinated to please continue wearing a mask.” In the spirit of our faith we will trust each other.” NOTE: St. Aidan's Sunday Services are also on Facebook Live. You can access the Live Facebook broadcast through our website. Check UNISON, FACEBOOK, and our Website for Schedule Updates. Click Here to view You Tube Channel

December 12, 2021 Sunday Worship Service

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

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

ROTA for Dec. 12, 2021 Acolyte: Ben Strand Lector 1: Paul Reed Lector 2: Anne Brunner Intercessor: Carolyn Sturgeon Ushers: David Kahn, TBD Counter: Don Seifert Altar Guild: Carrie Wilson Be Our Guest: Carolyn Sturgeon

NOTE: I have added Blue Christmas and Christmas Eve Services to the Bottom of the ROTA. Servers for those services have not yet been assigned. If you know you will be available for either Christmas service, please let me know by Dec. 12. Thanks to those who have already replied. Also, please find your replacement if you are unable to serve on your Sunday. Then please let me know. Thank You, Sharon Seidel St. Aidan's December 2021 ROTA

In reply (John the Baptist) said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food, must do likewise." Luke 3:11

When the crowds asked John how they should live, his answers were very specific. So with our Christmas feelings of peace and goodwill... we need to transform them into specific acts of charity and concern for others.

Tom's Talk 12/12/21 GRIEF AND THE HOLIDAYS - PART 2 The Rev. Tom Baker It's Okay to Feel Sad The holidays are filled with demands “to be happy.” Even people who have not experienced a major loss can feel the pressure, sadness, and tiredness that can come with the holidays. We all need to accept that there will be times when we feel sad. Allow yourself to feel sad, especially if you are grieving. People who suffered a death have every right to feel sad and anxious.   It's Okay to Feel Happy We all need to have a good laugh, feel good, and even have fun. Someone who is grieving can feel guilty if they find themselves enjoying an activity.   Feeling good and laughing is a way for you to relax and regain some strength for a few moments during your grief. It is normal and healthy reaction. You are not being disrespectful to the memory of your loved one.   Tears Are Healing Don’t fight away the tears. You don’t have to be strong. Crying can be embarrassing -yet allowing yourself to cry when you need to leads to healing.   Tears are natural and a sign of your love not weakness. If we did not love - we would not grieve.   Crying helps you both physically, emotionally, and helps to reduce stress. Lower Expectations Go easy on yourself, remember grief affects your body, your thinking, feelings, relationships, and work – grief impacts everything about you. If you want the holidays to be the same as they always were – you are in for disappointment and frustration. You will not feel as happy as you did during past holidays. This does not mean you cannot enjoy the day, even smile and laugh. It takes time to heal.   Confide in Someone Find someone who will listen to you and provide support. You’re welcome to reach out any time to our Rector, Fr. Tom by calling our church at (913) 764-3050. Someone who will let you say what you need to, even if you say it over and over again. This person can be a trusted family member, friend, professional grief counselor, or a grief group.   Next Week, Part III: COPING WITH HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Life at St. Aidan's

Be Our Guest Coffee Hour Treats

Clarice Ewing Tying Blue Ribbons on the Outdoor Advent wreath   Oboe Guest Musician at St. Aidan's

WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday, Dec. 12 - Third Sunday of Advent 8:45 am: Adult Forum 10:00 am: Sunday Worship Service ... In Person worship and on Facebook Live 11:15 am: Coffee and refreshments 11:15 am: St. Bridget's Chapter of DOK Meeting Wednesday, Dec.15 12:00 pm: Noon Day Prayer - Live on Facebook 7:00 pm: Advent Wreath Lighting Service - Live on Facebook Sunday, Dec. 19 - Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:45 am: Adult Forum 10:00 am: Sunday Worship ... In Person worship and on Facebook Live 11:15 am: Coffee and refreshments

Click Here to see St. Aidan's December 2021 Calendar

Click here to see St. Aidan's December Birthdays and Anniversaries

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA MEMORIAL DONATIONS If you have a Christmas Memorial Donation, there will be envelopes available at St. Aidan's on Sunday, December 12.There also will be an insert in the envelope to write out the name(s) of friends and relatives you are remembering. If you wish, you can also mail a check to St. Aidan's and mark Memorial on it, and send the names of those you are remembering..

Online Giving For online giving, for those using technology, please go to our website: Donations - St. Aidan's Episcopal Church (staidansolathe.org) Or if you would like to donate through other means, Please contact Tim Tatlock at 913-764-3050

ANGEL TREE UPDATE! Thank you to all for the kindness and generosity you have shown for the Angel Tree ministry. Nearly all of the “ Angels” have been selected for gifts. As you share a gift, you are helping to spread God’s love for all children and families of incarcerated parents.   This Sunday, December 12th , is the date to return your wrapped gift, with the Angel attached, to the church. If there is a problem, the church is open on Tuesday & Thursday from 9-2, you can drop off your gift this week. Daughters of the King will be delivering the gifts the week of December 19th. We gladly accept monetary donations to help buy gifts for children or their caregivers. Just make a check to St Aidan’s and put Angel Tree in the memo line.   Please call if you have any questions or concerns. THANK YOU!  Carolyn Sturgeon- 913-499-9375 or Barb Belt - 913-515-9001

Advent Wreath Candle Lighting ServiceS Wednesdays 12/15; 12/22 at 7 pm. Please join us for the candle lighting services on Facebook Live.

Christmas Service Schedule - December 2021 Dec. 21: Blue Christmas Worship Service at 6:30 pm Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Worship Service at 6:30 pm Dec. 26: Lessons and Carols - Sunday Service at 10 am

Adult Forum Join us for Adult Forum on Sunday mornings at 8:45.- 9:15. Our Sunday Forum during December will be reflections on the Sunday Service.

Living Well Through Advent A free PDF or on line copy of Living Well Through Advent is available at the link below. The Rev. Lisa Senuta, Canon for Spiritual Formation and Clergy Care for our Diocese is one of the contributors.  Click Here for Living Well Through Advent

Sustaining Earth, Our Island Home “I would like to share with you an initiative from the National Episcopal Church's office of the Most Rev. Michael Curry. "Sustaining Earth, Our Island Home" tackles the Episcopal Church's pledge for the care of creation and provides support for individuals and parishes seeking to take those incremental steps toward living in a more sustainable, moral manner when it comes to the impact we have upon the Earth and our capacity to continue to live on it. To paraphrase Bishop Bascom the biggest environmental problems are not biodiversity, water usage, or climate change but greed, selfishness, and apathy. To learn more about this program, please visit http://www.sustainislandhome.org/ and enroll yourself in this program. Please remember to list St. Aidan’s, Olathe as your parish. Our Bishop will reward the parish with the most participation.” Fr. Tom Baker Click here for link

St. Aidan's Partners with Olathe Schools Kathy Mencer with treats for the teachers at our school partners. Thank you Kathy and those who provide these treats and other thank-you gifts to the teachers.

BackSnacks 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.

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. Thursday. You're also welcome to drop off individually wrapped desserts to the church by 2 pm that Thursday.

Pledges and Offerings Please 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.

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 [email protected]. Prayer Requests: Please email any prayer requests to Karon Wintrode, and she will post them on Unison.  [email protected].

Thanksgivings and Prayers Thanksgivings – Birthdays & Anniversaries We give thanks for the birthdays of Teddy Bush, Cherie Baker, Rev. Robert Shawn Streepy, Jessica Lynn and Kathie Kleeman. Cycle of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for our Full Communion Partner, The , 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. Click here for Additional Thanksgivings and Prayers

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 ECF webpage.

Episcopal Youth Ministries

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STAY CONNECTED St. Aidan's Episcopal Church 14301 South Black Bob Rd, Olathe, KS 66062 913-764-3050 Email: [email protected] Website: www.staidansolathe.org Facebook Page: St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Olathe, KS Twitter: @staidansolathe  ‌ ‌

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