Newsletter for December 6, 2020

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

Newsletter for December 6, 2020

12/5/2020

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St. Aidan's Weekly Newsletter

Second Sunday of Advent 12/06/20

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 through December 6. Resuming in-house services will be decided on December 7 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 6 Sunday Worship Service

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

Sermon: “Christmas In the Desert”

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 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8. NRSV

Click Here for Lectionary Readings

ROTA for Sunday, Dec. 6

We are online only for now...

Lectionary Reader for Dec. 6 is Clarice Ewing 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 ...

Surely we’re all too young to remember those vintage commercials from the 1970’s showing a woman dealing with crazy children, or a man’s office desk filled to overflowing with paperwork. Surrounded by stress the man or woman would look right in the camera and say, “Take me away Calgon!” Soon they be magically whisked away to a serene, tranquil, calm bathtub filled with bubbles.

Wouldn’t it great if that really worked? We could all use a good escape from stress, especially this year. And yet, we all know Calgon won’t solve all our problems. Still, we yearn, we hope that one day things will be finally how God meant the world to be.

God’s coming into this world is an “already but not yet.” It’s happened in our historic timeline but the fullness of time, sometimes called the parousia, has not yet come. So in Advent we not only remember the coming of the baby in the manger but we are also looking forward to the fullness of Gods reign.

Now I’m not talking about the end of the world; I’m talking about the hope we all have that God will be worshiped and God’s love will be present in every person, every action, and in all that we do.

And if 2020 hasn't done anything, it has reminded us that we are a long way from God’s reign. None the less, in Advent we hope, we long, and we yearn for this coming of God. As we wait a good Advent practice is to ask ourselves each day how can I share the presence of God with others?

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 [email protected]. My office hours are Monday - Thursday 10 am - 3 pm. … Fr. Tom

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" Mark 1:2-3

The role of a steward is often to make crooked paths straight. We do this by helping those less fortunate, by providing for the needs of our church community, by being voices of moderation and encouragement, by being examples of faith and hope for those around us.

Click Here for St. Aidan's December 2020 Calendar

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

Sunday, Dec. 6 - Second Sunday of Advent

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

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

Monday, Dec. 7

6:00 pm: Advent Lighting Prayer - Facebook Live

...See Announcement Below

Wednesday, Dec. 8

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

2:00 pm: BackSnack Delivery

Thursday, Dec. 9

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

...See Announcement Below

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

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 6, 13, 20, 27.

** Adult Forum - Advent Week 2 Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020

Theme, Joseph:

Give yourself time in the week to read the scripture passage, read and think about the questions, and listen to the music. This will make our conversation easier on Zoom. See you Sunday!

Click Here for Advent 2 Study Doc

Click Here for Advent 2 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 7, 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 10, 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, Possibly In-House

- 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 [email protected].

Prayer Requests:

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

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 Denice Jayaram and Teddy Bush. 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 Moravian Church, Northern and Southern Provinces. In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone. In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer, we pray for St. John'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.