Newsletter for January 17, 2021

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

Newsletter for January 17, 2021

1/16/2021

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St. Aidan's Weekly Newsletter

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany 1/17/21

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 are on Facebook Live through January 31, 2021. No in-house services through the end of January.

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

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

January 17, 2021 Sunday Worship Service

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

Sermon: "Knitted. Called."

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 Sunday, January 17, 2021

Lectionary Reader for January 17 is Clarice Ewing or Fr. Tom Baker

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

Note: I have January, 2021 On-line Worship "Readers Only" ROTA listed below. When we resume In-House Worship Services, I will post a complete ROTA.

Click Here For "Readers Only" January, 2021 ROTA

Fr. Tom's Talk ...

Congressman John Lewis of Georgia’s 5^th district wrote, “There are forces today in America trying to divide people along racial lines. There are forces today that are still preaching hate and division. There are forces today who want us to return to the old ways. . . It makes me sad, for we don’t want to go back. We want to go forward and create one community — one America. The journey begins with faith — faith in the dignity and worth of every human being. Adversity can breed unity; hatred can give way to love.” In his final written words, Lewis insisted: “You have to believe that. You have to believe that.”

Knowing something of Congressman Lewis’ history I’m certain that “believe” is not just a statement but a call to action. Faith has always been about action that stresses living our faith in the way we treat others, in how we raise our children, in how we spend our money, vote at elections, care for those in need around us, and more. It’s about inviting people to serve, to act, and generally to do something, which, by the way, is a great way for people – especially those not that familiar with church – to get involved in a low-key way, build relationships with other Christians, and have an opportunity to act and feel their way into faith rather than just think about it.

Perhaps like me, you can be overwhelmed by the racism, poverty, addiction, war, and infinite other problems of our time and wonder, “What can I do?” You can open a door for a stranger, you can donate to a food bank, you can give a bigger tip to your waiter, you can smile and wave at the person in the car next to yours at the stop light, you can volunteer two hours at the Center of Grace or help out for a few hours at our backpack program. You can pray. I firmly believe that these small acts of Grace can, like planting a single seed, grow “Into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches (Matthew 13:31-32).

We celebrate the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, on January 18, this year. My grandchildren and their mom use that day each year to practice acts of kindness each year. That way they embody John Lewis’ words. Let’s try to do the same.

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

Nathanael said to Philip, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip responded, "Come and see."

John 1:46

Jesus the Nazarean proved to be surprising in many ways, despite his start in the backwater hamlet of Nazareth. Nathanael was only the first to discover that God was present in Jesus in a way that would change Nathanael's life. Our lives too are being changed daily by the many ways we faithfully follow Jesus.

Sunday,Jan. 17 - The Second Sunday after the Epiphany

No Adult Forum: see announcement below.

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

Wednesday, Jan. 20

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

Thursday, Jan. 21

BackSnack Delivery

6 pm: Cup of Cocoa - join us via ZOOM

Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 - The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

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

Click here to see January 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.

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 31 at 11:30 am.

Please check Unison for updates on how the annual meeting will be conducted through ZOOM. It will NOT be in-house.

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

Adult Forum

I’m excited to announce our next program for Adult Forum.

We will be be reading and discussing Barbra Brown Taylor’s “Christianity for the Rest of Us” (link below).

This book has been used by many churches and is a very interesting read about what modern people are looking for in a church

Her findings will surprise and encourage you!

All the copies we ordered of Barbara Brown Taylor's "Christianity for the Rest of Us" have been distributed! Don't worry, we've extended the date to order a book until January 25. Come join our growing group! The book is free and donations are appreciated.

I encourage you to get prepared by reading ahead when Adult Forum resumes on Zoom on Sunday, February 7 at 9 am.

Click here for link to book.

"Cup of Cocoa" with Fr. Tom - ZOOM

Due to popular demand Cup of Cocoa has returned on Thursdays at 6 pm. Join us via ZOOM.

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

...Next Ministry at Center of Grace is January 28, 2021.

Community Meals at Center of Grace-Outreach Ministries :

Each weekday our neighbors are receiving a meal now, thanks to the Kansas City area restaurants, Grace Methodist Church & Johnson County Food Ministry. St Aidan’s has been partnering with Johnson County Food Ministry for more than ten years to provide a meal the 4th Thursday of each month.

Thanks to our Vestry who approved funding this ministry again for 2021. And a huge THANK YOU to those of you who have supported this ministry with your time, energy, and financial support!!

We’ll be shopping, cooking, packaging & handing out meals at Center of Grace on January 28th.

We will need 2-3 volunteers to assist with the cooking & packaging between 2-4:00 that afternoon. And we will need 2-4 volunteers to hand out the meals between 5:15-6:15. If you can’t come either of those times, we always need desserts - cookies or brownies are best-packaged in baggies 2-4 per bag & delivered to the church Wednesday or Thursday by noon.

St Aidan’s has shown such great support for this ministry throughout the past 10 years! Thank you all for your assistance in making this happen for the Olathe community.

Barb Belt

Text or email to volunteer:

913-515-9001

bbeltjhawk@gmail.com

... 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 Elizabeth Greene, Mason Graham, Clarice Ewing, and Nicole Alexander. 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 the Church of Bangladesh.

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer we pray for the people of Cyprus, Greece and Turkey.

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Trinity, Atchison.

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.