WE GATHER TOGETHER
TO ASK THE LORD’S BLESSING
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Dear St. Aidan’s family,
I hope each of you will be gathering with someone(s) you love on Thursday as we celebrate the American feast of Thanksgiving. It has been a difficult almost-two-years, yet here we are, giving thanks once again. It was in a time of even greater challenge that President Abraham Lincoln instituted this feast. In the midst of civil war, with families torn apart and too many lives cut short, Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving in gratitude for the presence and protection of God even in the midst of strife.
Despite our difficulties and uncertainties, there is much to be thankful for, as Bishop Porter Taylor reminds us. “There’s a reason we call the second half of the Eucharist ‘The Great Thanksgiving.’” He writes. “We come to receive the sacraments from a position of thanks because we recognize that all of life is a gift. ‘All things come of Thee, O Lord, and of Thine own have we given Thee.’ All things. The Great Thanksgiving isn’t merely a section of the liturgy; it’s a stance or a perspective we are invited to take in order to focus ourselves on God and not ourselves nor those we may wish to blame for the current condition.”
We are a Eucharistic people (the Greek eucharistia means thanks-giving). So thanksgiving is not a once-a-year holiday or even a holiday weekend – and certainly not the doorway to a season of shopping and excess. Thanksgiving is a way of life.
As families around the country gather to feast this Thursday, many may forget to give thanks, to “gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing.” Here at St. Aidan’s, we will remember. You are invited to enter into the mood and purpose of the day, with a Thanksgiving Eve service, online. While your pies bake or your turkey brines, please join us for a short Festival of Hymns and Graces [Links for Zoom will be sent Wednesday morning]. And then, with gratitude for the past and hope for the future, enjoy the bounty God has given us. Happy Thanks-giving!
The Rev. Dr. Rosemary Beales
Interim Rector
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Thank you for observing Covid protocols to keep yourself and our community safe. Numbers of infections in Fairfax County are rising again -- not dramatically, but the trend is upward. Please remain vigilant as you travel and celebrate this holiday weekend and into the Christmas season. Keep masking in indoor spaces (including church) and get vaccinated and boosted if you are eligible. All who serve in a public worship, teaching, or other public-facing activity must be vaccinated, if eligible. Thank you for caring for the common good as we practice Jesus' command to love as he loves us.
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The 227th convention of the Diocese of Virginia took a major step toward racial reconciliation. Bishop Susan Goff said the Diocese had been “broken open” by events of the pandemic and the ongoing racial and political turmoil, and reminded us that God is at work powerfully, breaking down old ways and clearing the ground for new ways of being the Church. The centerpiece of the Convention is Resolution R-10a, which commits the Diocese to create a $10,000,000 fund for reparations to benefit Black, Indigenous, and people-of-color communities. Delegates also approved the Virginia Plan for Covenantal Giving through which all congregations will, by the year 2025, pledge 10% of their plate offerings, pledge payments and regular support to the shared ministries of the Diocese. Many thanks to our convention delegate, Ted Boling. To read more about the events of convention, click here.
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TONIGHT....Wednesday, Nov. 24, 7:00 pm Thanksgiving Eve Festival of Hymns and Graces, virtual
Sunday, Nov. 28 First Sunday of Advent - 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 5:30 pm Celtic Service (No Sunday morning Formation due to Holiday)
Sunday, Dec. 5 Second Sunday of Advent - 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 5:30 pm Celtic Service. Godly Play and EYOA will meet in the Godly Play room at 9:30.
Sunday, Dec. 12 Third Sunday of Advent - 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 5:30 pm Celtic Service
Sunday, Dec. 19 Fourth Sunday of Advent - Our Pageant will be presented at the 10:30 am service (No 8:30 am service or Sunday morning Formation) followed by our 5:30 pm Celtic service.
Friday, Dec. 24, 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service
Saturday, Dec. 25, 10:30 am Christmas Day (pajamas welcome). The Rev. Elizabeth Rees presiding and celebrating.
Sunday, Dec. 26, 10:30 am service only First Sunday after Christmas - Festival of Lessons and Carols. Please note: No Sunday morning Formation due to Holiday, no 5:30 pm service.
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Thank you to our fence crew |
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We had a wonderful turnout on Saturday putting up the tree fencing and getting the place ready for some trees. Thank you all! |
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Christmas Trees & Wreaths! |
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Calling All Elves!
We need Wreath decorators for Friday, Nov 26.....Sign Up LINK HERE.
We need Sales Elves, as many Tree Wranglers as we can gather and
cookies to share with all starting Friday, Nov 26....Sign Up LINK HERE. We'll have a smaller inventory this year so please sign up for Friday, Nov. 26, Saturday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Nov 28, as we expect those to be the
busiest days of sales. Thank you!
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The Angel Tree is set up in the narthex! We are committed to providing 75 gifts for children in our community. You may take an Angel tag from the tree, or use the Sign Up Genius (LINK) to indicate the gift you are going to provide. If you take or have already taken
a tag, please also enter your commitment on the Sign Up Genius so no one duplicates that gift. Gifts are limited to $25; however, other monetary donations are welcomed. You may choose to wrap your gifts or bring in unwrapped, but make sure either way to add a tag with the child's name and code.
Please contact Eileen Myers regarding any cash or check donations. Contact Liam Smith with any other questions. Our gift drop off deadline is the morning of Sunday, Dec 5. Thank you.
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Giving Thanks for Sacred Ground |
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For the past 8 weeks a dozen or so members of our congregation have had the good fortune to be part of a group working through the Episcopal Church’s curriculum "Sacred Ground," a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Together St. Aidan's Episcopal Church and the Center for Spiritual Deepening offered the opportunity to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. Heartfelt gratitude to our gentle, caring, and wise facilitators Francie Thayer and Libby Rice. We thank them for being our guides, for invitations to go deeper, and for journeying with us.
The following reflections were shared by participants:
- While I have studied and taught American History for many years, the readings and videos that were part of Sacred Ground provided a wealth of new information and a much-needed perspective that I had never learned or considered before. This new awareness increased my compassion for all "non-white" groups, my understanding of why anti-racism is such a critical topic, and my desire to support all and any effort to pursue racial reconciliation.
- It’s not as simple as racist or not. A lot of what I thought was strictly black or white is actually gray. We need to hear one another to navigate all of the gray area.
- Our conversations led us to deeper and more nuanced understandings of what it means and has meant to be a person of color in the United States of America. I am eager to explore this further.
- This curriculum helped me look at these important issues in a way that focuses on the human experience, not the conflict. Unlike what we hear on the news, this material brings compassion and deep empathy to issues of race, class, privilege and what it means to be a human being in society.
- While I have long been an advocate for racial justice and reconciliation, Sacred Ground helps me confront the reality of my white privilege and commit more deeply to the conversion of heart that is required for true equity with our Black, Latino, Asian and other neighbors united in the "beloved community" called by Jesus to become one family.
- It was a study I enjoyed because people were so honest about their feelings. Listening to those voices made me more aware of understanding and listening to my own voice.
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We need 7 individuals or families (who attend services in person) to light the Advent wreath and say a short prayer on November 28, and December 5, 12 and 19. We need 4 for the 8:30am service and the other 4 for the 10:30am service. Thank you. |
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"Hark the herald angels sing..."
The Christmas Pageant will be December 19, with rehearsals at 9:30 on December 12 and 19 in the Sanctuary. Thanks to those who have volunteered to participate, please contact Rebecca if you are still interested and have not already!
Middle School and High School EYC will meet on December 5 from 5:30-7 to wrap Angel Tree gifts (dinner will be provided) and with St. Luke's EYC for lunch and outdoor games from 11:30-12:30 on Sunday, December 12.
There will be no formation November 28, December 19, December 26, or January 2 due to the holidays and the Christmas Pageant. On December 5, EYOA and Godly Play will meet together in the Godly Play room.
As a reminder, all volunteers are required to complete Safe Church training, which can be accessed here.
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ADULT ED: FOCUS ON CREATION |
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On hiatus till Sunday, Dec. 12
Our Adult Formation series, Caring for God's Creation continues. This series focuses on short readings and discussions (no preparation required) and each session includes a mini-"field trip" to one of the features on our own grounds that will be part of our emerging Creation Trail. Please plan to stay after the 8:30 am service or come early for the 10:30 am service as we explore reverence for the gifts of creation -- the first spiritual step in responding to the crisis of climate change.
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Let’s Welcome St. Aidan’s Newcomers
Are you a newcomer to St. Aidan’s? Let us know and we’ll help you get to know St. Aidan’s and the wonderful things this special place has to offer. Are you a parishioner eager to welcome newcomers? Let us know and we’ll provide further details about this rewarding opportunity!
Reach out to Vestry members:
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Christmas Poinsettias to come |
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Our Poinsettia sign up will be in the Narthex this Sunday if you'd like to make a donation and note a dedication. You can also email Eileen Myers your information if you are currently only attending via Zoom. The suggested donation is $25. Please note "Poinsettias" in the check memo line.
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Thank You for all the Cranberry Sauce! |
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Our Cranberry sauce collection was a huge success. We collected 360 cans thanks to all of you who donated. What an amazing community effort. This week, Rising Hope is handing out grocery bags full of thanksgiving dinner essentials to 400 people. |
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Links for Birthdays and Anniversaries |
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If you are not yet attending morning worship in person and would like your birthdays &/or anniversaries to be remembered, please use this link to let us know.
Send your requests to the office by Friday morning. Thank you!
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Providing floral arrangements or donations for flowers is a generous way to remember a loved one or give thanks for a blessing.
Your dedication will be noted in the bulletin. You are welcome to either create an arrangement or donate money for purchased flowers.
Only through your generosity will we have
flowers on the altar. Thank you.
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Thanks to all who support St. Aidan's in so many ways! Here is our Pledge Link if you would still like to donate
Your support makes so many good things happen at St. Aidan's and beyond.
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the Giving page under the Pledge button.
We still encourage parishioners to Pledge so our budget
can be planned in advance but this new format gives us all options.
Thank you.
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As Covid-19 continues in our area, please keep masking in indoor spaces (including church) and please get vaccinated if you are eligible. All who serve in a public worship, teaching, or other public-facing activity must be vaccinated, if eligible. Thank you for caring for the common good as we practice Jesus' command to love as he loves us. |
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We worship in person and virtually on Sundays at 8:30 am, 10:30 am and
5:30 pm (Celtic style). We also offer evening prayer at 7:00 pm
Monday, Wednesday and Friday (virtual only).
You are always welcome at St. Aidan's, wherever you may be on your faith journey.
Service Links
If you are not receiving our separate mailing each week with links for worship gatherings and would like to be added to that list, simply reach out to the office and let us know. Those links are sent out on Saturday. staidansalexandria@gmail.com
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St. Aidan's has been serving the Stratford Landing area & beyond since 1963.
We worship in person on Sundays at 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 5:30 pm (Celtic). We also offer evening prayer every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:00 pm (virtual only). You are always welcome at St. Aidan's, wherever you may be on your faith journey.
Some Helpful Links:
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The Center for Spiritual Deepening at St. Aidan's supports the soul and heart work of those seeking a deeper sense of God's presence in their lives. Check out the Center and its offerings Here.
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