RAIN, RAIN (DON’T) GO AWAY |
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Dear St. Aidan’s family,
I’ve never lived through a dust storm, but I feel I have – after reading the first chapters of The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah. That’s the book that the St. Aidan’s Women’s Reading Circle is discussing for the next few weeks, and the story so far makes me thankful when I hear rain on the roof, even the deluges we’ve had the past few nights.
I hope I’m not getting too far ahead of the book group (listening on Audible makes it so easy), but it’s no secret that in the 1930s, a prolonged drought and certain farming practices made the topsoil of the Great Plains whirl away in violent storms that choked people’s throats, clogged animals’ nostrils, and killed hundreds of people. The so-called Dust Bowl made a wasteland of the once-fertile prairies. Reading and hearing the experiences of a family caught up in that disaster makes me thankful for the rain on the roof and for the beautiful butterfly garden I’m looking at as I write this, and the rest of our lovely landscape.
Some years ago, I was on a plane heading into Khartoum, Sudan, when the pilot announced he would try one more time to make landing but if he couldn’t, he would divert us to another airport. Many of you, I’m sure, have had flights diverted due to thunderstorms or snow squalls. This was the first time I’d heard a pilot say that he had very low visibility due to a dust storm – and believe me, I was all in favor of his not trying a third time to land at Khartoum! We were diverted to Port Sudan and after a few hours boarded a smaller plane to Khartoum. On the edge of the Sahara, I guess, such occurrences are not uncommon, but no one wants them reproduced here.
In our hemisphere, hurricane season started June 1, and we are on alert for storms like Katrina (2005) and Harvey (2017) with their devastating losses. Last year, the agencies that name tropical storms ran out of letters of the alphabet and began using Greek letters to name the last several storms of the season. Forecasters tell us we can expect more extreme weather events as the planet warms.
What does all this mean for us? As Christians, we cannot take the health of our planet for granted; we cannot assume that the winds and waters and sunshine will stay in perfect proportion. Yes, Jesus stills the storms (as we will be reminded in Sunday’s gospel), but God expects us to do our part. We are called to care for, protect, and preserve the planet on which we – and future generations – depend.
I know I personally can be a better steward of creation, and we as a community can be more aware of our part in caring for the gifts God gives us. HOW we do that will be a topic of conversation in the months to come, one I hope you will join. I offer this invitation not to increase our “eco-anxiety,” but to begin thinking creatively about our role in caring for the creation that God made, the world that God blessed over and over with the words, “It is good.” After all, as Psalm 24 reminds us, “the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.”
The Rev. Dr. Rosemary Beales
Interim Rector
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Please remain after the 9:30 service NEXT WEEK, June 27 (or tune in about 10:30), to hear an update from Capital Campaign chairs Elizabeth Drembus and Jonathan Phinney. They will report on what money has been received, projects already accomplished, answer your questions, and outline plans going forward. This is NOT an appeal for more giving, but an accounting to the congregation, with gratitude for our life together and for the generosity of all who have contributed to St. Aidan's future.
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Save the date! Please mark your calendar for Sunday, August 1 and join us for a reception following the morning service for Ted Renaud, who will begin classes soon at Virginia Theological Seminary. We will continue to be Ted's "home parish" and support him in his journey toward ordination. We are happy to say that Ellen, Kyra and Chloe will continue as active members here. We will also be collecting funds to give Ted a head start on the books and supplies he'll need in seminary and beyond. Checks should be made out to St Aidan's with "Ted Renaud" in the memo line. Contact Kathy Seikel or Carol Horn with any questions. Thank you.
Godly Play Training in August. Dates to be determined.....stay tuned.
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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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Children and Youth Formation |
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Youth and Family events will be offered once a month during the summer. Come out and celebrate summer with warm weather games and activities! All events are planned to take place outdoors. In the case of inclement weather, they will be moved indoors and notification of a change will be via Facebook and email.
Family Game Days
(PreK-5th Gr., parents encouraged to attend): 12-1pm
THIS Sunday, June 20
Sunday, July 18
Sunday, August 15
EYC (Gr. 6-12): 7-8:30pm
Friday, June 25 - Bring a lawn chair
Friday, July 16 - Bring a towel
Friday, August 13 - Wear clothes that can get dirty
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Social Justice, book study concludes tonight
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The Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation group, in partnership with Adult Formation, meets at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday via Zoom (link in Saturday's E-News) to conclude its study of How to Be an Anti-Racist, by Ibram X. Kendi. This commitment and conversation will continue; please stay tuned for future endeavors! |
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Here is the link to tell us where and when YOU can help get St. Aidan's buildings and grounds ready for our next chapter. Thank you.
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Many thanks to those who have provided floral arrangements or donations for flowers since we have returned to indoor worship. This is a generous way to remember a loved one or give thanks for a blessing. Your dedication, thanksgiving,
or memorial 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.
*If attending in person services, please note we also have a hard copy for signing up,
on the main bulletin board in the narthex, although it's still best to sign up via the Sign Up Genius. Thank you.
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As food is collected, volunteers will take it to Rising Hope which serves
many families along the Route 1 corridor in our area.
They have asked for canned meat, canned vegetables, canned fruit, cereal and
diapers in all sizes.
*Besides the non perishables they have also requested the need for toiletries and feminine products
(specifically deodorant, tooth brushes, toothpaste & sanitary napkins).
The Outreach Committee greatly appreciates the ongoing efforts of the
St. Aidan’s community to provide food for those in need.
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In addition to the food drive, we are asking for the following items to be donated for the Artemis House, a shelter in Fairfax County for families and individuals fleeing domestic violence. Artemis House provides crisis intervention and temporary housing in apartment-style units in an undisclosed "safe-house" location. There will be a separate bin on the breezeway labeled Artemis House for these items:
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- body wash-Lg
- feminine wash-Lg
- bar soap
- shampoo
- conditioner
- lotion
- razors
- powder
- pillows
- clorox wipes
- towels (hand and bath)
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- pillow cases
- toothpaste
- deodorant
- combs
- brushes
- Gift Cards(Giant, Safeway, Wegmans, CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart) amount up to the donor.
- Gas gift cards- amount up to the donor.
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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.
Total annual pledge budget through end of May - $109,625
Received to date (May 20) - $75,720
Thank You for your support of this amazing community!
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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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We worship in person and virtually on Sundays at 9:30 am and 5:30 pm (Celtic). We also offer evening prayer weeknight at 7:00 pm (virtual only). You are always welcome at St. Aidan's, wherever you may be on your faith journey.
*Beginning July 1, our service of Compline (night prayer) will go weekly and
be held online at 7 p.m. every Wednesday.
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 and virtually on Sundays at 9:30 am and 5:30 pm (Celtic). We also offer evening prayer every weeknight 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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