The Epistle

November 30, 2022

A word about Advent

Dear St. Aidan’s Family,


Advent might be my favorite liturgical season of the year. I know it’s sometimes impolite to pick favorites…but, I do love Advent. Advent is the season in which we both remember the past and look to the future. It is both an ending and a beginning. Writer and theologian Frederick Buechner writes it is the season “somewhere between the fact of darkness and the hope of light.” Advent is a time for naming and lamenting what is broken about our world, and holding space to long for a new one. It is a time to practice being watchful, humbly opening ourselves to “relinquish some of the control in order to receive the impossible from God,” as biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann has written.


Of course, time seems to be the one thing we do not have each December. In the quick passing of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is shopping and wrapping, pageants and parties, errands and entertaining, lists to make and cross off. And that is precisely why I try my best to slow

down and make time to experience the mystery and wonder of Advent.


For the past several years, one of my favorite ways to do this has been to follow and participate in AdventWord. AdventWord is a global, inspirational, online Advent calendar. An offering of Forward Movement – the same publishing ministry of the Episcopal Church that brings us the

popular daily devotional Forward Day by Day – for each day of the season AdventWord provides a single word from the Sunday Lectionary readings. Each day, a meditation and visual image inspired by this word is posted on AdventWord.org, emailed to registered participants, and shared on their

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. This past Sunday’s word was “WALK,” Monday’s word was “TOGETHER,” Tuesday’s word was “TEACH,” and today’s word is “MOUNTAINS.”


Most days I am inspired and moved to participate; some days I forget to post, and some days I feel less motivated to contribute. But, no matter what, I always feel as if the meditation or the creative responses offered by others help deepen my understanding of the coming of Jesus into the world.


This year I’m posting on our St. Aidan’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. I hope you will join me by sharing your own reflections and photos in response to the day’s Advent word. Don’t forget to use #staidansalexandria on your posts so we can easily find, enjoy and learn from each other’s posts.


Sign up here to receive the daily emailed meditation from Forward Movement during Advent:

https://adventword.org/en/sign-up-adventword/

See the St. Aidan’s posts on Facebook and Instagram here:

https://www.facebook.com/staidansalexandria

https://www.instagram.com/staidansalexandria/


I do love Advent. And I love experiencing Advent with each of you.


God’s peace,

Laura+

Looking ahead this week

Wednesday, November 30

 • Compline at 7:00 p.m. (online via Zoom)


Thursday, December 1

• Gospel of Thomas at 7:30 p.m. (online via Zoom)


Friday, December 2

 • Silent Prayer at 8:00 a.m. (online only via Zoom)

• Holiday Marketplace hosted by the Day School 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

 • Compline at 7:00 p.m. (online via Zoom)


Saturday, December 3

 • Christmas Tree Sales at 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m.

• Holiday Marketplace hosted by the Day School 10:00 - 3:00 p.m.


Sunday, December 4 - Advent 2

 • Worship at 8:30 a.m. (in-person only)

 • Christmas Tree and Wreath sales begin at 9:00 a.m.

 • Choir Practice at 9:30 a.m. in the church with Pat Petteway

 • Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, Confirmation Class, and Formation for

 Adults at 9:30 a.m. 

 • Worship at 10:30 a.m. (in-person and live streamed via Zoom)

 • Nibbles in the Narthex following the 10:30 service (seeking host/s)

 • Angel Tree Wrapping Party at 11:45 a.m.

 • Celtic Worship at 5:30 p.m. (in-person and live streamed via Zoom)


Monday, December 5

 • Compline (online via Zoom) at 7:00 p.m.

 • Al-Anon meeting (in-person and online via Zoom) at 7:00 p.m.


Tuesday, December 6

 • Silent Prayer at 8:00 a.m. (in person)

 • Woman’s Reading Circle at 9:30 a.m.


Wednesday, December 7

 • Compline at 7:00 p.m. (online via Zoom)

Advent & Christmas Schedule

Sunday, December 4 • Advent 2

8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist

9:30 a.m. Christmas Pageant Rehearsal (White Hall)

5:30 p.m. Celtic Eucharist


Sunday, December 11 • Advent 3

There is no 8:30 a.m. service this day.

9:30 a.m. Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal (sanctuary)

10:30 a.m. Christmas Pageant & Holy Eucharist

(one morning service only)

5:30 p.m. Celtic Eucharist


Wednesday, December 14

7:30 p.m. Blue Christmas Service


Sunday, December 18 • Advent 4

8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist

9:30 a.m. Formation for All Ages • Christmas Cookie Decorating

5:30 p.m. Celtic Eucharist


Saturday, December 24 • Christmas Eve

4:00 p.m. Children's Christmas Service (In-Person Only)

6:45 p.m. Pre-Service Christmas Concert

7:00 p.m. Festive Candlelight Holy Eucharist


Sunday, December 25 • Christmas Day

10:15 a.m. Christmas Carol Sing-Along

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (In Person Only)

(All children and any adventuresome adults are invited to attend church in their pajamas. This is the only service this day.)


Sunday, January 1 • The First Sunday after Christmas Day

10:30 a.m. Christmas Lessons & Carols

(This is the only service this day.)

2023 Pledge Campaign Update

With deep gratitude, we are very happy to report that over seventy-five families/individuals have made a financial commitment to St. Aidan’s for 2023. Whether you made a commitment through our annual pledge drive, regular Vanco electronic giving, or regular bank deposits, thank you for taking a leap of faith with St. Aidan's! To date, the amount committed totals over $228,000. To continue our ministries and dream of other ways we can love and serve our community, we need to reach at least $300,000 in annual income. If you have not already made an increased financial commitment via pledge or automatic giving, please prayerfully consider making that commitment to help St. Aidan’s be the church God is calling us to be in 2023.

Christmas Tree Update

We had a wonderful first weekend of Christmas Trees & Wreath sales.

We need volunteers for this coming weekend when we think

the sales we will be brisk! Here is our Sign Up Genius

to join in the Tree & Wreath selling fun!

Any questions, please contact Jonathan Phinney (jtbphinney@gmail.com) or Ted Boling (tedboling@perkinscoie.com) to help.


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We could use one more meal for our tree sale volunteers to keep them warm & nourished on their shifts. If you can provide some chili

with fixings and cookies or something sweet, please contact

Mary Jane Guffey at maryjaneguffey@gmail.com or 203-644-4864. 

Plan to deliver lunch prior to noon in a crockpot in the kitchen. 

We’ll provide recipes if you need them.


Thank you!

AdventWord 2022

For nearly a decade AdventWord has inspired people with an online Advent calendar. This easy prayer practice helps people deepen their understanding of the coming of Jesus into the world through the practices of shared meditation and prayer. Daily meditations and images—inspired

by a prompt word selected from the daily lectionary readings—will be released at adventword.org, beginning on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27. You can sign up to receive a daily message, or follow #AdventWord on Facebook or Instagram. There are many ways to participate – choose what works for you! Read and pray over the daily emailed meditation. Connect and discuss the day’s word with other disciples on AdventWord social media pages. And/or share your own personal meditation to inspire others—whether visual or written. Haikus, and poems, paintings, photographs, personal reflections, drawings and other creative expressions inspired by the day’s word are all encouraged.



Follow St. Aidan’s AdventWord submissions on Instagram at #staidansalexandria and don’t forget to include our hashtag in any of your own #AdventWord posts.

Angel Gifts due Sunday, December 4

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ALL ANGEL GIFTS HAVE

BEEN FILLED!!!

Thank you to those that signed up to help with our Annual Angel gift collection for Rising Hope Church.

Please bring your gifts wrapped or unwrapped to church anytime before this Sunday, December 4. If you need help wrapping or would like for someone to wrap your gifts for you, please plan to drop off or attend our gift wrapping party for all on Sunday, December 4th after the 10:30 a.m. service. We will have all the supplies needed to create a festive presentation!

If you need help with the SUG or have any questions, please contact Nancy Hammer at nbhammer@icloud.com or (703) 598-8585. Thank you for helping create a happy Christmas for children in our community!

Blue Christmas

On Wednesday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m. St. Aidan’s and the Center for Spiritual Deepening present a Blue Christmas service. This service of prayer, meditation, communion, and music provides a healing space for those who experience the Christmas season as a difficult one due to loss, grief, pain, or loneliness, and for those who love and support them. 

It’s almost Poinsettia time!

There is a sign up sheet for sponsoring poinsettias in the Narthex. Please consider sponsoring one. It’s very easy, just add your name to the list, give us your dedication (if you'd like one) and send your donation to the church office. A donation of $20 is suggested but any offering is fine. 



Starting this Sunday, December 4, we will have the basket,

floral foam and instructions for parishioners to pick up and start

designing a basket bouquet. Use your choice of fresh flowers to fill the basket to the brim.


The Church will be "Greened" on Saturday, December 24th before the Children's Christmas Service at 4:00 p.m. We will have a time in the morning (TBD) when you can drop off your basket or you can bring it with you if you plan to attend the 4:00 pm service.

Questions? Call the Church office at (7030 360-4220 or email at: staidansalexandria@gmail.com

Christian Formation

Upcoming Formation

  • The first rehearsal for the Christmas Pageant is this Sunday at 9:30 in White Hall. We will have a dress rehearsal next Sunday at 9:30, followed by the performance at 10:30 (the only morning service that week.) Please contact Rebecca if your children would like to participate or if you are interested in helping!


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Adult Formation Series

The Adult Formation Advent series begins this Sunday, December 4 at 9:30 a.m. Many are familiar with the contemplative way of reading scripture called Lectio Divina (Latin for “Divine Reading”). This is a way of praying the scriptures that leads us deeper into God’s word so that scripture begins to speak to us in a new way.  In this three-part series, we will experience three similar practices: Lectio Divina, Visio Divina (“divine seeing”), and Musica Divina (or Audio Divina; “divine listening”). 


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Silent Prayer & Meditation

In the Sanctuary at 8:00 on Tuesday mornings

via Zoom at 8:00 on Friday mornings

Those who seek to include meditation in their weekly practice often find it easier to do so in the company of others. We light a candle and spend 20 minutes in silence. If you are interested in this shared prayer practice, email Lisa Richard at LJRRichard@gmail.com to receive the link for Zoom or to let us know to expect you on a Tuesday, in person. Come regularly, or come from time to time. All are welcome!

Love and Sympathy to the Tonolli and

Plashinski Families on the Death of Liz Plashinski

We are saddened to announce the death of St. Aidan's parish member Constance Elizabeth “Liz” Plashinski.

 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 17, at 1:00 p.m., followed by a committal of ashes in the St. Aidan’s Memorial Garden and a reception in White Hall. The service will be live-streamed via Zoom; and a link will be distributed via the Epistle on Wednesday, December 14.

 

We extend our deepest sympathies to Liz’s family, especially her son-in-law Phil, and grandson Sean, and we ask you to hold her family and friends in your prayers at this time.

 

Father of all, we pray to you for Liz and for all those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


St. Aidan's on Instagram!


St. Aidan's is now on Instagram! Follow us at staidansalexandria and don't forget to use #staidansalexandria when posting images from events at St. Aidan's.  

Prayer List & More

Birthday and Anniversary Prayers

We list the Birthday and Anniversary Prayers on the first of the month in our bulletins. Our next time to note names and dates will be this Sunday, December 4, 2022. Please send in your October birthdays and anniversaries to us by tomorrow, Thursday, December 1 so we can

add them to our printed bulletins. Thank You!


Prayer List

If you would like to add someone to our Sunday worship bulletin prayer list, please send an email to the office staidansalexandria@gmail.com or call us at 703-360-4220. Prayers will be listed for 30 days unless requested to be continued beyond that length of time. 



Nibbles in the Narthex and Flowers

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Perhaps you would like to host a Nibbles in the Narthex after the 10:30 a.m. service? It's a fun and simple way to enjoy fellowship with others. Sign up with a friend to share the hosting duties! 

Here is the link to sign up.

If you would like to sign up to donate our weekly Altar flower bouquet please use the link below. Please note your dedication as well as if you will bring your own bouquet or if you'd like our flower guild to take care of it for you.

SIGN UP HERE

New Collection - Outreach

We are still Rising Hope with weekly food donations.

By doing this we are supporting an important organization

that serve the Route One Community:


Rising Hope

A special thank you to all who have continued to add food items to the Food Bin located in the Breezeway and the Food Basket in the Narthex. Rising Hope depends on our contributions and is very grateful for the generosity of our parishioners.

Requested items include: 

  • canned meat
  • canned vegetables
  • canned fruit
  • cereal and diapers in all sizes
  • deodorant
  • toothbrushes
  • toothpaste
  • sanitary napkins
  • any size children's diapers

From the Treasurer

Update from our Treasurer:


Oct Income: $27,979

Oct Budgeted Income: $25,041

 

YTD Income: $258,450

YTD Budgeted Income: $250,410

 

 Capital Campaign YTD: $29,674


Thank You for your support of this amazing community!



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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.

You may easily make a contribution to St. Aidan's
using this button on the St. Aidan's website: 
It is located on the Giving page above the 2022 Pledge Form button.
It is not too late to pledge for 2022! Your financial gift of any size
supports the mission and ministries of St. Aidan's.
Thank you.

Worship

Service Times

Sunday, 8:30 am (in person ONLY)

Sunday, 10:30 am (virtual & in person)

Sunday, 5:30 pm Celtic (virtual & in person)

Compline, 7:00 pm Mon., Weds., Fri. (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

St. Aidan's

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:

Sermons

St. Aidan's Website

The Episcopal Church

The Diocese of Virginia

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.