Dear St. Aidan’s family,
Today, it was my great joy to meet – finally -- with two Day School classes for the 2021 version of Chapel: outdoors, masked, and sitting on mats in the parking lot. Last week I did the same with JK and will meet with the remaining classes in the few weeks ahead.
The story we shared, “The Ark and the Flood,” is the first I experienced in Godly Play 25 years ago this month, and I have never grown tired of it. Of course, I had heard the story (Gen. 6:1--9:17) most people call Noah’s Ark, and seen many illustrated children’s versions. But sitting on the floor in a Baltimore church basement, hearing Jerome Berryman (creator of Godly Play) tell the story in spare, poetic language, and watching him raise the Ark above his head in a gesture both baptismal and eucharistic, somehow changed me profoundly.
So it was a deep joy to share this story last week and today, my first opportunities to be with our youngest members since I started here last July. And when I got to the line, “But God did not forget the creatures on the Ark,” it struck me with new meaning.
God has not forgotten us in this pandemic, as God has not forgotten God’s people in the many floods, fires, wars, and other disasters of the millennia since the Great Flood (a phenomenon that must have some historic truth, as it is remembered in some form in most world religions). Though at times in the last 14 months, it has felt like we’re drowning, God has not abandoned humanity to this virus. Like the great wind God sent to dry up the rain and the muddy earth, God sent scientists and leaders to restore hope and health. Even those who lost their lives to this terrible plague are not forgotten by God, but held in grace-filled, loving hands for eternity.
We are still voyaging from the depths of the pandemic to shallower waters, but keeping a watchful eye on currents and clouds as we ride out the storm. We won’t let our guard down. Neither will God, of that we can be sure.
At the end of our story today, we passed around a prism which, when held up to the light, reveals the colors of the rainbow – the sign of God’s promise, God’s covenant with the people of Earth. In the story, the rainbow appears as the creatures, both human and animal, have gathered to thank and praise God for keeping them safe. In the midst of prayer, they see the sign of hope. May we also continue to watch for the light, gather in prayer, and place our trust in the God who remembers.
The Rev. Dr. Rosemary Beales
Interim Rector
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Discernment Committee Update |
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Dear St. Aidan’s family,
The discernment process is moving along beautifully. We are well on our way to telling the St. Aidan’s story more completely and vividly through enhancements to our website. We have worked with parishioners in our different areas of ministry to compile the content needed for those enhancements, and we look forward to publishing updates in the coming weeks.
Another important step forward is that our Community Ministry Portfolio is now complete. It has been presented to the vestry and they have given the OK to share it with the Office of Transition Ministry. You may remember that the portfolio is not a public facing document; it is a window into life at St. Aidan’s that is available to priests anywhere within the Episcopal Church who are seeking a new position.
Once our website improvements are in place and the Office of Transition Ministry has prepared our portfolio for posting, we will begin receiving applications from candidates. We anticipate receiving applications through the first part of the summer and then moving into a time of review.
We’ll enter a quieter time for the committee’s work as we wait for applications to come in. The diocese asks us not to review them one by one but to consider all applications at one time. During that quieter period, the committee will host a meeting to share with the parish what we learned from you through the parish survey and listening sessions.
The discernment committee continues to grow as a community. Our love for St. Aidan’s is palpable in all we do, and our commitment to representing the entire parish well is always at the center of our work. We are grateful for the support of our transition minister, The Rev. Sarah Brockenbrough, whose experience and wisdom make her an invaluable support and guide. And we are grateful for your input and your ongoing prayers.
Peace and blessings,
Your discernment committee
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This Sunday, May 16th - Please join us for Lemonade on the Lawn!
Join us this Sunday for our first fellowship/social hour - outdoors following the 9:30 service! Refreshments will include lemonade, regular and sweet iced tea. You're welcome to bring your own beverage or snack, and chair(s) if you wish. It might be a great Sunday to bring a newcomer. Sign up is not required for Lemonade on the Lawn, but is still required (through Sign-up Genius) for service. Time is 10:45 after church - weather permitting. In addition to lively conversation, activities include corn hole, croquet, and bocce. See everyone there!
*Please note - we will skip our virtual coffee hour this Sunday and close out the season with a final virtual coffee hour next Sunday, May 23rd.
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Links for Attending In Person Services |
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Please sign up with the links below for our 2 in person services.
Links to join us virtually will be sent in our usual
Saturday morning E-News.
If you don't already receive the Saturday E-news but would like to be added,
please send a request to Eileen in the office.
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Sunday, May 16, 9:30 am In person service
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Sunday, May 16, 5:30 pm Celtic In person service
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Due to the virtual participation being less interactive we'd like to compile the names of anyone sharing a birthday or anniversary in advance.
Please use this link if you'd like your birthdays &/or anniversaries
to be remembered during the 9:30 service.
Send your requests to the office by Friday at noon.
Thank you!
*we will have a form available at the welcome table
for those attending in person to add their name/s as well.
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Children and Youth Formation |
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GAME DAY! - Families with children from preschool-5th grade are invited to
outdoor game day this Sunday, May 16th from 12:00 - 1:00pm
(adults and children welcome!) and
EYC year end closeout bonfire is Friday, May 28th, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
Until we begin regathering for children's formation next fall, recorded Godly Play stories will be posted to the St. Aidan's website under the education tab.
This is a great chance to experience these stories as a family.
They are as valuable for adults as for children!
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Adult Formation:
Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation
Meeting tonight at 7:30 pm
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This Wednesday our newly formed Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation committee, in partnership with Adult Formation,
invites you to discuss the book
How to Be an Anti-Racist, by Ibram X. Kendi.
We meet on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm via Zoom.
See the link to join in last Saturday’s E-news. We discuss two short chapters each week, focusing this week on Chapters 7 and 8. For more information, please contact Ted Renaud or Lianne LaFleur.
All are welcome, whether you have participated in earlier sessions or not, whether you have read the book or not! Join us as we learn together.
We hope you will consider joining these conversations as we
learn together and strive to live out our baptismal vow to
"respect the dignity of every human being."
Here is a link to another interesting article titled:
The inadequacy of the term “Asian American”
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Shrine Mont Parish Retreat |
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A peaceful place to regroup, reconnect and celebrate our unique community.
Our time at Shrine Mont traditionally includes worship as a group, an adult program and a children’s program, meals together and free time to explore, hike, read a book, relax on the porch or go for a swim. The schedule might look a bit different this year but it will still be a wonderful time to spend together.
Our retreat is to be held Friday, Aug 6 through Sunday, Aug 8, 2021.
The cost for the weekend is:
Adults/single occupancy - $210 each (includes both nights)
Adults/double occupancy - $160 each (includes both nights)
Kids (4-12) - $70 each (includes both nights)
Kids (under 3) $0
If interested please reply to this link by May 15th. Thank you!
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Capital Campaign -
Building Community and Securing Our Future
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This week many thanks go out to
our painting crew:
Mary Jane Guffey, Kathy Seikel,
Jonathan Phinney and Mike Brynczak.
The Capital Campaign offers us an opportunity to come together as a community in support of St Aidan’s. We can make a significant difference to strengthen the foundation of the parish for the future through financial and volunteer support. The work is slowly happening, with several of the identified projects already completed.
All of these efforts are towards preparing our buildings and grounds for our next rector. If you have some time and energy to share, sign-up slots are available. There is something for everyone at every age and skill level.
Sign up here. And thank you to all who have contributed time and treasure to the Capital Campaign.
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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.
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Community Outreach - Food Collection
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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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You may also sign up for a program called Food for Neighbors. This group delivers a Red Bag to donors that includes a specific list of items they need. They collect the bags from your home bi-monthly on a Saturday and distribute the food to families in need. For additional information on the program and to sign up please visit the following website: https://www.foodforneighbors.org.
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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 7th) - $71,840
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 Sunday at 9:30 am and 5:30 pm
as well as every weeknight evening at 7:00 pm (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 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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