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The Epistle November 26, 2014
Newsletter of St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Virginia
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 Thanks to the many volunteers (adults and kids!) who helped construct a fence and prepare our grounds for the arrival of Christmas trees and wreaths! |
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Area Thanksgiving Worship TONIGHT at St. Luke's
This year's Thanksgiving Eve service will be held at St. Luke's on Wednesday evening, the 26th at 7:30 pm. Parishioners from St. Luke's, Nativity Lutheran, Heritage Presbyterian and St. Aidan's have been meeting together on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for many years. Join others from our community for this holiday service.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
No Christian education this Sunday, but classes will resume next week.
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CHRISTMAS TREE AND WREATH SALE
Begins Friday!
The 5th Annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale is upon us! The sale begins Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and continues the following weekends until the trees are gone. Enjoy merry music and warm drinks and cookies by the fire while surrounded by the smells and sights of gorgeous Frasier fir trees. The most lush and healthy trees in town will once again be on sale at St. Aidan's, to the benefit of community outreach programs and local schools.
To volunteer to help trim and haul trees, cashier, or provide treats, check out our sign up genius. Help spread the word to your friends and neighbors! Download a copy of our tree sign to share on Facebook and Twitter. Click here!
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Celebrating Advent at Home
If you are looking for ways to celebrate Advent (which begins this Sunday), there are lots of materials on the table in the Church entryway. There are weekly kid-friendly prayers and short readings to go with the lighting of your Advent wreath, daily suggestions for an outward-focused Advent calendar, and two variations on an Advent calendar that allows you to pray in color each day of Advent.
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Lighting Candles
Our Middle School Youth Group, EYOA, made candles to remember the saints in their lives. Their beautiful work decorated our altar on Sunday.
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Welcome to the flock, Claire!
What a joy to welcome Claire Preston (shown above with parents Adam and Jody) into the Church through her baptism on Sunday!
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Christmas Angels
Thanks to everyone who took one of the 75 Christmas Angels to provide gifts for families in need this season. Please bring your wrapped gifts back to church by Sunday, December 7 so they can be delivered to Rising Hope. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Hammer.
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Need Volunteers for Rising Hope Christmas Shop
Rising Hope UMC needs volunteers to help with their big Christmas gift event, Dec. 15 - 19. Rising Hope has a free "Christmas Shop" open to families to choose toys, clothing, home goods, etc. They need 45 volunteers to help with the following activities. Last year they distributed 1450 gifts.
December 15 -- Set up tables of donated goods at Rising Hope UMC for their Christmas Shop 9 AM - 3 PM
December 16, 17, 18 -- Assist families with their shopping -- Shifts are 9:00 AM - 12:00; 12:00 - 4:00 PM
December 19 -- Clean up
This is a WONDERFUL way to really get into the Christmas Spirit! If you would like to volunteer for this worthwhile mission activity, contact Mary Hamilton at
703-360-1976, or mhamilton@risinghopeumc.org.
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More Silence
We have added some evening sessions to our usual Tuesday and Friday morning silent prayer and meditation offerings. The sanctuary will be open with a candle lit for silence at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, December 3rd and Tuesday, December 9th. All are welcome to come share the space and open time with others who have come to share the stillness and presence of God.
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Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed!
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Do you enjoy the coffee and snacks following the 10:30 service? If so, please consider signing up to host the coffee hour this fall. Snacks, juice, and coffee making are all that you need - even kids can help. If you sign up you'll receive instructions (be sure to put your email on the signup list) and you can even be paired with an experienced coffee hour host if that will help convince you to volunteer. Please sign up today on the list during coffee hour, or email Brenda Foos (bfoos@cox.net). The sign up sheet is located in the Narthex.
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St. Aidan's Newcomer's Bread Ministry
Part of St. Aidan's welcome to newcomers is to deliver a loaf of bread. We are looking for more St. Aidanites to help with this important ministry. Home-made bread-making is not required. Please contact Karen Offringa at koffringa@yahoo.com or 703-216-4879.
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UCM & Rising Hope Food Collection
We collect food for both Rising Hope and UCM. Rising Hope, also, needs clean in-season clothing in good condition and small household items. Volunteers are needed to deliver donations on the first and third Sunday of each month.
UCM collection (food items only) is the first Sunday of the month. Food can be delivered during the week. Hours of delivery are: Sundays 10:30am-1:30pm, Mondays-Fridays 9:30am-12:00pm and 1:30pm-4pm. Their phone number is 703-768-7106 x 343.
Rising Hope collection (food and seasonal clothing) is the third Sunday of each month. Food, seasonal clothing and household goods can be delivered Tuesdays-Fridays during the week. Hours of delivery are: Tuesdays-Fridays 10:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4pm. Thursdays they are open late until 8:00pm. Their phone number is 703-360-1976.
The sign-up sheet is in White Hall. If you have any questions, contact our coordinator, Mario Costantino at (703)577-9672 or MarioKarenand3@aol.com.Thank you for your help.
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Next Steps Juice Ministry Looking for Volunteers
If you would like to Volunteer to purchase and deliver $30 worth of juice for distribution to homeless families in Fairfax County, please contact Leslie Aitcheson at skiswithsnails@aol.com.
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From the Treasurer
Operating Income Received this week 1,654
Budgeted weekly income 5,576
Received for 2014 226,002
Budgeted for 2014 258,996
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This Week at St Aidan's
Thurs, Nov 27: Thanksgiving Holiday - office closed
Friday, Nov. 28: 8:00 am Silent Prayer
9:00 am Christmas Tree Sales - till 6:00pm
Sunday, Nov. 30: 8:30 am Service
9:30 am Sunday School
10:30 am Service
3:30 pm Art at the Center Labyrinth Workshop
5:30 pm Service
6:30 pm Scripture as Myth - Evening session\
Mon, Dec 1: 7:00 pm Scouts
Tues, Dec 2: 8:00 am Silent Prayer
9:30 am Woman's Book Group
6:00 pm Scouts Meeting
7:30 pm Spiritual Listening - All are welcome
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Who's Serving this Week:
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Sunday: November 30, 2014
8:30 a.m. Reader: Courtenay Brinckerhoff
10:30 a.m.
Lesson: Issaiah 64: 1-9 John Schnorrenberg
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Manley Willaims
Chalice: John Cross, Daria Bergen-Hill
Ushers: Ed Foos, Ellen Renaud, Kyra Renaud
Acolytes: Ben Irwin, Liam Smith
Godly Play Storyteller: No Sunday School this week
Godly Play Doorkeeper: No Sunday School this week
Coffee Hour:
Flowers:
Altar Guild: Nancy Greer, Richard Hart, Lianne LaFleur, Nancy Hammer.
Vestry Person of the Month - Caitlin Garvey (caitlingarvey@cox.net)
Sign-up sheets to provide altar flowers and coffee hour are on the bulletin board in White Hall.
**Please Note: During Coffee Hour the sign up sheet is in the Narthex.
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