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The Epistle January 7, 2015
Newsletter of St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Virginia
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  We celebrated Epiphany with a traditional blessing of chalk to use to inscribe blessings at the entrance of the Church and send chalk home with people to do the same.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
GODLY PLAY (age 4 through 3rd grade meets in the education room near the coat area in the Church)
This Sunday we begin to share parable stories, beginning with the Parable of the Good Shepherd.
EYOA (4th through 8th grade meets in the last room on the left through the first office door in the parish hall)
Fireside Chat: The kids had some thoughtful discussions using an interesting Socratic Method under Carol Horn's leadership. We'll continue the method to investigate this Sunday's Gospel reading.
EYC (middle and high school youth group)
The youth group meets from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. for food, discussion and fun. Contact Morris to get on the group list to receive information.
Day School Chapel
Today the kids were introduced to the season of Epiphany. We enjoyed being back together for music and stories! Parents, caregivers and siblings are always welcome to join us in Chapel.
Adult Forum
This week we look at Jacob, a man divided from himself. What myths did he live by? What myths do we live by? What would wholeness look like? All this and more on Sunday. JB
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Silence as Prayer - Tuesday Evenings at St. Aidan's
The invitation to gather for silent prayer continues in the new year, with a new schedule that offers a weekly opportunity to find peace in the candlelight and the quiet.
We continue to offer spiritual listening on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. Read here to learn more about these evenings of readings, silent time, and shared reflections.
New this year, the sanctuary will be open and a candle lit on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th (when there is one) Tuesdays of each month, from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. Regular visitors to spiritual listening may welcome this additional quiet time. Those who would like time and space for silent prayer, but who are not inclined toward sharing spiritual reflections, might be drawn to these alternate Tuesday gatherings.
All are welcome. Feel free to contact Lisa Richard at 571-215-3170 if you would like to talk with someone before you come.
"In the silence of the heart, God speaks." - Mother Theresa
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DAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION THIS SUNDAY
If you are considering having your child attend St. Aidan's Day School next year, Suzanne Odom will be on hand after the morning services this Sunday, January 8, to help you register him or her and answer any questions.
Church members receive first priority (if they register this Sunday) and a 10% discount in tuition.
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Moms' Group Dinner and White Elephant Exchange
Tomorrow Night
This Thursday, January 8 at 7 p.m., St. Aidan's moms are invited to gather at Christina Mazzanti's house for our annual post-Christmas dinner and White Elephant gift exchange. Bring an unwanted or ridiculous wrapped present to exchange and either an appetizer, dessert or wine to share. Contact Elizabeth to RSVP and get more details.
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Food Donations Needed this Sunday for Kids in Need
St. Aidan's provides bags of foods once a month that are sent home with severely impoverished kids at Fort Hunt Elementary each weekend. This Sunday the Godly Play kids will sort the food into bags for the kids. If you are able to help by providing a food item, please sign up here. Food should be dropped off in the coat area of the Church outside the Godly Play room. Thanks for your help!
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CHRISTMAS TREE & WREATH SALE
What an amazing community effort went into our Christmas tree and wreath sale! Thanks to the amazing leaders of this project - Holden Hoofnagle, Chad Coneway, Adam & Amy Fazackerley and Ted Boling, to Peggy Trumbo and her team of bow makers, to the many volunteers who came out for shifts to sell and wrangle trees, and to the folks who provided delicious food and treats. The numbers aren't complete, but it looks like the sale raised more than $20,000 this year and will give a good percentage to our local schools.
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A New Look and Feel for the 10:30 Service in Epiphany
This Sunday we will begin trying some new ways of approaching some of the liturgical elements in our 10:30 service. We will live with the new service through the Epiphany season and then talk about where we have been. I am excited about the possibilities for worship that are always possible at St. Aidan's.
Here is what we will be doing............. read more
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Pledges are still coming in.
We have now received 66 pledges for a total of almost $200,000.
Thanks to everyone who has responded.
If you have not yet done so,
Please send or bring your part of the picture
along with your pledge for 2015 as soon as possible to support
the mission and ministry of St. Aidan's.
If you would like to pledge by contacting the treasurer, email Don.
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Book discussion for January and beyond...
Would you like to try being part of a community of practice centered in creativity and contemplation for 12 weeks? All are welcome! We will will use this book as a guide to reflecting on our own creative and contemplative practices. The book is Artist's Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom by Christine Valters Paintner.
Read more about the book and author here. We will meet for discussion Thursdays at 10:30 am beginning January 8 and continuing for 12 weeks. Contact Kathryn kathrynconeway@gmail.com if interested or to learn more.
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VIC-HOP is short for
Ventures in Community Hypothermia Unit
That is an important bit of information at this time of year because you will be hearing a lot about VIC-HOP. As in past years, St. Aidan's is helping with the overnight shelter and feeding the 25 residents who will be staying in out of the cold. We are responsible for four nights in February and March. David Lounsbury has taken on the leadership of this important ministry. He has set set up a Sign-up Genius site to help us staff our weeks. We need four people to stay overnight each week and someone to provide food. Daria Bergen-Hill will be heading up the food ministry. Please click here to check the schedule see when you might be able to volunteer.
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Flowers for St Aidan's
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The 2015 sign-up calendar for flowers is in White Hall on the bulletin board. Please remember that if there is no one signed up to donate flowers that there may not be flowers that week. We need donations even for the Lent and Advent seasons too.
We have tried to make it as simple as possible for you to donate flowers for the Sunday services. The easiest way to do this is to sign-up (form is in White Hall on bulletin board) and then put a check for $35.00, made out to St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, in the collection plate with the words "Flowers" in the notation area.
If you would like special flowers, or if you would like to bring your own flowers, please get in touch with Eileen Myers, in the office (703-360-0146 or staidansalexandria@gmail.com).
If you are bringing your own flowers, (we must know this in advance so we can plan) you can drop them off at the church during office hours on Friday or bring them to the Altar Guild between 9:30 and 9:45am on Sat morning in the church. Flowers need to stay in the church until after the 5:30 Sunday evening service.
Thank you for your support.
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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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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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From the Treasurer
Operating Income Received this week 7,400
Budgeted weekly income 5,576
Received for 2015 7.400
Budgeted for 2015 5,576
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This Week at St Aidan's
Weds, Jan 7: 6:00 pm Community of Hope meeting
7:30 pm Outreach meeting
Thurs, Jan 8: 7:00 pm Karate practice
7:30 pm Choir rehearsal
Friday, Jan 9: 8:00 am Silent Prayer
Sunday, Jan 11: 8:30 am Service
10:30 am Service
5:30 pm Service
Monday, Jan 12: 7:00 pm Scouts meeting
Tues, Jan 13: 8:00 am Silent Prayer
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Who's Serving this Week:
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Sunday: January 11, 2015
8:30 a.m. Reader:
10:30 a.m.
Lesson: Genesis 1: 1-5 Kathy Seikel
Epistle: Acts 19: 1-7 Dan Watson
Chalice: Kathy Seikel, Paul Malkie
Ushers:
Acolytes: Samantha White, Kyra Renaud
Godly Play Storyteller: Amy Smith
Godly Play Doorkeeper: Lauren Jonas
Coffee Hour: Alisha Waid
Flowers:
Altar Guild: Beverly Bell, John Schnorrenberg, Allen Walker, David Lounsbury &
Karen Costantino
Vestry Person of the Month -
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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