January 1, 2020
The Epistle
St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Virginia
Christmas Joy!
What an amazing Christmas we have had. From the Pageant on the 22nd, to 200 of us at the Christmas Eve service, and the Christmas morning service St. Aidan's has celebrated the season well. Thanks to all who did altar guild duty, sang, played music, decorated the church, organized and led the pageant, helped with worship, and all the things that go into gathering the community to celebrate God's presence among us.

If you missed the Christmas sermon, you can list to it here .
Looking Ahead  

Monday, January 6, 7:30 pm
The Way of Wisdom and the God of Being
From the Center for Spiritual Deepening
Learn more about this offering here .


Sun, January 12, 5:30 pm
Mass on the Epiphany in Creation
Drawing on the Poetry of Mary Oliver


St. Aidan's has been serving the Stratford Landing area since 1963.
We worship at 8:30 and 10:30 Sunday mornings, and at 5:30 on Sunday evenings. You are always welcome at St. Aidan's, wherever you may be on your faith journey.
Some Helpful Links:

The Center for Spiritual Deepening at St. Aidan's seeks to support the soul and heart work of those seeking a deeper sense of God's presence in their lives. Check out the Center and it offerings Here.

St. Aidan's: More than Sunday!
Thanks to everyone who has sent in a pledge!
If you have not yet pledged, please take some time in the next few days to prayerfully consider what you will give for the coming year and then make your pledge for 2020. Thanks!

If you would like to pledge on line today, you can Pledge Here .

Thanks for your support of this amazing community!
Day School Registration
Day School Early Registration for Parishioners
St. Aidan's Day School will begin accepting applications for active church members looking to enroll their child in the 2020-2021 school year on Monday, January 6th. Application forms will be made available in the narthex during services on Sunday, January 5th and must be turned in by Friday, January 10th to ensure priority placement. If you have any questions or would like to set up a tour of the day school please contact the Director, Beth Burke at 703-360-4160.
Christian Education

This Sunday:
Godly Play and EYOA 9:30 am

No Youth Group this Sunday. Next week, Jan 12th at 3:30 pm we will gather to assemble the bags, etc for VIC HOP

Adult Ed. will continue with Gulley's book and chapter 5, If the Church Were Christian inviting questions would be more valued than supplying answers. Join us at 9:30 am
Youth Outreach Project

EYC is collecting items to give to people at the VIC HOP hypothermia shelter for the homeless. We are accepting donations of wet wipes, hand sanitizer, emery boards, wool socks, tweezers, hand warmers, gloves, bandanas, tissues, vaseline, canvas tote bags/ drawstring bags, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hairbrushes. Please bring you donations to church and place in the bin in the Narthex.


St. Aidan's has helped by providing volunteers and meals for the residents for many years. We help provide a warm place for people who would otherwise be sleeping on the street or in the woods in dangerously cold weather.

On January 12th, at 3:30 pm we will come together to fill bags to give to the residents when our volunteers spend the night at the shelter. This is important work where the EYC can make a real difference in people's lives.


Outreach
VICHOP will be our Outreach focus for Feb & March. Returning to his post will be Adam Preston scheduling overnight volunteers as well as new to the team, Patrick Kilbride, who will be coordinating meals. Dates & more information about getting involved are to follow.
Volunteering
Service Volunteers
To volunteer to read, usher, and bear a chalice, please   email the Church office  or call (703) 360-4220 and talk to Eileen. 

Flowers
Pick a Sunday, sign-up via the calendar in the Church or on-line thru the link noted below, 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, no highly fragrant flowers), please get in touch with Eileen Myers, in the office (703-360-4220 or  [email protected] ) or make any special notes directly on the form.  Sign up here .
  
Coffee Hour 
One of the best ways to welcome newcomers and get to know other parishioners is by staying after church to chat. Sign up via the calendar in the Church or the on-line link below to bring snacks and juice and make coffee. Before your week, you'll receive instructions, and you can even be paired with an experienced coffee hour host.  Sign up here.
From the Treasurer
Thanks to all who support St. Aidan's in so many ways! 
Your support makes so many good things happen at St. Aidan's and beyond.

Received this week   13,300 (two weeks)
Budgeted each week   5,761
Received to date  302,157
Budgeted to date  299,620

This Week at St. Aidan's

Thurs, Jan 2:  7:30 pm The Gospel of Thomas 

Fri, Jan 3:    8:00 am Silent Prayer - All are welcome

Sun, Jan 5:    8:30 am Service
            10:30 am Service 
             5:30 pm Celtic Service

Mon, Jan 6:   7:00 pm Al-Anon meeting
             7:30 pm CSD - The God of Being and the Way of Wisdom
with the Rev. John M. Baker

Tues, Jan 7:   8:00 am Silent Prayer - All are welcome
Who's Serving this Week
The Feast of The Epiphany - January 5, 8:30am
Reader: TBD

January 5, 10:30am
First Reader: TBD
Second Reader: TBD
Chalice Bearers: TBD
Ushers: TBD
Acolytes:   Ava (Crucifer), Kyra (Gospel)

Coffee Hour hosted by:  TBD
Flowers donated by:   Preeta Nasir
Bouquet created by:  Preeta Nasir

Jan. Altar Guild:    **Darlene Ash, Christine Niemunn, Cristina Mazzanti
Dec. Vestry Member of the Month: TBD