New Offerings to Local Charities

Dear St. Aidan's,

This month, we are beginning another rich practice as disciples of Christ that intentionally live into our missional calling. The Canons of our Church call for the plate offering of Holy Communion on one Sunday in each month “to be appointed to such pious and charitable uses as the Rector or Priest-in-Charge shall determine.” (III.9.6.b.6)

In March, your vestry voted to allocate the plate offerings (that is, not pledges) collected the first Sunday of each month to be donated to a local charitable cause, beginning this May. These offerings will go to local work that supports Christ's words in Matthew 25:35: “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” The offerings of the first Sunday of the month through the summer will go to Bethany House of Northern Virginia, a non-jurisdictional domestic violence shelter that we have collaborated with in the past. You can find out more about them here: bhnv.org

The congregational discernment work in the summer of looking at where we might be called to serve in our community and identifying a mission statement is exciting and says big things about our future. But we always have work to do. We do that well in many of the annual rhythms of our parish, liturgical, and worship life. This monthly addition can be another way that we continue to be the hands and feet of Christ in our community. If you have a local cause that is dear to you and fits well with the words of Christ and the heart of St. Aidan's, I would love to hear about it!

In Peace,

Rebecca+

Join us this weekend in saying farewell to Joan and thanking her for her service to our community! More details about her ordination to the priesthood to follow!

Greetings To My Saint Aidan’s Family,

As my time as a seminarian comes to a close and my ordination to the priesthood on June 27th draws near, I want to take a moment to thank you for the love and support you have shown me during my time assisting Reverend Laura and Reverend Rebecca.

I am so grateful for the conversations we shared, the encouragement you gave, and the ways you helped me stay grounded along the way. You welcomed me so lovingly, and I have learned so much from being part of your wonderful community.

Through it all, you have shown me what it truly means to be a family of faith, walking together through both joyful moments and unexpected challenges with grace and strength. And most of all, I am thankful for your prayers, for lifting me up in times of joy, and for holding me close in times of pain.

May God bless and keep you as you continue to serve God for His glory.

In His Love,

Joan Beckett-Armstrong+



P.S. Reverend Laura, thank you for being the best mentor a seminarian could ever have!

Scout Sunday

Thank you to the scouts for a great Scout Sunday and for all they always do for our community. Great job to the following scouts who served during worship.

Music: Sean Collins

Ushers: Oliver Fenton, Archer Heinzen

First Reader: Will Murray

Second Reader: Christian Angle

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From Christine Murray, Troop 1509 Committee Chair:

What a lovely service! Thank you so much for letting us be a part of the planning and the delivery in celebration of Scout Sunday. Ryan's message dovetailed so nicely with Will's words that it seemed planned. I thought all of the scouts, those with roles and those without, did a great job today.

Blessings,

Christine

Words of Will Murray:

A scout is reverent. But what does that really mean? Reverence is an attitude towards God. It starts in worship—but it doesn’t stay there. It moves outward into service. It’s about connecting inward devotion with outward action—showing that a truly reverent heart naturally becomes a servant heart. Grounded in the example of Jesus Christ, reverence invites scouts to see faith as something lived out beyond Sunday mornings: in humility, In respect, and intentional acts of service toward others, especially within their troop, families, and communities. It expands the meaning of the Scout Law beyond behavior in sacred spaces, inviting Scouts to make reverence a daily practice.  

Within the life of the Church, this idea flows naturally through the liturgy: from gathering in worship to being sent out with purpose. The dismissal—“go in peace to love and serve the Lord”—reminds us that reverence finds its fullest expression not just in what we believe, but in how we live.

So the question becomes: how will each of us live out our duty to God today?

World Labyrinth Day

May 2 • Walk as One at 1:00 World Labyrinth Day

Every year on the first Saturday in May thousands of people around the globe participate in World Labyrinth Day as a moving meditation for world peace and celebration of the labyrinth experience. Many “Walk as One at 1” local time to create a rolling wave of peaceful energy passing from one time zone to the next, and there are additional ways to participate. Read more!

Formation

Christian Scriptures in the Light of Buddhist Nondualism

Sundays - May 3, 10, 17 at 10:45 a.m.

Rev. James Farwell, Ph.D. will hold a three-part Adult Formation class on May 3, 10, and 17. As part of his upcoming work on Christian theology and practice in the light of Soto Zen, Dr. Farwell will consider the Transfiguration, the Lukan Emmaus Story and others in relation to Buddhist Nondualism. Dr. Farwell is the Professor of Theology and Liturgy at Virginia Theological Seminary and H. Boone Porter Professor of Liturgics at the General Theological Seminary. He is married to the Rev. Sarah Colvin, MD, Priest-in-Charge of All Saints Sharon Chapel. 

Confirmation class sessions • May 17, 31 and June 14

Please join Rev Rebecca in the Library along with your fellow students wishing to be confirmed at the Bishop’s Visitation scheduled for October 25, 2026.

Sunday, May 17 • Regional Picnic at Grist Mill Park • 1:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m.

The Potomac Region will be hosting its first Annual Picnic for all to attend. There will be lawn games, music, worship, food, water and lemonade! Please bring your own blanket or camp chairs to sit on. The Potomac region includes St. James, Pohick, St. Luke's, St. Martin de Porres, All Saints Sharon Chapel and St. Margaret's. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our neighbors and share our gifts, please plan to attend!

Sunday, May 24 • 10:45 a.m. • Pentecost Sunday & Parish Potluck Picnic 

A Pentecost Parish Potluck Picnic will follow the 9:30 a.m. service on Sunday, May 24. Please sign up below to bring a main dish or a side dish to share. Lemonade, iced tea, and water will be provided. If the weather allows, we will enjoy our picnic outside, so bring a blanket and lawn chairs!

All are encouraged to wear red as we celebrate Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church, the body of Christ. 

June 7 • Youth Sunday

Celebrate the youngest members of our parish on June 7! Heather Sanderson will lead youth in a presentation for the homily and all youth are invited to serve in roles in the parish: ushers, readers, musicians. Please contact Eileen or Rev. Rebecca if your child wants to participate. We will also honor High School and college graduates. If you have a student reaching this milestone, please contact Rev. Rebecca.

July 31 - Aug 2 • Annual Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont

Our Annual Parish Retreat will be held July 31 thru Aug 2. It’s a wonderful time to be together as a community outside of our normal rhythm. There is something for everyone. Please consider adding our retreat to your Summer calendar. Questions? Email Eileen with interest. Please add your name and info to our Google form: https://forms.gle/VntMjTmpiJYPwaXo7

Please plan on attending the first of three congregational meetings in which we will work toward discerning our missional identity. Who are we today? Where is St. Aidan's called? What mission can we fill without the weight of a mortgage payment? Everyone's voice matters and we want to hear from you in this important work in the life of our congregation! More information to follow, but for now, save the date! A back-up session will be offered for those who are unable to attend the main meeting.

Community Garden

Plots still available in the St. Aidan's community garden for this season. This is a wonderful way to meet your neighbors! Plots are $35 and we meet once or twice a year to tidy the grounds together. Feel free to share the news in your community. Email the office if you are interested.

Focus Music, and the WFMA

Check out Focus Music, and the WFMA website for other local shows.

Episcopal Church News

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Useful Links

Please Note

Anytime one signs up for an event through Sign Up Genius you will

automatically receive a "reminder" 2 days before said event. Since it's just a friendly courtesy reminder a follow up with the office is not necessary.

Of course, if you have any questions, feel free to email or call us. Thank you.

Update from our Treasurer

March Income: $25,521.33 (pledge, plate, other)

March budgeted income: $29,500.00

March YTD income: $84,943.15 (pledge, plate, other)

Annual budgeted income: $354,000.00



Thank you for your support of this amazing community!



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INFORMATION ON PHISHING

Some parishioners were recently targets of phishing attacks from Rev. Cochran's email address. Phishing is a scam where people are deceived into revealing sensitive information or giving money. St. Aidan’s will NEVER contact you by email with a request to send money or purchase gift cards, nor will we ask for personal verification information by email. If you think you have been the target of a phishing attack, do not hesitate to contact the church office or Rev. Rebecca. 

Please see graphic here on a way to send a report of phishing through any gmail accounts. If it's reported as phishing, future emails will also automatically block the sender.

You can also report any/all interactions with scammers to the FBI via this link (https://www.ic3.gov/).

Service Times

Sunday, 9:30 am (virtual & in person)

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

Wednesday, 7:00 pm Compline (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.