Dear St. Aidan's Family,

You have likely heard that the beginning of Ramadan and Lent, holy seasons for Islam and Christianity, unusually coincide this week. As I mention often, my experiences studying and serving in the Middle East are marked vividly in my memory and I observed in awe the holy month of Ramadan more than once in my time there. I watched in fascination as industries and society shifted to accommodate citizens who fasted from food and drink from sun-up to sun-down; as neighbors respectfully honored others' religious discipline even if they did not partake. Fasting-abstaining from some of the needs and desires of our earthly existence-is an ancient and universal practice. Today, in our own tradition's practice, you are invited to embark on your own fast as the season of Lent begins.

What helps you draw near to God in these 40 days leading to Easter? For many, it is a fast. It is removing something from our habits, expenses, or consumption, and allowing that absence to be a space for God to fill. Or redirecting the money or energy we would have spent on those habits to someone in need. For others, drawing near to God is not done best by taking something away, but rather by creating particular space for prayer, devotion, study, or attention in this season. Regardless of what you need, God, the giver of Life, promises to sustain us as we prepare to celebrate and grow in richness and depth of life with Him.

Begin your Lenten journey tonight at the Ash Wednesday service with Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes. And in this season, consider participating in the Adult Formation program, Lenten Prayer Retreat, or Puzzles and Pizza. Each are meant to fill a particular space in Lent: study and reflection, healing and prayer, or meditation and fellowship. There is more information about each below and in the Look Ahead. May God bless your season of fasting as we prepare to celebrate the gift of Life at Easter.

Rebecca+

End of Year Giving Statements

End of Year giving statements were emailed electronically on Tuesday, February 17th. If you do not receive an emailed statement by February 18, please reach out to Bud DuPont at buddupont@gmail.com. Your 2025 giving statement will include all payments received between January 1 and December 31, 2025. Thank you for your generous giving to St. Aidan's in 2025!

What a great Mardi Gras! This year's celebration did not disappoint. Thank you to Tom Madison, the Boyle Family, Brenda Hunt, Mary Jane Guffey, John Smaha, and the Richards for making swift work of set-up and clean-up. Fantastic cooking of a huge and delicious meal by Christina Mazzanti, Debbie Watson, Darlene Ash, Pat Rowell, and Mike and Bonnie Brynczak. Thank you to Jay Anderson, who in addition to helping cook and prep, ensured pancakes were not neglected in our lead up to Lent! Thank you to parishioners Matt and Ben Irwin, Brian LaFleur, Mark Thomas and fellow musicians Larry LeMaster, John O'Brien and Rhodes Whitehill for carrying on the jazz service tradition. And last but by no means least, thank you to Jennifer Smaha for continuing the tradition of a Mardi Gras Brunch started by Peter Lattu in 2006. Your planning, preparation, and presentation were exemplary-thank you! 

Formation



Lenten Program

C.S. Lewis and the Delightful, Diabolical, Daring of Lent

February 22 - March 29 at 10:45 a.m.

The 40 days of Lent are about many things: preparing for Easter, reflecting on our lives, expanding our hearts and minds with spiritual exercise, and more. What obstructs our doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God? Join Seminarian Ryan Waide during Adult Forum in Lent for a SALT Project study based on C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters to reflect on these questions, clarify our insight, and renew our resolve.

The first session will reflect on chapters 3 and 4 Screwtape Letters, which is available as a free PDF download online or can be purchased for less than $10. If you plan to attend Adult Forum and would like to prepare for the material prior to Sunday, please email the office for a copy of the study.  For the first session, Ryan will play the audio version of chapters 3-4 in White Hall between 10:30 and 10:45 of the chapter as preparation for the study during Formation Hour. 

Thank you to Jennifer Smaha for her leadership in getting the kneelers at the communion rail reupholstered! They look beautiful and we will put them to good use this Lenten season.

Lenten Retreat, Saturday, March 7, 9:30 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. 

Join Facilitator Rev. Linda Calkins for a Lenten Retreat. We will spend time in prayer and community before entering into a space of meditation and healing prayer using Anglican Prayer Beads and walking the Labyrinth. If you have a set of Prayer Beads, please bring them. A simple soup lunch will be provided. RSVPs are requested and there is no cost. Rev. Calkins is a former priest of the Diocese of Maryland with over 20 years of experience in ministry and healing prayer practices. She has been leading retreats since coming to the Diocese of Virginia in 2024: https://episcopalvirginia.org/news/labyrinth-prayer-beads/.

Pizza and Puzzles:

Sunday March 8 at 10:45-12:30 in White Hall



Take a Lenten break for Pizza and Puzzles! Thanks to Rose Wilson for hosting this event for everyone-grab a slice of pizza and take some time out to build a puzzle. No RSVP needed; but if you have a 300 piece or smaller puzzle-or one that's very unique!-to contribute, please tell Rose: rwilsonn@aol.com 

Focus Music, and the WFMA

The next show to be held at St Aidan's is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 featuring Debi Smith. Concert info and ticket sales for Debi Smith on April 11 are now live on the WFMA website: https://wfma.net/smith26.htm

Aside from her solo appearances, Debi also performs as a member of The Four Bitchin' Babes and as half of the sibling duo The Smith Sisters, as well as having had an early stint as part of the all woman Irish group The Hags.

Debi has performed at venues such as The Kennedy Center, Minneapolis's Guthrie Theatre, Harvard University's Sanders Theatre, Wadsworth Theatre (UCLA), Great American Music Hall (San Francisco, CA), Norris Cultural Center (Chicago), Detroit Opera House, Museum of Fine Arts (Salt Lake), Lincoln Center (NY), and The Epcot Center (FL); in Canada, Europe and Russia; and appeared on NPR's Prairie Home Companion, All Things Considered, Mountain Stage, and World Café. She has also appeared on syndicated PBS music specials including “The Smith Sisters in Concert” as well as CBS Sunday Morning and Good Morning America.

Debi's songs have garnered her numerous ASCAP popular music awards and a Grammy nomination, and have been recorded by a growing number of artists including Tom Paxton. Debi and her songs have been the recipients of a number of Wammie awards (Washington Area Music Awards), among them, Best Contemporary Vocalist and Album. Her song, “Virginia,” was selected as a Virginia State Song Finalist.

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

Episcopal Church News

Task force seeks input on household diversity



All Episcopalians are invited to complete a 15- to 20-minute survey offered by the Task Force to Study Household and Relationship Diversity and designed to help the church better understand and support all its members.

Created by General Convention in 2022, the task force seeks “to create opportunities for discussion, reflection, and deepening of understanding about existing diversity of family relationships and households among congregations, dioceses, and throughout The Episcopal Church.” 

Participants are encouraged to learn more and complete the survey by 

March 1, 2026.

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LGBTQ+ task force invites survey input

Episcopalians are invited to complete a 15- to 20-minute survey offered by the Task Force on LGBTQ+ Inclusion to help the church better understand how it honors the dignity of all people and where work remains to be done.

The 80th General Convention established the task force in 2022, charging it with conducting an audit of how The Episcopal Church has lived into its public commitments affirming the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. A survey report will be shared with the 82nd General Convention in 2027.

Members across the church—those who are LGBTQ+ and those who are not—are encouraged to share about their experiences with pastoral care, sacramental access, representation in leadership, and institutional accountability.

Learn more and complete the survey, offered in English, French, 
and Spanish, by March 15.

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https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/g0WyyGb



To subscribe to news from The Episcopal Church, subscribe to Episcopal News Service Newsletter here: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/email-signup/ 

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

January Income: $41,294.95 (pledge, plate, other)

January budgeted income: $27,917.67

January YTD income: $41,294.95 (pledge, plate, other)

Annual budgeted income: $333,000.00



Thank you for your support of this amazing community!

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You may safely and easily make a contribution to St. Aidan's using the button below. Your financial gift of any

size supports the mission and ministries of St. Aidan's.

Thank you for your support!

Inclement Weather Policy



Just a reminder that St. Aidan's follows the Fairfax County Public Schools inclement weather policy. When FCPS is closed, the church is closed and all in person activities are cancelled or postponed.  

• Staff will work remotely in the event that the office is closed due to inclement weather. 
• Decisions about whether or not to conduct a Sunday service will be determined by road conditions and whether there is power in the neighborhood.  
• Please stay tuned to your email, or check the St. Aidan's website (www.staidansepiscopal.com) for updates or information about services and/or virtual offerings.   

We will do our best to create a safe space to gather, but know that lifting up prayers from the safety of your home will sometimes be the best decision!  

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)

Compline, 7:00 pm Monday, Wednesday & Friday (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.