St. Aidan's "By The Way" Newsletter: Dec 2015

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7
(519) 471-1430 office@staidans.net www.staidans.net
Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Peace Not an Ornamanet
Kevin George
In The First Christmas,
Marcus Borg writes:
Christmas is not about tinsel and
mistletoe or even ornaments and
presents, but about what means
will we use toward the end of a
peace from heaven upon our earth.
Or is peace on earth but a
Christmas ornament taken each
year from attic or basement and
returned there as soon as
possible?
We are entering those days where we will hear a whole lot
about peace on earth. We will receive cards with it plastered
across the front. We will sing about it in church. We will hear
about it over canned music at malls (but we are unlikely to
experience it in a mall). It is a very over used phrase at this
time of year. I fear that it really is for us akin to the ornament
that is hauled out, shined up, proudly displayed and
romantically mused about around fireplaces.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Presented by our CYFM
Sunday December 20th
12 NOON
CHRISTMAS EVE
Nativity of the Lord I
Thursday December 24th
4 PM
Nativity of the Lord II

8 PM
(*7:30 PM Carol Sing)
This Christmas we will all be aware that our country is in the

midst of welcoming 25 000 people from Syria. We will be
making room for people who are fleeing war and persecution
in their homeland. Our own parish is welcoming two families
from Syria. In fact, one of those families may be in London
before Christmas. As we look upon the Christmas card, or the
tree ornaments that declare peace on earth, I wonder if we
are able to connect the dots. While our nations opens its
doors to the strangers, the din of those who are fearful echoes
in the background.
Those people are terrorists!
We dont have enough for the people who are here!
They better not be Muslims!
CHRISTMAS DAY
Nativity of the Lord III
10:30 AM
ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 1

We should ban Muslims!

Those people are bogus!
Etcetcetc.
No person is bogus! Human beings are not bogus!
It is critical that we not allow narrow-mindedness to detract us from entering into the
Christian Story. And by entering into the story, I mean entering into all the different parts
of the story as represented in the Gospels. It is always nice to enter into the manger scene:
nice to think about wise men paying visit, nice to think of Shepherds in the field abiding,
and of course.nice to muse about Jesus, Mary, and Joseph fleeing Bethlehem, fearing for
their lives and entering Egypt as refugees. .
Wait now whats that.
Thats right Jesus, Mary and Joseph
REFUGEES!
Get up, take the child and

his mother, and flee to Egypt,
and remain there until I tell
you; for Herod is about to
search for the child, to
destroy him. Then Joseph got
up, took the child and his
mother by night, and went to
Egypt, and remained there
until the death of Herod....
When Herod saw that he had
been tricked by the wise men,
he was infuriated, and he
sent and killed all the
children in and around
Bethlehem who were two
years old or under, according
to the time that he had
learned from the wise men.
To what end are we prepared to do our part to help achieve peace on earth? Do we buy into
the narratives the tinsel culture which tells us to be afraid, to give to those we like, to
spend beyond our means to impress the neighbour? OR Do we embrace our Christian
narrative? Can we enter into the story of our faith which calls us again and again to
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 2

welcome the stranger? Can we enter into the story of a God who would come and dwell
among us in vulnerability? Can we enter into the story of a God who is capable of coming to
us from the most unexpected of places? Can we accept Jesus if he comes to us as a
refugee?
I pray we are willing to keep peace on earth as a command that we have to work toward
and not as an ornament to make us feel good over the tinsel season.
God bless you all. Catherinanne and I

are so fortunate to be members of
St Aidans. I am so very privileged to
be rector at St Aidans. I am thankful
more than words can say for the team
of people with whom I minister. You
are all tremendous. Catherinanne
and I wish you all a Happy Holy and
Blessed Christmas.
St. Aidans Anglican Church
#123GrowCampaign
Preserving ~ renewing ~ Preparing
In October we held a Special Vestry Meeting to launch a Capital Campaign. It is with great excitement that
we find ourselves ready to complete the renovations and RENEWAL of our Kitchen. Along with that
expected project came the unexpected surprise of a deteriorating roof that needed to be addressed before
winter. In recent years the parish has raised $50 000 for Kitchen Renewal this includes a generous
contribution from the Hosannas Rectory Fund. We now have a full costing of the kitchen. We now know
that the roof repairs, the kitchen renewal and upgrades to the parish office will cost the parish an
additional $81 000 above the monies held in reserve. The wardens and parish council also felt strongly
that we should plan for future capital needs by raising and setting aside $42 000.
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 3

That Special Vestry passed a motion launching the #123GrowCampaign. This campaign will see us
raise $123 000 to cover all costs PRESERVING the legacy given to us, RENEWING the church to better suit
the needs we have today, and PREPARING our community for capital needs of the future. The Motion
passed with ease and over $250 00 was committed over three years before the end of that meeting. The
vestry also passed a motion to secure a loan of $81 000 from the Diocese of Huron to get the work
completed. It is our plan to pay that down as quickly as we can with your support and your response.
We are appealing to you to read the outline that follows - find a pledge form inside your newsletter - and
commit to do your part for your church community. Perhaps the most important part of that pledge form
is our #123GrowCampaign Prayer. Please make that prayer a regular part of your prayer life as we take
on this important work.
By February we will have the capacity to host a coffee hour with the ability to do dishes in 90 seconds. We
will have a kitchen that will allow us to prepare for Silver Saints lunches in a safe and efficient manner.
We will also be able to worship weekly under a roof that will not leak. And for that we shall all be
thankful.
The next couple of pages will outline what our #123GrowCampaign is aiming to achieve..
..
Preserving ~ Renewing ~ Preparing
#123GrowCampaign ----Here are the Details
1. Preservation ~ Honouring the Past ~
$ 41,000
A - Roof on Church
Current roof in complete disrepair.
Former roofing did not meet guarantee.
(Reimbursement procedures are in process)
Multiple quotes have been received and contractor selected
Cost will be $27,000
B - Repairs and Updates
Church Office-accessibility to the office $8,000
Church Office -repair of leaking roof $2,000
Church - repair of windows $4,000
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 4


~ to thrive in the present ~
$40,000
2. Renewing
New Kitchen: Covenant Contractors have been selected
from 3 companies.
Work is expected to begin before years end
3-D design images are available today.
Total Estimated Cost $90,000
Capital Funds raised to date $50,000
3. Preparing ~ Planning for our Future ~
$42,000
Replenishing Capital Fund
Total $123 000

God is building a home, using us all irrespective of how we got here
in what is being built. God used the apostles & prophets for the foundation.
Now God is using YOU, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the
cornerstone that holds all the parts together.
We see it taking shape day after day a holy temple built by God,
ALL OF US built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.
Ephesians 2:19-21 (The Message)
Youth & Childrens Ministry

Sandy Harle
We have an amazing group of young people,
it is a privilege to spend time with them. In
November, we had a fun evening sharing a
meal together and then pointing Lasers at
each other, all in good fun! Turns out Laser
Tag is a great way to get some exercise
running away from your priest and have
some fun as a group!
Our next event will be a Card Game night in
January. Planning for our pilgrimage to
Taize, France continues.
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 5

Thank you to Morgan Sherlock, Chloe Harle and Chris Harle for their leadership.
A special shout out to the "Kevin and Morgan Roadshow," who will
do their best to visit you at your sports game, play, speech or
performance. Look out for them on twitter St Aidan's
Youth@AnglicanYoots, #KevinAndMorganYootsTour and also on
our Facebook page. Their support of the John Dearness Dolphins
Volleyball team was
legendary.
Thank you to our teachers for
all that you bring to our
Sunday School.
The children in turn bring us many gifts on Sunday
morning with their enthusiasm in learning about God
and all that they teach us about God.
We are looking forward to our Christmas Pageant,
"The First Christmas" on Sunday December 20th.
Hope that you can join us.
Our Family Potluck and Christingle Service was held on December 6th. It was a special
time to celebrate the fact that we are one big family here at St Aidan's. Thank you to Kevin
for the prayers and pictures. Visit our Facebook page to see all of the pictures!
Looking ahead, we will have a Messy Church event early in the new
year.
We concluded our fundraiser, " Toonies for Turkeys" with a visit
from Lynn Prentice, Director of St. Paul's Social Services. The
children were interested to learn more about the effective ways that
we can reach out to others.
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 6

#KevinAndMorganYootsTour
We want to come out in support of
our YOOTS (Youths)
Why? It is important for us to see our community
thrive and we want to see the good news stories in
action as our youth offer their gifts and talents.
Remember, no effort that we make to attain

something beautiful is ever lost (Helen Keller)
What do we want to see? ANYTHING: Arts Music
Sport. It can be at school or at a club.
We want to know what the young people in church
are doing so well at.
To arrange a Visit Contact:
Twitter: @AnglicanYoots
Facebook: St Aidans Anglican Church London
Email: m.sherlock91@gmail.com /
canonkevingeorge@gmail.com
Or let us know at Church on Sunday mornings from
10:30am
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 7

ardens
eport
Our Vibrant & Meaningful Community

Doug Wilson-Hodge, Pam McKenzie, Wendy Kilgour & Jim Smythe
There has been an incredible amount of activity at St.
Aidans since our last report in June. God is moving among us
on a daily basis as we go about our efforts, in his name, in our
Church community and beyond our doors. Please forgive the
category format of this report as I try to capture what has
occurred in the past 6 months without a broader narrative that
would occupy several pages of this newsletter.
Church Programs Our major programs at St. As are showing

health in numbers and quality of content and delivery. Silver Saints, Children &
Youth, Parish Nurse and Health Cabinet and Music are all flourishing under strong
and capable leadership. We congratulate Pat Ferguson, our Parish Nurse, on his
recent and successful completion of the Basic Parish Nursing Preparation
Curriculum Level I, II and III through InterChurch Health Ministries Canada.
Kitchen Renovation As of our Parish Council meeting in November, we have
approval of the final design for our kitchen renovation and have contracted Covenant
Kitchens for this project. In addition, a coffee niche was also approved for
installation in the Narthex (at the base of the staircase to the attic) to be completed at
the same time. We should see construction begin soon with completion early in the
new year.
Fundraising Activities the bulk of this years fundraisers have taken place in the
past few weeks with the 1st Jazz By The Bog concert of the season in October, 2nd
Annual Trivia Night in November, St. As Logo Wear in December and the Elvis
Christmas Concert, A Not So Silent Night, on Dec.11th. Many thanks to the leaders
and teams of individual volunteers for not only assisting with these revenue
generating activities but staging fun events for our Parish family to participate in
which also involve the wider community.
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 8

Capital Projects and the #123GrowCampaign Along with our kitchen renovation, our
aging facilities have ganged up on us recently as we needed to replace the Church roof, repair
windows and paint the south side of the Church, repair the roof at the Church house,
upgrade the entrance to the Church offices and completely renovate a bathroom in this
house. We ask you to give your prayerful consideration to our 1-2-3 Grow Campaign which
is designed to cover these expenses and build a contingency fund for future capital expense
planning.
Refugee Campaign Red Tape Challenge As I write this, we are anticipating the
arrival of our 1st family in the next few days. Your response to this effort is
unprecedented through financial givings to this campaign followed by your offers of
material goods necessary to house our sponsored family. Thanks to the team of
volunteers, under the leadership of Pat Townshend, who have quickly come together
to help our newest Canadians feel at home.
Operating Budget Concerns Based on our 2015
Vestry approved budget to cover our day-to-day
operations, we are considerably behind in our
income from offerings. We suspect that some of the
very worthy campaigns mentioned earlier in this
report, have diminished our focus on paying our
daily bills. We also believe that the expenses of
operating a major facility and institution like our
Church may be not totally appreciated by everyone
who occupies a pew on Sunday mornings. We will
try to do a better job of communicating our actual
operating costs to allow you to plan for your givings
as we move into a new year.
In our role as wardens, we consistently come across individuals who quietly go about
doing things around our facility that most of us never even think about. To those
individuals you know who you are we are exceptionally grateful for your care and
the time & effort you expend on our behalf to help maintain the beautiful facility we
have at St. Aidans.
As is our tradition at this time of year, we will be designating the funds from our
special Christmas Offering Envelopes to our very gifted and exceptionally hardworking Rector. Please make any cheques payable to Kevin George and place your
donations in this special envelope on the Sunday offering plate.
Merry Christmas and Gods blessing for a Healthy and Happy 2016!
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 9

The attached Christmas envelope is another way we give thanks at this time of year.
As has been our custom, here at St. Aidans, proceeds from these envelopes will be
received by our Rector, Kevin. Any cheques for this purpose must be written directly
to Kevin George.
Andra ONeill
WOW!
Do we have a lot going on at St. Aidans!
St Aidans Refugee Resettlement Team SARRT

The Mokayed Family is on their way and the Yazbeck family will be coming in the New Year.
Together we have faithfully raised over $30,000 which in concert with the government
program allows us to support both families. Another $6,000 has been donated through the
Red Tape Challenge at St. Aidans specifically for the London Deanery Refugee Fund so that
together with our brother and sister churches in London and area, we can help
other families find safety, security and a new life here in London Ontario.
#123GrowCampaign
Preserve, Renew, Prepare
This campaign is to cover the costs of our new roof, our new kitchen, upgrades
and accessibility at the church office and to provide a contingency capital fund
for the future. [There are details in this Newsletter on pages 4 and 5.]
Update:
$80,000 loan has been secured through the Diocese of Huron as a Loan that
has allowed us to get started on the work. The roof is completed, work on the
church offices nearly done, and the kitchen construction will start the first
week of January.
We are well on our way towards our goal of $123 000. Pledges forms and
one time gifts total over $60 000.
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 10

Paying back the loan...

With the positive initial response to the #123GrowCampaign we believe that the $80,000
loan repayment to the Diocese of Huron will be a small feat for those at St. Aidans who
remember their last loan (over 6 figures!).
How the community participates...
There are several ways to support this campaign and those around you have already begun in
their own way.
FIRST - A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION (MAKE A NOTE THAT IT IS A SPECIAL OFFERING FOR THE
#123GrowCampaign)
Second - Pledge: Decide what commitment you would like to make and divide it into 3
years. Let us know what you are planning by writing it on a note, on your
cheque, on a pledge card (at welcome desk) or send an email to
office@staidans.net. [There is a Pledge Flyer in this edition of By The Way]
Third - Increase your weekly or monthly givings by a portion dedicated to
#123GrowCampaign. You may choose to do a separate Pre- Authorized at
another time of the month or you may add it to the offering in the service.
Operating Budget
With Fundraising Events running (Great success at Trivia Night!) and people getting their
offering caught up and organized heading into the end of 2015, the operating budget is
moving closer to expectations. For your faithful stewardship and offering, particularly in
light of the other the other important financial ministries that we are undertaking,
THANK YOU. We have a little more distance to cover. Our operating costs run at about $5,360
per week - a heavy load for the few, a light load for many. Your Stweardship of St Aidans is
most appreciated.
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 11


St Aidans Refugee Resettlement Team - SARRT
MOKAYED FAMILY
We are very well prepared for the imminent arrival of the Mokayed family, Ahmad,
Alaa, Abdulkhadr and Sara.
We have an apartment 90 % furnished, and only require a few more items .
Thank you to all those who have generously provided items, many purchased newthey are greatly appreciated and the apartment is furnished very nicely. Our watch
word is, "would you like this in your home?"
Several people on the committee have been seeking helpful information re education,
medical assistance, proper food to buy, assembling clothing, etc. A big job with many
moving parts, but all well done.
There will be a list posted in the narthex each Sunday with items needed.
We look forward to the next step in this venture.
Pat
Townshend
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 12


Parish Nursing Ministry Update
Pat Ferguson
Philosophy:
Recognizing that all persons are sacred and must be treated with respect and
dignity, the Parish Nursing Ministry of St. Aidans will:
Empower all to reach their best level of health - body, mind and spirit.
Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and
have them pray over them, anointing then with oil in the name of the Lord.
James 5: 14-15 (NRSV)
What a fall it has been! I returned to Emmanuel
College at the University of Toronto for 3 Saturdays
in October/November and completed Level III of my
parish nursing education program offered by
InterChurch Health Ministries (ICHM). I graduated
and can now officially call myself a Parish Nurse.
My activities will not be any different from what
they have been for the last couple of years.
On November the 14th Kevin and I had the privilege
Kevin and Catherinanne, along with Karen
of presenting Creating Caring Communities to the
celebrating the New Parish Nurse
ICHM Annual Education Day. To an audience of
about 50 people, other parish nurses and Health Cabinet members, we shared the story of
St. Aidans journey over the past year attempting to break the stigma of mental illness and
becoming a more caring congregation for those who suffer with mental illness and
supporting their caregivers. Part of our presentation included a powerful video of Kevin
interviewing Joe about his experiences of the suffering he has endured and of the care he
has received from our parish. The day was well received by those in attendance.
Over the fall, within the parish, we have continued with the Blood Pressure clinics (thanks
to my wife who compensates for my hearing deficit) and with Prayers for Healing. Home and
hospital visits and consultations at the church continued as usual.
I continue to provide a weekly bulletin announcement that relates to current health issues
both locally and internationally. If anyone has any suggestions for topics they would like to
know more about please let me know. Thanks to Linda Harvey-Rioux who recently started
uploading my weekly announcements to the St. Aidans Facebook page where they are
being viewed by many people.
The Health Cabinet continues to meet regularly, supporting me in this ministry and
assisting with planning for future events. We are planning for a Fall Prevention and
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 13

Exercise for Older Persons event in the spring.

Also, in 2016 you can look forward to regular opportunities for Prayers for Healing and
Blood Pressure Clinics. We will continue on our journey as a Caring Community and have a
special healing service in May Mental Health Month.
I give thanks to the community of St. Aidans for your ongoing support of this ministry.
Have a Blessed and Holy Christmas.
If you have any items you would like to see discussed in the weekly bulletin; if you
want more information about any health-related issue or if you would like to become
involved in this Ministry, please contact me at 226-270-8862 or
staidansparishnurse@gmail.com
Silver Saints Ministry Update

The Revd Anne Jaikaran
The Silver Saints ministry has been very active over the past few months.
Since the summer we have had three lunches; in September Karen Hypes
came with her husband to talk to us about their experiences walking The
Camino. In November Murray Hunter
shared the story of losing his daughter to a drunk driver
and then setting up a fund in her memory to be used to
beautify outdoor spaces which led to the Pollination
Garden Project. He asked for our Silver Saints to write
down their garden connected memories to be used in a
new Sunday School curriculum which is his latest
project and those present enthusiastically participated.
In December The Forest City Winds, a quintet of young
local musicians put us in the Christmas spirit with their
musical offering. We continue to enjoy the generosity of
Remark catering for these lunches.
We continue to work on the Secret Penpal project with the Sunday School and pastoral care
has continued both through the
ministry of Pat Ferguson, our
Parish Nurse and through
volunteers making regular visits
to the homebound and this
Christmas we have sent out a
Christmas card and poinsettia to
these people. WHEREVER
POSSIBLE WE TRY TO MAKE
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 14

SURE THAT THOSE CELEBRATING MILESTONE BIRTHDAYS RECEIVE A LETTER FROM

THE BISHOP.
I am very grateful to all the volunteers, in both the pastoral and social side of this ministry
who make all this possible; none of this could happen without them, for the generous
donation made by the ACW
when it distributed its funds and for the support of Kevin who always adds energy and
enthusiasm to our gatherings
I can be contacted at 519-439-1721 or ajaikaran@hotmail.com
Please note my regular office hours are Thursday mornings from 9 am until 12 noon.
Fundraising Update
TRIVIA NIGHT
A sellout crowd enjoyed a fantastic night of trivia and treats at the 2nd Annual St. Aidans
Trivia Night on Thursday, Nov. 26th. Thanks to our generous sponsors, the law firm Foster,
Townsend, Graham & Associates, and
Amanda Baggaley-Lacerte and her awesome
group of volunteers, we raised $4245.66.
This is an event that puts the fun in
fundraising!
ST. AIDANS LOGO ITEMS SALE
We have just finished taking orders for
clothing items, hats, chefs aprons, mugs and
glassware which will all be sporting our
attractive St. Aidans logo. Not only will we be
looking stylish while enjoying a hot or cold
beverage, we will be taking our name out into the community. The final numbers are not
available yet for this important fundraising and outreach project.
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 15


the Bog
Jazz bySue
Smythe
After a successful
start to our 14th
season with Gina
Farrugia and Calvin
Lawrence in October,
we now turn our
attention to the
second concert for
this series.
On Friday, January
29, 2016 at 8:00
p.m. we will welcome
Rob Larose and
Friends to St. Aidan's
for an evening of "selections from the world of Latin jazz, fusion, Brazilian sambas, New
Orleans funky jazz and straight up swing". Rob has played with many groups in and
around the London area and is a well-respected percussionist who can play ANY style!
Joining Rob will be Brian Covey on woodwinds, Ron Walker on trumpet, Alfredo Caxaj on
percussion, Don DiCarlo on piano and Steve Clarke on bass. As a special treat, Rob is also
bringing along vocalist Laurraine Sigouin. You won't be able to sit still....and that should
warm you up on a cold January evening!
Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased at our outlets and the church office in January.
OR if you need a last-minute gift, tickets to our concerts make excellent choices. Our third
concert will be Barry Usher with the 5PG Band on Friday, April 29, 2016. Tickets for
either concert can be purchased before Christmas from Sue and Jim Smythe directly.
We have been so fortunate to have excellent talent grace our St. Aidan's "stage" over the
years. Because of the wonderful support we receive from our audiences, we have been able
to return approximately $20,000 for use in various projects at St. Aidan's. We are now
established as one of London's venues for good jazz entertainment and have quite a
following. If you have not had the chance to enjoy the excellent musicians who love to
perform in our space, you should put this on your New Year's Resolution List to
attend....you'll be very glad you did ...and so will we!
From our stage to yours, we wish you a Christmas season filled with warmth and love....
and music.
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 16


Canadian Bible Society ~ How You Can Help This Christmas!
Katherine Keeling
Please remember Canadian Bible Society as you receive Christmas
cards this year. If you would just tear off the stamps and put
them into the little box in the Narthex, you would be helping CBS
with the wonderful work that they do. Please mention stampsaving to your family and friends as well. Please leave lots of paper
around the stamps and I will happily do the
clipping. Thank you.
Please encourage everyone you know to save stamps for us too.
10 lbs of stamps = approximately 5 Bibles for distribution.
About the Canadian Bible Societys Used Stamp Program

Stamps collected from donations across Canada are combined to
create charity boxes and are sold to stamp collectors and vendors. The
revenue generated from the stamps allow CBS to purchase Bibles for
Canadian prison ministry.
Why Does a Parish Need a Worship Ministry Team?

Greg Smith
The name of the group may be the best explanation to the question of
the title. The life and practice of a Christian church is not the work of
one individual or of a select group of experts. It is the work of a
community gathered and led by the Spirit of God. Since worship is
the sustenance and heart of everything we do, it seems imperative that
we work at it together. Of course within worship there are individuals
raised up within the community for specific roles: clergy, readers,
intercessors, servers and accolytes, altar guild, congregants etc. But it
is as a community that we gather and nurture one another in our life in Christ.
The truth of the matter as well is that the time we spend together in worship is for most
Christians the primary formative experience in coming to an awareness of what it means to
be a Christian. It is singularly important perhaps even more so in this pluralistic and
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 17

fast-changing environment in which we Canadians exist to have a space to ask why we do

the things we do the way we do and to wonder aloud at things which seem to contradict the
values we profess. A small group of people within a worshipping community dedicated to
this task can be an indispensable support for those striving to exercise leadership in the
parish church of the 21st century. When the worship experience is the front-line of
encounter for individuals who are searching as inquirers for a place to ground their
spiritual life, or for those who are returning having once been disillusioned, or even for the
weekly faithful who may find themselves wondering if there is meaning in routine, we want
it to be the absolute best effort we can give and the clearest expression of what God has in
store for us. Remember those Greeks in the Scripture story coming to Philip and Andrew
saying: We would see Jesus. With Andrew and Philip we want to be able to accompany
them in their desire. In what we do and are as a worshipping people, will Jesus be found
and experienced?
Here at St. Aidans there is a team of 10 individuals who gather for this purpose about
quarterly over the year (and there is always room to include more). We have begun slowly
and intentionally with reviewing the key moments of opportunity for us in order to build on
what is already an important and rich worship experience. For example, we will examine
the components of the Great Three Days (the Triduum) of Easter, reviewing our experience
and asking if there are subtleties and adjustments that might enhance the meaning of this
highlight of the church year. We might look at practicalities of how decorating the worship
space affects the meaning of seasons. This Advent you will notice an increasing amount of
fresh greenery being added to the space through the weeks of the season, highlighting the
seasons expectation and hopefulness. We become a sounding board for meaningful
innovation and a critical eye to custom and routine. We strive to be a place that can
support the parish priest as the chief liturgical officer and to also be a crucible of
creativity as people who bring together a rich variety of experiences from many
communities of worship.
Finally, the intention is to plan and provide for those experiences when we gather as a large
community that will nurture spiritually individuals and small groups in their particular
ministries of day to day service in their lives, in their workplaces and as the Church in the
world. It is a task done with gratitude and joy for Gods work among Gods people.
You can talk with any one of these folks to know more: Greg Smith, Kevin George, Vicki
Andersen, Valerie Brennan, Joe Corcoran, Pat Ferguson, Lydia Keczem, Sheila Windsor,
Susan Warner, Doug Wilson-Hodge
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 18

First and foremost allow us to welcome you! As a Church, we are more

than a building used for celebration; we are a community of faith that
provides support and nurture in the Christian life. We have many
opportunities for involvement in our various Ministries. We look
forward to you joining us!
If you havent already

Please take a moment to fill out one of our New Member Info Sheets (available on the table in the narthex)
so that we can get to know you better! In addition to overviewing your membership interests at St. Aidans,
our New Member Info Sheet provides us with the necessary details to add you to our database for effective
communications. *Please place your completed sheet in an envelope in the main church mailslot
by the front entrance.*
For your convenience

Our New Member Info Sheet is also available ONLINE at: http://bit.ly/1xN6CU2
Do you have something you wish to share with the parish?

An opinion you want to write up or an inspirational story? If so, youre in luck, you can have
a spot in the upcoming newsletter.
For further details, please contact our Editor Stephen Nelles ~ snelles56@gmail.com
When you go away from home, the hydro, water and heat still work in your
house
When you are away from our church, Ministry still continues
Just as bill paying and paycheque transactions have become easier through pre-authorized withdrawal
and automatic deposit, so too is our church making it simpler for you to support our Ministries
even when you are not here!
Make it Easier to Donate: Sign Up for Preauthorized Givings Today!

Simply fill out the attached form, enclose a void cheque and leave in the main church mailslot.
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 19

Rector ~ The Revd Canon Dr. Kevin George

canonkevingeorge@staidans.net
226-377-2334
Assistant Curate/Silver Saints Director
~ The Revd Anne Jaikaran
ajaikaran@hotmail.com
Organist & Choir Master ~ David Weaver
music@staidans.net
Director of Children's
Christian and Youth Education ~ Sandy Harle
Sandyharle@rogers.com
Parish Nurse ~ Pat Ferguson, RN
staidansparishnurse@gmail.com
226-270-8862
Rectors Warden ~ Doug Wilson-Hodge
dougwilson-hodge@staidans.net
519-433-5076
Deputy Warden ~ Pam McKenzie
pam.mckenzie@uwo.ca
Peoples Warden ~ Wendy Kilgour
wendykilgour@staidans.net
December 24th 4 pm & 8 pm

with a Carol sing at 730 pm
December 25 1030 am
(Special Gift for the First 50 to arrive!!!! )
Deputy Warden ~ Jim Smythe

jimsmythe@staidans.net
519-471-0763
Weekly Services:
Holy Days Saint Celebrations
Wednesdays at 10:30 am;
Sundays at 8 am & 10:30 am
ADVENT 2015 ~ PG 20

St. Aidan's "By The Way" Newsletter: Dec 2015

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

St. Aidan's "By The Way" Newsletter: Dec 2015

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

(519) 471-1430 office@staidans.net www.staidans.net

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

Nativity of the Lord II

This Christmas we will all be aware that our country is in the

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

We should ban Muslims!

Get up, take the child and

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

God bless you all. Catherinanne and I

St. Aidans Anglican Church

Preserving ~ renewing ~ Preparing

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

1. Preservation ~ Honouring the Past ~

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

3. Preparing ~ Planning for our Future ~

Replenishing Capital Fund

Total $123 000

Youth & Childrens Ministry

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

Remember, no effort that we make to attain

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

Our Vibrant & Meaningful Community

Church Programs Our major programs at St. As are showing

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

St Aidans Refugee Resettlement Team SARRT

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

Paying back the loan...

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

Exercise for Older Persons event in the spring.

Silver Saints Ministry Update

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition

SURE THAT THOSE CELEBRATING MILESTONE BIRTHDAYS RECEIVE A LETTER FROM

ST AIDANS ANGLICAN CHURCH: BY THE WAY NEWSLETTER

1246 Oxford St W London ON N6H 1V7

Advent ~ Dec 2015 Edition