Groups & Activities

Acolyte Program

Acolytes are an important part of St. Aidan's worship at the 10:00 a.m. service. "Acolyte" is derived from Greek. It describes a devoted follower who helps with the activity of worship.

All children and youth of St. Aidan's are welcome to serve as Acolytes when they are ready for the role. For Crucifer, this is often at about 12-13 years old. A Crucifer will typically first serve a few years as a Torch Bearer. For Torch Bearer, it is hard to give a starting age, because children develop at different rates. A child must simply be strong enough to carry the Torch (stick and lit candle) and able to focus enough to perform her/his duties. This could be as early as six years old.

The Crucifer has several duties that facilitate our worship:

• Ringing a bell as a call to worship.
  
  
• Carrying the cross in processions at the beginning and end of a service.
  
  
• Leading the gospel procession if Torch Bearers are not present.
  
  
• Handing the alms basins to the Ushers, receiving them after the collection and giving the alms basins to the Priest.
  
  
• Receiving the communion elements from an Usher and transferring them to the Priest.
  
  
• Assisting the Priest at the altar as the Priest prepares to lead the Eucharist.
  
  
• Ringing the sanctus bell at three key points during the Eucharistic Prayer.

The Torch Bearers' duties are important, because the lit candles remind us that Christ is the light of the world. Their duties include:

• Lighting the candles at the altar and their torches before the service begins.
  
  
• Carrying the lit torches at the beginning and end of a service.
  
  
• Leading the gospel procession and standing to either side of the Priest as the Priest reads the gospel from the midst of the congregation.
  
  
• Snuffing out the candles after the dismissal at the end of a service.

Serving as an Acolyte is a wonderful way for children and youth to participate in the worship life of the Parish. They have the opportunity to learn about responsibility, the importance of being on time, and service to others. Perhaps most important of all, Acolytes develop a sense of both the structure and flow of an Episcopal worship service. The best way to learn about something is to be actively involved.

Training is provided periodically as a refresher for current Acolytes and an orientation for new Acolytes.

If your child or youth would like to serve as an Acolyte, please talk with the Rev. Joyce Stickney, our Rector, or call the Church Office at 310:457-7966.

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Altar Guild & Flower Ministry

Ever wonder who does all the behind scenes work, who tends the candles, who prepares the wine and wafers for the Eucharist, who changes the hymn numbers?…The women of the Altar Guild.

This unsung but rewarding work is essential for our beautiful and orderly services. The Altar Guild is a great community of women, not only working together for the benefit of their church, but with one another building bonds of friendship and faith.

The Altar Guild has recently added a Flower Ministry to its list of important responsibilities. Information and instruction is available to anyone interested in learning to arrange the flowers placed on the altar for Sunday services. One need not be “artistic” to learn and enjoy this ministry and may also participate by simply ordering and picking up the flowers for the church. Within this service lies an additional bonus...the wonderful spiritual meditation that flowers may bring.

In addition to our regular duties, the Altar Guild hosts the Maundy Thursday Agape Supper and has an annual Christmas luncheon in December with a hilarious white elephant gift exchange.

New members are always welcome!

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Choir

See also Special Services

St. Aidan’s has a strong music program guided by our Minister of Music, Sara Banta. Well-known to the community as Professor of Music at Pepperdine and Minister of Music at St. Aidan's, Ms. Banta has served at St. Aidan’s Church for fourteen years. During this time the program has grown to include special services such as Evensong, Lessons and Carols, and Holiday Concerts. On special occasions, Ms. Banta organizes and leads a bell choir and children’s choir.

The St. Aidan’s choir is sometimes augmented with student singers and/or professional musicians. As part of the ongoing musical work-study program at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church,. Ms. Banta once again has taken four choral scholars under her wing. Their beautiful work adds a very special dimension to all of our services and, apart from classroom study, gives them a little extra experience in front of a live and a very appreciative audience each Sunday at the church.

St. Aidan's Newest Choral Scholars:
Talented young singers (l to r) Keith Colclough, Rebecca Dixon, William Lowe and Steven Cornett (not shown) are voice and musical performance majors at Pepperdine University.
The Choir Group always welcomes and encourages parishioners to join its ranks, no matter what their level of musical accomplishment.

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High School Group

See Christian Education

St. Aidan's Crafters

Saint Aidan's Crafters began as a fellowship for those interested in knitting, crocheting or quilting. It has grown into an outreach program with projects including knitting scarves and hats for The Seaman's Church Institute of N.Y. and fundraising for The School on Wheels. Their newest project is The Shawl Ministry, which prayerfully creates handmade shawls for individuals in need of healing or as a gift for a birth or special occasion. Newcomers are welcome to join us and learn a craft or get patterns for our projects.

Please call the Church office to check for the meeting schedule: 310:457-7966
Additional information on The Shawl Ministry is available at: www.shawlministry.com

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SABEL

Directors Gy Waldron, Michael Preece, Paul Almond, Billy Graham, Andrew Chiaramonte

The Saint Aidan's Better Entertainment League (SABEL) came into being in 2001, with the idea of raising the consciousness of this entertainment-savvy community and gradually convincing our neighbors that plays, videos, music, cookbooks and indeed all forms of entertainment can be both spiritually uplifting and entertaining.

Scenes from the 5th International Festival of One Act Plays

SABEL'S most exciting endeavor has been the International Festival of One Act Plays, which presents original plays with a moral or spiritual theme. The first festival drew the largest attendance to that date at the local Malibu Stage Company's theatre, and it has grown ever since. In its second year, the Festival received 350 resumes from actors wishing to participate in the thirteen plays that we presented, culled from 135 entries submitted by playwrights the world over, including Australia, New Zealand, England, Canada and the US.

In our third year, over two hundred plays were submitted — but numbers are not ginning everything. We have now staged five full festivals, and believe we are beginning to make an impact upon the community – both in our fellow churches and service organizations, as well as with supporters attend no church. Our directors have all been highly qualified with vast experience in many media, and our many actors and writers work regularly in the industry in Los Angeles and New York.

We expect to publish our plays to give them access to a much wider market: Christian church groups, synagogues, mosques, high schools, colleges, and community centers – not only in the United States, but in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, all of whom need quality plays to perform on a bare stage in auditoria, church halls or school gyms.

Over the years, SABEL has had several off-shoots: a project to video-tape and explain the Episcopal service, a book on the ninth century Saint Aidan, a cookbook (which sold out) and others.

We at SABEL are open to new ideas and to adding volunteers to our vibrant base of helpers. We have no president, nor executive; we form ad hoc groups, always with the support and encouragement of the Vestry.

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Community Events & Activities

Members and guests gathered for coffee on the patio after a Sunday service

Coffee Hour
On Sunday mornings there is a coffee hour after the later service. Coffee and snacks are provided by parishioners on a rotating basis. This program is key to the fellowship and community spirit at St. Aidan’s and gives the Parish the chance to welcome visitors and new members, greet each other and exchange news.

Annual Parish Dinner
The Annual Parish Dinner is a catered affair held each fall to inspire the Parish in the area of stewardship. There is always a guest speaker and this past year we were blessed to have Bishop Jon Bruno, who gave a stimulating and informative presentation.

 

Christmas Open House/Advent Dinner
During Advent, Parishioners gather at the Rectory for our annual Christmas Open House and Carol Sing. A festive meal is enjoyed, followed by the singing of Christmas carols as we all get into the spirit of the season.

 

Hiking Group

Parishioners on a hike at nearby Escondido Falls

The St.Aidan’s Hiking Group meets on Saturday mornings to explore the local trails.

Shrove Tuesday Dinner
The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, St. Aidan’s holds its well attended annual Mardi Gras Party. Shrove Tueday is traditionally a day when pancakes are eaten, or, as is the case at St. Aidan’s, a crepes dinner is served. Many years ago, before the advent of refrigeration, in anticipation of the austere Lenten season, people made sure they used up all the food items they wouldn’t be able to use and would certainly not keep. Foods like eggs, milk, and butter…all the ingredients for pancakes were cooked up and a feast was held. After our delicious dinner, St. Aidan’s continues its “Last Blast Before the Fast!” party with a best joke and craziest hat contest. And don’t forget, whoever finds the little toy baby in the King Cake gets a special surprise!

 

SABEL Cast and Crew Party
At the conclusion of the play festival, the cast and crew of the SABEL group hold a party to thank everyone for their hard work and celebrate the conclusion of another successful presentation.

New Member Receptions
Several times a year, the Vestry and Clergy of St. Aidan’s invite new members and their families to a social gathering to welcome them to the church community. Everyone gets to know each other a little better and the Vestry has a chance to share with the new members about the ministries at St. Aidan’s.

Parish Work Parties

Parishioners rebuild the "veranda" on the church building.

Parishioners join together a few times each year to pitch in and spruce up the grounds at St. Aidans. We call it “Sweating for a Good Cause!” All join in gardening, painting, trimming and fixing whatever the campus needs. Lunch is provided and everyone always has a good time.

Poetry Readings
Recently, St. Aidan’s held two poetry-reading evenings at a member’s home. Both were extremely popular and brought in participants who are not regular church members or who have never attended the church. People read and shared poems and other talents, and the evenings were a wonderful success. We hope to continue having readings in the future.