Message from the Rector

Looking Back and Stepping Forward
(Rector’s Report from the Annual Meeting)

It is difficult to try to capture the depth and breadth of life at St. Aidan’s in 2007 in writing.  A highlight for me every year is the retreat with the vestry at Mt. Calvary.  I know how difficult it is for individuals to offer a full weekend to worship, planning, and fellowship with one another, yet the time together sets a foundation of trust and Christ’s love for the work in the year ahead.  Last January we discerned some focus areas:  fixing up and caring for our physical plant, beginning our long-range planning, developing our preschool, renewing our worship and increasing participation, purchasing and implementing a new financial system, and supporting our high school ministry.  On the vestry retreat this month we will follow up on these areas as well as God’s yearning, a vision/mission, for St. Aidan’s.More >

News & Events

St. Aidan's Pre-Mardi Gras Celebration
This year on Shrove Tuesday, many will be casting their ballots, and with Parish Hall a polling station, we are holding a pre-Mardi Gras Celebration on Monday, February 4 at 6:00 pm in Parish Hall. Come join us for a madcap night of funny jokes, crazy hats and great food. Bring your children, your friends, your neighbors to the last bash before Lent.

• “Craziest Hat” and “Best Joke” Contests
• Suggested Donation $15
• Kids Free!

Shhhh! (It’s a well kept secret that the party starts early if you’d like to come help…)
Look for the attendance and volunteer sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall on Sunday and get ready to dig out those ridiculous hats!

Ash Wednesday Services
Ash Wednesday services including the imposition of ashes are on February 6th at 7:30 AM, Noon and 7:30 PM. There will also be a service for Preschool children at 10:30 AM which others (especially those with little ones) are also welcome to attend.

Lenten Series
On Wednesday evenings in Lent (Feb. 13, 20, 27, and March 5, 12) we will be having a Lenten Program on “Visits with Saints”. We begin the evening with a pot-luck supper at 6:30 pm, and conclude by 8 pm. Childcare (help with homework, game playing, and reading) is provided from 7-8 pm. Come learn about James the Greater, Henri Nouwen, and others, brought to you by a dynamic team of lecturers (Paul Elder, Chris Soper, Laura Borda, and Ed Milkovich). We hope you can join us!

Pilgrimage Information Forum
You may have read in the January Tidings about plans for a St. Aidan’s pilgrimage to the “holy lands” in November with Paul Almond and the Rev. Joyce Stickney. Please come to an informational forum on Sunday, Feb. 17th after the 10 am service in Parish Hall to hear about this life-changing venture.

Usher and Greeter Orientation
If you are an usher/greeter at St. Aidan’s or would like to become one, please plan to attend an orientation on February 10th after the 10 am service in the sanctuary with Fred Cornett. You will receive both some written guidelines and new directives and there will be opportunity for questions.

Baptism at the Easter Vigil
The sacrament of Baptism will be celebrated at the Easter Vigil on March 22. In the early church this was the only time of the year that baptisms were celebrated. Students spent all of Lent preparing for this sacrament with study, prayer, and the observance of spiritual disciplines. Finally at the late night vigil service they were submerged in the living waters and the faith community celebrated with them with feasting, thanksgiving, and a service that went on for hours… Our Easter Vigil has been condensed time-wise yet still captures the drama and meaning of this great feast of the church where the light of Christ comes into the world, the tomb is left empty, and we celebrate that Jesus lives! Folded into this news of salvation, is our proclamation of faith, and the renewal of our baptismal vows. If you or a family member may be interested in being baptized at the Easter Vigil, please contact the Rev. Joyce Stickney.

The 2007 Directory

The new St. Aidan’s Directory is now available! Please pick up a copy on Sunday in the Parish Hall. A hearty thank you to those who produced it: JoAnn McCrea for hours of data entry; Lorraine Senna for the beautiful cover design and editing; and Pete Tompkins for the much needed formatting and printing. Thank you so much for helping us be in touch with one another.

Service Opportunities

Looking for an opportunity to be of service to St. Aidan’s and the community? Here are some areas that are always in need of assistance:

AIDS Luncheons:
Prepare sandwiches or donate a casserole for the AIDS luncheon, hosted by St. Aidan’s four times a year. Dates will be announced well in advance. If you can spare a half a day, help deliver and serve the food at the AIDS luncheons at USC Hospital.
Contact: Fred Cornett

Malibu Labor Exchange:
Teach English to men and women at The Malibu Labor Exchange while they wait for employment. Half an hour a week, one hour a week, or whatever time you can spare.
Contact: Patricia Clifford

Party Planners:
Volunteers are always needed to help organize St. Aidan’s events. We need volunteers to prepare food, arrange flowers or decorate venues. Whatever time you can give is greatly appreciated.
Contact: Lorraine Senna or Patricia Clifford

Coffee Hour:
Sign up to host a coffee hour after the 10:00AM service on Sunday

Pre-School News

Dear Saint Aidan’s:

Happy Valentine’s Day! As this year marches on, the garden continues to be a place of wonder and exploration. The children and their teachers have completed a growing-frame, which is already doing its job supporting our modest crop of climbing peas. We have also planted some winter vegetables, and now that the ground squirrels have relocated, we’re optimistic for a bountiful harvest. I enjoy watching this outdoor classroom grow to be an important part of our curriculum. Organic gardening is something the children really enjoy!

The Armadillo class and Dolphin classes (our seniors) took a short roadtrip to Pepperdine to see “Flat Stanley”. It is a really fine place for the children to visit, and so close by. We are so blessed.

As promised, I have an update on the fundraiser for the School. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 31st @ 6 pm. The theme will be “South Pacific Island Explosion”, and we are blessed to have some wonderful professional entertainment in store. Please visit www.westwindproductions.com for a preview.

This event promises to be the gala of the Malibu Spring season, so you won’t want to miss it. Everyone is invited – families, friends and neighbors. There will be the show, silent auction, a fantastic dinner, and dancing the night away. All funds support your school. I hope to see you all there!

Kathy Cook, Director

Sunday School News

Greetings on behalf of the Youth & Family Ministry!

It's hard to believe 2008 is already in full swing! We have so many new and exciting things in store for this year including several family-oriented fellowship events, a spring play/pageant and a youth/family integrated worship service! Stay tuned for news and details on all of these and more as the year evolves.

Thank you to the parishioners who have volunteered to teach Sunday School on a rotating schedule! We are, however, looking for MORE TEACHERS! This is a wonderful way to minister to our youth and contribute to our church community in a powerful way. One of the best parts is that I take care of the planning, and you only need to teach a handful of times over the year. It's a minimum commitment with maximum REWARD!

Please contact me through the Church Office @ 310:457-7966 ASAP to sign up!

Peace and blessings,
Lisa Devine
Director of Youth & Family Ministry

St. Aidan’s Personals

I was recently told a simple allegory that touches on a number of spiritual concepts: faith; surrender; and the blessing of peace in this sometimes dangerous, always unpredictable world. That sounds like a lot to chew on, I know, but bear with me…

…There is a herd of gazelle on the Serengeti Plain doing what gazelle do -- grazing lazily in the late afternoon breeze framed against a brilliant Serengeti sunset. Suddenly, a leopard leaps from the brush and pounces on one of the herd, wrestling her to the ground in a cloud of dust. The herd scatters as hunter and hunted struggle, and the gazelle inevitably succumbs. She goes limp and is dragged back into the brush. Eventually, the herd reassembles and resumes grazing -- all except one. Let’s call him Oliver.

More >

Annual Outreach Report 2007

Due to a gremlin creeping into the Ricoh copier, the 2007 Annual Outreach Report was not included in the paperwork distributed at the Annual Meeting. Here it is for your perusal:

I think we can all agree that St. Aidan’s conducts remarkably vibrant outreach considering the size of our Church. It is tempting to bring more needy missions into our fold, but that would require an almost constant request for financial contributions or volunteers that might tip the balance away from the other programs that our Church provides. However, if there is a mission that our congregation thinks we should be supporting, please make this known to a vestry member.More >

 

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February 2008

Worship & Education

Come join us, building up the Spirit that reconciles, loves, guides, & empowers us in Jesus Christ.

Sunday Schedule:

8:00 AM
Holy Eucharist - Contemplative service.

10:00 AM
Holy Eucharist - Traditional & contemporary music.

10:00 AM
Sunday School - For children of all ages.
Lisa Devine, Coordinator
call (310) 457-7966

11:15 AM
Coffee Hospitality – A time of community – to connect, to talk, to share. To volunteer refreshments call (310) 457-7966 or email: office@staidanschurch.org

 

For All Who Suffer In Body & In Spirit…

Grace Jones Watson & family, Howard Morgen, Don, Basil & Dorothy Lombardo & family, Serena Hobson, Linda Riddle, Dominick Senna, John Heron, RileyDeVarennes, Kristin Ristaino, Tiffany, Jody, Morgan, Mimi, Joseph Glattly, Gretchen & Dylan Becker, Vangie Clark, Jack Roe, Allie Mei Stevenson, Don Burchett, Leo Najar, Gary Ford, Patty Henning, Randy Holland, Dale & Rindy Eichs, Robert Leach, Jon Carlos, Herman Gold, Merle Hogren, Patty Monahand & Family, Shirly Babcock, Thelma Foster, Polly & Ben Holmes, Peg, Robert Wagner, Linda Riddle, Joan Fontaine, Max Toberoff, April, Ron, Hylda, Virginia Johnson, Connie Davidson, Jamie Sheridan, Sandra, Peggy, Dave, Janet, Frank, Ruth White, Bobby Becker, Sidney P., Gracie, Cyndie Gully, Helen Russell, Betty Jones, Jim McGee, Victoria Montes, Bill McIntyre, Jody, Terry DeWolf, Judi Kaufman, Bill Musselman, Frank Ohm, Anna Russell, Ben, Helen, Matthews, & Jane Parriot

For All Who Have Died...

William Turner Levy, Steve Mansur, Emily Paul, Barbara Judy, Floyd Foster, Eunice Pickard, BJo Farley, Rex Pompelli, Vera Becker, Milo Muslin, Jr., Zonetta Sarpy, David Baker, Ian Ferns, Theo McIntyre & Susie Antles

 

Church Staff & Officers

The Reverend Joyce Stickney, Rector

Chris Soper:
Sr. Warden, Vestry

Joe Lopez:
Jr. Warden, Vestry

Joe Pickard:
Treasurer, Bookkeeper

Jim McGee:
Clerk

Annie Gomba:
Parish & School Administrator

Lisa Devine:
Sunday School

Sara Banta:
Music Minister & Organist

Kathy Cook:
Preschool Director

Barb Dijker:
Bookkeeper

Ministries

Altar Guild:
Barbara Bacon, Julie Johnson

Centering Prayer:
Paul Elder

Education, Adult:
Chris Soper

Education, Youth:
Michael Lansbury

Hospitality/PR:
Lorraine Senna

Fundraising:
Premilla Arasasingham

SAHS (High School):
Jim McGee, Ceci Najar

Lectors & Acolytes:
Fred Cornett

Long Range Planning:
Jeff Kramer, Lon Porter

Newmembers/Alumns:
Patricia Clifford

Newsletter Editor:
Mike Lansbury

Outreach:
Patricia Clifford

Planned Giving:
Mark Glattly

Physical Plant:
Joe Lopez, Don McCrea

Preschool Liaison:
Michael Lansbury, Cindy McConnell

SABEL:
Dona Bigelow

Stewardship:
Vestry

Worship:
Margaret Bowles, Rebecca Sprigg