February 16, 2024

Dear St. Aidan’s,

This Sunday, we are very pleased to welcome Bishop Philip Poole as our guest preacher for the 10:30 worship service. He is a retired area bishop of this Diocese, and prior to that served several parishes as their priest. Notably, he led the Compass Rose Society, which is devoted to supporting the work of the Anglican Communion throughout the world. Over the years, he has devoted much time and thought into encouraging individuals and congregations to deepen their commitment to God and one another through sharing their time, talent, and treasure. I hope you’ll join us this Sunday and be inspired by how God may be leading you to share some of what you have been given for the good of our church, community, and world.

With Ash Wednesday, we’ve begun our 40-day walk through Lent, a season in which we’re meant to follow in Jesus’ footsteps as he journeyed through the wilderness before beginning his time of public ministry. For those who would like to make this spiritual journey through Lent in the company of others, we are offering a few opportunities to do so. I especially encourage you to come try our Thursday evening contemplative service in the Nave beginning at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22, Feb. 29, Mar. 3, and Mar. 17. This will be a quiet service with space for prayer and reflection, augmented by acoustic and Taizé music. If you’ve been looking for a different way of incorporating prayer and contemplation into your week, this may be the service for you.

On Sunday afternoons, beginning this Sunday at 4 p.m., I’ll host a small group across the street at The Haven café. The owner, Kish, has welcomed us to have the space to ourselves after their usual closing time, so we can enjoy tea, coffee, and sweets (if you haven’t given them up for Lent) while we share time in prayer and conversation. We’ll be using selections from two small books to guide our prayers and discussion: Reimagining the Ignatian Examen by Mark Thibodeaux, SJ and Cave, Refectory, Road: Monastic Rhythms for Contemporary Living by Ian Adams. These are available for purchase online (or I can provide you with copies of the most relevant pages for each week).

Then on Wednesdays, we will offer two evening small groups via Zoom, one for high school students and one for adults. Elizabeth will lead a four-week study of Colossians for youth. And I will lead a five-week reflection group following Kate Bowler’s Lenten devotional Have a Beautiful, Terrible Lent and her recent book of blessings and reflections, Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day. Both of these books are available online (or I can provide you with copies of the most relevant pages for each week). You connect with my group on Wednesday evenings through clicking on this link. Contact me or Elizabeth for more information on these online small groups.

I hope you’ll consider not just giving up something for Lent, but also taking up some spiritual discipline, whether alongside others from St. Aidan’s or on your own. The beauty of our Anglican interpretation of Christianity is how we make a yearly pilgrimage through the story of God and God’s people as we progress through the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. I hope you’ll find ways to connect (or reconnect) more deeply with your faith over these coming weeks. Please let me know how I can be helpful to you as you do.

Grace and peace,

Becky+

 

Week of February 18 -  NOTICES AT A GLANCE – more details below

  1. Live Streaming at 10:30 a.m., Order of Service
  2. Day of Prayer and Fasting for Gaza, Israel, and Ukraine
  3. Lenten Contemplative Evening Service
  4. Interested in being confirmed?
  5. Strong Roots, New Season Update
  6.  Lenten Youth Bible Study 
  7.  2023 Donation Tax Receipts
  8.  Changes to Pre-authorized Donations (PAG)
  9.  The Vestry List
  10.  2024 Diocese of Toronto Social Justice Vestry Motion
  11.  Vestry meeting and Pre-Vestry meetings
  12.  The East End Refugee Committee
  13.  Beaches Interfaith Outreach
  14.  The wedding of Natalie Snider and Regis Iyumva
  15.  The Rev. Jeff Nowers’ Celebration of New Ministry
  16.  Euchre
  17.  Archive of sermon manuscripts
  18.  Announcements for the Notices
  19.  Offerings

 AND NOW THE DETAILS:

 1. Live Streaming at 10:30 a.m., Order of Service - The service will be livestreamed at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/91628466455

Meeting ID: 916 2846 6455
Passcode: 548507
Phone: 647-374-4685

To access the Order of Service click here:  https://mcusercontent.com/9602008078ea1b1ac17a38d52/files/bb328e67-b94a-94c9-47f5-18412cf95d54/2024_February_18_Worship_Booklet.pdf

 2. Day of Prayer and Fasting for Gaza, Israel, and Ukraine: Today, our Primate has called us to a day of fasting. Together with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada is invited to make Friday, Feb. 16 a day of intentional prayer, reflection and yes, fasting, as we consider the dire situation in Gaza, Israel and Ukraine. Prayer resources have been provided for your personal devotions, or you may want to join the prayer service with Archbishop Linda Nicholls and Lutheran Bishop Susan Johnson tomorrow, Friday night, at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live. Follow the linked text to connect on Facebook this evening.

 3. Lenten Contemplative Evening Service: On four Thursdays during the Season of Lent, we will offer a contemplative evening service of prayer and reflection, featuring acoustic and Taizé music (‘a prayerful form of music known for its simple yet rich and meditative character’). The services will take place at 7 p.m. in the Nave (main worship space) on these Thursdays: Feb. 22, Feb. 29, Mar. 7, and Mar. 21. All are welcome.

 4. Interested in being confirmed? We will have a brief confirmation information session on Sun., Feb. 25, at 9:45 a.m.in the Chapel. Bishop Kevin Robertson will visit St. Aidan’s on Apr. 28 to confirm adults and youth. Any adult who would like to prepare for confirmation or reception into the Anglican Church, or who wants to learn more about what it means to confirm your faith, contact Rev. Becky at priest@staidansinthebeach.com.

 5. Strong Roots, New Season Update: On Sunday, February 4, the parish gathered after the 10:30 service to hear an update on the Strong Roots New Season campaign including a financial status report, progress to date on our five initiatives and plans to break ground on West Garden landscaping this spring.  A written report of the update can be found at  https://www.strongrootsnewseason.com/project-updates

 6. A Lenten Youth Bible Study will take place on Wednesdays from 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Our first meeting will be Wed., Feb. 21. Please contact Elizabeth for more information.

 7. 2023 Donation Tax Receipts: Receipts for your 2023 donations to St. Aidan's are being sent out this week.  If we have your email address on file, you will receive a printable electronic version of your tax receipt.  Please add donations@staidansinthebeach.com to your contact list to avoid the email going into your Spam/Junk folder, or check that folder if you do not see it in your Inbox.  If we do not have your email address, you will receive a printed copy of your receipt in the mail.  Thank you for your financial support!

 8. Changes to Pre-Authorized Donations (PAG):  If you are an existing PAG donor and would like to increase your donation for 2024, please email Amy (donations@staidansinthebeach.com) indicating the amount or percentage by which you would like to increase your donation.

 9. The Vestry List is on the refectory table in the Narthex (church entry). This is a list of all qualified voting members of vestry (congregation). To be a member of vestry, you must (1) be a person of 16 years of age and over, (2) have been a member of and worshipper with this congregation for at least three months prior to the annual meeting of the vestry, and (3) not be a member of another parish vestry. If your name is not on the list, please contact Courtney Ebner (staidans.warden1@gmail.com).  

10. 2024 Diocese of Toronto Social Justice Vestry Motion: This year’s Social Justice Vestry Motion addresses several of the key obstacles to the realization of the human right to housing in our province. You may find the proposed motion, detailed background information, and other related resources at https://www.toronto.anglican.ca/diocesan-life/social-justice-advocacy/social-justice-vestry-motion/ We will present this motion for your consideration at our annual St. Aidan’s vestry meeting on Sun., Feb. 25. Printed copies available in the Narthex.

11. Vestry meeting and Pre-Vestry meetings: Our annual Vestry meeting will be on Sun., Feb. 25 after the 10:30 service.  Lunch and childcare will be provided.  For those interested in taking a deeper dive into the 2023 Financial Statement and the 2024 Budget, there will be pre-Vestry meetings on Sun., Feb. 18 after the 10:30 service and Tues., Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held in person in the Willow Room and via Zoom.

Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88100519471?pwd=vwYFxnkhaPDwv0olE5CfUMZ9Jml3PI.1

Meeting ID: 881 0051 9471
Passcode: 124579

The Vestry Reports can be accessed via the 3 links below:  agenda & written reports; financial statements, and budget presentation for 2024.  Please look these over carefully before the meeting.

Written reports: 
https://mcusercontent.com/9602008078ea1b1ac17a38d52/files/b8fb07da-25c0-353f-bed7-72366da04315/Vestry_Report_2024.pdf
Financial Statements: 
https://mcusercontent.com/9602008078ea1b1ac17a38d52/files/b5aff35d-9622-c7c7-5728-4728a304a0d3/St_Aidan_FS_2023_signed_.pdf
Budget for 2024:
https://mcusercontent.com/9602008078ea1b1ac17a38d52/files/bdade355-afc1-3cdb-69e3-ef5081788bc4/Draft_Budget_2024.pdf

12. The East End Refugee Committee is pleased to share that we have agreed to sponsor a Myanmar family of five, currently residing in India. Our family coordinator, in conversation with them, reports that they are looking forward to coming to Canada and could arrive within the next month or so. To learn more, contact Sue Stuart.

13. Beach Interfaith Outreach: Locations and dates are listed in the Beach Metro News. Tues., Feb. 27, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. is the next lunch here. As part of St. Aidan’s involvement in the Beach Interfaith Outreach Committee, we support the Grace Pascoe Care Centre. Your weekly donations (to the basket by the church office) are gratefully received.

14. The Snider Family invites you to join us for the wedding of Natalie Snider and Regis Iyumva on Sat., Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. here at St. Aidan’s.

15. The Rev. Jeff Nowers’ Celebration of New Ministry will be on Sun., Mar. 3, at 4 p.m. at Christ the King, Etobicoke.

16. Euchre: Join us on Tuesday nights from 7-9 p.m. for a fun and friendly evening of progressive Euchre downstairs in the main hall. Beginners welcome. $5.00 to play. All proceeds go to our community outreach.

17. An archive of sermon manuscripts by Rev. Becky, along with sermons and weekly reflections by Deacon Michael, can be found on our website: https://staidansinthebeach.com/services/pages/sermons-and-reflections

18. Announcements for the Notices: Please submit announcements for the weekly notices to office@staidansinthebeach.com by Wednesdays at 4 p.m. Notices may be edited for clarity and conciseness.

 19. Offerings - Thank you for your support. There are a variety of ways to make your donation:

 PAG – set up monthly pre-authorized debits from your bank account directly to St. Aidan’s by completing the authorization form found on the Giving page of our website https://www.staidansinthebeach.com/giving