‘A place for Spiritual Learning and living’

We are an Affirming church

Core Values: Hospitality, Spiritual Growth, Inclusiveness, Reaching Out

Our Mission: Life-changing ministry through Jesus Christ

Reaching Out

St. Aidan’s United Church, Victoria, B.C.

c.

This page –

Season of Joy

Inside

Social

Action –

Writing,

Walking

Joyful

Expectation

s – a poem

We unite!

Looking

forward

Happenings

at St.

Aidan’s

Small

Groups

‘We Shall

Overcome’

Last page –

Thrift Shop

Winter

2019

Final Edition

Anticipating Christmas -

Celebrate the joy, tell the story!

BIRTH !

CARING &

self - SACRIFICE

GENEROSITY,

AWE!

DEVOTION

LOVE

Social Action

WALK WITH US! Coldest Night of the Year

Join the ‘Holy Walkamolies’ in walking for Our Place.

Mark the date and watch the bulletins for more information.

Sat. February 22, 2020

Write for Rights at St. Aidan's by Maureen Koch

Sunday, December 8th, 10-12:30am Put pen to paper and join in on the biggest human rights event in the world. Every year, millions of people around the world get together in December to write letters. They write these letters to government officials in support of others who are being denied their human rights, being wrongfully detained, ill treated and tortured. The sheer volume of letters can persuade leaders to release and protect them. Your letters show them that the world is watching. This year's campaign will focus on 10 young people under the age of 25. Please join in before and after the service on Sunday, December 8th. Write one letter or write ten. (We can give you hints on what to say and we have all the writing materials). It can be your Xmas present to the world. This event is open to the wider community too.

Latest style in toques!

Joyful Expectations by Val Bauld

A walk in winter When the sky is bright and blue. Feeling the crispness in the air And a friend accompanying you. Waiting at the airport For friends or family to arrive. You greet them with excitement Then homeward bound, you drive. Sharing food with others Whether dining in or out. The joy of conversation for There is much to talk about! With oh, so many blessings It is the time of year to care About those whose days are weary For we have so much to share.

All are Welcome to celebrate

Christmas!

St. Aidan’s CadboroBay/

Gordon Head

UNITED!

On Sunday Nov. 24, St. Aidan’s and Cadboro

Bay/Gordon Head United Churches each voted by

strong majorities to unite our congregations.

An exciting journey lies ahead for us all!

What next? A strong vision!

Imagine these –

Small groups – new ways to connect

A new name -

Remodeling/restructuring plans

Expanded Thrift Shop

Innovation

1+1+1=Better

* Inconvenience? - But--

..some of the best

things in life start

out with

‘inconvenience’!

Happenings at St. Aidan’s in Nov.

Just a few of

the 100’s of

Marilyn’s

VOLUNTEERS

Fourth Friday

pot-luck supper

NATIVITY SCENES FROM

AROUND THE WORLD

BAZAAR 2019

Thanks to

Mary K!

The “Cheeses

& Cheryl Show”

– catch them

Sundays, about

10 a.m.

Small Group Ministry Update

As we continue along the path towards amalgamation, we are excited that

we will be launching our small group ministry in early 2020.Being part of

the creation of something ‘new’ comes with a whole host of emotions,

opportunities and challenges. It has been fascinating to begin to imagine

how we will build the small group ministry starting with the vision of being

in relationship, creating and deepening spirit filled connections (with the

sacred and each other) and making a difference in the world in which we

live.

It was indeed a treat for me to meet with small group leaders in the lower

mainland in November. They were gracious in sharing their learnings

garnered through years of building and honing the small group experience.

As I listened (and asked a lot of questions!) all the while I was thinking,

“And what might this look like, for two progressive Christian communities

on the verge of becoming one?”

To this end, we are just in the finishing stages of developing and testing a

Small Group Inventory, which will be released to the congregations before

Christmas is upon us. (Thanks to Brian Shields for guiding us through the

myriad of permutations and combinations on this front!) This Inventory is

a critical piece which will aid the initial sorting of folks who express the

desire to be placed into a Small Group.

I am thrilled to be embarking on this path with Val Bauld (St. Aidan’s) and

Adele Heise (CBUC)—both are endowed with spiritual wisdom, enthusiasm

and a keen desire to be part of ‘Finding Our Way’ together.

Stay tuned for the Inventory!

Blessings,

Margaret Harper, Val Bauld & Adele Heise

We Shall Overcome by Maureen Koch

Recently, we sang the old gospel song We Shall Overcome in church. I needed windshield wipers for my eyes. I wonder about the power of that song of civil rights and protest, how it brings together longing and hope. And, a weird kind of happiness. This summer, Doug and I attended a vigil at the Legislature to light candles for the children held in detention in the USA. It was advertised on FB by someone named Sarah. We approached the meeting place with some hesitation. Would we find a huge crowd? Would we know anyone? Would it be long? In fact, about 50 people had gathered. Sarah, was there handing out candles. She had, in tow, a lively boy, sporting two missing front teeth. Sarah called us to attention and asked if anyone wanted to say anything. Everyone, including the two politicians attending, looked busily at their phones. No one had any prepared statements, so we lit our candles, shielding them from the harbour breeze. And, that was it. It felt so sad, so dreary and small. There was nothing we could do to change a situation in another country, in another political mentality. The awfulness of the moment could cause shortness of breath. People started edging away from the assembly. It all felt unfinished, like dinner without dessert, like a prayer without the Amen. Suddenly, from a back row, a joyous risk taker, with a confident soprano voice, began to sing We Shall Overcome. As if we were a choir in disguise, a flash mob that forgot to rehearse, everyone joined in. The singing woman called out each new line and the song went on and on. We were singing lustily, without self-consciousness. We were standing much closer together. And, when it was finished, people started to come forward to speak. It was kind of a miracle. We heard words of inspiration and encouragement - “write to the newspaper”; some words of information- - “check out this website”. The little boy without teeth yelled “Free the kids!”

All of a sudden, we felt good. Maybe this is what grace looks like. Maybe it’s just a simple song that makes strangers stand closer. Maybe it is the flickering of divine optimism that gives people a voice.. That beautiful song tells us we will have to settle for hope. I’m sure it lives on the same street as Joy.

CONTACT US

St. Aidan’s UnitedChurch

3703St.Aidan’s St.

Victoria,BC V8P 2V7 250 477-2089 office@staidansunited.com www.staidansunited.com Facebook–staidan

www.staidansunited.com

Ministers

Rev. Cheryl Black

Lead minister

Rev. Betty Anne Dempsey

Pastoral Care

NEWSLETTER CO-EDITORS

Sylvia Campbell

Janis Evans

PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION

Kathryn Clinton

St. Aidan’s office

This is the last edition of Reaching Out. We would like to thank St.

Aidan’s people for their continued support of this publication by

contributing articles, pictures and information. We’ve appreciated

your comments and encouragement!

Sylvia & Janis

Thrift Shop Abundance –

More laughter

More friendly faces

More heart-warming moments (see above)

More remembering Mom’s values - making do,

wearing it out, using it up

More satisfaction in a day’s work well done!

Join the volunteers at the Thrift Shop!

NOVEMBER AT

ST. AIDAN’S