St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in Malibu

Obviously there are differences between Malibu, California and Windsor, Connecticut.

St. Aidan's is physically nothing like Grace Church. In fact, the first time I came here 8 years ago to worship, I couldn't find where the chapel itself was! There are several buildings on their campus...connected by walkways and pergolas. The chapel is situated in the center of it all. This visit I noticed they had signage everywhere. Boy was I envious! We've talked so much about getting good signage at Grace. I notice it at every church I go to now. It's so important. So at St. Aidan's there is no brownstone. There is no dark wood. There are only 2 stained glass windows. It's the California Episcopalian. Very casual. Very open and airy. Different, that's all.

The Christian Ed Director and Youth Group director I was supposed to meet were both called away to a Confirmation retreat when those 2 leaders became ill, so I talked for a very long time with the Rector of St. Aidan's...Rev. Joyce Stickley. I also talked with quite a few parishioners.

One of the things I loved that they do at St. Aidan's is regarding coffee hour. Families and groups rotate throughout the year and take a Sunday. The Acolytes do one Sunday. The Ushers do another. The Smith Family does another. The Choir does another. I thought that was a fantastic idea!

Their Sunday morning service is all listed in one booklet just as ours is now, and I, indeed, did find it easier than if I had to have done the "Episcopal juggle." Also, when it came time to read the individual names during the prayers of the People...everyone in the congregation read the names together in unison. I liked that.

Their 10am service was about the same size as ours...their worship space a bit smaller. They are talking about renovations for that. Their Peace...they all come out of their pews just like we do and hug and kiss and shake hands. I, as the newcomer, felt odd, of course. But several people sought me out to share the Peace while I stood in my pew. Coffee hour was another story. It was spoken in church for newcomers to join, of course, but I would have loved to have someone come up to me and personally ask me to join them and be walked over. But I just followed the crowd and found my way. I grabbed my coffee and purposely stood dead center in the middle of the room to see if anyone would talk to me. Several people smiled and nodded at me, but it wasn't until an older woman in her late 70's or early 80's came over and welcomed me that anyone else ventured over to chat with me as well. She was kind of the catalyst.

Then I spent quite a long time chatting with Rev Stickley and we shared ideas back and forth about Christian Education and Confirmation and I told her about the NAECED conference I had just attended. She was very interested in getting her Christian Ed department involved with NAECED so I am going to be sending them some info.

The rest of my week here in Santa Monica is spiritual, but doesn't involve visiting any other churches. I'll be visiting my great-grandfather's grave in Glendale tomorrow, and I may stop into their chapel there. My great-grandfather had a very mysterious life. He disappeared in Pittsburgh when my grandmother was a little girl and the family never knew what became of him until I found him buried in California a few years back. He had run off and started a new life. It's a long story...and an interesting one! If you want to know more about it, I'd be happy to share :)