Holy Week Services

Welcome

Welcome to St. Alban’s Church! Every Sunday, and most days in between, people gather in this place to worship, to learn, to grow, to share the joys and struggles of our lives, and to seek God’s grace in the midst of our lives. We do not come because we have it all figured out, but because we are seeking light on the way. We come as we are and welcome one another.

On this website, you can find information about our worship, our classes for people of all ages, membership at St. Alban's, and about how we seek to make a difference in this world. We warmly encourage you to join us for a Sunday service or for some of the many other events that happen here. You belong at St. Alban’s.

Please fill out this welcome form to connect with us.

Directions

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church is located next to the Washington National Cathedral at the corner of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues in the northwest section of the District of Columbia.

From either direction on the north loop of the Capital Beltway/I-495 follow signs for Route 355/Wisconsin Ave south toward DC. St. Alban’s is located on the left just before the intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues NW. Make a left onto Lych Gate Rd before you reach Massachusetts Ave. As you enter the drive, the church will be on your left and Satterlee Hall and the Rectory on the right. Stay on Lych Gate until it becomes Pilgrim Rd.

From any Virginia main in-bound thoroughfare (George Washington Memorial Parkway, I-395, Route 50, I-66), follow signs to Rosslyn and take the Key Bridge from Rosslyn north across the Potomac River into Georgetown. Go right on M St, left on Wisconsin Ave. St. Alban’s is located on the right just after the intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues NW. Make a right onto Lych Gate Rd after passing Massachusetts. As you enter the drive, the church will be on your left and Satterlee Hall and the Rectory on the right. Stay on Lych Gate until it becomes Pilgrim Rd.

Parking is available on Pilgrim Road Monday-Friday after 3:30 pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. Parking is also available in the Cathedral’s underground garage for a fee Monday- Saturday and for free on Sunday. You may also park on neighborhood streets according to DC parking signs.

For Your Kids

At St. Alban’s Parish the formation of our children is a high priority. While we know that a significant amount of a child’s faith comes from the home, we aim to provide excellent children’s formation throughout the year to complement the formation that is ongoing in a child’s life. Our goal is to help children easily point to the love of God in their lives.

Worship: Children’s Chapel meets at the start of the 9:00 a.m. service in Nourse Hall. Children join the congregation in "big church" at the Peace, in time for Eucharist.

Education: All church school classes resume the Sunday after Labor Day with our annual Open House. Instruction starts the following Sunday.

Nursery care: Child care is available from 9:00 to 11:05 a.m. during the program year (September to May) for infants and children under 3 who aren’t quite ready for our 2s & 3s class.

Learn more about Children's Ministries

Youth Ministry

Four teen groups participate in formation classes at St. Alban’s on Sunday mornings. We use the nationally recognized Episcopal curriculum “Journey to Adulthood," or J2A. J2A has two guiding principles: 1) Manhood and womanhood are gifts of God; and 2) Adulthood must be earned. This is a strong program with over 50 youth participating, many of whom engage in a wide variety of ministries at St. Alban’s. Two or three adults mentor each of the groups for two years, sharing their own faith journeys and forming strong bonds of fellowship with the participants.

Worship: St. Alban’s Teen Service Fellowship starts at 9:00 a.m. and is a separate service just for our teens held in the Little Sanctuary at St. Albans School. This interactive service offers teens time to talk about life, the Gospel, and to celebrate Eucharist together. The teens return to "big church," before heading to their classes at the conclusion of the 9:00 a.m. worship service. Friends are always welcome.

Learn more about Youth Ministries

The Episcopal Church

As Episcopalians, we follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe God is active in our everyday lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and with each other in Christ. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the gospel, and promotes justice, peace and love. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all of its members.

We uphold the Bible and worship with the Book of Common Prayer. We believe the Holy Scriptures are the revealed Word of God. In worship we unite ourselves with one another to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer and praise, and to celebrate the Sacraments. The Celebration of Holy Eucharist is the central act of worship in accordance with Jesus' command to His disciples. Holy Communion may be received by all baptized Christians, not only members of the Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion with 70 million members in 165 countries. The word "Episcopal" refers to government by bishops. The historic episcopate continues the work of the first apostles in the Church, guarding the faith, unity and discipline of the Church. Both men and women, including those who are married, are eligible for ordination as deacons, priests and bishops.

We strive to love our neighbors as ourselves and respect the dignity of every person. We welcome all to find a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church.

Holy Week Services

04.08.20 | Worship

Join us each day for a virtual service this Holy Week

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we are providing worship services online.

Easter Sunday

A Festive Eucharist-like service beginning with the Easter Acclamation, including some hymns and other glorious music. The bulletin is available here.

Eucaristía de Pascua

Easter Vigil

A service of four Scripture readings, each followed by a meditation, music and prayer, ending with the renewal of our baptismal vows. The bulletin is available here.

All Holy Week services, beginning with Palm Sunday, are available on our YouTube channel.

There are two easy ways to give to St. Alban’s during these uncertain times. The first is to simply mail your contribution check to the church’s street address: 3001 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016. Although the church is closed, mail is still being received somewhat sporadically. The second way to donate is by credit card. Simply go here. You’ll be taken to a secure and confidential page where you can make your donation. You’ll need to enroll your name, address and credit card information. The whole process should take no more than two minutes.

Whatever motivates you to give to St. Alban’s Church, please know that every contribution and every pledge payment made while the church is closed (as well as when it reopens) is genuinely and deeply appreciated.

Good Friday

This service essentially follows the liturgy as given in the Book of Common Prayer, with the Passion Gospel according to John separated into four parts. Each section contains a meditation, music, and prayers for people everywhere according to their needs. The bulletin for the service is here.

Viernes Santo

Para el servicio en español de Viernes Santo este año, "caminaremos" virtualmente el Via Crucis (conocido también como las Estaciones de la Cruz) usando imágenes de la artista Margaret Adams Parker y las oraciones que aparecen en el Libro de Servicios Ocasionales de nuestra iglesia. En el Via Crucis caminamos con Jesús desde su condena ante Pilato, pasando por su muerte y entierro. En contemplación de su sufrimiento y el luto por los seres queridos, encontramos caminos para nombrar Su presencia con nosotros en nuestro propio dolor y pérdida, mientras aprendemos lo que significa seguir a Jesús a través de la muerte hacia la nueva vida.

Maundy Thursday

Our Maundy Thursday service is a modified liturgy of the Word with prayers and music. Meditations are offered after each of four Scripture readings reflecting on Passover, Communion, Foot Washing and the Garden of Gethsemane. Click here for the order of worship.