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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.

Contact us with any questions. Call (202) 363-8286 or email the church office.

 

Service Times

SUNDAY SERVICES (after Labor Day through May)
8:00 a.m.       Holy Eucharist: Rite I (spoken)

9:00  a.m.      Holy Eucharist: Rite II

                        Children's Chapel

11:15 a.m.      Misa in Español (Little Sanctuary)

11:15 a.m.      Holy Eucharist: Rite II (Rite I during Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter)

WEEKDAY SERVICES
Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday, 9:00 a.m.  Daily Morning Prayer

Tuesday, 7:30 a.m.                                    Holy Eucharist: Rite II

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.

What to Expect

Visiting a church for the first time can be a bit daunting. So we have tried to put together the answers to some of the questions you’re likely to have and to ensure that you find a warm welcome here. Click on the questions to learn more.)

How do you worship?

What time are services on Sunday morning?

How long do services last?

Where can I park?

Do you offer programs for children?

What should I wear?

Do you have provisions for the differently-abled?

For Your Kids

Children’s Ministry

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.

I'm New
St. Alban's
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Articles

Latest News

09.17.18 | News

    What's new at St. Alban's? Read on for Vestry updates and other news from the St. Alban's community.

    PROPOSED NEW BYLAWS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT

    We’ve had to revise our parish bylaws to conform to new diocesan requirements, and in the process have corrected/improved/streamlined them, with few substantive changes. The Vestry has discussed these changes in three meetings, and now invite any interested parishioners to comment (in writing) before the congregation is asked to approve them at a Special Parish Meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 28. The proposed bylaws (annotated) can be found here, and current bylaws, for comparison, can be found here.  A Q&A page explaining the major changes is here.  The relevant new diocesan canon 47 is here, and a history of St. Alban’s bylaws is here.   

    There will be two open “listening sessions” – Thursday, September 27, 6:00-7:30 pm in Satterlee Room 301, and Sunday, September 30, 10:00-11:00 am in the Rectory Living Room.  Written comments should be sent to the Vestry or to Laura Ingersoll c/o the church office.

    SEPTEMBER VESTRY NEWS FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN

    By Laura Ingersoll

    The Vestry appointed a Nominating and Elections Committee to recruit candidates for election in January, and heard Vestry Member reports on Newcomers (Glenn Davis), Personnel (Tom Gustafson), and the upcoming Annual Appeal (Walker Carter).  The Vestry approved the proposed new bylaws’ dissemination to the parish, for comment.  We authorized expenditures from the Reserve Fund to repair crumbling flagstone walkways and the Church building air conditioner, and to complete the audiovisual upgrade in Nourse Hall.  And we received with gratitude an initial distribution of $450,000 from the estate of longtime parishioners Guinevere L. Griest and her sister C. Jeanne Griest; 20% was assigned to the Reserve Fund, and the balance to the Endowment Fund.
     
    The next regular Vestry meeting will be on October 17.

    Previous Vestry meeting summaries can be found here.

    CELEBRATION SUNDAY

    It's official! Geoffrey was formally installed as our rector on Sunday, September 16, at a glorious afternoon service. Bishop Mariann commended the Vestry's choice and affirmed the call, asking the congregation, "Are you, the people of St. Alban’s, ready to continue in your ministry, with Geoffrey as your rector?" The people responded with a loud, "We are."

    The service, which also celebrated all the ministries of St. Alban's, was followed by a festive reception. Thanks to Susan Morris, who organized the party, and to all who helped to set up, contributed food and drink, served, and cleaned up.

    THANKS BE TO JO

    Sunday, September 9, was proclaimed "Jo Turner Sunday" at St. Alban's as we thanked Jo for her three years of service (without pay) as our pastoral care coordinator. Many at St. Alban's benefited greatly from the prayers, visits and home-delivered meals Jo helped to coordinate during her time on staff. 

    The Faith Talk blog that Jo has written for several years is taking a break. After some restful discernment, Faith Talk will resume on a less frequent schedule (she thinks).

    YOUTH GROUP NEWS

    Our J2A class (9th and 10th grades) began the year by preparing and serving supper to their parents and teachers. It was a fun, enjoyable evening. This year the curriculum moves toward more decision making and responsibility. The evening involved their being given the ingredients for a vegetarian spaghetti supper and no other instruction. They set the tables, divided the tasks, said grace, served and joined in the meal and then cleaned up afterwards. The evening concluded with a brief time of reflection as to how things went, what they might have done differently and what they did well. One particularly pleasing moment was when they were asked how things might have been different if they had done this exercise with their friends? Their response: "We are friends."

    CLERGY RENEWAL

    Jim Quigley will be on sabbatical in 2019 supported by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. Jim has started a blog for reflecting on the journey he plans to take. He's learning about blogging along the way, so if you are interested in reading what he calls "my ramblings" you can find and follow him here.  

     

    WELCOME, JEREMY

    Our new director of music, Jeremy Filsell, has arrived at St. Alban's. His first Sunday was August 19. Jeremy is a composer and professor of organ at Peabody Conservatory who was previously music director at Epiphany Episcopal Church in DC. Jeremy will direct the St. Alban's Choir and the professional ensemble, which he has renamed Schola Cantorum. Learn more about Jeremy here and and contact him with any questions.

    Our new music associate, Rebecca Kellerman, will work with children and youth age 7 through 12th grade using the Royal School of Church Music's highly respected VOICE for LIFE program. All children in the area are welcome to join, so please spread the word. Register here or contact if you have questions about the choristers.

    THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS

    The July Mustard Seed offering raised $1,478.72 for the Diocesan Immigrant Relief Fund. This fund will help families with economic support and legal fees if someone in our diocesan community is detained. Thank you for your concern and generosity. If you are so inclined, the fund remains open for donations.

    2018 YOUTH MISSION TRIP 

    Seven St. Albanites spent a week in Kentucky in June, repairing homes and getting to know some of the people of Estill County. If that area sounds familiar, it's because the county is named for the Estill family; native son Bob was our Rector at one time.

    The trip was our first to that area but it won't be our last. St. Alban's has a new partnership with St. Timothy's Episcopal Outreach Center and will send another team there in 2019.

    Read more about the trip and what the participants say they learned on the Alban Life blog.  

    CONGRATULATIONS, GORDON AVERY

    Celebrating the service of a longtime St. Albanite, Seabury Resources for Aging honored our own Gordon Avery at its annual "Celebration of Service" event at the National Cathedral. Each year, Seabury recognizes the contributions of older adults for extraordinary service in their church and the broader community. Dr. Avery’s years as a vestry member, junior and senior warden, choir member, lay reader, and musician at our Washington Home Sunday services are extraordinary indeed. A neonatologist, his many years at Children’s Hospital resulted in countless healthy babies. Lunch in Satterlee Hall followed the festive service at the Cathedral. Congratulate Gordon when you see him!

    Looking for something you once found on this page? Want to take a look back at previous events or announcements? Check the news archive page.