This Week at St. Alban’s – May 11 to 17

Welcome to our News Blog! Here, you’ll find the latest news we have to share about our parish this week. If you wish to receive our weekly newsletter, “This Week at St. Alban’s,” every Friday, please email office@stalbansdc.org, and we’ll add you to our mailing list. Now, ahead with the news:

Summer Schedule Begins on Sunday, May 24: Starting on May 24 and until Labor Day Weekend, we invite you to join us for worship following our Summer schedule: 8:00 a.m. – Rite I Holy Eucharist (English) in the Church; 10:00 a.m. – Rite II Holy Eucharist (English) in the Church and Children’s Chapel in Nourse Hall.  Nursery care available from 7:45 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. on the Upper Level of Satterlee Hall, and 11:15 a.m. – La Santa Misa (Spanish) in Nourse Hall.

Ascension Day Choral Eucharist This Wednesday: Please join us for Choral Eucharist on the Eve of the Feast of the Ascension on Wednesday, May 13, at 5:30 pm, in place of our regular service of Evening Prayer. The Ascension is one of the seven principal feasts of the church year, celebrating the occasion on which the risen Christ is taken into heaven after appearing to his followers for forty days. It is the final elevation of his human nature to divine glory and the near presence of God. To honor this glorious occasion, the choir will sing anthems appropriate for the day by Henry Purcell and Healey Willan. We hope you can join us!

St. Alban’s Annual Picnic: We’re shaking things up this year! To take advantage of the cooler spring weather and celebrate together before the summer travel season begins, we’ve moved the Parish Picnic to Sunday, May 31. Join us as we celebrate the end of the Church School year and officially kick off the summer season. The church will provide beef and vegan burgers, hot dogs, drinks, and all the fixings. For the young (and young at heart), the fan-favorite moon bounce will be back in action! How you can help: We’d love your help to make this a success! Please stop by the table in the Narthex over the next few Sundays to sign up for a volunteer shift or to bring a side dish. You can also sign up by emailing Eve at ezartmanball@yahoo.com.

Formation Programs will conclude on Sunday, May 17: All formation programs will pause for a summer break starting on Sunday, May 17, and will resume after Labor Day weekend. This includes programs for children and youth, Rector’s Forums, and the Parents’ Round Table. However, we will continue to offer Children’s Chapel and nursery care during this time.

Certified Food Protection Manager Training; To most responsibly meet the needs of our expanding food ministries, we invite senior parishioners and friends to become ServSafe credentialed to ensure that the food we offer, in His name, is safe. We have partnered with UDC’s Institute of Gerontology to conduct 16 hours of classes in Nourse Hall over a two-week period that include guidelines for safely preparing, serving, and holding foods; preventing cross-contamination; and maintaining a sanitary kitchen. Completing all coursework ends with participants receiving a five-year certification, valuable whether you are cooking at home, or volunteering for the Food Bank, Christ House, Grate Patrol, or the St. Alban’s Day picnic. Because of our funding source, this first class is available to seniors only (over the age of 62) and is free. By May 11, please sign up in the Narthex before or after services, or email Melanie Davis. Please also email and indicate if you do not meet the age limitation for this class, but remain interested. The ill-effects of food poisoning often go unreported, but take as many as 3,000 U.S. lives a year. “ServSafe® is the U.S. National Restaurant Association’s leading food safety training and certification program, designed to prevent foodborne illness and ensure safe food handling in the foodservice industry.” SERVSAFE SCHEDULE: Tuesday, May 19th; Thursday, May 21st; Tuesday, May 26th; and Friday, May 29th in Nourse Hall from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  All welcome; many needed; many thanks.

Please join us on Wednesday, May 13, for prayer, a meal, and an opportunity to grow in faith and community. We begin with Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m. in the Church, followed by a catered dinner and program on the Book of Acts, led by Bertie and Sarah, starting at 6:00 p.m. Children from 3K – 5th grade gather for our “Kids’ Table” on Satterlee’s  3rd. Floor, at 6:00 p.m., led by Mark. Suggested donation for the meal: $15 per adult. Kids eat free! To plan accordingly, we would appreciate your RSVP by Monday, May 11. Register by clicking here. Any questions? Reach out to our Clergy. See you then! Note: This will be our last Wednesday at St. Alban’s for this season. We will resume our weekly night program after Labor Day weekend.

Sunday School and Youth Group Formation: Our Sunday School program utilizes Godly Play, a Montessori-based method of spiritual guidance that fosters wonder, storytelling, and exploration. Classes are open to children ages 2.5 through Grade 5 and meet on the 2nd floor of Satterlee Hall (the large building across the driveway from the Church). Our Youth Group program for Grades 6–12 also resumes this fall, offering a welcoming space for young people to grow in faith and friendship through scripture, discussion, and community. Youth meet on the Lower Level of Satterlee Hall. Sign up your child or teen today! To register for Sunday School, CLICK HERE. To register for Youth Group, CLICK HERE. Have questions? Please reach out to The Rev’d Mark James.

Parents of Young Children Round Table in the Library: Are you a parent of a child in elementary school or younger? Do you want to get to know fellow St. Alban’s parents better? Would you like some spiritual support in the midst of juggling all the things? Drop in on any Sunday during formation hour for a relaxed group gathering in the church office library. To find the library, walk through both sets of double doors on the main floor of Satterlee, and it will be the first room on the right.

Noonday Quiet Prayer in St. John’s Chapel: Join us for a short time of silent prayer every Monday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in St. John’s Chapel, located in the church sanctuary.

Join Us From Wherever You Are! Every Sunday we’ll livestream our 9:00 a.m. Rite II English Service, our Spanish Santa Misa at 11:15 a.m., and our 11:15 a.m. Rite I English Service.  If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here and turning on notifications so you can worship with us every time.

Supporting Parishioners During Turbulent Times: Are you feeling anxious, or have you been adversely affected by recent government cuts? Are you concerned for asylum seekers in our city? Are you feeling targeted or maligned because of who you are or your work? St. Alban’s can help! For parishioners in financial need, St. Alban’s parishioners have generously donated to the Rector’s discretionary fund. Don’t hesitate to contact Bertie or Sarah via email if you are facing financial hardship. If you would like to donate to the discretionary fund, please do so here, specifying in the memo: “Discretionary Fund.”

Donating to St. Alban’s is easy! If you’d like to donate today, there are four ways to do it: 

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Visit https://onrealm.org/stalbansdc/give/support
            2. Mail a check to the church office, 
            3. Scan the QR code with your smartphone,

Text your donation to St. Alban’s by simply typing the keyword STALBANSDC$, and your donation amount to 73256. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP.  Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Alban’s!