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 St. Alban’s “The Newsletter” every Friday, please sign up here, and we’ll add you to our mailing list. Now, ahead with the news:
Join us on Wednesday nights, beginning again on September 16 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 led by Bertie and Sarah, starting at 6 p.m. Children from 3K – 5th grade gather for Kids’ Table on Satterlee’s upper level, at 6 p.m. Suggested donation for the meal: $15 per adult. Kids eat free! To plan accordingly, we would appreciate your RSVP by the Monday before, in this case Monday September 14. Register using this link. Any questions? Reach out to our Clergy at clergy@stalbansdc.org.
St. Alban’s Food Pantry. We’re open every Thursday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Whether you can serve once a week, once a month, or just once this summer, there’s a place for every St. Albanite between the ages of 5 and 105. Volunteer roles range from set-up and clean-up (a bit of heavy lifting) to welcoming shoppers and helping them navigate our tables (no lifting required). The only qualification? A heart open to serving others in the name of Christ. We laid out all the details—including the inspiration behind this ministry— in this article. To put yourself down for a shift between July and the end of August, just SIGN UP HERE, pick your shifts, and show up. We’ll cover everything you need to know during each orientation. Come and feed Him through feeding His people.
Feminist Bible Study: The Book of Ruth / Tuesdays, 12 -1 p.m. via Zoom starting, September 22. Holy Scripture is a limitless source of riches that teaches us authoritatively about God, ourselves, and the reality of the world we live in. Is it possible to hold such a belief while also reading through the Bible through the lens of the feminist principles of equality, mutuality, and intersectionality? We will explore these questions and more in this Bible study, beginning with the Book of Ruth. Written around 3,000 years ago in a time far different from our own and composed of four short chapters, the Book of Ruth’s themes are strikingly relevant to our own time: refugees, foreigners, widows, poverty, marriage, and identity. For more information and the zoom link, contact the Rev’d. Sarah Taylor Miller: sarahtm@stalbansdc.org.
Children and Youth Formation Programs Registration Open. Yearly registration helps us plan and keep everyone safe — and it’s simpler this year: families with multiple children submit just one form. Registration info is also moving into our Realm database for easier renewal next year. Deadline: Sunday, September 13. Questions? Contact Rev’d. Mark Randall James, Assistant Rector for Children, Youth & Families, at markj@stalbansdc.org. To register you children, click here.
It’s time to sign up for a new Foyers year! Foyers is a wonderful way to strengthen our parish community, make new connections, and have fun along the way. Foyer groups gather for a meal once a month, giving parishioners the opportunity to get to know one another beyond Sunday Coffee Hour. All Foyers Dinner — Friday, September 18, at 6:30 p.m. Join us in Satterlee Hall for one of the most fun gatherings of the year! Members of last year’s Foyers groups have received invitations and potluck assignments. If you weren’t part of a Foyer group last year but would like to learn more—or simply enjoy a fun evening with fellow parishioners—come as our guest! RSVP to Marcy Fisher: fisher.marcy@gmail.com, or just come. We’d love to see you even without an RSVP. Ready to join Foyers? Fill out the form by September 28. Soon afterward, a member of your new Foyer group will contact you with the date and location of your first dinner. Questions? Contact Brian Burson: b2burson@yahoo.com or Marcy Fisher: fisher.marcy@gmail.com
If you are concerned about or caring for a loved one with dementia or any other condition which may cause cognitive impairment, we hope you will consider joining us in a newly forming support group. We envision a group for deep sharing and deep listening and group prayer, rather than advice giving, and offering how-to tips and resources. We will meet initially in person and then transition to Zoom after determining the best time for everyone. For a conversation about this, call Sally Craig at 202-494-7953, or if you are interested, email Sally at sallybcraig@mac.com.
Join the St. Alban’s community as we celebrate the life and work of St. Alban’s and take part in our season of giving. There will be cocktails and light fare with infant and childcare available. More details and RSVP info to come but make sure to save the date!
Pastoral Care & Hospital Visits. Life can bring unexpected challenges — illness, hospitalization, or simply a moment when you need someone to walk alongside you. Our clergy want to be there for you. If you or a loved one is in the hospital, recovering at home, or going through a difficult season, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We consider it a privilege to pray with you, sit with you, and support you in whatever you are facing. Please contact our clergy at clergy@stalbansdc.org or call the church office at 202-363-8286, option 8. If you know of a parishioner who is ill or hospitalized, please help us reach them — sometimes people in need hesitate to ask, and we never want anyone to feel forgotten.
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 p.m. in St. John’s Chapel, located in the church sanctuary.
Join Us From Wherever You Are! This Summer, we are live streaming our 10 a.m. Rite II English Service, and our 11:15 a.m. Spanish Service. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here and activating notifications.
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:
- Visit https://onrealm.org/stalbansdc/give/support
- Mail a check to the church office,
- 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!
We pray especially for April Baez-Stein, Linda Chandler, Cameron Cunningham, Matthew Farr, Becky Hall, Susan Hall, Joseph Kaz, Starr Kopper, Lena Mandell, Carlotta Miles, Ivan Romero, Jan Versmissen and Marty Welch all those affected by federal budget cuts, and those seeking asylum.
We pray for the peace and unity of our nation and peace in Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, and Haiti.
We pray especially for the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and the Church of the Holy Communion in Congress Heights.
We pray for all who have died, especially Frederick Denny Clements, Molly Rolandi, Gwendolyn Turner and Gary Whitener. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.