God Has a Dream and We Are the Realization of That Dream

We are excited to offer an exploratory journey on the road of awakening our sense of calling as God’s people in our community.  Explore the possibilities offered by Verna Dozier through her adept storytelling and study in her empowering book, “The Dream of God.”  Verna Dozier was a Washington, DC laywoman who through her books and lectures speaks with love and excitement about “The Dream of God” and what role we have in keeping that dream alive and meaningful.  She is known all over the country and throughout the world for her incisive work with lay groups in the church to strengthen their sense of “calling.”  In this particular book, Verna Dozier takes a fresh and challenging look at the people of God, their church and our collective journey in asking questions and seeking answers through our faith.

Each week we will read individually, then gather for a group discussion about one of the five chapters of “The Dream of God: A Call to Return” starting the week of July 10.  We will examine together the possibilities she opens to our hearts and minds.  St. Alban’s will provide copies of the book to anyone interested in taking this collective journey.  Depending on interest, St. Albans’ will host Zoom meetings on Wednesday evenings at 7 pm and/or Sunday afternoons at 2 pm.  To express interest in participating, to indicate your preference for meeting day, or for more information, please contact Moira Skinner or the church office.

Slate of Nominees for XIV Bishop of Virginia Announced

Diocese of VirginiaThe Standing Committee of the Diocese of Virginia presents the following slate of nominees for the 14th Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia (in alphabetical order by last name):

  • The Rev. Joseph Hensley Rector, St. George’s, Fredericksburg, VA
  • The Rev. Canon Alan James, Interim Canon Missioner, Diocese of Western Michigan
  • The Very Rev. Gideon Pollach, Rector, St. John’s Church, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
  • The Rev. Canon Mark Stevenson, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry within The Episcopal Church

You may find additional information about each nominee at  www.virginiabishopsearch.org.

The Petition Period is now open and will close at midnight on Friday, April 8. The instructions and forms are all available at www.virginiabishopsearch.org. The Standing Committee will announce to the Diocese, after completing a rigorous evaluation process, any qualified petition nominees. 

A Special Convention, called by Bishop Goff, will be held on Saturday, June 4 th  at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria VA. Convention attendance is limited to voting delegates. The event will be live-streamed. 

The Transition Committee will hold Meet and Greet sessions around the Diocese May 20-24. Some, if not all, of these Meet and Greets will be live-streamed. The Standing Committee strongly encourages members of the Diocese to submit questions to the Transition Committee at  [email protected]  using the subject line “Meet and Greet Questions”. These questions will aid in the development of these sessions.

Caroline Robinson in Concert on April 3

Dr. Caroline RobinsonDr. Caroline Robinson, concert organist, will present a full length solo recital on the fabulous mechanical action organ (John Leek, Op. 1) at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Annandale on Sunday, April 3 at 4pm. Her program will feature music by composers like J. S. Bach and Dietrich Buxtehude, as well as dance music old and new.

Dr. Robinson serves as the Associate Choirmaster and Organist at St. Philip’s Episcopal Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the laureate of a number of important organ competitions, including the AGO National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance in 2018. She holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Eastman School of Music, and studied as a Fulbright Scholar in Toulouse, France.

Dr. Robinson is widely recognized as one of the great performers of her generation – you don’t want to miss this! A festive reception will follow. For more information, contact Adam Detzner, St. Alban’s Minister of Music and Organist, at [email protected].

1st Annual Bach Birthday Marathon

Join us on Sunday, March 13 for the inaugural Bach Birthday Marathon at 4pm.

Five talented, local Episcopal Church musicians will perform twenty minutes of Bach apiece. This year’s performers are:

  • Jinsun Cho (Epiphany, DC)
  • Adam Detzner (St. Alban’s, Annandale)
  • Karl Robson (St. John’s Norwood, Chevy Chase)
  • Samantha Scheff (Grace, Alexandria)
  • Julie Huang Tucker (The Falls Church Episcopal)

A reception will follow around 6:00 pm with German food and beer. Come when you can – leave when you must!

This event is part of the 2021-2022 Muldoon Memorial Concert Series.

Find Peace in a Chaotic Time

During Lent, we are encouraged to come away from our routine, to make space for quiet reflection and for prayer.

We are making a quiet space at St. Alban’s for you to step away for a time. On March 5th at 8:30am, join us and experience a quiet morning.

This time is intended to be a mini-retreat. It will be a morning of space, a morning of peace. You can come for the whole time (until 1pm) or just for part of it. You can bring something to read or use for reflection, or you can just come sit and pray. You may choose to walk a labyrinth or use art or poetry to support your reflection.

Some time will be spent together to pray or hear a Lenten reflection, but most of our time will be spent in silence. Our morning will end with Eucharist and a light lunch.

 

Want to be an Acolyte?  Now is Your Chance!

Are you looking for a way to serve your church community in worship?  Are you a high school student that is looking to earn volunteer credits or gain leadership skills for college?  Are you an adult that never had the chance to serve as an acolyte?  Now is your chance.

We are looking for new faces to join our Acolyte Corps to serve during the Sunday morning services and special liturgical services throughout the year.  Those serving will be eligible to represent St. Alban’s at the National Acolyte Festival at the Washington National Cathedral in October 2022.

Can’t commit to a weekly rotation?  We are also looking for adults that have open availability to serve as an acolyte for funerals or serve on “as needed” basis.

Formal acolyte training will be held in February.  More information on dates and times coming soon.

Contact Verger Adam for more details.

A Christmas message to St. Alban’s, Annandale from St. Alban’s Cathedral

Warm Christmas Greetings from St Albans Cathedral

As one of our Associated Parishes, it is very good to greet you at this, my first Christmas as Dean.

From the community of St Albans Cathedral we wish you all the joy, hope, peace and love of Emmanuel – God with us.

In this most challenging time across the globe, we can be in no doubt of our common humanity, all made in the image of God, and our need this Christmas and always to bring the light of Christ to the communities, villages, towns, cities and nations we are called to serve.

Be assured of our daily prayers here in St Albans for you all,  and may our partnership in ministry give glory to God and strengthen our shared mission as God’s Church.

With best wishes this Christmas,

Dean Jo

The Very Rev’d Jo Kelly-Moore

Dean of St Albans

01727 890202

St Albans Cathedral | Sumpter Yard, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 1BY
Shrine to Britain’s First Saint, Alban

A Service of Advent Lessons & Carols

Sunday, December 12, 2021

4:00 pm

Advent Lessons and Carols is a service of scripture and song that dates to the late 19th century.  As the opening Bidding Prayer reminds us, through readings and music, we “prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, to see the Babe lying in a manger.”

Join us for this cherished Anglican tradition at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.