Holding On to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness

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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral, Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness, on All Saints Sunday, November 1, at 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST.
In the midst of a pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor. The event will be simulcast in English and Spanish.
In addition to Bishop Curry’s sermon, the service will include reflections from Father James Martin, a noted Roman Catholic commentator on American life and values, and Valarie Kaur, an inspiring Sikh author, filmmaker, and civil rights attorney. The gathering will be officiated by Washington’s Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith, and Reverend Stephanie Spellers, Canon to the Presiding Bishop.
Learn more and watch on Facebook here, or at the Episcopal Church website here.

Election Eve Service

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The clergy invite you to join us for Evening Prayer on Monday, November 2 at 7:00 pm. The service will include time for sharing individual reflections and prayers for the election season.

To join the Evening Prayer Service click

Meeting ID: 861 4463 0745

Passcode: 627855

To join by phone:   +1 301 715 8592

Muldoon Concert: A Musical Journey Through the Church Year

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Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Muldoon Concert Series is back — virtually! Join us on Sunday, November 8, at 4pm Eastern for a brand new online concert from organist Dr. Jason Farris. This special event will showcase works from composers including Bach, Langlais, Durufle and more, as Dr. Farris leads us on A Musical Journey Through the Liturgical Year. The video will premiere on the St. Alban’s YouTube Channel.

About Dr. Jason Farris

Jason Farris is the Director of Music at Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, VA.  He plays the organ for all worship services, conducts the Grace Church Choir, and serves as the Artistic Director of the Grace Church Concert Series. He also currently serves as the interim organist at St. Alban’s, providing music for our Sunday online services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jason was previously employed by The University of the South in Sewanee, TN. As a visiting assistant professor of music, he taught applied organ lessons to both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as undergraduate courses in music theory and a graduate-level church music course. As the Associate University Organist and Choirmaster, he directed the music programs in two campus chapels and conducted the University and Seminary Choirs. Prior to this position, he was the Assistant University Organist at the same institution. In addition to playing for campus-wide liturgies in All Saints’ Chapel and the School of Theology’s worship services in the Chapel of the Apostles, he also accompanied the University and Seminary Choirs.  In 2011, he was the organist for the University Choir’s residencies at the Anglican Cathedrals of St. Alban, Rochester, and Canterbury, and is featured on the choir’s latest recording, “O Praise God In His Holiness: A Three Cathedrals Tour.”

He was awarded the doctor of musical arts degree in organ performance at the University of Houston where he studied with Dr. Robert Bates. He earned bachelor and master of music degrees at Baylor University as a student of Dr. Joyce Jones. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and Alpha Chi academic honor societies, and was the second place winner in the graduate division of the 2003 William Hall Organ Competition (San Antonio).  On separate occasions, he was awarded scholarships to attend the British Organ Music Seminar in London, England and the French Organ Music Seminar in Paris, France. Active as a collaborative artist, he accompanies vocalists and instrumentalists at the piano, and has performed with multiple church and university choirs at the organ. Previous organ recital engagements include Christ Church (Episcopal) in Cranbrook, MI, the Philadelphia Cathedral (Episcopal), Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Nashville, TN, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, TN, and the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic) in Houston, TX.

About the Program

On November 8, Dr. Farris will lead us on A Musical Journey Through the Liturgical Year, highlighting musical selections from each season as celebrated by the church. Download a copy of the complete program here.

Watching the Concert

Join us at 4pm on November 8 as we premiere the video concert on the St. Alban’s YouTube page.

 

Novena of Prayer for an election: October 27 – November 4

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We in the Diocese of Virginia join with Episcopalians across the nation and around the work of a Novena – nine days of prayer from October 27 through November 4. This A Season of Prayer: For an Election has been organized by Forward Movement and The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations.

A novena is an ancient tradition of nine days of devotional prayers, often with a specific intention. In this time in our national life, we pray for discernment in voting and for the well-being of our nation.

As we move toward the election of leaders for the United States, may we all join in a season of prayer, committing to offer to God our fears and frustrations, our hopes and dreams.

Printable materials from Forward Movement are available in English and Spanish to download and use at home or with your congregation. These prayers, drawn from The Book of Common Prayer, can be printed out and tucked in a Bible or prayer journal.

+The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff
Suffragan Bishop and Ecclesiastical Authority

Hosts needed for our Virtual Coffee Hour!

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Has the thought of baking cookies and preparing coffee for 75 put you off being a Sunday morning Coffee Hour Host in the past?

Now, with “Virtual Coffee Hour” anyone can be a Coffee Hour Host!

Coffee Hour has long been a staple of most Episcopal faith communities.  For me, there is nothing sadder than to walk out of church and directly to my car.  No socializing, no catching up on so-and-so’s latest travel; no opportunity to meet the new family or the visitors brave enough to come to Coffee Hour (I mean, let’s face it, it does take some courage as the “new person” to willingly walk into an already established community of friends and family.)

Coffee Hour is a ministry of hospitality, a ministry of welcome, and a ministry of relationship building, and even though we’re not physically meeting for Sunday worship, we still gather together following worship for our Virtual Coffee Hour.

For the past few months, clergy and Vestry have served as Coffee Hour Hosts: starting the Zoom meeting after the 10:00 am worship video, monitoring the “Zoom waiting room” and admitting guests, and in general just being a welcoming presence.

Now we’d like to invite all of YOU to join us in this ministry of hospitality. 

Being a zoom meeting host is really not that difficult, so if you have any questions or concerns, a member of the clergy or Vestry will reach out to you and walk you through how to host a Zoom meeting and, just think – you can amaze your grandkids with your new computer skill!

You will use the church’s Zoom account, so all you need is a computer or laptop and a warm, welcoming smile!  You will receive an email with login instructions prior to your hosting date.

Coffee Hour Host is a ministry of “community building”.  It helps us keep our community together, and helps our community grow.  Please sign up to be a Coffee Hour Host at this link.

2020 Annandale CROP Hunger Walk

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The 2020 Annandale CROP Hunger Walk will be a VIRTUAL CROP Hunger Walk because of the need for social distancing to prevent spread of disease. The Annandale CROP Hunger Walk raises funds for Church World Service (CWS). Walkers collect donations to CWS from sponsors either online or by check. CWS will share part of the funds raised with ACCA. Walkers may walk at a time in October of their choosing and can choose their own routes to walk safely. A send-off for walkers will be held October 17 at 9 a.m. by Zoom call. Youth through grade 12 are invited to make posters about the CROP Hunger Walk and fighting hunger. Please submit a photo image of each poster to [email protected] by October 15. Please include the artist’s first and last name, age and church in the email. Posters will be displayed on our Annandale walk Facebook page.
While the walk will be virtual, the needs are very real. CWS works with Christian organizations around the world to sponsor programs for hunger, disaster and refugee relief, and sustainable development programs to help improve peoples’ lives. In the U.S., CWS responds to natural disasters, supports refugee resettlement and works with local poverty organizations. For information on the Annandale Walk or to donate, click here or email Camille Mittelholtz.

Chatting Fingers handmades for sale – a great way to support St. Alban’s!

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Chatting Fingers, the group that makes handmade items for sale at the bazaar, has been meeting via Zoom since April. Besides keeping up with our main mission of chatting to keep in touch, we have made more new items and have put together a catalogue in pdf file format. We have knits, fabric arts, beaded necklaces, ceramics, seasonal wreaths, cards, and even Christmas-themed face masks!  If you would like to receive a copy (updated once a week) please email Betsy Anderson at [email protected]. The catalog includes instructions for how to pay for and pick up any items you buy. If you would like to join the group Tuesdays at 10:00 am, please email Betsy to request the Zoom link.

No matter how far apart two sides are, there are effective strategies to bring people together…

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How many of us have ever prayed, ‘Lord make me an instrument of your peace,’ then found ourselves in complex and polarized situations that made peace seemingly impossible?

Make Me an Instrument of Peace is a 5-week course designed to help us bridge the divides that keep us from moving forward.

Designed by the Office of Government Relations of The Episcopal Church, and combining conversation, discussion and short videos, this course is ideal for those who want to take dialog between polarized people or parties seriously.

The first session will begin on Sunday, October 4 at 9:00am and run for about 50 minutes on Zoom. The remaining sessions will be held on October 11, 18, 25 and November 1 (all at 9:00 am). Each session will be led by St. Alban’s clergy, but will be ‘taught’ by a team of experts in civil discourse. This course includes these five sessions:

If you would like more information about the program, please contact Deacon Theresa or register below (we ask that you register so that we can send you the participant’s guide):

Diocese-wide Worship Service – Sunday, September 6, 2020

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Mark your calendars for an online worship service with the 60,000+ members of the Diocese of Virginia, and many friends, families, saints, and seekers. Your St. Alban’s Clergy encourage you to join in this historic worship service led by your bishops on Facebook and YouTube. In unity with the 180+ parishes of the diocese, this service will be held in lieu of our usual Sunday morning YouTube worship offering on September 6th. I hope you will all take advantage of this rare opportunity to be part of something much bigger than ourselves, and certainly much bigger than St. Alban’s!

Click here for more information.

Compline: Wednesdays at 8:30 pm

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thess. 5:16-18

Compline is a brief, meditative service of nighttime prayers, beloved of Christians around the world. It originated as the bedtime prayers in the monasteries,centuries ago, and appeared for the first time in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The service includes a recitation of a psalm, one reading from the Holy Gospels, canticles, and prayers for God’s protection and guidance. It’s about 15 minutes in duration, so the perfect way to prepare for bed — whatever time that happens to be for you!

You can follow along in The Book of Common Prayer (p. 127), or follow the customized liturgy PDF that will be sent by email each week.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 892 1756 5164
Passcode: 6800

Any phone: 301-715-8592 (enter Meeting ID & password when prompted.)
Cell phones: +13017158592,,89217565164#,,,,,,0#,,6800#

I hope you will join us!

Fr. Paul
Adam Hutson