Father Jeff

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The Rev. Jeff Shankles came to St. Alban’s in 2005 as assistant rector, and eventually became rector in 2013. He and his wife, Kate, have two adult children, Audrey and William.

Help earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria

The devastating news of a major earthquake in Turkey and northern Syria is heart wrenching.  News of rescues and recovery leave one wondering what we can do in the midst of such tragedy.

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is a four-star rated charity and a reliable way to get funds to those most in urgent need.  This link will take you to Episcopal Relief and Development’s earthquake support page where you can help provide critical relief to communities in Turkey and Syria impacted by the earthquake.

We can offer prayers for those who lost their lives and pray for the grieving families and loved ones.  We can pray for those who lost homes and have inadequate shelter in the face of winter’s cold winds.  But we can also provide financial assistance – a concrete offering to help those who are suffering.

God, our times are in your hand. In the midst of uncertainty lead us by your never-failing grace as we seek to be agents of healing and hope. Walk with us through difficult times; watch over us in danger; and give to us a spirit of love and compassion for those who suffer and mourn. And finally remind us that you have promised never to leave us so that even in the valley of the shadow of death your love may be felt, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

– The Rev. Lyndon Harris, from the Episcopal Diocese of New York disaster preparedness plan

Watch Party for Sacred Ground Fall Kickoff Webinar

Sacred Ground Fall Kickoff with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

On September 15, 2022, Presiding Bishop Curry will hold a webinar session with the Church to share his vision for racial reckoning and justice ministry for the next two years. We will be holding a watch party  at St. Alban’s for anyone who would like to join us for this special webinar!

Following our time with Bishop Curry, we will:

1) learn from leaders skilled at welcoming new (and perhaps skeptical) people into race conversations; and

2) explore strategies for transitioning into action and community engagement (including organizing groups for the new Sessions 10 and 11!)

Who: Fellow Sacred Ground facilitators, participants, and all Episcopalians interested in learning more about this dialogue series.

What: Bishop Curry will share his vision for racial reckoning and justice ministry over the next two years and how to engage using the Sacred Ground curriculum.

Where: St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Room 11.

Snacks and drinks will be provided at the St. Alban’s Watch Party.

When: Thursday, September 15th, at 1:30pm or you can watch it at home by registering for this special event via zoom. The webinar will be from 1:30pm to 3pm (EST). To register to watch it at home, please use this link.

School supply collection

Rising costs and the end of pandemic stimulus checks have stretched the resources of many families in our area to the limit. There are less than 20 days until the new school year begins in Fairfax County, and local agencies are seeing a daily increase in the requests for help for school supplies.
FACETS (Fairfax Area Christian Emergency & Transitional Services) is collecting backpacks and school supplies through August 9th with a goal of providing 400 backpacks across Fairfax County.  A list of needed school supplies can be downloaded here.

You can leave your donation this Sunday (8/7) in the “School supply” bin in the narthex, or deliver them to FACETS by August 9th at

10700 Page Avenue
Building B
Fairfax VA  22030

Mason District has some of the neediest areas in Fairfax County – AnnandaleToday.com

According to an online article at annandaletoday.com, “the 2022 Needs Assessment recently published by Fairfax County confirms that some of the neediest areas are in Bailey’s Crossroads and Annandale.”

The 2022 Needs Assessment report is a bit cumbersome to read, however, the article from AnnandaleToday.com shines a light on the poverty, need, and disadvantage in our own backyard.

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.

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