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.

Statement from our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Michael Curry

Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, The Most Rev. Michael Curry
Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, The Most Rev. Michael Curry

Today is January the 6th, 2021. It is the Feast of the Epiphany. And on this particular day at this particular moment, even as our nation’s capital is being endangered and assaulted, we pray that the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that God, in his Way of Love, might prevail in all of our hearts.

The events at our Capitol today are deeply disturbing. We believe the actions of armed protesters represent a coup attempt. We are a democracy, with long-standing institutional norms that must be honored, foremost among them, following the processes laid out in the Constitution and Federal statute to facilitate the peaceful and orderly transition of power.
Today’s protesters pushed through police barricades and forced their way into Congressional chambers, and the Capitol building are now threatened, and threatening the safety of lawmakers, their staff, and others who work in the Capitol complex. This threatens the integrity of our democracy. The national security of our nation, the continuity of government, and the lives and safety of our legislators, their staffs, law enforcement, and all who work in the Capitol.
I therefore ask you now to join me in prayer for our nation, praying first from the prayers that accompany Morning Prayer:
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
Govern and uphold us now and always.
Day by day we bless you;
We praise your name forever.
Lord, keep us from sin today;
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy;
For we put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope;
And we shall never hope in vain.
– Morning Prayer II, Book of Common Prayer, p. 98
Let us pray:
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered together under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one God and Creator of us all; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever.
– For Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815
Oh God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your son. Look now with compassion on the entire human family; and particularly this part of the family, in the United States, and those in our nation’s capital; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
– For the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815
On this day and at this moment, we pray for our nation. We ask God to heal us, to show us the way to healing, to show us the way to be one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.
And now, may the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The blessing of God Almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be on you and on this nation and on the entire human family and all of creation this moment and forevermore.
Amen.

A Prayer For Our Nation

Lord God Almighty, who has made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer

An Update from Honduras: Giving Thanks

The Canales-Romero family offers their thanks for St. Alban’s contributions to their home towns in Honduras that were devastated by flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms. Parishioners brought clothing, medical supplies, and toiletries which were shipped to two locations where Edgardo and Tirza Canales-Romero have family members. Tirza shared these photos from her family’s town as they received the supplies from St. Alban’s.

Sacred Ground Circle at St. Alban’s Begins January 14 at 6pm

St. Alban’s will begin its second Sacred Ground Circle on Thursday, January 14 at 6pm using Zoom. Contact Deacon Theresa by Sunday, January 10 if you have questions or would like to participate. The 10-week film- and reading-based series is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. For more information about Sacred Ground, see the January/February edition of The Word or visit the Sacred Ground Website.

The Nativity Scenes of St. Alban’s

According to legend, the tradition of displaying a crèche (a depiction of the Nativity scene) at Christmas was begun, or at least popularized, by St. Francis of Assisi in 13th Century Italy.  While visiting the village of Grecio at Christmas, St. Francis wanted to recreate the sense of awe and wonder he felt when he visited the site of Jesus’ birth in the Holy Land, and so St. Francis created a “living Nativity” in a cave outside the town.  The practice became popular throughout Italy and quickly spread.  To this day Nativity scenes are a visible reminder of the humble birth of our Savior.

Since we can’t be together this year, no holiday open houses or Christmas parties, we invited parishioners to send in photos of their home nativity scenes to share with everyone.

(Click on a thumbnail to view the photo and accompanying caption)

Christmas Services

Our Christmas Eve service will be pre-recorded and available for viewing beginning at 5:00 pm on December 24th.  Click here to go to our video worship service page.  Once there, look for the video labeled December 24, 2020 – Christmas Eve and click on it.

On Sunday, December 27th, St. Alban’s will not have a pre-recorded service, but instead we encourage you to join with the thousands of Episcopalians in the Diocese of Virginia for a Service of Lessons and Carols.  The service is available on YouTube or Facebook  starting at 8:00 am on December 27th.   A downloadable service bulletin is available here.

Join us for an informal service of Morning Prayer at 8:00 am Christmas morning on Zoom.

If you would like to watch the Christmas Eve service with family and friends who can’t be with you in person, there are several programs that allow you to sync up a YouTube video and watch it together.

This article, https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/watch-youtube-together/, suggests several programs you can use to synchronize your viewing with others, and provides some troubleshooting hints to help you get going.

We do not endorse, recommend or in any way provide support for these apps.

ACCA “Family Emergency Assistance” Volunteers Needed

The Family Emergency Assistance ministry is in need of 3 money captains.  ACCAs Family Emergency Assistance provides emergency financial aid to area individuals and families to help with medical expenses, rent, utilities, and other needs.

ACCA volunteers have worked hard and long through pandemic in support of our neighbors in dire straits financially and otherwise due to the pandemic.

Please email Marie Markey if you would like to volunteer with our Family Emergency Assistance ministry.

Christmas Gift Wrapping is Back!

Because 2020 has had enough bad news, here’s something good:  CHRISTMAS WRAPPING IS BACK!

We’re a little late, but the good news is that there’s still plenty of time to have the elves relieve you of this chore.  Of course, things have to be different this year, but this is actually a good thing.  In order to maintain distancing, wrapping will be conducted in the nave BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.  The good news?  We won’t be limited to just Sundays.  Here’s how it will work:

  1. Call Kate Wettstein (703) 304-2622 to set up an appointment to drop off your items at the church
  2. Kate will arrange with a masked elf to receive your unwrapped presents in the nave
    1. You may consider dropping off a donation to youth mission trips fund at the same time!
  3. The elf will wrap your presents, beautifully as always
  4. And, get this, your presents will be delivered to your home!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support future youth mission trips – thank you!

Will you help with our Hypothermia Week, December 20-26?

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Hypothermia Week will be different this year. Instead of hosting the shelter overflow in our Parish Hall, we will be taking meals to them at the Lincolnia Senior Center. We will deliver the food, but are not required to serve or clean up.

We will need meals for 50 people for seven nights and 50 bag lunches for each of the seven days. They have no access to a kitchen, so they request that meals be as simple to serve and eat as possible. I’m thinking of things like stew or chili with some bread and a piece of fruit, or a casserole with salad on the side. I’m sure any simple, hearty meal you wish to provide will be much appreciated.

Plan to deliver the meals to the Lincolnia Senior Center at about 6 p.m.  I will have more details later. If you and your family or a group of friends would like to prepare and deliver a meal or put together 50 bag lunches you may sign up using this link:   If you have any questions email me (Delores Baisden) or call me at 703-533-9532.

Thank you for your generosity!