The Banner is Going Digital in 2013

The Banner, the Newsletter of St. Alban’s Church is an important part of how we keep folks informed about what is going on at our church. Along with this blog, The Banner with its monthly calendar and Rota of ministry assignments is our communication link with one another.

Mailing costs and ever changing postal regulations, along with printing costs and assembly time restrict the number of people who can receive the newsletter. We want everyone to know what we are up too! The paper format also makes The Banner less “earth friendly” or “green.”

So, beginning in January, The Banner will begin a new digital distribution. Don’t worry – we will still mail a paper copy to those who wish to receive one. We think most people will enjoy receiving The Banner, Calendar and Rota via e-mail. All can all be accessed anytime here on the blog too! Photos and graphics can be in color with no additional cost or effort. 

Please help us by letting us know if you want to receive a paper copy and we will be glad to keep it coming! (Those without email will get a hard copy automatically)  Please help increase our email list by updating your email and adding family members and friends. With email, it costs us nothing to send it. We will also email to every church in the diocese. Let us know what you think.

The Bishop's Message

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The secular Christmas season begins after Thanksgiving. At least, what is called Black Friday used to inaugurate secular Christmas. This year stores opened their doors to bargain hunters on the evening of Thanksgiving itself. To be honest, management stocked their shelves with Christmas fare as soon as Halloween passed. (The secular calendar does not recognize All Saints’ Day.)

This year has been especially disorienting for those of us who follow the Church Year. In most years, secular Christmas competes with Advent. This year lights and decorations in private homes anticipated even Advent, since Thanksgiving preceded Christ the King instead of First Advent.

The disconnect between the secular calendar and the Church’s calendar can be jarring. It seems also to invite the Crabby Appleton in some of us to emerge. Some among us take offense at, others condescend to, and yet still others even heap contempt upon these secular practices. If evangelism works by attraction, some of us fall flat on our faces at this time of year. Crabby Appleton is unattractive at all times, but especially when so many people are obviously seeking some source of joy and relief in their lives.

Book Studies at St. Alban's

The Sunday Adult Education Class will be reading Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived by Rob Bell. The class meets most every Sunday morning at 9:15 a.m. in the Conference Room. Our Love Wins class begins on December 16. All adults and visitors are welcome!

The Wednesday Night Men’s Study Group is reading Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith, also by Rob Bell. The Men’s Study Group meets on Wednesday night following the 5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Unction at 6:15 p.m. in the Conference Room (and occasionally in McLean Hall) . The Velvet Elvis study began on November 28. All the men of St. Alban’s and guests are welcome!

Contact Father Whit for more information on either class…

Will's Graduation

Will Phelps is about to graduate from U.L.M., and it's time to celebrate!

U.L.M.'s Commencement is Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 10:00 a.m., in the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

But whether you attend the ceremony or not, please join Will and Bette Jo for a...

Champagne Lunch

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

December 8, 2012

79 Quail Ridge Drive

Please stop by to toast the graduate!

Moon Over St. Alban's

Above is a photo taken by Fr. Whit of the Moon rising over St. Alban's early on the evening of November 26, 2012. The night turned out to be stormy...

The Bishop's Message

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Many will be gathering with family and friends this week for fellowship and feasting. The Owensby table, like many others, will be laden with traditional dishes, some of which have been shared by generations of our family.

Seeing and tasting that familiar fare reminds us of times we have spent together, reinforces our identity as a family, and reassures us that we have a special place at this table. Despite the comfort of familiarity, more and more people are trying new recipes during the holidays.

These new recipes do not always work out. Sometimes they clash with the rest of the dishes assembled for the feast or they just taste awful. If the host or hostess makes the mistake of replacing a beloved favorite with the new eats, diners can be put off by their frustrated expectations and the shock of the new.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and pray for all those who are traveling.

Thanksgiving Holy Eucharist

A reminder that St. Alban's will celebrate Holy Eucharist on Thanksgiving Day, November 22 at 10:00 a.m. All are invited and bring your family!

S'more Sunday and EYC Fun!

We had a drizzly day for S'more Sunday, but that didn't dampen the fun. We toasted and burnt marshmallows and made some delicious S'mores.

Our combined EYC Youth Groups is doing some great things.

Above and Right - S'more Sunday
Below - Our visit to St. Joseph's Assisted Living and Nursing Home

The Bishop's Message

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Dear Friends in Christ,

I’m writing from St. Louis. This week I am attending the meeting of CCABs, which is short for Commissions, Committees, Agencies, and Boards of the Episcopal Church. As I requested I have been appointed to the Standing Commission for Small Congregations.

Our schedule is very full, completing our work late each evening. Our conversations are ranging over a broad set of topics, and I look forward to sharing our work with you over time. It is especially exciting to share ideas with people who have a special love for and years of ministry in small congregations.

Art with a View

Support our Deacon...

Art with a View

Friday, Nov. 16, 6-9p, Gallery Party - $20

Benefits Monroe Symphony Orchestra

Sat., Nov. 17, 9a-2p, Public Show – Free

Premier Plaza, Monroe

(The big black cube between North 18^th & North 19^th Streets.)

Come Saturday to see the art and begin your Christmas shopping!

I’ll be there with

WATERLINE: an interactive photo installation

iPhone Diary

Photo Notecards

and display copies of a beautiful book of women photographers, including me, titled

How We See It…more views of our world

along with ordering information.

Bette J. Kauffman, Photographer

The 105th Archbishop of Canterbury

On 9 November 2012 the Right Reverend Justin Welby was announced as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury.

In his opening statement at Lambeth Palace, Bishop Justin said he was “astonished and excited” to be taking over from Dr Rowan Williams, who stands down as Archbishop at the end of December. Acknowledging the many challenges faced by the Church, he said it will be a privilege to lead the Church “at a time of great spiritual hunger”.

The new Archbishop's Biography can be found here. 

Source: ENS

Chili Night

Men’s Group Chili Night

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

6:15 p.m. in McLean Hall

We’ll eat some Chili and talk about

our next study. Join us!

Please R.S.V.P. by 11/12/12

323-3139  (leave a message)

The Bishop's Message

Dear Friends in Christ,

My daughter Meredith plays the flute. As a music performance major, she spends hours practicing her scales and mastering music theory. Her repertoire grows year by year not only in size but in complexity and sophistication. As you might imagine, Meredith reliably hits the right notes as the ensemble moves through the score.

Plenty of accomplished musicians hit the right notes. That is not what distinguishes Meredith and the very best among her peers from others. Instead, the most admired musicians thrill our hearts and stir our minds because they achieve a pleasing tone. Lesser musicians can play precisely the same notes in the correct tempo and yet, nevertheless they lose our interest with a thin or shallow tone.

In both our nation and in our Church we are struggling with our tone. We seem unable to disagree without contempt, and we heap scorn upon compromise as if it were always born of the spirit of cowardice and surrender. Our proud insistence upon being right drowns out the humble impulse to submit ourselves to something greater than our own opinions and agendas. We need a new, more edifying tone.

By God’s tender grace we are finding a more compelling tone in the Episcopal Church. While we will always debate ideas, we are beginning to speak to each other on the basis of something more fundamental than our differences. The Holy Spirit is reminding us that we are one in the crucified and risen Christ. Our unity in Christ gives us a common mission. Jesus himself sends us to make disciples and to serve the poor in his name.

When we focus on what we have in common, our tone grows sonorous and resonates with others. The content of the Good News is too often lost because it is being conveyed by a shrill or grating voice. Keeping before us always our unity in Christ’s person and the mission he gives us, even the tone of our disagreements can draw followers to Jesus.
On this first day following President Obama’s reelection, some are rejoicing and others are lamenting. Oddly enough, we Episcopalians have a hard-won lesson to share with rest of the nation.

We have discovered through bitter internal turmoil that unity is a gift. It is a gift that we must nurture or risk losing. Who we are together is well worth working for. It is fine to disagree. However, when we do so in forgetfulness that our primary calling is to deepen and to reinforce our unity, then we chance forfeiting who we truly are.

So let’s be mindful of our tone. As Christians and as Americans. As followers of Jesus, we have an especially high calling. Jesus has sent us into this world to set a new tone.


In Christ's Love,

.

The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, Ph.D.
The Diocese of Western Louisiana
P. O. Box 2031, Alexandria, LA 71309-2031
bishopjake@diocesewla.org
http://pelicananglican.blogspot.com
http://sermon.net/bishopjake

Election Day Prayer

Today is Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - Election Day. 

These prayers are from The Book of Common Prayer, Number 24. For an Election.

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges:  Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

This prayer is the last portion of Number 22. For Sound Government.

[God, T]each our people to rely on your strength and to accept their 

responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well‑being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name.

For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.  Amen.

Please pray for our country and local community and go vote!

Neighborhood Picnic - Saturday!

St. Alban's will have its Neighborhood Picnic this Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Everyone is invited. Enjoy games, hot dogs, hoppers, face painting, crafts and more.

Members of the church are asked to bring a dessert to share. We can also use help before for set-up and after for clean-up.

Pray for good weather and join us!

Over 10,000 Served!

At some time today, November 5, 2012, St. Alban's Weblog was visited for the 10,000th time! Above is a screen clip of the total at the time of this post (10,005). You can check the number of page views at the bottom of the page. Thanks for reading and checking in here!

Flower Guild

Mary Sue is now the head of the Flower Guild at St. Alban's. She recently took the reigns from Dottie, who served as the leader of the group for many years! Mary Sue and Dottie are both thrilled!

Mary Sue brings great creativity to the job. Check out the photo above of the flowers from last week's Baptism. The flowers really got many compliments. Believe it or not, the display was made with ornamental cabbage!

Tell Dottie thanks for all her years of work and let Mary Sue know that you are glad she is on the job.

Our Newest Member

Zoe Elizabeth is our newest member! Today, St. Alban's celebrated Holy Baptism, All Saints' Day and had a wonderful reception following with family and friends. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?

Let us welcome the newly baptized. We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.
The Book of Common Prayer

Fall Back Tonight!

Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 a.m on Sunday, November 4, 2012. Set you clocks back one hour before going to bed on tonight, or you’ll be really early for church!

Church Porch Treat Night

Halloween 2012's Church Porch Treat Night was a frightful success! Porch sitters, Marjorie, Jane, Mary, Charles, Matt, Mtr. Dawnell, Fr. Whit, Larry, Catherine and Elizabeth passed out candy and hot chocolate to our many visitors.We ate some candy, sipped some cocoa and ate a few slices of pizza too!

Trick or Treaters included Tracy, Thomas, Cameron, Emma, Caroline, Lynnon, William and an unidentifiable hoard of others. Lee, Ryan and lots neighbors stopped by to visit and chat. Some said they had received our invitation and would see us at the Neighborhood Picnic! 

Next year, we plan to add a cook out... Make your plans now to join us!