Office Closed on April First

No Fooling! - St. Alban's office will be closed on Monday, April 1, 2013. Regular office hours resume on April 2, 2013. If you need Fr. Whit, just give him a call...

Easter 2013

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

The Great Vigil of Easter

Prayerbooks, Certificates and Church Register Books await the
Bishop's signature prior to The Great Vigil of Easter.

Tonight, March 30, Easter Eve, St. Alban's will join with St. Thomas' and Bishop Jake Owensby to celebrate the Great Vigil of Easter. We will kindle the Paschal Fire at 7:30 p.m. We will confirm nine people and baptize one. Two of the confirmands are from the ULM Canterbury Ministry, which is led by Archdeacon Bette J. Kauffman.

Bishop Owensby will celebrate and preach, assisted by Archdeacon Bette, Father Whit and Mother Dawnell. It should be a wonderful evening. Join us!

Good Friday

Fr. Eric Hollas, OSB, writes on his blog, A Monk's Chronicle, of this illumination from The St. John's Bible :

I was particularly struck by the artist’s ability to teach when I first saw the illumination of the Crucifixion in The Saint John’s Bible. Artist Donald Jackson had portrayed the figure of Christ in a way I’d not conceived before. The figure of Jesus and the cross itself were pitched forward, almost as a kite ready to go aloft. And while the corpus is abstract, the gold leaf conveys a sense of energy — an energy that almost explodes on the page. 

This is not a defeated Jesus. This is a Jesus who is undergoing radical transformation. Death has not crushed him. Rather, death has unleashed something truly awesome and powerful. A metamorphosis is taking place. Death has had no power to destroy. Rather, Jesus has broken any chains of death, and instead a scene of intense drama has played out on the page.

Have a blessed Good Friday! 

P.S. - Father Hollas' blog is worthy of some of your time...

The Bishop's Palm Sunday Sermon

This is an audio file from SoundCloud of the sermon that Bishop Jake preached at St. Alban's on Palm Sunday, March 24. If you have trouble or can't see the image above, click here.

Thoughts from Bishop Jake

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

 Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Spoiler Alert: This week's thought is an excerpt from my Good Friday sermon (to be preached at St. Mark's Cathedral). I will be posting the entire sermon at Pelican Anglican and the audio on SoundCloud on that day as well. You can find the links below.

Somewhere along the line most of us learned that life is about getting it right. By "it" we mean life. Imbedded deep in our brains is an .mp3 that plays just loudly enough to insert a subliminal message: You better get this right. Don't screw it up.

It's as if we wake up every day to take the next section of a test we have already begun. Facing a test every day is stressful enough. Add to this the realization that you have already completely blown several of the previous sections. Most days you start the new section of the exam with a lower grade than you had yesterday.

Flowering the Cross and Egg Hunt

Please remember to bring flowers and your egg basket to church on Easter Sunday!

At 9:15 a.m. we will have our annual Easter Egg Hunt and at the offering during the 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, the children of St. Alban's will flower the cross.

Join us on Easter Sunday to celebrate!

An Invitation

Episcopalian Maura Hooper invites you to experience the Episcopal Church this Holy Week and Easter.

Bishop Jake's Visit

Bishop Jake Owensby visited St. Alban's on Palm Sunday, March 24. While he was here, he urged everyone to check out his Facebook page and find his sermons online. He also took a photo of our altar and our congregation. The link to the Bishop's sermons in on the right side bar of our blog or here.

Here is what the Bishop posted about his visit to St. Alban's on his Facebook page - "What a rich and joyful morning! Reverent worship, good conversation, and delicious food with simply terrific folks! Fr. Whit Stodghill and the folks of St. Alban's make me proud to be the bishop of WLA."

And here are his photos!

Remember that Bishop Jake will be back for The Great Vigil of Easter for Baptism and Confirmation on March 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Holy Week and Easter

Holy Monday:

Evening Prayer – 6:00 p.m.

Holy Tuesday:

Evening Prayer – 6:00 p.m.

Holy Wednesday:

Tenebrae – 6:00 p.m.

Tenebrae symbolizes the growing darkness as we move toward Good Friday 

and the return of the light at Easter.

Maundy Thursday:

Holy Eucharist and Foot Washing – 6:00 p.m.

The Maundy Thursday Liturgy is a beautiful service that includes foot washing.

Following the Eucharist, we will strip the altar for Good Friday.

Good Friday:

Good Friday Liturgy – Noon

The Good Friday Liturgy remembers the death of our Lord.

Stations of the Cross – 6:00 p.m.

This is a moving service of prayer, reflection and contemplation.

Holy Saturday:

The Great Vigil of Easter with Baptism and Confirmation - 7:30 p.m.

This is the Church’s ancient first celebration of Easter. Come and experience this wonderful liturgy as Bishop Owensby joins us again along with the folks of St. Thomas’.

Easter Day:

Easter Day Holy Eucharist – 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

A wonderful celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. Come celebrate with us!

Easter Egg Hunt – 9:15 a.m.

Bring your basket and help us search for eggs and prizes!

Please join us and bring a friend!

Note: To download a pdf copy of this schedule and a fun recipe for 

Empty Tomb Cookies so you can post it on your refrigerator - just click here.

Justin Welby Enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury

One-time oil executive and former Bishop of Durham Justin Welby was formally enthroned (twice) as the 105th archbishop of Canterbury on March 21 during a two-hour ceremony that blended an ancient liturgy with a few modern twists.

In a famous tradition, the archbishop banged on the West Door three times with his pastoral staff, and the dean opened the door to welcome him. The archbishop was then greeted by Evangeline Kanagasooriam, a young member of the Anglican Communion and student at The King’s School in Canterbury, who asked Welby the following questions about his purpose for seeking admission to the cathedral:

Evangeline Kanagasooriam: We greet you in the name of Christ. Who are you and why do you request entry?
The Archbishop: I am Justin, a servant of Jesus Christ, and I come as one seeking the grace of God, to travel with you in his service together.
Evangeline: Why have you been sent to us?
The Archbishop: I am sent as Archbishop to serve you, to proclaim the love of Christ and with you to worship and love him with heart and soul, mind and strength
.Evangeline: How do you come among us and with what confidence?
The Archbishop: I come knowing nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified, and in weakness and fear and in much trembling.

The archbishop was then enthroned in two seats – the Diocesan Throne and the Chair of St. Augustine. The two enthronements formalized Welby’s multi-faceted role as bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, Primate of All England and spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion. 

Welby succeeds the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, who stepped down at the end of 2012 after serving as the 104th archbishop of Canterbury since February 2003. Williams is now master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. Welby is married to Caroline and they have five children, ranging in age from mid-teens to late 20s.

Source: Episcopal News Service

The "Ikea Effect" on Prayer

Thoughts from Bishop Jake

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

This week's thought is a little longer than usual. It is the talk "Faith and Miracles" that I gave at Grace, Monroe, yesterday and will give later this evening at St. Mark's Cathedral, Shreveport. I will be posting it at Pelican Anglican as well. I hope you find it fruitful reading and, as always, enjoy hearing your response.

If you want to know what somebody believes, just watch them for a while. We all exhibit patterns of behavior in our ordinary lives.

We are either routinely generous or miserly, bold or timid, trusting or suspicious. We readily welcome strangers or keep them at a distance, let go of grievances or nurse grudges, respond to the needs of others or pursue our own comfort.

In other words, believing--really believing--is doing.

The philosopher William James taught that your faith is composed of the beliefs that you stake your life on. He doesn't mean by this ideas that you'll die for or fight over. Instead, faith is that set of beliefs embodied in our habitual, nearly automatic daily living.

Last Lenten Eucharist and Supper

Tonight was the last of our Wednesday night Eucharists and Suppers. St. Patrick's in West Monroe hosted with the Rev'd Robert Dandridge presiding. The Rev'd Dr. Frank W. Hughes, interim priest at Grace preached. St. Patrick served a wonderful meal too. The decoration were all green for the church's patron, St. Patrick.

All the Episcopal Churches, St. Thomas', St.Patrick's, Grace and St. Alban's and Messiah Lutheran have really turned out for these evening events with around ninety attending each time.

Pictured here are some of the folks from St. Alban's at supper.

Laugh for the Day

© 2013 Church Pension Group – From the 2013 Calendar

Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter

Palm Sunday:

Palm Sunday Holy Eucharist – 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Adult Education – Time with the Bishop – 9:15 a.m.

Bishop Jake Owensby visits St. Alban’s – Brunch at 11:30 a.m.

Holy Monday:

Evening Prayer – 6:00 p.m.

Holy Tuesday:

Evening Prayer – 6:00 p.m.

Holy Wednesday:

Tenebrae – 6:00 p.m.

Tenebrae symbolizes the growing darkness as we move toward Good Friday 

and the return of the light at Easter.

Maundy Thursday:

Holy Eucharist and Foot Washing – 6:00 p.m.

The Maundy Thursday Liturgy is a beautiful service that includes foot washing.

Following the Eucharist, we will strip the altar for Good Friday.

Good Friday:

Good Friday Liturgy – Noon

The Good Friday Liturgy remembers the death of our Lord.

Stations of the Cross – 6:00 p.m.

This is a moving service of prayer, reflection and contemplation.

Holy Saturday:

The Great Vigil of Easter with Baptism and Confirmation - 7:30 p.m.

This is the Church’s ancient first celebration of Easter. Come and experience this wonderful liturgy as Bishop Owensby joins us again along with the folks of St. Thomas’.

Easter Day:

Easter Day Holy Eucharist – 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

A wonderful celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. Come celebrate with us!

Easter Egg Hunt – 9:15 a.m.

Bring your basket and help us search for eggs and prizes!

Please join us and bring a friend!

Note: To download a pdf copy of this schedule and a fun recipe for 

Empty Tomb Cookies so you can post it on your refrigerator - just click here.

Last Chance - Holy Week is Coming

Tuesday, March 19, is the last of Grace Episcopal Church's Lenten Lunches. Bishop Jake Owensby will be speaking and as always, there will be delicious soup. Things kickoff at Noon with Noonday prayer, then lunch and Bishop Jake's message. This should be a big finish to this year's offering.

Wednesday, March 20, is the last Lenten Eucharist and Supper. We will gather at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in West Monroe at 6:00 p.m. for Eucharist. The Rev'd Dr. Frank Hughes will preach. Following communion, we will gather in St. Patrick's parish hall for supper. The attendance for these events has been fantastic and the Episcopalian and Lutherans have enjoyed being together.

Hope to see you there! Remember Sunday, March 24 is Palm Sunday and then Holy Week!

electronic COMMON PRAYER

For those of you so inclined...this is really neat! I have not found this for the Android yet...

Bishop Jake on How to Pray

Thoughts from Bishop Jake

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

As I travel around our Diocese, I hear the same question in many of our congregations. How can we make our church grow? What are some techniques we can employ to get more people like us into our pews?

Another group of congregations tell me--sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally--that they are resigned to stagnation or to decline. They say, "We cannot get more people like us into our pews."

While we should never be driven by numbers like Average Sunday Attendance, our common lives as faith communities should be animated by the teachings of Jesus. Chief among those teachings is the Great Commission. Jesus himself defines our communities as disciple-making organisms. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Evangelism is a core Christian practice. But our practice of evangelism is not well-developed. I don't mean to say that we're not out there pounding on doors and handing out pamphlets. Instead, we often misconstrue just what evangelism is.

Here are some key key misconceptions about evangelism:

1. Evangelism is fundamentally a process of convincing people to share our beliefs.
   
2. Evangelism aims to attract more people like us into our Sunday services.
3. The chief measures for the success of evangelism are average Sunday attendance and membership numbers.

Remember, I said that these are misconceptions about the essence of evangelism. Let's turn now to the heart of evangelism.

Jorge Maria Bergoglio is papacy's first Jesuit, first Latin American, first Francis

Newly elected Pope Francis I, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, at the Vatican, March 13, 2013. White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney and the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out on Wednesday, signaling that Roman Catholic cardinals had elected a pope to succeed Benedict XVI. Photo: Reuters/Dylan Martinez

[Episcopal News Service] Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Maria Bergoglio, 76, was elected March 13 by the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church to succeed Pope Benedict XVI. Bergoglio, the first Jesuit and the first cardinal from Latin America ever to be elected pope, chose the name Francis I.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said in a statement that the Episcopal Church “will pray for the new Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis I, and for the possibility of constructive dialogue and cooperation between our churches.”

The Full ENS Article is here.

The March Banner - At Last!

Because Happening happened on March 1, 2 and 3, our March edition of The Banner was delayed. You should have received a copy by email or will receive a hard copy soon. If not, you can find the March Banner, Calendar and Rota just one click away on the bottom end of the side bar at the right. Just scroll down and click.

The last three months of each item are always located here and the current calendar is also available above on the calendar tab...

Lutheran Post Communion Prayer

Many of you commented on how much you loved the Post Communion Prayer when we attended the Lenten Eucharist and Supper at Messiah Lutheran Church on Wednesday, March 6. Here is the prayers...

Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever.

Amen!

Lenten Eucharists and Suppers

Last week's Lenten Eucharist and Supper was held at Messiah Lutheran Church. Around ninety people from the Episcopal and Lutheran Churches in Monroe and West Monroe attended! Our attendance has not dropped since our first evening at St. Thomas'. The Lutherans feed us a great meal.

Our next Lenten Eucharist and Supper will be at St. Alban's this Wednesday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m. A simple Lenten Supper will follow in the parish hall. The Rev'd Robert Dandridge of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church will preach.Join us... 

Spring at St. Alban's

Spring is budding at St. Alban's this week. This is a photo of the Pear trees just outside Arlyne's office.

Daylight Saving Time

It's the weekend to spring ahead for daylight saving time. Most Americans will get an hour less sleep but will gain an hour more of evening sunlight in the coming months.

 

Officially, the change starts Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m., though most people are likely to reset their clocks before going to bed Saturday night. If you don't we'll be walking out when you are walking in!

Bishop Jake on Taking Time to Pray

.

Our new Bishop, The Rt. Rev’d Jacob W. Owensby, Ph.D., D.D. is planning on making more videos like this one with the help of Robert Harwell, our Diocesan Communication Officer. 

I will try to keep you updated....

Thoughts from Bishop Jake

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Later today I will be leaving for the the Spring meeting of the House of Bishops. We will gather at Kanuga, the Episcopal camp and conference center just outside of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

We will conduct some business, but our spring meetings are mostly a retreat time. Our theme this year is "Godly Leadership in the Midst of Loss." Events such as the shootings in Newtown and Aurora, the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, and the personal losses of several of my brother and sister bishops lead us to reflect on how to proclaim the Good News in times of personal and community sorrow.

In a manner of speaking, we are always in the midst of loss. We live in a world populated by broken hearts, including our own. God's love for us provides the Gospel medicine we need to heal.

But let's help each other to remember that following Jesus is more than seeking healing for ourselves. On the contrary, as disciples of Jesus we offer ourselves as the instruments of his consolation and grace.

Paradoxically, Jesus frequently mends our hearts when we are most focused on the needs of others. He heals us as we tend to the physical want, emotional bruises, and spiritual scars of our neighbors. When we forget ourselves in his service, we become the most healthy self we can be.

Continued blessings for a holy Lent.

In Christ's Love,



The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, PhD, DD The Diocese of Western Louisiana
P. O. Box 2031, Alexandria, LA 71309
318-442-1304
bishopjake@diocesewla.org
http://pelicananglican.blogspot.com

One More Post from Happening

We are on the last leg of our Happening Weekend... Still having tons of fun!

Sunday Morning Prayer at Happening

Still having fun at Happening...

Have a wonderful Third Sunday in Lent with visiting priest the Rev'd Roy C. Myers. Please make him feel welcomed.

See you all soon!

Your Children Are Safe... Really!

The adult staff of Happening #51...

Happy Happening Feet

Another break... Another gathering of friends.

Surrounded by Trouble

Father Whit and the St Alban's Happeners during a break in the action.

We are having so much fun!

Lunch Prayer at Happening

St. Alban's own Ivania leads the prayer with her family group at Happening and then eats with a familiar group...

Milk and Cookies

A little milk and cookies and Compline before bed at Happening... Zzzzzz!

Happening is Underway!

At this hour, young people from around the diocese are arriving at Camp Hardtner for Happening #51!

The crew from St. Alban's is here too and already having fun!

At Hardtner for Happening #51

Even though it is supposed to be very cold this weekend, there are signs of Spring at Camp Hardtner.

Archdeacon Bette and I just arrived... Please pray that the young people have a wonderful weekend!