Today's Forecast

Pentecost with Bishop Jake

Morning Prayer on The Day of Pentecost with Bishop Jake: There will be a surprise cameo appearance following the service. And remember, you can watch the saved video anytime by clicking here.

Come Holy Spirit, Come!

Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday

These Holy Spirit doves would have flown today, May 31, The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday at St. Alban's, St. Patrick's St. Thomas' Episcopal Churches, and Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas. It was going to be a surprise! They are virtually flying for The Day of Pentecost, 2020.

Eve of Pentecost

Join us tomorrow as we celebrate the Day of Pentecost.

Sleep well.

Virtual Worship Sunday, May 31 and Wednesday, June 3

Por la Mañana - Día de Pentecostés
May 31, 2020 09:30 AM

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Morning Prayer - The Day of Pentecost
May 31, 2020 10:30 AM

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Compline
Jun 3, 2020 08:00 PM

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Another Evening Prayer

Tonight’s prayer is another from the Order for Evening in the Book of Common Prayer.

Order for Evening

Tonight’s prayer is from the Order for Evening in the Book of Common Prayer.

Stretching

Tonight from Bishop Jake - Stretching 4 - Cooperating with Grace. Click here to watch.

Prayer for Protection

Prayer for Protection - Here is another prayer from Enriching Our Worship 1.

A Prayer for Safe Travel

A prayer for safe travel. Una oración por un viaje seguro. SpaceX launches today with NASA astronauts in the Dragon space craft.



Update: Scrubbed for today - maybe I should have prayed for good weather!

Reflection and Prayer

This epistle reflection and prayer are specifically for use on Tuesday mornings. They are found in the New Zealand Prayer Book and the theme of the day is “Your kingdom come on earth as in heaven.”

Fleur Simmons Obiturary

Say a prayer for Catherine, Elizabeth, and Jean who lost their mother, Fleur.  I was able to pray with them all a few hours before her death. Fleur was much loved by her girls. Click here for more info.

Memorial Day from Whit

We offer today a prayer from Refuge and Strength – Prayers for the Military and their Families, by Theodore W. Edwards.

Memorial Day

From Bishop Jake Owensby on Memorial Day! Click here.

Pray with Bishop Jake

Enjoy Morning Prayer with Bishop Jake on the Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day by clicking here.

Virtual Worship Today and Wednesday, May 27

Por la Mañana
May 24, 2020 09:30 AM - Séptimo domingo de Pascua

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Morning Prayer
May 24, 2020 10:30 AM - The Seventh Sunday of Easter

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Evening Prayer followed by Bible Project Class
May 27, 2020 05:30 PM

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Light of the World

Here is another new Evening Psalm for trail use from Enriching Our Worship 1. It is a new version of the Phos hilaron – Light of the World.

Memorial Day Weekend

This Monday is Memorial Day. It is time to remember and honor all the people who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Celebrating Our Graduates

Message me your info graduates (kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school, college, graduate school - I can think of many of you, but I don't want to leave anyone out!) and I will share it with our congregation, and we can add prayers of thanksgiving on Sunday.

Canticle N

Our prayers as a church grow and change. They remain rooted in scripture too. This is a canticle or song for trail use from Enriching Our Worship 1. It is based on the first letter of John.

Canticle N - A Song of God’s Love - 1 John 4:7-11

Ascension Day

Today is Thursday, the twenty-first of May, and Ascension Day – forty days after Easter. A reading and the collect for the day.

Ascension Day

Today is Ascension Day! Forty days after Easter. This photo is from York Minster Cathedral - the last thing the disciples see is Jesus' feet and the hem of his garment as he ascends into heaven. The disciples' hands seem to say, "Wow!"

Bishop Jake on Stretching - Authentic Relationship

From Bishop Jake Owensby - Stretching Your Faith: 3. Authentic Relationship. When you stop being curious about the other, a relationship withers. Click here.

Invitation to Zoom Evening Prayer

Join us tonight, Wednesday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m. for Evening Prayer II. Today we remember Alcuin.




Evening Prayer (followed by Bible Project Class)
Time: May 20, 2020 05:30 PM

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A Collect for Guidance

One of my favorite prayers (you may have noticed I have lots of favorites) is A Collect for Guidance in the Book of Common Prayer. It is found in Morning Prayer II on page 100.

Isaiah 43:1-3

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Peace. Be not afraid.

Virtual Worship - Sunday, May 24 and Wednesday, May 27

Por la Mañana
May 24, 2020 09:30 AM - Séptimo domingo de Pascua

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Morning Prayer
May 24, 2020 10:30 AM - The Seventh Sunday of Easter

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Evening Prayer followed by Bible Project Class
May 27, 2020 05:30 PM

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For the Human Family

We offer today a prayer For the Human Family from the Book of Common Prayer. It is prayer number 3, on page 815.

Morning Prayer with Bishop Jake!

Bishop Jake's Morning Prayer - May 17 - The Sixth Sunday of Easter is available anytime by clicking here.

Thank You!

Dear All,

The Vestry of St. Alban's met this morning to consider the best way reopen the church to public worship - more on that later!

We also wanted to review the church's finances in light of this crisis. I am happy to report that we are doing well. Thanks to you all for your continued regular giving and for those of you who have made special gifts to the church at this time. Because of your generosity, we are weathering this storm.

With my sincere thanks, and continued prayers,

Whit+

Article XXVI

On of my favorites of the Articles of Religion or Thirty-Nine Articles is number 26 (XXVI). It is in the Historical Documents section on page 873 of the Book of Common Prayer. 

Sighs Too Deep for Words

Everyday, I try to find a prayer to share with you all that expresses what is on my heart. But what happens when we don’t know what to pray?

Virtual Worship - Sunday, May 17 and Wednesday, May 20

Por la Mañana
May 17, 2020 09:30 AM

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Morning Prayer
May 17, 2020 10:30 AM

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Evening Prayer (followed by Bible Project Class)
Time: May 20, 2020 05:30 PM 

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For the Unemployed

We remember and pray again today for those who have lost their jobs during this time. A prayer For the Unemployed is on page 824 of the Book of Common Prayer.

From the Rector of Grace Episcopal Church

This is a wonderful reflection from the Rev'd Don Smith, the rector at Grace. We are so lucky to have Don+ and his wife Lloyd in our community. To watch, just click here.

Today from Our Bishop

Bishop Owensby's Wednesday reflection from Facebook is available by clicking here.

Remember

From artist and friend, Enedina Vasquez.

Broken PIeces

Luke 9:17, “And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.”

Compline Prayer

I love this beautiful prayer from Compline, page 133.

A Message to Our Churches

Dear People of St. Alban’s, St. Luke’s, St. Patrick’s, St. Thomas, and Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas. We wanted say a word about why we’ve decided to wait on beginning face to face worship until the first Sunday of June. Queríamos decir una palabra sobre por qué decidimos esperar a comenzar la adoración cara a cara hasta el primer domingo de junio.

For Workers

So many in our country have lost their jobs or are underemployed because of the virus. Others are isolated, lonely, and under equipped. The prayer book has two very good prayers for work – the collect For Vocation in Daily Work and the collect For Labor Day. Both are on page 261.

A Prayer for Mother's Day

A Prayer for Mother’s Day*

On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks to God for the divine gift of motherhood in all its diverse forms.

*Modified from a prayer in from Women's Uncommon Prayers, page 364, The Rev. Leslie Nipps

Collect for Saturdays

This collect for Saturdays is from Evening Prayer, page 123. 



And from the digital cutting room floor...

St. Alban's by Alex

Check out this beautiful drawing of St. Alban's by Anita's granddaughter, Alex.

The Reception of One of the Saints

It is part of my duty, honor, and privilege as your priest to do things that are sometimes unseen, quiet, and profoundly moving.

This afternoon I received the cremated remains of James Bradford – “Mr. Jim,” at the church to rest until the day we can gather together to celebrate his life. I said these beautiful prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, for the Reception of the Body, page 466.

With faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the body of our brother Jim for burial. Let us pray with confidence to God, the Giver of life, that he will raise him to perfection in the company of the saints.

Deliver your servant, Jim, O Sovereign Lord Christ, from all evil, and set him free from every bond; that he may rest with all your saints in the eternal habitations; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us also pray for all who mourn, especially Jim’s family, that they may cast their care on God, and know the consolation of his love.

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I bid your prayers for the Bradford family and thank the women of the church for providing food, prayers, and support to Louise and the Bradford children and grandchildren.

Virtual Worship this Week

Por la Manana via Zoom
10 mayo 2020 - Día de la Madre - 9:30 a.m.

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Zoom Morning Prayer
May 10, 2020 - Mother's Day - 10:30 a.m.

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Zoom Evening Prayer
May 13, 2020 - 5:30 p.m.

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Remember

Stretching Your Faith: 1. Loving as Knowing

Part One of Bishop Jake's latest reflection can be seen by clicking here.

Comfort

In Evening Prayer today, we remember Julian of Norwich.

May you find comfort in the words Jesus gave to Julian of Norwich and so to us.

Evening Prayer Today

Zoom Evening Prayer

May 6, 2020 05:30 PM Central Time

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Online Giving

Click the image or go to www.epiwla.org/give/

For Those Flooded by Too Much Information

A Liturgy for Those Flooded by Too Much Information - from Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey. Every Moment Holy is available at rabbitroom.com and amazon.com.

Guest House Visitor Parade

What a joyous event this was for Elizabeth and all the residents, and staff of the Guest House! The blue bag in Elizabeth's arms is a coloring book and a new set of color markers. We saw Elizabeth's sister, Catherine, and her husband in cue. Also there (at least) were Rita and Rose. Thanks all!

Sad News

Dear Church Family,

It is with great sadness that I let you know about the death of one of the bedrock members of the St. Alban's community. James "Jim" Bradford died last night at his home with Louise at his side.

Details about his burial are not known at this time. They will  probably be minimal due to the stay-at-home orders at this time. When the time is right, we will celebrate and remember Jim's life as a full community. Until then, please pray for the Louise and Bradford's children and grandchildren.

Monday – May 4

Something silly, but sincere on this first Monday in May. Since I lost weight nearly four years ago, my weekly cheat has a been Chinese food. Since the quarantine, we have had no Chinese in our area. Today, they resume take-out. Thanks be to God. So, here is my prayer for today.

Grateful Hearts

From friend and artist Enedina Vasquez, Psalm 107:1 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, and his mercy endures for ever." Start each day with a grateful heart!

Morning Prayer

After we finished Morning Prayer on Zoom, we watched Bishop Jake's Morning Prayer. You can too - anytime! Click here. Thanks, Bishop!

Joy in God's Creation

The Book of Common Pray contains a wonderful assortment of prayers and thanksgivings. They begin on page 814.

The first prayer is For Joy in God’s Creation.

Friday Night

This offering prayer is from the New Zealand Prayer Book, page 141.