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St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

Announcements for Week of February 19 – February 25, 2012

 

Youth News:

U  Lenten Series: February 28 – High School, 6:00 p.m. at St. Marks – Creating Stations of the Cross (RSVP with Matt if you plan to attend) and February 29 – Middle School, 6:00 p.m. at St. Marks – God in current music.

U  High Schoolers – registration is now open for happening and spring youth event.  Please use the Diocesan Webpage for both.  Costa Rica application must be post marked by February 13.  If you have any questions regarding this trip, please see Matt.

U  Open Diocesan Event Registrations:

o   Happening March 23-25

o   Spring Youth Event            April 20-22

o   Outreach Weekend March 9-11

All of these are High School events and registration can be completed at the diocesan webpage.

U  A calendar of all the major events from now through the end of the summer was emailed to all parents this week.  If you did not get that calendar please let Matt know.

 

Ladies, it is time to mark your calendars for the Annual Women’s Retreat at Valle Crusis.  We will head to the mountains with St. Martin`s church on March 23 – 25.  The cost will be $145 for the weekend which includes five glorious meals and more fun than you’ve had in a while.  Of course, we can’t reveal details because “what happens on the mountain, stays on the mountain!”  Cannon Beth Ely will be leading the program part of the weekend with details to follow.  Please email Pat Stenhouse as soon as possible at patstenhouse@bellsouth.net if you would like to go and she will make sure you receive a brochure on weekend details.  Last year we had 15 attendees from St. Alban’s and everyone keeps on coming back!

 

Room in the Innis a ministry for our homeless neighbors, operated by the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte for the whole county.  Every evening, over 100 homeless men, women, and children come to the Urban Ministry Center looking for a warm bed, a hot meal--and area churches provide that through Room in the Inn.  We at St. Alban's partner with Davidson United Methodist Church to staff Room in the Inn one night each month during the winter, and we need a coordinator for the program for next year—as the Klepfers are "retiring" after years of service.  Being a coordinator involves meeting with the DUMC and Urban Ministry folks to get the program organized for the year, and handling sign-ups here in the parish, and basically making sure the program is running smoothly.  The Klepfers have agreed to mentor the new coordinator(s)--and it can be a team effort.  If you feel a call to this critically important ministry to so many people who don't know where they are going to sleep tonight—please see Cory Muir, our Outreach Team leader, or Deacon Rebecca, or contact Sherry Klepfer through the office.

 

Lenten Yogawill be offered on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.  The five week series begins February 29 and runs through March 28.  All levels, including beginners, are encouraged to attend.  The class will include a gentle flow, a variety of stretches, breathing exercises to reduce stress, and a guided meditation.  If you are interested, please contact Mary Kennedy at davkenn@bellsouth.net with questions and/or to RSVP.  

Help Lead our Church!  There is a new opening for a Vestry position, effective immediately.  The church by-laws state that any newly vacated positions are selected by the current vestry rather than by a full parish vote.  If you are interested, please contact Richard Terry, Senior Warden, at riterry@davidson.edu or 704-892-7557.  Each vestry member serves as a liaison for committee activity in some area of the church.  The person who fills this position will be asked to serve as a liaison for our Newcomers activity.  Liaisons work with current committee leaders to think strategically about their work and also help identify and recruit committee leadership as necessary.  If you are interested, but want to know more before committing, I encourage you to ask any questions you may have.  The vestry position term being filled ends at the end of 2013.

 

Vestry Update:  This Sunday, February 19, during the adult Sunday school hour, members of the vestry will be present in the Narthex to share a number of items with interested parishioners.  Principally we will present the 2012 Budget and the goals and initiatives that we established at our vestry retreat in January.  This is intended to be an informal session with ample opportunity for questions and discussion.  We hope those who attend the 8:00 service will stick around and those who attend the 10:30 will come a little early.  If you can’t join us, but have questions, please feel free to speak with any of your vestry members:

Richard Terry, Senior Warden, Class of ‘12

Leslie Urban, Junior Warden, Building and Grounds Liaison, Class of ‘12

Chris Jones, Finance Committee Chair, Class of ‘12

Chris Klett, Christian Education Liaison, Class of ‘12

Anne Shandley, Parish Engagement Liaison, Class of ‘13

Steve Alfaro, Parish Life Liaison, Class of ‘13

Stacey Reid, Communications Liaison, Class of ‘14

Natalie Akin, Volunteer Coordination Liaison, Class of ‘14

Clarence Fox, Outreach Liaison, Strategic Planning Chair, Class of ‘14

 

Lent is nearly upon us.  Please mark your calendars with the following opportunities to make this a holy Lent:

U  February 21: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

U  February 22: Ash Wednesday services

U  Tuesdays/Wednesdays in Lent: Youth events with Matt at matt.addington1@gmail.com

U  Tuesdays in Lent: Book Study with Fr. David and Mother Elizabeth Marie at elizabeth.melchionna@gmail.com

U  Wednesdays in Lent: Yoga with Mary Kennedy (davkenn@bellsouth.net)

Our Lenten book study is on Marcus Borg's Speaking Christian.  Copies of relevant chapters and reading schedule will be available on Ash Wednesday or you can purchase the book ISBN: 0061976555.

 

The Diocese of North Carolina is in the process of preparing for the election of a Suffragan Bishop.  If you would like to have input into the sort of Bishop you'd like, please attend a meeting at Christ Church, Charlotte on Tuesday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m.  If you have any questions, please email Mother Elizabeth Marie at elizabeth.melchionna@gmail.com.

 

In the Episcopal Church, all baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion.  Do you have a child who has not yet received communion who is asking questions?  Would you like your child to have some formation and a space to learn about Holy Communion?  Mother Elizabeth Marie is interested in offering a class for children and families interested in having communion for the first time.  Interested?  Email Mother Elizabeth Marie at elizabeth.melchionna@gmail.com or call 704-977-4150.

 

Needed: HistorianRecently we were given information on the building, and outfitting of the old chapel.  This information can be compiled with what we already have. If you are interested in taking on this service, please contact Ellen Eller at 704-896-1322.

 

The School ESL Tutoring Program is in need of additional tutors!  This St. Alban's Outreach program is bearing great fruit--but we need YOU to help make it grow.  For more information, contact Cory Muir at cory@southernherb.com.

 

Save the date of March 25, for our next St. Alban’s Blood Drive.  Our Sunday morning drive will support the Ronald McDonald House.  If you are not sure if you qualify to donate, or are interested in helping with the blood drive, please contact Susan Schoen at smschoen31@mi-connection or 704-237-3373.

 

Have you witnessed the joy Augustine students and their tutors show as student literacy skills improve and confidence is gained?  Would you be interested in learning how to be a part of this program?  If so, please come to the Augustine Project for Literacy Get Acquainted Coffee February 16 from 10:30 – 11:30 at Randolph Middle School, 4400 Water Oak Road in Charlotte.  RSVP to carmstrong@augustine.st-peters.org.

 

Parish Life Events:  Save the Dates!

• February 21, 2012—The ECW and Parish Life Committee will jointly host and prepare our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Bingo game.  Better known as Fat Tuesday in New Orleans, Shrove Tuesday will allow us to feast and fill up on pancakes and applesauce, and to prepare for the season of Lent by “burying the Alleluias” said in church the rest of the year.  Please plan to come and feed the whole family.  Cost is $5 per person, with children 4 and under FREE.  There is a maximum charge of $15 per family, regardless of your numbers.  Dinner will be served from 5:00 to 6:30 PM.  We will bury the Hallelujahs at 6:15 in the garden, and a rousing game of BINGO will be played starting at 6:30.  Wonderful prizes are in store for the winners!
• March 6, 2012—Lenten meal and program on Costa Rica, our Sister Diocese, followed by compline.  There will be a guest speaker and a delicious Costa Rican meal prepared and served by the Parish Life Committee.  This is an event you won’t want to miss!  Details will follow regarding meeting time and cost.

 

A new PFLAG chapter is meeting in Cornelius every third Tuesday at 7 p.m. at The Inclusion House, 21235 Catawba Avenue in Cornelius.  On February 23, members of Davidson College's Gay-Straight Alliance will share their experiences, and you are welcome to join us. For more information, contact Pat Baker at pabaker@davidson.edu.

 

Those celebrating birthdays this week:  Emmy Berger, Noah Eberhardt, Claire Eve, Dixon Gentry, Harrison Gray, Connor Humer, Erica Juchter, Amy Klett, Becky Mack, Ed Reade, Kelsey Ross, Carrie Seeber, Luke Seeber and Nick Short.  Those celebrating an anniversary this week:  Jim and Ernestine Meletiou.

 

 

 

In Our Prayers

Skip Amos, Bill Batten, Poema Bowen, the Bratcher Family, Ruby Bryant, Dan Carrigan, Bill Condran, Kristen Dalton, Karyl Danford, Lewis Deaton, David Dolph, Cameron Gardner, Allison Graves, Don Howie, Don Larson, Huguette McLean, the McConnell, Ann O’Connell, The Reverend Clarence Perdue, Mary Clare Petersen, Jan Pointer, Kevin Ricketts, the Rodenkirch Family, Dick Sanderson, Christine Schaeffer, The Reverend Gay Silver and the Trask Family.

 

We pray for the departed, especially forBrynda Moore.  May her soul and the souls of all the departed, by the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace.  In our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer we pray for St. Andrew’s in Haw River.  In our Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America.  We pray for our companion Diocese of Costa Rica, The Rt. Rev. Hector Monterroso, Bishop of Costa Rica andfor Congregacion Cristo Resucitado.

 

Happenings at St. Alban’s This Week

Sunday, February 19

8:00 and 10:30a Worship

9:15a Sunday School for Youth and Adults

10:15a Sunday School for k-5

4:30p Canterbury

Monday, February 20

            6:30p Cub Scouts

Tuesday, February 21—Shrove Tuesday

9:15a Morning Prayer

5:00p Pancake Supper and Bingo

Wednesday, February 22—Ash Wednesday

            12:00p Ash Wednesday Service

            7:00p Ash Wednesday Service

Thursday, February 23

9:15a Morning Prayer

9:30a Staff Meeting

11:00a Holy Eucharist at The Pines

5:00p Children’s Choir Rehearsal

7:00p Adult Choir Rehearsal

Friday, February 24

Saturday, February 25

Sunday, February 26

8:00 and 10:30a Worship

9:15a Sunday School for Youth and Adults

10:15a Sunday School for k-5

4:30p Canterbury

7:00p Men’s Support Group