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Parish Report for 2007 Synod - St. Alban’s Anglican Church

We had a very good year at St. Alban’s. As you can tell by the following report we spend a lot of time eating and having parties as well as worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ at the Holy Eucharist.

St. Alban’s Day Steak Cook Out - June 24, 2006

Each year on the Saturday afternoon following the heavenly birthday of our Patron Saint we celebrate with a Holy Eucharist followed by a picnic with steak, hot dogs and cold beverages and games for the children. The turn out this year was great and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Pony Show and Yard Sale - July 8, 2006

Our Thirteenth Annual Pony Show began bright and early on a Saturday morning with the measuring of the ponies. This year we planned our annual yard sale to coincide with the pony show. Father Ray announced the show events. Food and drink was available for all. The children especially enjoyed petting and actually touching the ponies. Fun was had by all. The St. Alban’s Pony Show and Yard Sale is our primary fund raising event each year. We successfully exceeded our fund raising goal in 2006. Next year our pony show will include a Blessing of the Ponies.

APA/REC Joint Evensong at St. Alban’s, Joppa - September 24, 2006

APA/REC Joint Evensong at Bishop Cummins Memorial REC, Baltimore - January 28, 2007

APA/REC Joint Evensong at St. Paul’s, Crownsville - May 13, 2007

APA/REC Joint Holy Eucharist at Emmanuel REC, Baltimore - June 11, 2007

St. Alban’s participates in all the Joint APA/REC worship services. At least three times per year the REC and APA parishes in Maryland gather at one of our churches and join in worship with a Choral Evensong. In 2006 we also joined together to receive our Lord in the Holy Communion at a joint celebration of the Holy Eucharist. As at most church functions, food is served afterwards so we can get to know each other and talk while we graze on unusually good food.

Blessing of the Animals - October 7, 2006

Each year we bless the animals at St. Alban’s on the Saturday before the feast of St. Francis.

All Hallows Eve Children’s Party - October 29, 2006

On the Sunday closest to All Saints’ (hallows) Day we gather the children and adults for worship good food and good candy. We begin with crafts as the children make something to identify them with a saint. We follow immediately a procession of "saints" around the church grounds then into the church for an abbreviated Evening Prayer with children’s sermon on the saints. Everyone has lots of fun.

All Saints’ Day Novemberfest - November 1, 2006

We eat German food on All Saints’ Day after a celebration of the Holy Eucharist in honor of all the saints. The Parish Life Committee buys and prepares excellent German sausage. Members bring in assorted food to supplement.

Epiphany Pot Luck and Gift Exchange - January 6, 2007

After the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in honor of our Lord’s manifestation to the gentiles, we had a parish pot luck. The highlight of the evening was a gift exchange. Not a normal gift exchange, but one where we brought something unusual or downright tacky to exchange for another unusual or tacky gift. There was a prize for the worst gift.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper - February 20, 2007

Attendance is always good for our Pancake Supper. The supper follows a sung Evening Prayer without a sermon. After praising our Lord we descend upon the Parish Hall to devour pancakes and sausage.

Lent and Holy Week 2007

Every Friday during Lent, except Good Friday we remember our Lord’s suffering by walking the Way of the Cross. Following this especially meaningful devotion we worship our Lord with Evening Prayer followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament wherein we worship our Lord Jesus in His Sacramental Presence.

On Maundy Thursday we observe the institution of the Mass with a Solemn High Mass with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose ending with stripping of the altar. After Mass we gather before our Lord at the Altar of Repose and pray.

On this most sacred Holy Day we honor our Lord’s death with the Veneration of the Holy Cross followed by the Holy Communion. In the evening the parish gathers to observe His suffering and death for us on that first Good Friday.

Easter 2007

This Easter our Lord blessed us with two baptisms. John Sackett, son of our seminarian at Nashotah House and Sophia Perry were regenerated by the Holy Ghost and made members of Christ’s Church. We began our resurrection morning with the lighting of New Fire and the Blessing of the Paschal Candle. Father Baskwill sang the Exultet which was followed by a baptism and then the Solemn High Mass. We had one of our largest crowds ever.

Confirmation - April 22, 2007

Bishop Brewer visited us this year for Confirmation and reception of new members. He confirmed three adults. One other adult was received into the parish.

Ladies High Tea - May 5, 2007

This year our second annual High Tea was given early on a Saturday afternoon. Tickets for this spectacular event were sold out the first day they were on sale. Forty ladies had an extraordinarily fine time, enjoying being served, instead of serving. We had several visitors among the tea participants who were impressed with the attention to detail and the great service.

Parish Clean up day - May 12, 2007

Our annual spring clean-up was completed in less than three hours. The participants spread mulch, trimmed trees and shrubs and generally cleaned up after the long winter. The morning of labor was followed by lunch and drinks at a local restaurant.

Ascension Day Spaghetti Dinner - May 17, 2007

More than fifty people attended our Annual Ascension Day Holy Eucharist and Spaghetti Dinner among them several visitors. Spaghetti sauce was provided by members and some brought dessert and bread. As usual everyone enjoyed the fellowship and company of their fellow Christians.

St. Alban’s Day at Cactus Willies

On the third Thursday of each month St. Alban’s receives a 15% rebate of the bill from all who eat at Cactus Willies, a buffet style restaurant, and who say they are with St. Alban’s. The church name is prominently displayed at the entrance to the restaurant, so all who enter see a "St. Alban’s" sign.

Raised funds and purchased new carpet in Church

We purchase new carpet in the church with a special fund raiser. Necessary funds were raised in less than three months.

Supported the Eye Clinic in India

St. Alban’s raised support for an Eye Clinic in India for the poor. The parish, both children and adults, gave generously through Lenten Mite Boxes.

Supported our Seminarian at Nashotah House

Our seminarian continues to do well at seminary in Wisconsin. He will spend six weeks this summer at the cathedral in Orlando. The parish has collected loose change to help a little toward his expenses.

Collected Cards for St. Martin’s Church in Tokyo, Japan

We collect all types of used greeting cards. The cards are sent to Japan, where greeting cards are very expensive, to be refurbished for sale. The proceeds are used to support various Christian ministries throughout the world.

Participated with the US Army in clothes drive for Iraqi Civilians

Through a chaplain in Iraq we learned of a shortage of clothing for Iraqi civilians released from hospitals. We sent many boxes of used clothing to Iraq to meet this unusual, but critical need.

Strategic Plan

For two years St. Alban’s has been in the process of developing a strategic plan. The plan establishes a picture of what our parish might be in 25 years. The plan was presented to the parish in June.

Quilting at St. Alban’s

The local quilt guild often uses our parish hall for sewing bees and quilt marathons. We find this is a good way to introduce folks to St. Alban’s who otherwise may not know about us.

Narcotics Anonymous

A local chapter of NA uses our parish hall each Friday night. This introduces another part of local community to the church.

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