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January, February, March 2018

THE RED DOOR S t. A l b a n’s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h

The Mission of St. Alban’s Parish is to exemplify Christ’s love, using our gifts to connect people to God, each other, and creation through worship, inreach, spiritual formation, outreach, and foundation ministries.

December 11, 2017

Dear Parishioners, We are in December and I still have two months of my Senior Warden term left. I am in the peculiar situation of needing to write my final Red Door article to you now, eight weeks early. This odd communications timing is due to our Red Door still being a quarterly publication rather than the preferred monthly or bi-monthly schedule we hope to achieve. As of November, we have a Communications Committee, chaired by Charlene O’Donnell, which is starting to deal with these issues as you will see below. 2017 at St. Alban’s has been busy. We greeted our Transition Priest just as I started as Senior Warden. Nicolette’s arrival was a blessing! Our worship services, including the plentiful funerals, have been conducted in such a manner to be a source of great spiritual uplifting for the congregation. The special courses, discussion groups, and committees advised by Nicolette have all been effective and very well received. This coming Lent we will once again have the pleasure of another series by Nicolette; this one is entitled Grow, Sing, Eat … the Bible. The Narrative/Portfolio Committee is one of the groups benefitting from Nicolette’s guidance as they move us forward through the transition process. They anticipate wrapping up their phase of the work by our January Vestry meeting when a Search Committee will commence it’s important work. The service of those talented parishioners who have agreed and served so fully on this committee is a blessing to all of us. In case you cannot see their halos they are: Anne Krabacher, Marikate Leavens, Sal Piazza, Roy Smoot, Kelley Tomkies, Russ Rosler, Charlene O’Donnell, and Elaine Warnett. Our website, as you may or may not realize, has been so sadly out of date that it was of little use except for the church’s address or telephone number. Since the starting point for those seeking a church is now the internet, this deficiency on our part has been truly a detriment and would undoubtedly discourage almost any rector seeking a strong congregation. Another blessing is Janet Lewis who has stepped forward and is updating our website. The Narrative/Portfolio Committee will be connecting its information with points on the site. You might like to look it over yourselves (www.stalbansbexley.org). You may have noticed how clean and orderly our church buildings have become since last February when we hired a new Sexton. Dan Dingus joined us. What a blessing he is in keeping things working and clean. Lalla St. John continues to keep our kitchens and bathrooms tidy.

INSIDE

From the Transition Priest 1

Inreach 2

Outreach 4 4

Extra! Extra! News from

the Pews 6

Calendar 10

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Sundays

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I 9:30 a.m. Choir Rehearsal 10:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II

Mondays

Morning Prayer (Library)

11:15 AM

http://www.stalbansbexley.org/

The addition of Sandy LaFolette as the second half of the administrative team in the office has been a blessing. This has been particularly important because Erica Partridge has responsibilities with her ill husband. By greeting and assisting, Ernestine Ujah continues her blessed service to those in need who come to our church each week. One of the most challenging hires this year has been the Director of Christian Formation. Finding the right person was slow and thoughtful because there is a shortage of educated, experienced, and qualified Christian Formation Directors. We have been blessed to hire Tiffany Hayes, who is both an able and a caring young woman. She has been with us just six weeks but she is off to a good start, including working out her first Christmas pageant on December 17th while just starting to know the children and meeting Nicolette’s preference for no Baby Jesus before December 25th. She is very ably assisted by Bobbie Phillips, an elementary school music teacher and regularly one of our Sunday school teachers. By now, we will have appreciated the manager surrounded by the wise men. We look forward to Tiffany expanding her work into the teen group. She will need our support — especially from those families with teenagers to join in and develop a program in which they wish to participate. Many thanks to the parents— Andi Labita, Marikate Leavens, and Ann Krabacher— who assisted in Sunday School until we had a director in place. Thank goodness for Karen Eckenroth, Director of Music, and Robert Sweeney, Finance Administrator, who have continued to quietly perform their responsibilities. We need to sing some praises there— or should we be counting our blessings? Certainly, I think that it is a blessing to have a PayPal account for parishioners to use to pay their pledges, if they prefer. And, the lovely music played and sung by Karen and our choir is angelic. As promised when I became Senior Warden, we are developing an Employee Handbook. It is anticipated that the Vestry will approve this document at the January Vestry meeting. Responsibility for personnel continues to reside in the Rector, but how basics such as vacations and pay are set out as is the reporting process when an employees has a grievance. This year we had Debbie Addison join us as Registrar and tackle her first Parochial Report which is a blessing for us as is Ed Yen’s willingness to return as Treasurer when Todd Thompson felt that he needed to step down.We are happy to have a veteran at the helm here as we undergo a pre-rector search audit to demonstrate that all is in order. Ed is working to set up a method to give by a logo in the Bulletin. The Social Concerns Committee, led by Cindy Kip, has continued to administer the funds for out reach and to have the recipient organizations visit us each month in church and share a little about themselves. Vestry liaison Miranda Cox brings their recommendations to the Vestry regularly. This committee’s support of the Rummage Sale in May was fabulous. Lynne Tappan and June Robb were blessings, indeed. I hope by the Annual Meeting to have a new team for the 2018 Rummage Sale. It will only happen with the continued support of this group and of new participation from the rest of the congregation. The work that the Social Concerns Committee does in collecting items year-round is outstanding. Whether it is school supples, Thanksgiving meals, Christmas toys, toothbrushes and hygiene items, socks, or pennies, or plastic bags, etc. their work is on-going and massive. Thank you to the many in the church who support this work. The Homeless Meals on the second Wednesdays has been led and co-ordinated very well by Rachel Barnes and her crew of choppers, sous chefs, and servers. I am sure that the men eating these yummy, healthy meals believe that these volunteers are angels. Do angels trot? Certainly, Connie Schalinske is an angel even if she chose to organize rather than trot on Thanksgiving. Halos off to Connie and her committee for the $9500 raised to help reduce hunger. In our 4th year of this community out-reach program, 400 people of all faiths— or no faith— joined us to run or walk at the Pete Lowder Memorial Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Pastoral Care by our lay team has reached a new high under the blessed leadership of Eileen Becknell and Ernestine Ujah. The bringing communion on the third Sundays to our shut-ins has proven very popular with those that cannot

come to us. We will miss Vestryman Charlie Orne who added greatly to this team and now is a long way for a pastoral visit in Cincinnati. The Christian Formation Committee with Anne Krabacher and Laura Piazza leading the children’s and the adult aspects of this program has been another blessing this year. Last summer Anne covered Sunday School for the children each week; in addition, she helped interview for a new Director for the children’s program. Laura and Kristen Fout have worked hard to have meaningful programs this year. Sam Meier was three weeks this Fall and now a three week series is coming on the PG-13 movie Doubt at the end of this month and the first week in February. Quiet service is given by Kay Holley and the entire Altar Guild who support the worship along with our chalice carrier, lectures, and ushers. Thank you to Charlene O’Donnell, Steve Brown, and Mike Bissell who organize these important functions. Ann Lowder is our Flower Guild and blessedly sees that we have stunning flowers on the altar in honor or in memory of loved ones. Joyfully we all enjoy the blessing of beautiful music each Sunday from our Choir. It enhances our worship and fills the church with gladness. The work of the Worship Committee, under the leadership of Charlene O’Donnell, provides an active forum to advise the Rector while planning our services. The return of Contemplative Prayer activities under the leadership of Roy Smoot is a blessing to our congregation. We look forward to this aspect of parish life growing further. The Building and Grounds Committee, under the leadership of Mike Bissell, has had an active year! They have gotten the lift in the Education Building operational again and the kitchen windows in that building repaired so they close. The stairs to the attic have been replaced so they are safer. The interior of the church, the hallway to the offices, the rector’s office, and the ceiling in the choir room were all painted. The pew cushions should finally have been correctly recovered by the time you read this and the black chairs in the living room may have been repaired. The gutters have been cleaned and the drainage off the roof and away from the building have all been studied, cleaned, and documented. The roof and steeple have been repaired and animal-proofed. The Sally Kluges Education Building’s original hot water heater has been replaced. Brighter lights have been installed where needed, a new disposal installed in the smaller kitchen, and numerous other repairs. We would like to have a line item in the budget to keep us more current with our up-keep, but the operating income from the Every Member Canvass does not currently allow for this at this time. Others on this committee who have taken responsibility for various projects large and small are: David Fanning, Larry Burton, Richard McKee, Jane Peden, and Harris Wood. Jerry Becknell says that he is bowing out but his advise and guidance is important to us and his continued help is appreciated. The Memorial Garden Committee, led by Ellen Yen, has succeeded in keeping the garden lovely and watered. The water feature is an on-going challenge which I am confident can be remedied early in the spring. We are honored that the Little Garden Club of Columbus has asked permission to submit our Memorial Garden for consideration at the Smithsonian Museum to be recorded in their archive of beautiful gardens. Tim Williams and Jenny Hoffman have been angelic in reviving Coffee Hours and the funeral and baptism receptions. The many people who “do” coffee hours for the 8 o’clock and 10:15 services play a vital role in allowing us time together. The special event reception groups under Lucinda Sweeney and Christine Shields make those occasions special. These are blessings for all of us. My thanks to Tom Brigdon and Tim Williams who are active on the Stewardship Committee and to all the Vestry members who assisted in the contacting of parishioners for the Every Member Canvass. As much as we wish we had money trees in our Memorial Garden, this responsibility rests clearly on the living. By the time you read this, you will have recognized the abundance of blessings we have at St Alban’s. And, you will have found a way to support this little gem of a church. It appears to me that there is nothing that this church could not do if

it had the financial resources available to it. We are blessed with an absolutely wonderful group of people who are willing and able to help with everything . Our limitation seems to be simply dollars to have more options than we currently. With our hearts and hands working together we will solve this challenge. My Vestry has been the ultimate blessing. Mike Bissell is always there and calmly discusses with a quiet sense of humor. I do hope that he is right and that back in our English ancestry we are distant cousins. Each Vestry member has performed her/his responsibilities with enthusiasm and competency +. Attendance at the meetings has been tremendous, just like it was at the small group discussions that the congregation participated in this fall. Parishioners are enthusiastically engaged. We are on an up-swing! We have a strong slate for the Vestry and Convention Delegates. Their biographies are included in this The Red Door. They are committed and capable individuals. They are also, as the diocese requires: baptized, confirmed Episcopalians, and pledge to our Every Member Canvass. In addition, as with the Portfolio Committee, a nod was given to those who attended the small group discussions sharing and learning about our parish. Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to serve our parish in leadership positions during this period of transition. I know that my grandmother, Emma Cooper Thomas, who was instrumental in the founding St Alban’s, would have enjoyed me learning and appreciating so much about our parish and our caring parishioners. It has been a significant journey— one with an abundance of blessings. Thank you all. Warmly, Carolyn Cooper Thomas Christy

INREACH – Caring for Our Own and Strengthening Our

Family of Faith

Pastoral Care Contact Information

The Pastoral Care team continues to provide pastoral care during our transition. For

pastoral care needs during normal office hours call the church at (614) 253-8549.

After hours call or text 614-407-5987 and you will be forwarded to the person on-

call (normally the Rector). Pastoral Care has an email address meant to insure that

the pastoral leaders (The Rev. Nicolette Papanek, Eileen Becknell, and Ernestine

Ujah) are informed when there is a pastoral care need. This email is:

[email protected]. Anyone in the parish may use this email if they or someone they know has a

pastoral care concern. All calls and emails are confidential. St. Alban’s business cards are available with the Pastoral Care

email address on the back.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Your Pastoral Care Team welcomes all prayer requests. It would be very helpful if you would indicate:

1. Whether to include the first and last name or only the first name on the prayer list.

2. Name of hospital when appropriate.

3. Whether the person would like a visit and/or Communion from a member of the Pastoral Care team.

4. Your name in case we need contact information. It would also be helpful if you would let us know when the

individual may be taken off the prayer list.

ST. ALBAN’S PASTORAL CARE

Caring for Our Own: It’s What a Church Does! THANKSGIVING

Thanks to everyone who helped in any way with the delivery of our Christmas poinsettias to parishioners unable to come to church and to those for whom we care. We remember Robert Livingston who graciously let us use his design depicting St. Alban’s red doors and lighted steeple for our Christmas cards. We are grateful and thankful for his artistic work, his care for St. Alban’s and his generosity in giving his permission to use his work. We especially thank the following people who volunteered to deliver the poinsettias during their holiday: Liz and Steve Cartwright, Connie Schalinske, Penny Shyjka, Roy Smoot, Lucinda Sweeney, Ernestine Ujah, and Eileen and Jerry Becknell. These in-reach endeavors could not be done without the help of everyone.

HELP DELIVER EASTER LILIES

We would like to share our lovely Easter lilies with parishioners who are unable to attend church services during the

Easter season. Please join us in this fun and loving ministry. We want you so there are enough volunteers for each to

deliver one plant. That way you can really connect with the recipient. If you would be willing to deliver an Easter lily on

Easter Sunday or in the first few days after Easter, please sign up on the bulletin board in the Living Room or contact

Eileen Becknell (cell: 614-512-6335; or email: [email protected])

TELL US HOW TO REACH YOU!

Why is this important? Because it could save your life…

Recently, a parishioner fell at home. Several people know the person well and were able to check with others including a

friend and finally a neighbor. The person always let someone know if s/he was away, and no one knew. In the

parishioner’s pastoral care contact file at church was information about how to contact the neighbor and friend.

Equipped with the information, a pastoral care visitor went to the person’s home. Receiving no response, he went to the

neighbor who called the person’s close friend. The police were called, and our parishioner was found on the floor

dehydrated and near death. The medical personnel told us the person would not have lived much longer without rescue.

This sounds dramatic, and it is! We hope it illustrates how important it is for the church to be a regular “contact person”

for you in case something should happen. Remember that all information you give us is confidential. The church is your

place for renewal, and sometimes rescue! Please take time to be in touch with Rev. Nicolette, Eileen Becknell, or

Ernestine Ujah and give us this necessary information.

Meeting Alzheimer’s: A Hope Filled and Inspiring Workshop

Several of us attended a workshop this Fall for caregivers caring for persons with Alzheimer’s or dementia. It

was so insightful and helpful that we have requested that The Rev. Mary Raysa and Jimi James conduct a

workshop for our Pastoral Visitors. During our discussion, we decided to have a separate workshop open to

the St. Alban’s community and to the wider Bexley area community on Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 9 AM to

noon. SAVE THE DATE!

If you haven’t already, the chances are great that you will care for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia either

with your pastoral visits, or with family or friends. Watch for additional information.

mailto:[email protected]

OUTREACH – Caring for Others and All Creation

Monthly Shelter Meal - 2017 Review The Outreach and Social Concerns Ministry is a part of St. Alban’s history, identity and mission. The preparation of dinner on the second Wednesday of each month for the men at the Friends of the Homeless shelter on Main and Carpenter (an appropriately name street) has been a part of St. Alban’s outreach for so long that no one can say when it actually started. An added benefit for the participants is the fellowship experienced during the preparation, transportation and serving of the meal.

Menus for 2017 have ranged from Baked Mac N Cheese to Meatloaf to Chili to a Summer Sandwich Bar. The process has been and continues to be an enriching experience for all involved. We share recipes and memories as well as learning new kitchen survival skills. Many parishioners have expressed support and a desire to participate but regret that their work schedules and family obligations preclude participation on Wednesday afternoon.

To this end, starting in November, menus were devised to include an element that could be prepared ahead of time at home. Eight families/individuals prepared chili for November’s main dish and potatoes au gratin for December’s side dish to accompany the turkey & ham. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. So Social Concerns would like to continue this expansion of the program.

Please mark your 2018 calendars for the following dinner dates: Jan 10 Feb 14 Mar 14 Apr 11 May 9 Jun 13 Jul 11 Aug 8 Sept 12 Oct 10 Nov 14 Dec 12

The designated dish can be brought to the church on the Sunday before each dinner, or dropped off at the church prior to the 1p Wednesday prep.

January’s menu is Chicken Parmesan. We are looking for bar cookies for dessert. We will provide the disposable pans and you can use your favorite family recipe or mix for brownies, lemon bars, blondies or other goodies.

We still need a minimum of four Wednesday volunteers to make salad and put the various meal elements together. Usually, everything is in the oven by 3:30p and you are done.

Signup sheets for each month in 2018 are on the bulletin board in the living room. I promise that signing up for one month does not equal a lifetime commitment :) Teens are welcome anytime that school is out of session. We have even had volunteers as young as five assisting their grandparent kneed meatloaf (they think of it just like playdough). The new sign-up sheets will have separate sections for the Wednesday crew, the home cooks and the transport/servers.

Questions, ideas, concerns, chat - contact me, Rachel Barnes by phone, text, email or after church. I really want to hear from you. 714-267-4782 [email protected]

STOP - POP - DROP

For more than three decades, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio (RMHC) has been serving families with

seriously ill children by providing a home-away-from-home at the Columbus Ronald McDonald House. For years the tabs

of beverage cans have been collected as a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House. They are able to generate thousands

of dollars from their pop tab collection (a compact, easily collectable source of aluminum) program every year. So, STOP

(before you recycle the can) POP (the tab) and DROP (the tab in a receptacle). Please save these tabs, a former project

of Sue Altmaier. There is a collection receptacle in the Living Room. We will periodically deliver the tabs to the Ronald

McDonald House.


FOOD COLLECTION

When you go grocery shopping please remember to help the less fortunate with a couple of cans of vegetables or other

items. Staples such as rice, spaghetti, cereals, peanut butter, and canned fruit are also good. There is a real need for diapers,

soap and other hygiene items that cannot be purchased with food stamps. There is a box in the Living Room for you to leave

your contributions. PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS and COUPONS are also good to give.

Buying food for many families and seniors, is a hardship. More than ever, hunger and food scarcity is a problem and is

occurring at the same time as a cut in the food stamp program. Anything we contribute is really needed and helpful.

Caring and Sharing

St. Alban’s Social Concerns Committee selects an organization to receive the loose plate offering each month on Caring and

Sharing Sunday. Contributions can also be made at any time using the envelopes in the pews.

January Caring and Sharing: CRIS

In January, 2018, our Caring and Sharing focus will be Community Refugee and Immigration Services, or CRIS. Tyler

Reeve, their community outreach person, will be with us at both services on January 14. He will bring a member of their

Speaker’s Bureau, who will talk with us between the services.

In the last year, the number of refugees coming into the US has dropped, but they’re still coming – CRIS worked with 76

new refugees in September 2017. Although refugees receive government assistance for only 90 days, CRIS offers a wide

variety of services to refugees, immigrants, and asylees, from the day of arrival to years afterwards.

Since this article is being written in November 2017, things may look different when January 2018 rolls around. Be sure

to be in church on the 14th to learn from Tyler and to add your contribution to St. Alban’s offering for the support of

vulnerable immigrants and refugees in our community.

CARING AND SHARING for FEBRUARY: PARTNERS-IN-MINISTRY-IN-LIBERIA

Caring and Sharing Sunday is February 11, 2018. Mother Abby will share information about PIMIL.

Liberia, on the west coast of Africa, has had ties with our country since 1822 when freed slaves from the United States were

repatriated to that country in the belief that ex-slaves would have greater freedom and equality in Africa. Slaves freed from

slave ships were also sent there instead of being returned to their countries of origin. In 1847, the Republic of Liberia was

founded and a government modeled on that of the United States was established. The capital city, Monrovia, was named

after James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States and a supporter of the colonization of Liberia.

Modernization followed investment by the United States during World War II. Liberia was a founding member of the United

Nations. The 1980s brought a period of political and economic instability followed by two successive civil wars (1989 – 2003)

leaving approximately 250,000 people dead and destroying the country’s infrastructure and economy. Since a peace

agreement in 2003 and democratic elections in 2005, Liberia is recovering from the lingering effects of the civil war and

related economic problems, with about 85% of the population living below the international poverty line.

Partners-in-Ministry-in Liberia (PIMIL) was established in 2005 at St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Westerville by The Rev.

Abeoseh Flemister to focus on the education and health needs of the people in Liberia. St. Albans, guided by the Millennium

Development Goals established by the United Nations and adopted by the Episcopal Church, has been a partner in this

ministry since its inception. We were the primary sponsor of two nursing students, Pauline Togba and Edgarlyn Freeman,

who have graduated from Cuttington University in Liberia and are now helping others with their health needs. More

recently, funding has been directed toward primary education of children. The Ebola outbreak in 2014 – 2015 left many

orphans. PIMIL increased support of Ebola orphans to include 69 for the 2017-2018 academic year. PIMIL’S goal is to

support 100 Ebola orphans as funds are available.

If you are writing a check, make it payable to St. Alban’s and write Caring

and Sharing, PIMIL in the memo line.

EXTRA! EXTRA! – News From The Pews

This is the place to tell us what’s on your mind, ask a question (or two) and have it answered, or offer insight into something that supports your spiritual life.

Profiles of the Senior and Junior Wardens and the Vestry

Senior Warden: Mike Bissell Michael G.(Mike) Bissell, a retired academic, was baptized and confirmed as an Episcopalian in the mid-1990’s, has been an active member of churches in three states: the Church of St. Luke the Physician in Galveston, TX, St Brendan’s Episcopal Church in Sewickley, PA, and The Church of St Edward the Confessor here in Whitehall, OH, having served on the vestries at St. Luke’s and St Edward’s (where he also served briefly as Junior Warden and received a license as a lay prayer leader). He began regular attendance at St Albans Rite I services in early 2012. He currently serves as St Alban’s Junior Warden and Building & Grounds Committee Chair, Rite I lector and usher, Monday Morning Prayer lector and presider, presenter in the Contemplative Prayer series and various special services, and has served as Lector Shepherd, convener of the Worship Committee and Green Team as well as a Diocesan Convention delegate. He is a 2016 graduate of the Education for Ministry (EfM) graduate-level Bible study/church history/theology curriculum online through the University of the South, and serves on the Board of the international charity Partners in Ministry in Liberia (PIMIL) based at St Matthews Episcopal Church in Westerville, OH. Junior Warden: Tim Williams I’ve been a lifelong member of St. Albans. As a young adult, I participated in teaching Sunday school, was an acolyte and very active in the youth program. I have served two terms on the vestry and co-chair the Parish Life committee with Jenny Hoffman. I also serve as a lector and intercessor. I am employed at the W. W. Williams Company as the Business Developer in their Logistics Division. I am married to Julie (she serves on the Alter Guild and is a member of the Garden Committee) and have two grown children and two grandchildren. My oldest son and daughter-in-law are members of Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte.

Vestry

3 year term: Tom Brigdon

My wife Cassandra and I along with our children, Grace (16), Jake (15), George (12) and Charlie (11) have been members of St. Albans for 15 years joining shortly after our move to Bexley in 2002. I grew up in Gardner, Kansas and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1990 with a degree in Economics. I am the Managing Member of Northstar Realty which is a small Shopping Center Developer located in downtown Columbus. Regarding involvement at St. Albans as well as other Community/Charitable groups: I have served a three year term on the Vestry and been active on the Stewardship Committee. In addition, I have served two three year terms as a Fiscal Trustee of St. Albans. In past years as an Usher, I was one of the five Lector Captain’s for 2013-14 and still serve as a lector. I sat on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees for the Columbus School for Girls and on the Board of Trustees of The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation. Finally, I have also served as the Chairman of the City of Bexley’s Community Improvement Commission which among other projects was responsible for the re-development of City Hall & the adjacent Bexley Square shopping center. 3 year term: Jenny Hoffman

I am lucky to have been a life-long member of Saint Albans having been baptized there in the 50's. I have fond childhood memories of attending Sunday School with my family (Stan and Jo Price) and friends, participating in the Christmas pageant, and singing in the children's choir. The choir practiced on Saturday morning and we would kick off by singing the OSU fight song. My husband, Herb Hoffman, and I were married by Reverend Robert Leake. We have two children, Whitney and Frederick who have also enjoyed their experience at St. Albans. I taught Sunday school for a number of years when our children were in Junior High. I have been active in the rummage sale not only as a worker but also an avid shopper--one of my favorite sales of the year:) The past 4 years I have been a member of the altar guild. The past 2 years I have helped with the Annual Pete Louder, Bexley Turkey Trot to help raise money for the Mid Ohio Food Bank. This past year I served as a member of the Vestry for a 1 year term. It has been a wonderful learning experience for me and I feel I am just now understanding the role of the Vestry and how I can be a more active member. I am happy to be serving 3 more years on the vestry and supporting the church. 3 year term: Laura Piazza I am honored to be chosen to run for St. Alban’s Vestry for a three year term. We have been members of St. Alban’s for 37 years. I have served as chair of the Parish Life Committee twice, served on the Vestry, served as Junior and Senior Warden, helped renovate the Education Building kitchen, started the St. Alban’s libraries in 1990, and started the Book Club in 2014. I have also served as Chair of the Faith Formation Committee and have ushered for many years. Our daughters were baptized, confirmed, and married at St. Alban’s. I love this church with the red door and hope that we can build upon its history to welcome a new Rector in 2018 and new people to this faith community that has nourished us for nearly 100 years. 1 year term, completing Charlie Orne’s term: Eileen Becknell Eileen and her husband, Jerry, have been members of St. Alban’s since 1988. They have three grown children, who were active in the St. Alban’s Youth Group and served as acolytes. They have seven grandchildren. Eileen graduated from the University of Florida with a Master’s degree in nursing and taught in the U of F College of Nursing. She worked in the libraries at the Columbus School for Girls. At St. Alban’s, Eileen has been Chair of the Social Concerns Committee, has ushered, helped with the annual Rummage Sale, Meals for the Homeless, and the Children’s Library. She is currently the Pastoral Care Coordinator, a member of the Social Concerns Committee, and serves as a Chalice bearer. The St. Alban’s community is important to Eileen and she has served and will continue to serve to the best of her ability. 1 year term, completing Tim William’s term: Lain Howarth Having had both a grandfather and an uncle who were Episcopal priests, Làin is a cradle Episcopalian. She was raised in Summit, New Jersey where her family was active at Calvary Episcopal Church. Baptized by her grandfather at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Edgartown, Massachusetts, she was confirmed and married at Calvary. After graduating from Colby College in 1970, Làin married Robert Howarth and joined him in Columbus where he was practicing law. Here, they raised their two children, Macy and Clinton, and joined St. Alban's in 1978 where they have worshipped ever since. During the early years, while her children were enjoying Sunday school, Làin was a Sunday school teacher, a bible study participant, and a member of the Women's Guild, the Stewardship, Rummage Sale, Parish Life and Newcomers Committees. She also served on the vestry during the Carberry years. More recently, Làin has participated in the life of the parish as a member of the Altar Guild, the Social Concerns and Pastoral Care Committees as well as the Grief and Contemplative Prayer Groups. She and Robert are monthly coffee hosts and enthusiastic Rummage Sale workers. In addition to time spent at St. Alban's, Lain's chief interests are her family, which has grown to include a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and four grandchildren, as well as animal advocacy, land conservation and cancer research issues.

Convention Delegates (Elect 2 for 2 year terms and 1 for 1 year term and all serve as alternates) Rachel Barnes I am a cradle Episcopalian, raised by founding pillars of the parish. So, I was in my thirties before I learned that “my plate is full” was an acceptable response to a request from anyone church related. I moved to Southern California as a young

married with a baby and was a member of St Paul’s in Tustin, California where my husband and I were the sponsors for the high school youth group. After my divorce, I attended St Wilfrid’s in Huntington Beach where I was active in education, newcomers and fundraising programs. After my return to Ohio, I checked out the various parishes in Columbus and found St Alban’s late in 2012. I said yes to giving a manicure to an elderly parishioner in the hospital and found friends in Erma Gray and those around her. The rest, as they say, is history. The major portion of my energies have been with the annual Rummage Sale and the monthly dinner for the Friends of the Homeless Men’s Shelter. My passion is for outreach - I feel so blessed by family, friends and my faith that I feel the call to share God’s love in whatever small ways I can as I journey through life. Mary Bissell Mary Bissell has lived in the Central Ohio area since the 1950’s. She recently retired from her teaching career with Columbus City Schools where she enjoyed a variety of experiences in Urban Education. Mary became a member at St. Albans in 2012. She came from St. Edward’s Episcopal Church in Whitehall and was previously a member of St. John’s Worthington. For the past two years, Mary has served on the board for the PIMIL organization. At St. Alban’s, Mary has participated in the Contemplative Prayer Group, Spiritual Direction with the Wellstreams program and volunteered at our annual Rummage Sale. Most recently, Mary served on the Transition Team and served as a delegate for the 2017 Diocesan Convention. Mary also serves as an usher for the 8:00 service along with her husband, Mike Bissell. David Fanning David F. Fanning is a numismatist and bookseller who has lived with his family in Bexley since 2005. He was raised Roman Catholic in Cincinnati, where he was baptized and confirmed, but had drifted from his faith as a young man. He moved to the Columbus area in 1994 to attend graduate school at OSU, where he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in English Language and Literature. He began attending services at St. Alban’s in January 2016, after spending some years slowly developing a spirituality through his involvement with a 12-step program that has kept him healthy and productive for over a decade. He is a member of the Building & Grounds Committee and acts as a liaison with outside groups that use St. Alban’s meeting spaces. He has strong personal interests in church history, scripture, prayer, and liturgical practice. He finds in the Episcopal Church a positive mix of traditional liturgy and inclusive personal principles.

Ramona Whisler Ramona Whisler has been a member at St. Alban’s since 1983/4. She has served in various capacities over the years with some of the highlights being the following: member and chairperson of a Pastoral Care Committee (from about 1986 to 2001), volunteer director of Children’s Education (1987-88), intermittently a member of the Social Concerns Committee, member of the “Flower” committee 2009 to 2015, and Diocesan delegate two previous times.

Faith Formation Committee

The Faith Formation Committee met in early May for an all-day retreat to consider what St. Alban’s wants and needs for our

faith journey in the upcoming year. Here’s a peek at what’s planned:

Lenten Wednesdays 2018 will include dinner and dinner and a program by Rev Nicolette called Grow, Sing … Eat the Bible.

The film series will return in early 2018. Stay tuned for details!

Other plans (not yet finalized) will offer: many ways to experience the Bible – and reading the full Bible; what do we want our

legacy to be (besides financial)?; a shy person’s guide to evangelism; learning about Jesus’ appreciation way.

Are there faith formation experiences you would like to suggest? Please feel free to speak to any committee member! We

look forward to sharing our faith journey with our parish and hope you’ll join us to learn more about how we care called to

serve and then sent into the world to “go in peace to love and serve with gladness and singleness of heart”.

Laura Piazza (Chair)

Jane Peden, Kristen Fout Anne Krabacher (Vestry Liaison)

January Contemplative Saturday

What: Two sessions:

1. Mindfulness and the Christian mystical tradition

2. Introducing Celtic Spirituality

Who: Mike Bissell and Roy Smoot

When: Saturday Jan. 27 from 10am to noon

Where: St Albans Living Room

Altar Flowers Want to celebrate a special event or remember a loved one in a way that touches all in attendance at St Alban's Sunday service? The altar flowers are beautiful reminders of the natural world in which God has placed us. There are openings for flower remembrances in each of the coming months. Please contact Ann at [email protected] or 614-893-1315. There is also a sign-up sheet in the living room.

Red Door Reminder

We encourage everyone at St. Alban’s to share information and photos reflecting our life together. Please send any stories,

questions or ponderings you would like to have published to the Communications Committee ([email protected]). The

deadline is the 15th of each month. Articles submitted after that date may be held for the next regular issue of The Red Door. Should

your article arrive after that date, but is time sensitive, please be sure and convey that to the Communications team. We look

forward to having new contributors!

April /May /June Red Door

All articles to be included in the April/ May /June Red Door should be submitted to [email protected] on or before the

15th day of March.

Visit us on the Web:

St Alban's Episcopal Church http://www.stalbansbexley.org

St Alban's Episcopal Church on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StAlbansBexley

St. Alban's Bexley Conversations on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/54987337

1739580/

Regular Office Hours

Monday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Tuesday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Thursday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.





https://www.facebook.com/StAlbansBexley

https://www.facebook.com/groups/549873371739580/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/549873371739580/

CALENDAR – JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH 2018 Calendar Online: http://st-albans-bexley.diosohio.org/Calendar/current.html

*AL (Adult Library), CL (Children’s Library), DR (Dining Room), Ed (Education Building), LR (Living Room), YR (Youth Room), MR (Music Room), MG (Memorial Garden) St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 333 South Drexel Avenue, Bexley, OH 43209 – Phone: 614-253-8549 – Web: http://www.stalbansbexley.org

Sundays (except as noted): 8:00 AM Eucharist – Rite 1, 9:15 AM Nursery Open, 9:15 AM Adult Formation, 10:00 AM A.R.K. Sunday School, 10:15 AM Eucharist – Rite II

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

January 1 Office Closed

2 Office Hrs: 9-4 9:15 Aerobics -Ed

10:15 Yoga – Ed

11:00 Kensington Serv

1-4 Outreach Walk-in/ by apt - LR

6 :00 Aerobics - Ed

8:00 NA Meeting - Ed

3 Office Hrs: 9-4 9:00-3:30 Outreach Walk-in

/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed

12:00 Deadline Fridge

Sheet and E-newsletter

5:30 Al-Anon -YR

7:00 (ACA) - Ed

4 Office Hrs: 9-4 9:15 Aerobics – Ed

10:15 Yoga – Ed

7 Narrative Committee LR

7:30 Choir Rehearsal- MR

5 Office Hrs: 9-12 9:15 Aerobics – Ed 10:15 Al-Anon LR 10:30 Yoga PH- Ed

6 Office closed 9:15 Aerobics Ed 10:15 Yoga - Ed

7 1st Sunday after the

Epiphany 8:00 Rite I Eucharist 9:15 Episcopal Basics resumes 9:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:15 Rite II Eucharist

8 Office Hrs:9-4 9:15 Aerobics - Ed 11:15 Morning Prayer - AL 12:00 Men’s Fellowship Lunch at Scotty’s 12-12:30 Pastoral Care - CL 3:30-5:15 Kids in Harmony - Ed 7:00 AA Meeting Ed 7-8:30 ACA Ed

Office Hrs: 9-4 9:15 Aerobics -Ed

10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed



/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



1-5 Homeless Meals Prep.

5:30 Homeless Meals Servs 5:30 Al-Anon -YR

7:00 (ACA) - Ed

7:30-8:30 Bldg & Gr ounds Committee (AL)

11 Office Hrs: 9-4

9:15 Aerobics - Ed

10:15 Yoga - Ed

5:30 – 7:30 Wise Women of St Alban’s

7:30 Choir Rehearsal - MR

7:30-9:30 Social Concerns Comm. LR


13 Office closed 9:15 Aerobics Ed 10:15 Yoga - Ed 10:30 ACA

6:00-8:00 Foyer Fellowship

14 2nd Sunday after

the Epiphany 8:00 AM Rite I Eucharist 9:15 Nursery Open 9:30 AM Choir Rehearsal 10:15 AM Rite II Eucharist Caring & Sharing Sunday - Tyler Reeve, Community Refugee & Immigration Service

15 Office Closed

Martin Luther King, Jr Day

9:15 Aerobics - Ed 11:15 Morning Prayer - AL 12:00 Men’s Fellowship Lunch at Scotty’s 12-12:30 Pastoral Care - CL 3:30-5:15 Kids in Harmony - Ed 7:00 AA Meeting Ed 7-8:30 ACA Ed

16 Office Hrs: 9-4

9:15 Aerobics -Ed

10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed


7:00-9:00 Vestry


/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



5:30 Al-Anon -YR

7:00 (ACA) - Ed

18 Office Hrs: 9-4

9:15 Aerobics - Ed

10:15 Yoga - Ed


19 Office Hrs: 9-12

9:15 Aerobics – Ed 10:15 Al-Anon LR 10:30 Yoga PH- Ed


http://st-albans-bexley.diosohio.org/Calendar/current.html






21 3rd Sunday after

the Epiphany 8:00 Rite I Eucharist 9:15 Nursery Open 9:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:15 Rite II Eucharist 11:30 Film Series “Doubt 3rd Sunday Eucharistic

Visitors Sending Forth

22 Office Hrs. 9-4 9:15 Aerobics - Ed 11:15 Morning Prayer - AL 12:00 Men’s Fellowship Lunch at Scotty’s 12-12:30 Pastoral Care - CL 3:30-5:15 Kids in Harmony - Ed 7:00 AA Meeting Ed 7-8:30 ACA Ed

23 Office Hrs: 9-4 9:15 Aerobics -Ed

10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed



/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



5:30 Al-Anon -YR

7:00 (ACA) - Ed

25 Office Hrs: 9-4

9:15 Aerobics - Ed

10:15 Yoga - Ed



27 Office closed

9:15 Aerobics Ed 10 – Noon Contemplative Saturday - LR 10:15 Yoga - Ed 10:30 ACA

28 4th Sunday after

the Epiphany 8:00 Rite I Eucharist 9:15 Nursery Open 9:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:15 Rite II Eucharist 9:15 Conversation about “Doubt” led by Rev Jim Miner

29 Office Hrs: 9-4 9:15 Aerobics - Ed 11:15 Morning Prayer - AL 12:00 Men’s Fellowship Lunch at Scotty’s 12-12:30 Pastoral Care - CL 3:30-5:15 Kids in Harmony - Ed 7:00 AA Meeting Ed 7-8:30 ACA Ed

30 Office Hrs.: 9-4

9:15 Aerobics -Ed

10:15 Yoga – Ed



6:00 Aerobics - Ed



/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



5:30 Al-Anon -YR

7:00 (ACA) - Ed

February 1 Office Hrs: 9-4 9:15 Aerobics - Ed

10:15 Yoga - Ed


2 Office Hrs: 9-12

9:15 Aerobics – Ed 10:15 Al-Anon LR 10:30 Yoga - Ed


4 5th Sunday after

the Epiphany 8:00 Rite I Eucharist 9:15 Nursery Open 9:15 Conversation about

“Doubt” led by Rikki

Sander

9:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:15 Rite II Eucharist

11:45-12:45 Acolyte Training/Refresher

5 Office Hrs: 9-4


6 Office Hrs.: 9-4 9:15 Aerobics -Ed

10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed


7 Office Hrs: 9-4

9:00-3:30 Outreach Walk-in

/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



5:30 Al-Anon -YR

7:00 (ACA) - Ed

8 Office Hrs: 9-4

9:15 Aerobics - Ed

10:15 Yoga - Ed


9 Office Hrs: 9-12









11 Last Sunday after

the Epiphany 8:00 Rite I Eucharist 9:15 Nursery Open 9:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:15 Rite II Eucharist

11:30 Annual Meeting Caring & Sharing Sunday Sister Abby - Partners-in-Ministry-in Liberia (PIMIL)

12 Office Hrs: 9-4 9:15 Aerobics - Ed 11:15 Morning Prayer - AL 12:00 Men’s Fellowship Lunch at Scotty’s 12-12:30 Pastoral Care - CL 3:30-5:15 Kids in Harmony - Ed 7:00 AA Meeting Ed 7-8:30 ACA Ed

13 Office Hrs.: 9-4

9:15 Aerobics -Ed

10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed


14 Office Hrs: 9-4

Ash Weds - Lent Begins

9:00-3:30 Outreach Walk-in

/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed

12:00 Ash Wed. Liturgy



1-5 Homeless Meals Prep.

5:30 Homeless Meals 5:30 Al-Anon -YR

7:00 (ACA) - Ed

7:00 Ash Wed. Liturgy 7:30 Bldg & Grounds Mtg

15 Office Hrs: 9-4

9:15 Aerobics - Ed

10:15 Yoga - Ed


16 Office Hrs: 9-12 9:15 Aerobics – Ed 10:15 Al-Anon LR 10:30 Yoga - Ed

17 Office closed

9:15 Aerobics Ed 10:15 Yoga - Ed 10:30 ACA

18 1st Sunday in

Lent

8:00 Rite I Eucharist 9:15 Nursery Open 9:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:15 Rite II Eucharist

3

rd Sunday

Eucharistic Visitors Sending Forth

19 Office Closed

President’s Day 9:15 Aerobics - Ed 11:15 Morning Prayer - AL 12:00 Men’s Fellowship Lunch at Scotty’s 12-12:30 Pastoral Care - CL 3:30-5:15 Kids in Harmony - Ed 7:00 AA Meeting Ed 7-8:30 ACA Ed

20 Office Hrs. 9-4 9:15 Aerobics -Ed

10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed


7:00 Vestry


/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



5:30 Al-Anon –YR

6:30 “Eat the Bible” - LR

7:00 (ACA) - Ed

22 Office /Hrs 9-4 9:15 Aerobics - Ed

10:15 Yoga - Ed




25 2nd Sunday in

Lent 8:00 Rite I Eucharist 9:15 Nursery Open 9:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:15 Rite II Eucharist

26 Office Hrs: 9-4



10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed



/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



5:30 Al-Anon -YR


7:00 (ACA) - Ed

March 1 9:15 Aerobics - Ed

10:15 Yoga - Ed










4 3rd Sunday in Lent


5 Office Hrs: 9-4



10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed

8:00 NA Meeting - Ed )


/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



5:30 Al-Anon –YR


7:00 (ACA) - Ed

8 Office Hrs: 9-4 9:15 Aerobics - Ed

10:15 Yoga - Ed


9 Office Hrs: 9-12



11 4th Sunday in Lent


12 Office Hrs. 9-4



10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed



/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



1:00 Homeless Meal Chefs 5:30 Homeless Meal Servers 5:30 Al-Anon –YR


7:00 (ACA) - Ed


10:15 Yoga - Ed




18 5th Sunday in Lent

Eucharistic Visitors Sending Forth 8:00 Rite I Eucharist 9:15 Nursery Open 9:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:15 Rite II Eucharist

19 Office Hrs: 9-4


7:00 Vestry


10:15 Yoga – Ed



6 :00 Aerobics - Ed

8:00 NA Meeting - Ed )


/ by apt - LR

9:15 Aerobics- ED

11:30 Yoga - Ed



5:30 Al-Anon –YR


7:00 (ACA) - Ed


10:15 Yoga - Ed






january, february, march 2018 the red door€¦ · continued to quietly perform their...

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