march 2016 the red door - amazon s3march 2016 p a g e | 3 identifying our identity, what st....

March 2016

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, service, education and outreach.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

INSIDE

From the Rector 2

Worship and Music 5

Inreach 6

Spiritual Growth and

Formation in Christ 8

Outreach 9

Foundations 11

Eucharistic Living 12

Extra! Extra! 13

Calendar 15

WORSHIP

SCHEDULE

Sundays

Holy Eucharist Rite I

8:00 AM

Nursery Open / Adult

Formation

9:15 AM

A.R.K. Sunday School

10:00 AM

Holy Eucharist Rite II

10:15 AM

Mondays

Morning Prayer

11:15 AM

Wednesdays

Holy Eucharist and Healing

Service

10:30 AM

March 2016 P a g e | 2

FROM THE RECTOR

Dear Friends in Christ, I want to share with you the sermon I

prepared for the day of the Annual Meeting this year, February 7,

an overview of the past four years. The readings were about

Moses’ face glowing so brightly after meeting God to receive the

Commandments, that he had to have a veil over his face before

the people (Exodus 34:29-35), and Jesus’ Transfiguration on the

Mountain, astonishing Peter, James, and John (Luke 9:28-36).

A SERMON for the St. Alban’s 2016 ANNUAL MEETING

I. Introduction

My sister’s second child, Amy, was a darling, alert, and good baby most of the time—but then,

for no apparent reason, she would start to scream. It was loud and distressing! Nothing

seemed to help—try to feed her or hold her, it got worse. Carol checked to be sure the diaper

—but from

Amy’s perspective, something was clearly wrong. Carol couldn’t figure it out. Soon our mother

came to help out. At one point, when Amy began to scream, Mother picked her up and placed

her in the seat of one of those mechanical swings, and placed a cloth diaper over her face and

body, creating a small barrier between her and the rest of the world. Immediately, Amy

stopped screaming. There she was, comforted by the rocking, and protected from all input.

Amy (like all children) was like a sponge, and took in all the words and faces and colors and

sounds around her—and she (like all babies) had no filter. She was on overload, with no way

to communicate that she was being driven crazy.

Wouldn’t it be helpful if what is true for our insides could sometimes show on the outside? In

this case, Mom and Carol guessed right. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if the truth within us

could show on the outside, so that we could know each other, and communicate to each other?

If your cat or dog or child or spouse could reveal visibly what they are inwardly experiencing?

After many years of working with TRANSFIGURATION, it occurs to me that this is part of what

is happening to Jesus in this story: aspects of his inner holiness, purity, and beauty are

revealed on the outside—creating enough awe to awaken the disciples and to spark in them a

sense that they should somehow respond. Unlike Jesus, Moses covered his God-glorified face

with a veil. And underneath?

II. Annual Meeting

Today is our annual meeting, my 5th

and last annual meeting with you. I have sought to

understand who you are, what are your needs, desires, pains, joys, history, and longing for

future. I’ve caught glimpses . I wonder, for each of us, and for St. Alban’s as a whole, what

we might look like if the truth and fullness of what is within us were revealed on the outside? -

-If God’s gifts and image showed?

Also, in this Gospel, Jesus is at a turning point: he’s on the mountain today, but when he

descends, he’ll be heading for Jerusalem and the fulfillment of God’s purpose for him. Where

are we now? What is God’s purpose for us? What does our future path look like?

Another way to say this is, What does St Alban’s look like when our insides show forth? And

What are the veils that keep the inherent goodness, love, commitment, desire, mission, and

faithfulness from showing forth to all the world? What are the veils that keep our God-image

identity, and God’s purpose for us, from showing forth?

ST. ALBAN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

333 South Drexel Avenue

Bexley, OH 43209

Phone: 614.253.8549

Fax: 614.253.8191

[email protected]

www.stalbansbexley.org

STAFF

The Rev. Susan Marie Smith

Rector

Dr. Karen Eckenroth

Organist and Choir Director

Deb Parker

Children’s and Youth Ministries

Coordinator

The Rev. Robert Hill

Interim Parish Administrator

Bob Sweeney

Financial Administrator

Charlene O’Donnell

Registrar

Eileen Becknell

Pastoral Care Coordinator

Ernestine Ujah

Chaplain to Pastoral Visitors

Jerry Becknell

Building & Grounds

Coordinator

Kay Holley

Altar Guild Chair

Brad Swiniarski

Sexton

Christopher Crawley

Assistant Sexton

VESTRY

Bob Philips, Sr. Warden

Carolyn Christy, Jr. Warden

John Luehmann, Treasurer

Jerry Becknell

Mike Bissell

Tom Brigdon

Ryan Burgess

Anne Dotson

Michael Kilbourne, Sr.

Anne Krabacher

Charlie Orne

Tim Williams

http://www.stalbansbexley.org/


Identifying our identity, what St. Alban’s looks like when your God-identity shines forth, and enabling that transfiguration to be

manifest by pulling aside the veils that prevent it, is the work of this parish that is on-going, and needs to be completed before calling

a new rector. This is the work of all of us, and of the transition team.

One of the consultants I worked with suggested that I should reveal more of myself to the congregation, something difficult for me

to do. So this Gospel is for me, too – and today, I want to share some of me that is related to St. Alban’s.

III. A View of St. Alban’s, when our inner identity shines outwardly

HERE ARE 3 MINISTRIES I SEE: a new, an old, and a quiet ministry:

A. Michael Jupin tried out a “contemplative identity,” and found a dozen or more folks who have an inner prayer

identity, a group that has been growing over the last 4 years. Their prayer and commitment deepens our prayer life as a

whole. Spiritual guidance or companioning has grown here: two parishioners are completing the 3-year Wellstreams

program to become Spiritual Directors. Our Sunday nursery is becoming a Spiritual Conference Room during the week. Judy

and Roy Smoot came to St. Alban’s, and stayed, because this ministry is important to them. While not everyone

participates, everyone benefits.

B. The strong and faithful Social Concerns committee is perhaps the one group who met through all the ups and

downs of Transitions Past, with clergy, without clergy… And that faithfulness shines forth in growing service and neighborly

care. Our youth are doing more service, and now (again), mission. A care-group to support Neighborhood House has taken

off in the last few years, so much so that when Fred Taylor asked for Memorial Gifts to go to Social Concerns, they provided

a Fred Taylor Computer Room at Neighborhood House. When Ann and Pete Lowder wanted to create in Bexley a

Community Event like the one in Granville, the Turkey Trot was a natural here, since St. Alban’s soil has been well-prepared

to support social outreach.

--And in this new era – they call it “post-Christendom” – partnering and connecting and collaborating with neighbors is the

best way to be Church. We’re ahead of our time, thanks to Social Concerns, the social conscience of our parish.

C. Third, there are ministries of quiet maintenance: Altar Guild. Building and Grounds. Memorial Garden. Foyer,

faithfully celebrating every month, thanks to the leadership of Ann and Tom Hooker. We must not take for granted these

life-giving ministries. In fact, it’s very important that we give gratitude, and show appreciation. In a longitudinal study,

researchers showed that married couples stayed together when the relationship of positive interactions to neutral or

negative ones was 5:1 or higher. When the proportion of caring connections to negatives was too low, there was divorce.

The same holds in any relationship, especially any family, like the church. The central action of our worship is giving thanks

to God: the Eucharist, the Great Thanksgiving. How important, and how simple, it is to smile at someone and offer a word or

gesture of thanks.

Prayer and spiritual guidance; mission and outreach; quiet maintenance. Three examples of what I see within you, shining

forth brilliantly during mountaintop experiences. The folks who do these ministries, do them on behalf of all of us. It is

thus incumbent upon all of us to notice, and to give thanks to them.

I might hope the Transition team would enable you all to listen, and share with each other, what you see as your God-

identity, God’s purpose for St. Alban’s. We’re a diverse group – and if you know how each other sees our inner graces, then

you can imagine together an identity big enough for all of you, all of you as you are, and for all the folks who will continue

to come to share our identity in the decades to come.

IV. A Perspective from the Rector

1. Now, here are two things from my insides about what I discovered when I arrived here:

a) When I came, folks said they felt like they’d been in transition for 10 years. I eventually realized what that meant: several

things were stopped – until the new rector came – as if THE RECTOR were THE MINISTER. But no church can do it with one minister.

Longed-for stability can come in two ways: (1)a long-time rector (like we had with Leake, Carberry); OR (2) processes that are stable,

so that transitions between leaders and volunteers happen seamlessly. Or BOTH. It became clear that our work on my watch was

to create this other kind of stability – and this other kind of ecclesiology. It’s rare in the world these days to have a rector for more

than five years – but that doesn’t mean we’re doomed to instability.


b) Besides, having a stable system with stable processes, supports the meaning of baptism—our theology is that WE are the

ministers of Christ. The clergy are the servants of the servants of God—but all the people of the church are the servants of God, the

ministers, the ecclesia, the Church.

c) When I arrived, not only was there a desire for stability; there was also financial concern, since folks were still reeling from

the 2008 economic downturn. St Alban’s has a history of multiple clergy: an associate, a deacon, a seminarian, or two of these in

addition to the rector. But neither the profile nor the search conversations had any word about an associate – only cutting back the

music director, and cutting costs.

So, I decided to try a little experiment: to strengthen lay ministry – to meet the parish desire to save $$ by having only one priest.

Today it’s different from the days when women stayed at home and had time for leadership while children were in school. Still,

ministry is creative and fun and gratifying, and creates community, and draws each person and the whole community closer to God.

Depending on the year, folks have some time; retired folks may have a bit more.

2. My Response to what I encountered when I arrived

BUT WHAT I LEARNED was: The office and structure was not set up for lay activity, but for dependence upon staff.

There were no program files: only financial, official reports, and building and grounds files. There was no history, no practices or

procedures a new person could read in order to fit in. All the data was on the Admin computer. And if we were a for-profit business,

this would be great.

But the Church is a voluntary agency, like the American Red Cross., where I worked for many years. Working with volunteers is

different from a business: it’s like JOB-SHARING. You have to set it up so that a changing group of volunteers can come in, know

what to do, work with confidence, and feel successful and gratified at the end. This was not possible when I arrived. Making this

possible has been a major focus.

– But this accessibility had to take place in addition to Sunday coming around every week, and funerals, and vestry meetings, and

myriad other church needs. It meant that the work-load was increased at first, in order to make the work-load manageable when it

was in place. This was hard on all the staff.

A. For example, expenses:

(a) For example: if a committee chair wanted to submit a check request, to pay a speaker, say, or get reimbursed, how would they

do it? Before, the receipt might be put on the admin desk. The admin had to remember what the person was doing, and

communicate correctly to the financial administrator – taking 3 people to do a simple task. NOW there is a Check request form, in a

bin right next to the budget so you can find the correct Line item number. The blue check requests are stabled to the receipts and

put in Bob Sweeney’s box.

(b) NOW, in addition to the Clergy Discretionary Fund to care for our neighbors in need, we also have a Benevolent Fund to assist

members of our own parish. This has been a godsend.

(c) NOW we have a Debit card, which took a while – but has been so worth it, since while still possible, it is no longer necessary to

spend one’s own money on a church process and seek reimbursement.

B. For example, space:

(a) Many of the items for worship were located in the rector’s office – baptismal shell, microphones, baptismal candles. NOW, office

supplies are in the back, with a sacristy extension closet in office, so everyone can get what they need, including Communion Kits to

take to Kensington and others, without having to interrupt a meeting in the rector’s office. (now, you can’t get into my office

anyway…)

(b) NOW we have a marble Baptismal font, a gift from St. Paul’s. I learned that Barbara and Bill Paul’s son designed the window

behind it, years ago: You’d think they were made for each other. In God’s holy time, it is clear that they are, indeed.

(c) NOW, the Nursery in the Parish House here doubles as space for Spiritual direction. And for Meetings, small groups, just a quiet

place to cry. And NOW, the Library is in rebirth, thanks to Laura Piazza and Eileen Becknell.


3. For example, Administrative office.

We have made the shelves in the administrative office Adjustable so they can hold what we need of whatever size. We have added

mail boxes, and created a volunteer work station, used by many, including the bulletin-maker, registrar, office assistant. The

Bulletins were done by Carol, now Katherine. We replaced the 20-year-old Carberry Telephone system. Before, I had 10 mins of

voice mail – which meant that when someone left their funeral plans, or a long report on someone, it was filled up with one

message. Now, we each have 10 hours of voice mail. And NOW, the ushers can use the telephone in the foyer/hallway to call Ms.

Deb in the Sunday School room to come up for the Passing of the Peace. And NOW, we have a new Copier that folds in half, saving

at least one hour of staff time each week. – And there’s lots more.

V. CONCLUSION

Did the experiment work? Yes, and No. We have multiplied our ministries without adding extra full-time staff. We are organized so

that we can welcome members, new and old, into ministries they can take charge of or just participate in. The heavy work load to

create this transparency was a cost; but we are now in a position to have manageable jobs, with a few extra part-time folks helping

(like the bulleting maker and office assistant).

But after all this, I do not think we can thrive with only one full-time clergy-person. We need at least a half-time other. Now, we are

blessed, thanks to God and the generosity of a wonderful donor, to have Robert Hill with us half-time. This need is something St.

Alban’s will need to attend to carefully going forward.

But our signature ministries thrive. Ministering together is fun and strengthening. It enables us to get to know each other better.

And everyone at St. Alban’s is worth knowing. – We just need to pull the veil from our faces and let our true God-identity show forth.

The Spirit, Who shines in glory in and around Jesus, and in and around the Body of Christ, is doing a new and unknown thing at St.

Alban’s. Let us be alert to notice. Thanks be to God!

- Amma Susan+

WORSHIP AND MUSIC

LITURGICAL SPOTLIGHT

LENT – come to Lenten Wednesdays, 5:30 PM supper; 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM, study of Luke

through Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection. Every Wednesday through March 30.

EASTER LILY MEMORIALS – to give thanks or remember loved ones with Easter lilies, please

complete flower forms by the Ides, March 15, with your donation marked for Flower Guild.

HOLY WEEK

Palm Sunday Procession, beginning on the Labyrinth. YOUTH read the passion

according to Luke at 10:15 AM – contact the Church Office if interested.

Maundy Thursday, 7:00 PM, Foot-Washing, Eucharist, Stripping the Altar. All Altar Guild process (wear red!).

Good Friday, 12:15 PM and 7:30 PM, The Liturgy of the Cross.

EASTER

EASTER VIGIL, 8:00 PM, Saturday, March 26, St. Philip Episcopal. Come to the first liturgy of Easter, and stay for festive

reception.

EASTER DAY, 8:00 AM, 10:15 AM. Come to hear and sing the glorious music of Resurrection! Choir and trumpets, and our

finest.

No Sunday School on Easter Day, but the Easter Egg Hunt will be in the Garden right after church!


MUSIC

St. Alban’s and St. Patrick’s of Dublin to Perform Joint Choral Work

St. Alban’s Adult Choir will join forces with the choir of St. Patrick’s Episcopal in Dublin to

perform the Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo by Joseph Haydn. This mass was written

for the order of the Barmherzige Brüder, also called Brothers of Mercy, in Eisenstadt,

Hungarian Kingdom (now Austria), whose founder and patron saint was St. John of God.

Haydn lived in Eisenstadt, working for the court of Nikolaus II, Prince of Esterházy. The

date of the composition is not certain because the autograph score bears no date. A year

of 1778 or earlier in the 1770s seems likely.[6][7] Because of an extensive organ solo in the Benedictus, it is also known as the Kleine

Orgelmesse (Little Organ Mass). Haydn played the organ in the first performance, which took place in the hospital chapel of the

Brethren in Eisenstadt.

Our performances are being planned for April, with specific dates to be announced soon. Please consider lending your voice to this

beautiful work and also this wonderful opportunity to make music with one of our fellow Episcopal choirs. St. Alban rehearsals for

this piece will begin Thursday, March 17th

at 7:30 PM in the choir room. For more information, please contact Karen Eckenroth at

[email protected].

Dedicated to enriching your musical life in Christ,

- Dr. Karen Eckenroth, Organist and Music Director

INREACH – Caring for Our Own and Strengthening Our Family of Faith

Mission and Purpose for the Pastoral Care Team at St. Alban’s

This is our new working document describing the mission and purpose of Pastoral Care. We

welcome your input.

On behalf of St. Alban’s, we hold a sacred trust to:

1. Care for our members;

2. Support them pastorally and spiritually;

3. Use information (e.g., birthdates, funeral preferences) for the good of each person.

Our purpose is to serve:

1. The good of individuals at St. Alban’s,

2. The good of St. Alban’s parish as a whole, and

3. The Common Good.

We are commissioned to keep confidence and to hold our listening, caring, and relationships in sacred trust, in the name of Jesus

Christ, through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit of God.

Sharing

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

services during the Easter season. The hope is that there will be a sufficient number of volunteers

for each to deliver one plant. If you would be willing to deliver a lily on Easter day or in the first

few days of Eastertide, please sign up on the bulletin board in the Living Room or contact Eileen

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

mailto:[email protected]


Parish Care: REMEMBERING THE WOMEN

The women of our Diocese of Southern Ohio started a Book of Remembrance in 1926. It is a listing by parish of deceased women

whose congregations want to honor their memory. The request for entry of a name can be submitted by a congregation, ECW

(Episcopal Church Women), or individual, along with a donation of at least $15.00.

Donations are added to a Trust Fund which provides scholarships for women of the diocese to do graduate study in areas related to

church work, special ministries, and helping professions. Funds are also available for short-term non-degree training in workshops,

special seminars, and skills training, in church related or social service fields.

Every parish benefits from the work of women who serve God and church without thought of reward. At St. Alban’s, we have

generations of women who have served on Altar Guild, Pastoral/ Parish Care Committee, ECW, and many other committees. They

have cooked, served, hosted; they have initiated, led, planned. They have been a part of the loving community life of this parish.

The Parish Care Committee would like to honor our women. At the moment, we know of only two women from St. Alban’s who are

listed in the diocesan Book of Remembrance: Mary Harris and Jean Catterton. We would like to have all our women listed. If you

would like to include name(s) in the Book, or add names to those we have, or correct spelling, please contact the office for Parish

Care Committee. Contributions may be in any amount, but at least $15 each.

*Indicates names already submitted.

Sybil Addison Genevieve Allison* Lainie Altmaier* Sue Altmaier* Sue Hunter Beatty-Page* Dorothea Bown Jane Brown Barbara Carberry Jean Catterton* Ann Crane Lee Davis Mary Dillon Betty Ann Elliott*

Jane Estabrook Shirley Goodfellow* Mary Harris* Mildred Keyes Harrison Celia Hart Gertrude Hunter* Beth Jones Helen Julian* Boo Klages* Ellis Kurtz Libby Kurtz Ann Lacock Carolyn Leake

Gail Leonard Dottie Leukart Barbara Livingston Mary Frances Livingston* JoAnn Mackie Marion Culp Masson* Olga McClelland Joan Mercier Patricia Niehoff Myra Noethlich Harriet B. Pritchard Irene Richards* Barbara Sayer

Mary M. Schoedinger Ginny Shawn Gail Smith* Marcia Speakman* Ginger Stephan Emma Ruth Thornton Alice Tinkham* Dorothy VanDyne Betty Varney* Bunny White* Kay Willi Sally Williams

- Parish Care Committee

Transition Workshops

St. Alban’s:

United for a Promising Future

During our Transition period, our Transition Team is working—and so must we.

TWO ALL-PARISH WORKSHOPS, 3 hours each, for all ages, baby-sitting available:

APRIL 9, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM: GENERATION THEORY. The Rev. Cn. Lynn Carter-Edmands

Baby-boomers like to meet in person; Gen-Xers like to work by email.

How do we run a church that includes everyone?

MAY 14, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM: HALLMARKS of HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS. The Rev. Cn. Lynn Carter-Edmands

Here are some hors d’oeuvres from Robert Schnase’s book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations: Radical hospitality. Passionate

Worship. Intentional Faith Development.

Risk-taking Mission and Service. Extravagant Generosity. What do these mean? What are the hallmarks Canon Lynn will bring us?

What would be on your list?

Your Wardens and Vestry ask you, please mark your calendars for these two Saturdays.

Thank you!!


SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND FORMATION IN CHRIST

CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH MINISTRIES

Youth Service Trip to Trinity Episcopal Church Sunday, February 21, a group of 8 youth, grades 5-8, went to Trinity Episcopal Church

downtown for the homeless meal “In the Garden” and to hand out the “We Care…”

packages that even more youth had assembled on Shrove Tuesday. The group not only

helped serve the meal and clean up afterwards, but also had fun exploring Trinity Church.

Afterwards we stopped by Graeters for an ice cream treat before heading home. Special

thanks to Colleen Thompson and Deacon Robert for helping coordinate our February

service project. The socks, winter hats and toiletries in the “We Care…” packages were well

received by those who do not have the comforts we have during the cold months.

Children’s and Youth Ministries 2016: Focus on Families Special Upcoming Children’s and Youth Events in January and February

The Nursery is open starting at 9:15 a.m. each Sunday morning

March

6 ARK* Sunday School 10:00 AM, Education Building downstairs. PK through 4th

graders. We continue to travel with

Jesus through Lent. NOTE: ARK Sunday School now divides into two groups, with the 2nd

-4th

graders splitting off to

work on the videos based on Lego interpretations of scripture, while the PK through 1st

grade focus on age-

appropriate Bible stories.

Youth Group. 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM. All youth grades 5 through 8 are invited to attend, have refreshments, make

plans for Palm Sunday participation, focus on scripture and focus on how to journey through Holy Week.

13 ARK* Sunday School 10:00 AM, Education Building downstairs. PK through 4th graders. We continue to travel

with Jesus through Lent, and divide into two groups after the opening prayers.


20 Palm Sunday. Everyone will process waving palms, with music and worship outside (weather permitting). Youth

5th

grade and older will help with the readings and ushering for this special service. When the procession enters

the nave, ARK* Sunday School youth will continue to process downstairs in the Education Building to “walk with

Christ” through Holy Week. PK through 4th

graders are invited.

27 EASTER SUNDAY. He is Risen!

9:30 AM. Youth 5th

grade and older, as well as young adults through high school, are asked to join Ms. Deb to

prepare for the Easter egg hunt.

Children of all ages will be invited after the 10:15 service to hunt for Easter eggs. The eggs represent the new life,

brought to us by Christ. So join in this joyful celebration when we unroll the “Allel….” word for the first time since it

was rolled up and stored for Lent. The hunt will be outside, unless it moves into the Education Building due to

inclement weather.

April

9 ARK* Sunday School 10:00 AM, Education Building downstairs. PK through 4th

graders. This is the second Sunday

of Easter, so we will be sharing our joyful Easter experiences. We continue to divide into two groups after the

opening prayers.

*Alban’s Remarkable Kingdom

Contact Deb Parker ([email protected]) - Children’s and Youth Ministries Coordinator - if you have questions or

suggestions.

OUTREACH – Caring for Others and All Creation

CARING AND SHARING for March: THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEST

St. Alban’s Social Concerns Committee selects an organization to receive the loose plate

offering each month on Caring and Sharing Sunday. However, contributions can also be

made at any time during the month using the envelopes in the pews.

The Neighborhood Nest is a community-based prenatal health program of The

Neighborhood House for low-income pregnant women. It is designed to promote prenatal care participation and healthy behaviors

during pregnancy and the first two years of an infant’s life in an effort to reduce premature births and infant mortality. The

Neighborhood House zip code has one of the three highest infant mortality rates in the city and is included in the Celebrate One

working group created to carry out the recommendations of the Greater Columbus Infant Mortality Task Force established to

address the community’s infant mortality crisis.

In conjunction with the Caring and Sharing offering donations, the Social Concerns Committee is also organizing a collection of items

needed by new mothers and babies participating in the Neighborhood Nest program. Items greatly needed are:

Diapers (all sizes, especially ones larger than 1 and 2)

Wipes

Baby shampoo

Baby lotion

Baby detergent (detergent free of dyes and perfume)

Washcloths and towels

Blanket sleepers (wearable “blankets” to prevent suffocation)

Please put any baby item donations in the container in the Living Room through the month of March.


March 2016 P a g e | 10

There is a tremendous need for car seats. Many of the young mothers call the NEST program in distress because they do not own a

car seat in which to take their infant home. Also, gently used clothing for boys and girls from newborn through about 4-5T are

always welcome.

March 6 is Caring and Sharing Sunday. Ms. Beverly Robinson, Director of Essential Services at the Neighborhood House will share

information about the Nest during announcements at both services.

If you are writing a check, make it payable to St. Alban’s and write Caring and Sharing, NH Nest in the memo line.

RUMMAGE SALE: SAVE THE DATES

As you make room for new items received for Christmas, please remember our RUMMAGE SALE.

The dates for the 2016 Rummage Sale:

Set-up (sorting, arranging and pricing) - Saturday, April 30, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM;

Sunday, May 1, following the 10:15 AM service – 4:00 PM;

Monday, May 2, through Wednesday, May 4, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM;

Thursday, May 5, 9:00 AM – Noon

OR, WHATEVER TIME YOU ARE ABLE TO GIVE!

We know that people who work during the week cannot join us during their workday. Sunday, May 1, provides the opportunity for all

of us to have lunch together and work to get the sorting and pricing off to a good start.

SALE DATES:

Presale - Thursday, May 5, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, PRICES ARE DOUBLED

Sale - Friday, May 6, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, and Saturday, May 7, 9:00 AM - Noon

Please save your rummage for the sale. If you are able, store items at home. If you cannot do this, we have some space at the

church. Call Jerry Becknell at 476-5388 or Robin Harris at 231-6676 if you need help with transportation or early storage of items.

Also, please save your newspapers, especially larger size papers such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and paper

grocery bags (needed for wrapping and packaging sold items).

Please come; we need your help and suggestions. This time of working together helps us to get to know one another as well as

serving the needs of others.

B.R.E.A.D. RALLY

“Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” The Baptismal Covenant,

The Book of Common Prayer

B.R.E.A.D. = Building Responsibility, Equality And Dignity

The mission of the B.R.E.A.D. Organization is to build the power of people of faith to act effectively to solve local community

problems. B.R.E.A.D., through its member congregations (St. Alban’s is one of 45) listens to surface community problems, researches

problems to develop winning issues, mobilizes its members to get commitments from public officials to implement those solutions,

and follows through to make sure those commitments are enacted. Key justice issues addressed by B.R.E.A.D. are increasing access

to healthcare, providing affordable housing, reducing truancy, regulating payday lending, implementing a drug court in Franklin

County, reducing neighborhood blight, reducing unemployment, crime and violence, etc. The focus for 2016 is Jobs and Economic

Opportunity.

You are invited to attend the Rally on Monday, April 11, at 7:00 PM at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 1354 E. Broad Street to hear

testimonies and learn of the research related to this year’s issue. We will carpool, leaving from St. Alban’s at 6:00 PM. Please let us

know (for planning purposes) if you wish to carpool.

Save the Date: The Nehemiah Action Meeting is Monday, May 9.

For information or questions, contact Ernestine Ujah (497-2463), June Robb (236-1553) or Eileen Becknell (476-5388).

March 2016 P a g e | 11

THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – Canned Vegetable Collection

There is a continual need for food to stock The Neighborhood House (NH) Food Pantry, especially for canned vegetables. While the

NH is able to purchase some items from the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, they cannot afford to purchase vegetables. Therefore, we are

restarting our ongoing veggie collection. We are asking that when you go grocery shopping that you purchase a couple of cans of

vegetables. They especially request green beans and corn. While canned vegetables is the focus of this collection, there is also a

need for staples such as rice, spaghetti, cereals, and peanut butter. There is a box in the Living Room for you to leave your

contributions.

For those who do not know, The Neighborhood House, Inc. is a settlement house on the Near East side of Columbus.

Founded in 1909 by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Neighborhood House is a JUBILEE MINISTRY OF THE EPISCOPAL

CHURCH, through which the church addresses domestic poverty by providing direct services, such as food.

For many families, it is a hardship or an impossibility to buy food. 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. This food

pantry serves people in five zip codes, and serves patrons regardless of zip code at least once.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – Coupon Collection

The Neighborhood House has requested that we save coupons for them. Diapers, paper products, toiletries, cleaning and laundry

supplies are expensive and people are not allowed to purchase them with food stamps. There is a box on the Living Room table for

you to leave your coupons. This is another way to assist the Neighborhood House Food Pantry.

Thank you for your help.

FOUNDATIONS

Newly-Elected Vestry and Delegates to Diocesan Convention

VESTRY

Mike Bissell, completing a 2-year term

Tim Williams, 3-year term

Charlie Orne, 3-year term

Anne Krabacher, 3-year term

DIOCESAN CONVENTION

June Robb, Martha Kumler, elected as Diocesan Convention delegates for 2-year term

Karin Stump and Todd Thompson, elected as Convention alternates for 2-year term

New Part Time Administrative Assistant

We’ve just hired a new part-time administrative assistant, Suzan Jervey, who served St. Matthew’s in Westerville during a time of

transition there – so we have the right person at the right time!

Suzan spent her career in environmental education and retired in 2008 as senior naturalist at Highbanks Metro Park. She also serves

as administrative assist at North Community Lutheran Church when not here. Baptized at St. John’s in Worthington, she was

confirmed as a teenager in the Presbyterian church. She recently joined St. John’s and is going through confirmation class. Suzan

feels like she has come home. She never married and her children have four legs and fur. Jack is her rescued collie mix who thinks

the three cats at home are his babies.

March 2016 P a g e | 12

Among Suzan’s responsibilities will be preparing for Vestry meetings and serving as Vestry clerk, preparing the Annual Report and

planning the Annual Meeting, making arrangements for St. Alban’s delegation to the Diocesan Convention, preparing parish

customaries, and other duties as assigned. She will primarily assist the Rector but will provide additional office assistance as time

permits.

We are delighted to have Suzan working with us and encourage you to say, “Hi!” to her if you’re in the office.

EUCHARISTIC LIVING – Celebrations and Thanksgivings

Together, we make Eucharist, which means “give thanks.”

Pancake Supper Thanks!

Many “Thank Yous” for everyone who helped us host another successful Shrove Tuesday Pancake

Supper!

Cooks:

Kent Holley Theo Snowdon Michael Kilbourne John Niermeyer Perry Fisher Noah Luehmann

Parents and other indispensable folk:

Anna Luehmann Colleen Thompson Ms. Deb Parker

Band:

Dock Adams

Setup & Decoration:

Bob & Lucinda Sweeney Christine Shields Robert Hill

Capital University Assistants:

Ashley Shahan Meghan Donelson Drew Gittins

Palm Burners & Ash Makers:

Grace Brigdon John Niermeyer

Alleluia Bearers & other youth participants:

Kara Kilbourne Ali Kilbourne Isabel Niermeyer Parker Barnes Tessa Darke Ella Darke Brennan Shotwell Nora Shotwell Jeremiah Shotwell Kermit Shotwell Charlie Shotwell

“We Care” package makers:

Jessica Host Abigail Thompson Philip Luehmann George Brigdon Jake Brigdon Grace Brigdon Phoebe Snowdon Anna Appling Camila Melgar-Zubieta Alex Fout

The following In Memoriam Gifts have been received from December 30, 2015 through February 15, 2016:

To the All Saints' Memorial Fund in memory of Karl “Chip” Burgess by

Eileen and Jerry Becknell

March 2016 P a g e | 13

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.

Attention All Current and Potential Homeless Meal

Volunteers

Thank you for your service at the homeless shelter, or considering

volunteering at the shelter! To ensure we have enough volunteers each

month, we would like to offer you the opportunity to sign up to serve as many times as you are able over the next six months. St.

Alban's is responsible for providing and serving the meal at the shelter the second Wednesday of every month.

You may sign up to help cook the food at the church in the afternoon (3:30 PM – 5:30 PM) and/or load up the food at the church

and then serve it at the shelter (5:30 PM – 7:00 PM). You may either sign up online or on the sheet in the living room at the church.

To sign up online, please visit http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c4da4ab29a7f58-stalbans. Once you have signed up online,

you will receive an email confirming your sign up, and you will also receive a reminder five days before the meal. If you sign up and a

conflict arises, please notify me (Kelly Tomkies) as soon as possible. We need at least 10-12 people (between cooking and serving)

each month.

Also, please add your name and contact information to the Google spreadsheet I've created of homeless meal volunteers. We can

use this list to call substitutes as needed. The link to the Google spreadsheet is

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1suDOIWjCvwdN58S36f5GxUpLYwdkqUL4kVMY3q9pcRE/edit#gid=0.

If you do not have access to the Internet, you may add your name and contact information using the sheet in the living room at the

church.

Remember, children (age 7 and older) are welcome to serve at the shelter. So feel free to make it a family event!

Thank you again for your service!

Sharing Good News

Stories, websites, photos that bring tidings of hope and gladness

When I learned that our parishioner Virginia (Ginny) Giggi, who celebrated her

100th

birthday on January 17, was praying for us, I needed to share the news. This

is her email to me.

- Eileen Becknell

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

“My 2015 Annual Report came this evening and I sat down and read about half. It was so interesting. And a lot of work went into

it. Then I picked up my BIRTHDAY CARD. Thank you for your good wishes… Looking at the card, I read the S.W. corner awhile and

as I carefully read a name, I said a little prayer. This was satisfying, like I could do something.

Have a good weekend,

Ginny

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c4da4ab29a7f58-stalbans

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1suDOIWjCvwdN58S36f5GxUpLYwdkqUL4kVMY3q9pcRE/edit#gid=0


March 2016 P a g e | 14

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 Red Door

All articles to be included in the April 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/



https://www.facebook.com/StAlbansBexley

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

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

Regular Office Hours: Tuesday—Friday 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

*AL (Adult Library), CL (Children’s Library), DR (Dining Room), Ed (Education Building), LR (Living 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

CALENDAR - MARCH 2016

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

Feb 28 8:00 AM Rite I Eucharist

9:30 AM Choir

10:15 AM Rite II Eucharist

Feb 29 9:15 AM Aerobics (Ed)

11:15 AM Morning Prayer

3:30 PM Kids in Harmony (Ed)

8:00 PM AA Meeting (Ed)

1 10:00 AM Staff Meeting

6:00 PM Aerobics (Ed)

8:00 PM NA Meeting (Ed)

2 9:15 AM Aerobics (Ed)

10:30 AM Healing Eucharist

11:30 AM Yoga (Ed)

5:30 PM Al-Anon (Ed)

5:30 PM Lenten Supper & Bible Study (LR/DR)

7:00 PM ACOA (Ed)

3 8:30 AM Warden’s Meeting

7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal


10:00 AM Al-Anon (LR)

10:30 AM Yoga (Ed)


10:30 AM ACOA (Ed)

6 Caring and Sharing Sunday 8:00 AM Rite I Eucharist

9:30 AM Choir

10:15 AM Rite II Eucharist 12:00 PM Annual Meeting

4:30 PM Youth Group




7:00 PM Buildings & Grounds Committee (DR)


8 11:00 AM Communion at Kensington





11:30 AM Yoga (Ed)

3:00 PM Cooks: Homeless Meal (Ed)

5:30 PM Servers: Homeless Meal (Ed)



7:00 PM ACOA (Ed)


2:00 PM Bible Study (DR)


7:30 PM Social Concerns Committee (DR)



10:30 AM Yoga (Ed)


10:00 AM Contemplative Saturday

10:30 AM ACOA (Ed)

6:00 PM Foyer Fellowship

13 8:00 AM Rite I Eucharist

9:30 AM Choir





7:00 PM Vestry (LR)



12:00 PM Parish Care Committee



-Red Door Submissions Due-



11:30 AM Yoga (Ed)



7:00 PM ACOA (Ed)


9:00 AM Shalem Circle




10:30 AM Yoga (Ed)


10:30 AM ACOA (Ed)

20 Palm Sunday 8:00 AM Rite I Eucharist

9:30 AM Choir






22 11:00 AM Communion at Kensington





11:30 AM Yoga (Ed)



7:00 PM ACOA (Ed)

24 Maundy Thursday 8:30 AM Warden’s Meeting


7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Service


25 Good Friday 9:15 AM Aerobics (Ed)


10:30 AM Yoga (Ed)

12:15 PM Good Friday Service

7:30 PM Good Friday Service


10:30 AM ACOA (Ed)

8:00 PM Great Vigil of Easter at St. Philip Episcopal


Regular Office Hours: Tuesday—Friday 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

*AL (Adult Library), CL (Children’s Library), DR (Dining Room), Ed (Education Building), LR (Living 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

27 Easter 8:00 AM Rite I Eucharist

9:30 AM Choir

No ARK Sunday School


11:30 AM Easter Egg Hunt (after the 10:15 AM Service)










11:30 AM Yoga (Ed)



7:00 PM ACOA (Ed)



Apr 1 9:15 AM Aerobics (Ed)


10:30 AM Yoga (Ed)


10:30 AM ACOA (Ed)

Apr 3 8:00 AM Rite I Eucharist

9:30 AM Choir





7:00 PM Buildings & Grounds Committee (DR)


Apr 5 6:00 PM Aerobics (Ed)




11:30 AM Yoga (Ed)


7:00 PM ACOA (Ed)

Apr 7 8:30 AM Warden’s Meeting




10:30 AM Yoga (Ed)


10:30 AM ACOA (Ed)

10:30 AM All Parish Transition Workshop (Ed)

6:00 PM Foyer Fellowship

Apr 10 Caring and Sharing Sunday 8:00 AM Rite I Eucharist

9:30 AM Choir

9:30 AM Youth Prepare for Service






Apr 12 10:00 AM Staff Meeting

11:00 AM Communion at Kensington





11:30 AM Yoga (Ed)

3:00 PM Cooks: Homeless Meal (Ed)

5:30 PM Servers: Homeless Meal (Ed)


7:00 PM ACOA (Ed)

Apr 14 8:30 AM Warden’s Meeting



7:30 PM Social Concerns Committee (DR)



10:30 AM Yoga (Ed)


10:00 AM Contemplative Saturday

10:30 AM ACOA (Ed)


march 2016 the red door - amazon s3march 2016 p a g e | 3 identifying our identity, what st....

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