October serving God by serving others

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1 October 2015 Dear people of St. Alban s, Last month, I wrote to you about strategic planning. From now till summer begins, St. Alban s will be engaging in a strategic planning process to discern how God is leading us to live out his mission in our wider community during the next five to ten years. This is not about tweaking our operation to bring us back to the glory years of the past. Those years are gone. Instead, we are focused on discerning the glory years of the near future into which God is drawing us. Our task this month is to form a Strategic Planning Team. Members of the vestry spent time at our September meeting listing the kinds of qualities that would be most helpful in people who might work on this team. Are you one of them? This is forward-thinking work, so we need people who are imaginative and creative. This is a team effort, so we need people who are collaborative leaders in that they can speak up in a group, learn from other points of view, consider multiple options, be persuasive in discussions, and make decisions. People who have networks of connection in St. Alban s or in the wider community will be useful as we engage others to help gather information about our context. Above all, we need people who are committed to discerning St. Alban s future as part of the mission of God in our time, people who will contribute to this strategic visioning process with a prayerful listening heart. Inside Buen Pastor... 2 Canon Slater Visits... 4 Bible Study... 4 Backpack Food Program... 5 Thank You... 5 Calendar Sanctuary A/C... 8 Harvest Bazaar... 9 Fair Queen Bible Presentation Sundays in October October 2015 serving God by serving others No one is likely to have all of these qualities, but we aim to have them all represented among the four or five people who will serve as the Strategic Planning Team. I will participate, but not as the chair. The team will meet once or twice each month, with a goal of completing the job by the end of June. Curious? Intrigued? Then please speak with me. Don t hold back on the assumption that there must be someone else who would be better. If the Spirit stirs in you, perhaps you are one of the very people God has provided. How will we know, if you remain silent? These are exciting times. Whether you serve on the Strategic Planning Team or in other ways at St. Alban s, (Continued on page 2)

2 (Continued from page 1) you have a role to play in this process. Your contributions count! Please join me in prayer for guidance as we find our way forward into what our Lord has not yet fully revealed. Faithfully, Paula+ How Should We Continue to Help Buen Pastor? By Louise Izat Saturday, September 19th was a very special evening at St. Alban s. Kate Riley, of the Diocese, spoke to us about the mission trip she led this summer to Buen Pastor in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. Her presentation was full of wonderful pictures, and enhanced by the personal stories from the participants on the mission trip, Rev. Paula, Rev. Margarita Santana, Melinda McDaniel, Joan Rumenap, Caitlin Murphy, Victoria Murphy, and Bryanne Adams. The mission trip involved teaching Vacation Bible School each morning at Buen Pastor and painting the classrooms of the school in the afternoon. They worked very hard all week long on this trip, but it sounds like they were given so much more in return. They enjoyed meeting many people from a different country and culture, but what seemed to affect them the most was the love they felt from the children of Buen Pastor and from the children of the batey, where the sugar cane workers lived with their families. It must have been very gratifying for them to see the Vacation Bible School increase in size from 50 students the first day to well over 100 by the end of the week! The written reflections of our young women about their trip were very heartwarming to read. Their experiences from the trip seemed to be life-changing for them. St. Alban s supported Buen Pastor earlier by donating funds for a school building, and continued for the past eight years with scholarships for the children. Before this trip began, the Social Ministries Committee asked Rev. Paula to find out as much as she could about Buen Pastor as it is now, and whether they still needed our help for scholarships and any other things. After the trip, Rev. Paula s answer was YES, Buen Pastor still needs our help to feed and educate the children. I believe Kate s presentation about the mission trip confirmed that same answer. (Continued on page 3)

3 (Continued from page 2) We were surprised to learn that most of the children had only one meal a day, and only if their father had found work for that day. If there was no work, there was no food that day; the children went to bed hungry. How can a child focus on learning at school if he or she has had no food the day before? It is essential that Buen Pastor feed a meal to the children each day at school and they need more funding to increase their feeding program. After seeing all the wonderful pictures of the children and hearing the stories that evening, quite a number of people felt we should continue to support the children by providing scholarships AND to continue the mission trips to Buen Pastor. The mission trips are essential to St. Alban s building a relationship with Buen Pastor to most effectively help. For years, we have done such good work with our outreach projects, but much of our outreach has been outreach from a distance (writing checks, giving beach towels, giving Christmas gifts). All that we have done is helpful to many, many children, and we are proud of what St. Alban s has done, but perhaps we are ready to extend ourselves even further; maybe it is time for outreach up close and personal? Already, St. Alban s has begun by providing partial funding for the mission trip, sending tennis balls for the children to play baseball, and sending lots of pretty, new sundresses for the girls. Think of how much more we could do for the wonderful children with whom Rev. Paula, Melinda, Joan, Caitlin, Victoria, and Bryanne fell in love on their trip. When the Social Ministries Committee voted to fund the church s portion of the mission trip expenses ($1132), we had no idea what a profound impact this mission trip might have on St. Alban s and our relationship with Buen Pastor. As we listened to the stories about the mission trip, it felt like the Holy Spirit was working through the stories of these women. Thank you, Rev. Paula, Melinda, Joan, Caitlin, Victoria, Bryanne, and Kate for making the trip, bringing back your stories, and opening our eyes to the needs of Buen Pastor. The Social Ministries Committee prayerfully will be considering what to do next and how might we continue, and perhaps extend, this vital ministry. Where do we go from here? Should we continue with this bond that has been forged between St. Alban s and Buen Pastor? Should we conduct another scholarship drive right now? Should we send funds to the school from Social Ministries budget to provide food or computers? Should we help fund another mission trip next year? The Social Ministries Committee welcomes input from parishioners about your thoughts on how to continue our ministry to Buen Pastor. May God give us wisdom and open our hearts to make the best decisions for the children of Buen Pastor and for our church. May God bless the children of Buen Pastor and the bateyes. October

4 Canon Scott Slater visited St Albans for the Sunday service on September 20. After an insightful discussion with the Vestry, his sermon was on the importance of being a whole person and the need for each of us to seek what God wants us to do. During the luncheon in the Parish Hall, Canon Slater answered questions from the congregation. He said St Albans is recognized by the Diocese as a success story for our renewed energy and outreach programs in the Dominican Republic and the Reading Camp. Discussion included ideas for increasing membership. Diocesan Visit by Canon Scott Slater FOOD FOR SOUL AND BODY Beginning Wednesday, October 14 11am Bible Study Noon Eucharist with Prayer for Healing 12:30 Lunch Come for one part or all Please send your submissions for the November Beacon by October 20 to cedarpup@cablespeed.com or place them in the newsletter editor bin in the vestry room.

5 Behind on your pledge? At present, St. Alban's is more than $4000 short of the funds expected from members' pledges. Situations like this often develop over the summer months. Some major bills are coming up in October, however, like the insurance for our building. This would be an excellent time to check your records and bring yourself up to date on your pledged contributions. St. Albans supports Tabitha's Backpack/Buddy Bag Program at Richard Henry Lee Elementary School. Each Friday, 22 meals are provided to school children who might not otherwise have food, to take home and eat for the weekend. Our parish is providing enough food for 11 of those meals each week. Let s continue to support this great cause and help alleviate hunger in our own neighborhood! Please bring canned food & milk individually packed for weekend meals. Thanks for helping those in need, because hunger doesn t take a break on the weekend! Thank you!!!! A whole-hearted thank you to all the wonderful ladies who helped in different ways to make the flea market such a fabulous success. Almost $1, was earned. Thanks also for all the help on Saturday for making a wonderful celebration to hear about the very successful trip to the Dominican Republic. And finally, thanks one more time for providing tasty snacks to mark the visit of Canon Slater. St. Alban's is so blessed to have a group of the most talented and outstandingly generous ladies in all of Anne Arundel Co. You are the absolute best!!! Bazaar Crafts As we did last year, some of the ladies of the church will be meeting for work on crafts for the fall bazaar. Our first meeting will be on Thursdays from 9:00am until 12:00noon. No experience necessary, we can teach you! All are welcome. Should you be unable to attend these work sessions, perhaps you would be willing to work on some project at home. We hope to have a nice selection of gifts to offer in Nov. For any information about this, please call Barbara Phillips at October

6 October 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Monday & Friday at 7:00 pm Al-Anon meets every Friday at 7:00 pm Eternal Quilters meets on the 2nd Thursday at 10:00 am Food Addictions meets every Monday at 7:00 pm Purple Heart meets on the 3rd Thursday at 6:30 pm 1 Bazaar Workshop 9: :00 am Holy Communion 10:30 am Blessing of the Animals (outside) 6:30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Voice Choir Bazaar Workshop 9: PINK OUT 8:00 am Holy Communion 10:30 am Holy Communion :00 am Bible Study Noon Eucharist 12:30 pm Lunch 2-4 Prayer Shawl/Stitching ministry 6:30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Voice Choir 15 Bazaar Workshop 9: :00 am Holy Communion 9:15 am Parish Forum 10:30 am Holy Communion :00 pm Social Ministries 7:30 pm Ladies Guild 21 11:00 am Bible Study Noon Eucharist 12:30 pm Lunch 6:30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Voice Choir 22 Bazaar Workshop 9: :00 pm Vestry Meeting Karen Stewart from Diocese leading both services 8:00 am Holy Communion 10:30 am Holy Communion :00 am Bible Study Noon Eucharist 12:30 pm Lunch 2-4 Prayer Shawl/Stitching ministry 6:30 pm Bell Choir 29 Bazaar Workshop 9: :30 pm Voice Choir October

7 New Air Conditioning For Sanctuary Last summer after failure of one of the two Sanctuary a/c s, the Vestry decided to use only the one operational a/c until that unit failed to cool adequately. Then we would replace both. The one operational unit failed during August and the new a/c's were installed for the service on Labor Day weekend. The good news is that we were also able to save $3000 by delaying installation by one year - $2000 from a new BGE rebate program that started this year and $1000 from a cost reduction from the manufacturer. Installation team with the new outside a/c units New air handlers in the attic above the Sanctuary Volunteers Needed! Rev. Paula and the Altar Guild are looking for individuals to help bring forward the Sacraments during the 8:00 am and 10:30 am services. If you are interested please see Barbara Phillips at the 8:00 am service, Brenda Gish at the 10:30 am service or Rev Paula at either service.

8 Saturday, November 14th Holiday Bazaar 9am-5pm Handmade Ornaments Hand Sewn Gifts Baked Goods Baltimore Football Inspired Items Turkey Dinner Includes homemade pie for dessert! 2pm-5pm Tickets: $12 - Adults $6 - Children 4-12 Free - children 3 & under Call church office for tickets: (410) (Carry out orders upon request) October

9 Congratulations to Aubree Jones as she receives her new bible at Congratulations XANTHIA STROHL! WE'RE PROUD OF YOU FOR BEING NAMED THE 2015 ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY FAIR QUEEN! the start of the Sunday School year!

10 SUNDAYS IN OCTOBER OCTOBER 4, 10:30 am: Bring your pets to be blessed as we celebrate all God s creatures in an outdoor service. For everyone s safety, pets must be leashed or in a pet carrier. OCTOBER 11. Many at St. Alban s will make a point of wearing something pink on this Sunday, in honor of all who have faced the challenge of breast cancer. As you don your pink adornment, let the prayer of your heart rise to God. Give thanks for those who have survived. Pray for those currently struggling. Ask God s blessing on those who have died and those who grieve. Praise God for all who serve valiantly as researchers, doctors, nurses, caregivers, and in so many other ways. OCTOBER 18, 9:15am, PARISH FORUM. Here s your chance to learn about the proposed budget for 2016, which you will have received during the previous week. Members of the Finance Committee and the Vestry will be present, along with Rev. Paula, to answer questions. OCTOBER 25, GUEST PREACHER. Karen Stewart, who is Treasurer for the diocese, will preach at both services and be available for Q&A between services. She has helped our Finance Committee in many ways during the past year. They found her comments about money and mission to be so inspiring, they asked to have her preach to all of us. October

11 The Beacon of St. Alban s St. Alban s Episcopal Church 105 1st Ave SW Glen Burnie, MD Phone: , stalbans.church2verizon.net RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Sunday Worship Services 8:00 am - Holy Communion, Rite I (no music) 10:30 am - Holy Communion, Rite II (with music) Sunday School, K-8 and Nursery Church Office Hours Monday-Friday 9am-12 pm Rector Rev. Dr. Paula Datsko Barker