Trinity Greetings from the Senior Warden

Transcription

1 Trinity Edition June 2015 Trinity Greetings from the Senior Warden The season of the Trinity runs from the first Sunday after Pentecost through the first Sunday of Advent, which is either the last Sunday in November or first Sunday in December of the given year. The liturgical color is GREEN, which symbolizes growth. St. Alban s Church has been blessed with the services of the following Guest Celebrants at the start of the Trinity season: the Rev. Canon Jack Belmont, the Rev. Joan E. Fleming, the Rev. Dr. Peter A. French, the Rev. Dr. Karl Morrison, the Rev. Thomas R. May, Rev. Joanne Epply-Schmidt, and Rev. Peter French. These spiritual leaders have continued to share their knowledge for our spiritual growth during the season of Trinity. Let us continue our faithful journey this Trinity season through vacations, summer and fall months with our Guest Celebrants as they share the Word. I remember so vividly when one of our young members asked Does God take a vacation? O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Mr. Joseph Tinley, Jr. Senior Warden

2 ST. ALBAN S VISION STATEMENT St. Alban s Episcopal Church aspires to be a living example of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, in the ways it uplifts its congregation, transforms the lives of others, and glorifies the name of God. ST. ALBAN S MISSION STATEMENT St. Alban s Episcopal Church reveres the word of God and lives in obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are committed to serving our community through Christian hospitality and nurturing outreach. We are guided by the values and principles of: Welcoming all to partake in the celebration of the Body of Christ. Structured faith development and spiritual growth through Bible study. Service and advocacy for the poor and those less fortunate in our community and beyond. Cultivating and encouraging our youth to embrace Christian values St. Alban s Vestry Joseph Tinley Jr., Senior Warden James Simmons Jr., Junior Warden Angela Anderson, Treasurer Paula Walcott-Quintin, Clerk Glenda Simmons, Financial Secretary Neme Akunne Enid Atkins Robert Chambers Easton Haughton Shanique McGowan Garfield Nembhard Maxine Young

3 Stewardship is... Living and telling the good news Joyful and generous giving Thanksgiving for our gifts from God Giving from abundance, not scarcity Proportionate giving - seeking the tithe From our first fruits Accompanying God in seeking justice and peace Wisely using our resources Uplifting, rewarding, and cheerful TRAVEL NOTES Longtime church member Phyllis Hodge announced that she ll be returning to her native Anguilla for an extended stay. She has attended her last service at St. Alban s Church for the near future. We wish her the best of health and hope to see her sitting among us in the not too distant future. God s speed!! Our senior acolyte Mr. Joseph Silcott is well known among his church family for his varied travels around the world and across the U.S. His annual vacation to Hilton Head, SC, included a Segway tour of historic Savannah, GA. Send us your travel pictures!

4 SIGHT & SOUND TRIP TO SEE JOSEPH On June 20, members of St. Alban s and friends traveled to the Sight & Sound in Lancaster, PA, to experience the wonder of the biblical tale of Joseph. From the Sight & Sound website, Of all the characters in the Bible, perhaps Joseph is the best parallel to the character of Jesus. During a time of an "eye-for-an-eye and tooth-for-a-tooth" mentality, Joseph's story of forgiveness and integrity has made this Bible story a timeless truth, inspiring generations of men and women to walk upright in the midst of great temptation. Our special thanks to Mr. Joseph Silcott who spearheaded this important fundraising event. He, in turn, thanked all who bought and sold tickets, especially St. Alban s Treasurer Angela Anderson for her efforts contacting Sight & Sound, and also managing the finances." Pictures below were contributed by Mr. Silcott.

5 In Honor of our Patron, St. Alban On June 21, the fourth Sunday of Pentecost, we celebrated the Feast of St. Alban, our Patron Saint. Our Guest Celebrant, the Reverend Joan Fleming, reminded us of the life of St. Alban, the first recorded British Christian martyr, and of his sacrifice. In honor of our Saint Day, our altar was decorated in red by members of our dedicated Altar Guild. To God be the Glory!!

6 Rutgers Student Volunteers Help Clean Church and Fellowship Hall In April, St. Alban's Church was blessed to have five student volunteers who were part of the Rutgers Day of Service outreach in the New Brunswick community. The students, along with a core of church members, including our faithful North Carolina-based member Sis Belnavis, cleaned the church and organized the kitchen cabinets in the Fellowship Hall. As the student volunteer backpacks declared, they did Get Involved. We re proud to partner with the students in giving the interior of the church a nice facelift. THANK YOU!

7 Celebrating Father s Day at St. Alban s Members of the Radical Hospitality Committee celebrated the men of St. Alban s with a special cake in their honor during the Coffee Hour following the Mass on June 21. God s richest blessings to all the grandfathers, fathers and the father figures who have, each in their own way, influenced the life of a child.

8 Feeding the Hungry! The St. Alban s Food Pantry has been serving over 120 clients every month on Wednesdays, from 7-9 p.m at the church. The Food Pantry needs both perishable and nonperishable items. Monetary gifts are also accepted. Please contact Enid Atkins at to donate your time or food items. GIVE WITH A GLAD HEART! ST. ALBAN S THRIFT SHOP Great bargains are available at the Thrift Shop. The hours of operation are Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. To make a donation or to volunteer, contact James Simmons, Jr., Thrift Shop Manager, at Read more in the New Brunswick Patch.

9 St. Alban s Youth Group Service The Third Sunday of Pentecost, June 14, was designated Youth Group Service at St. Alban s Church. That meant that every aspect of the service, except for the sermon, involved the participation of the youth members, including the reading of the Lesson, Psalm, Epistle, and Prayers of the People. The first reading was done by Acolyte Trenyce Hinds, the Psalms by Michael Quintin, 2nd Reading by Shanique McGowan, and the Prayers for the People by Candace Walcott- Shepherd, the Youth Group Coordinator. The gift bearers were brothers Khari and Kwame Shepherd, while the gifts were received by Acolytes Malahkyle and Malik Reid. Following the service, all the Youth Group participants posed for a picture with Guest Celebrant Rev. Joanne Epply- Schmidt. We re very proud of our Youth Group!

10 Nichelle Gayle Shines at 2015 Debutante Cotillion St. Alban s own Nichelle Gayle placed second at the Ebony Suburbanites of Greater New Brunswick s 42nd annual Debutante Cotillion, "Silhouettes of Loveliness," which was held on June 7 at the Bridgewater Marriott. A member of St. Alban s Choir, Nichelle attended Franklin High School and was one of 17 debutantes drawn from seven area high schools. All the debutantes were recent high school graduates preparing to attend college in the fall. The debutantes and their escorts were awarded scholarships totaling more than $40,000 to further their education. The ball was attended by more than 300 guests. Shawn M. Harvey- Roberson, a corporate growth and strategy lead at Accenture, as well as a 1993 debutante, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies. At bottom, left, Nichelle with her brother and escort Michael, a Lay Eucharist Minister at St. Alban s. Congratulations Nichelle!

11 NOTICES!! The Altar Guild is appealing to church members for flowers. Please consider placing flowers on the Altar in celebration of your birthday, your child's birthday, in memory of a loved one, or your wedding anniversary, among other special occasions. You will be blessed!! Van Needed! The St. Alban s family is looking for a van that will allow it to expand its Food Pantry Ministry, among other activities. We re seeking a partnership with several Community Food Banks outside of our area and a large capacity van, owned by the Church, will facilitate our growth. We re praying to be blessed with the donation of such a vehicle or a contribution, in part or in whole, towards its purchase. If you are the individual to bless our ministry in this way, please contact St. Alban s Senior Warden Mr. Joseph Tinley, Jr. or Junior Warden Mr. James Simmons, Jr. at St. Alban s Birthday Club!! On most first Sundays of the month, the post-service Coffee Hour held in the Parish Hall in honor of the birthday celebrants for that particular month, is coordinated through the Birthday Club. For additional information, contact Patricia James, Birthday Club Coordinator, at

12 Tuesday, May 28: Ministry to the Yardville St. Alban s Episcopal Church Phone: Fax: office@stalbansnewbrunswick.org Website: PLEASE NOTE St. Alban s Food Pantry opens Wednesdays, 7 9 p.m. To volunteer, contact Mrs. Enid Atkins, Coordinator. St. Alban s Thrift Shop opens Wednesdays 6 8 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. 1 p.m. To volunteer, contact Mr. James Simmons Jr., Manager. Please share your comments, story ideas, and events for the The Voice of St. Alban quarterly newsletter with Editor-in-Chief Paula Walcott-Quintin, by sending an to office@stalbansnewbrunswick.org. St. Alban s Episcopal Church 148 Lee Avenue New Brunswick, NJ TO: