The Beacon of St. Alban s Illuminating the Word of God in the World

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1 June 2013 The Beacon of St. Alban s Illuminating the Word of God in the World On Pentecost Sunday, baby Akachi Nathan (son of Chidi and Chioma Ugbam) was baptized. Plans are underway for more children to be baptized on June 23, when we celebrate the feast of our patron St. Alban. At these occasions and every baptism, the congregation is asked whether they will support the family and the baptized child in their life in Christ. The congregation replies, We will. Later in the rite, the congregation welcomes the newly baptized, saying, We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood. Thus, all of us who have been marked as Christ s own forever are bound together with promises to help each other develop our faith and live it with integrity. These promises are the foundation for every church s responsibility to offer Christian formation opportunities such as Sunday School for children, confirmation classes and youth programs, along with adult education to support families and other mentors. For St. Alban s Church, commitment to Christian formation of children is in the DNA of how this community came into existence. In August of 1890, eager children began assembling on the porch of Dr. Brayshaw s house for instruction by his sister Anna. This was the ministry from which St. Alban s Church in Glen Burnie grew. As children flocked to Sunday School, their parents began to show interest in worship as well. This is a distinctive feature Inside Music Notes.2 Social Ministries...3 St. Alban s Day... 4 Youth Trip to NYC..4 Memorial Day Parade..5 Calendar... 6 & 7 News & Happenings... 8 Time and Talent.9 Convention Report 10&11 June

2 of St. Alban s history: ministry to children is the root from which this church has grown. At present, the Church School of St. Alban s is small. But signs of growth are beginning to appear. The Spirit is working, inspiring St. Alban s with new energy to live our distinctive ministry of reaching out to children and drawing in their families. New curriculum has been tested with enthusiasm. Plans are underway for a fully structured Church School to begin in the fall. Please consider how the Spirit may be nudging you to help. Fixing up classrooms? Administrative support? Teaching or assisting? Acquiring supplies? Inviting kids in your neighborhood to visit? What might be your role? Yours In Christ, Paula + Music Notes-Church Musician Summer Concert Dates Your friendly church musicians are busy this summer! Michael Arrington plays piano and keyboard in the Olney Big Band and they have a concert during the Columbia Lakefront Festival off of Little Patuxent Parkway from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on June 23. He also plays Flugel horn in the Rockville Brass Band with concerts on June 1 at noon at Glen Echo Park, Washington, DC and June 8 at 11 am in Gettysburg, PA at the Lutheran Theological Seminary. Free! Lynn McFarland will play handbells in a concert by the Canterbury Ringers at Arbutus United Methodist Church at 4 PM on June 9. Free will donations will be accepted. Stan McFarland will play guitar at Kahve Café in Edgewater on August 9 at 8 PM. He s the featured performer during open mic night and will play a 30 min set. Free will donations are accepted. Come early for best seats and good food. St. Alban s Annual Picnic June 2nd at Lake Waterford Park Join us Sunday June 2 at Lake Waterford Park in Pasadena for the 10:30 service-outside! We ve reserved the Blue Jay pavilion so look for us! Stan McFarland will provide guitar music to sing with. Our grill masters will provide hotdogs and hamburgers and buns and some drinks. Bring a dish to share and your favorite lawn chair. Benches and tables are provided. 2 This Is the Church For You

3 Social Ministries Thanks to the generosity of our parishioners, we will be sending $374 to Camp Amazing Grace from the May outreach envelopes. In addition, we will be sending $1000 to provide scholarships to 2 children for Camp Amazing Grace We will be sending $300 to Pathfinders for Autism to help children with autism receive assistance and education We will be sending $300 to Sarah s House in honor of Mother s Day We will be collecting beach towels and swim goggles early this year for Camp Amazing Grace to take advantage of summer sales (camp is not until August) We will be kicking off our annual scholarship drive for the children of Buen Pastor on June 9 th which is the same day we will hear from the Rev. Margarita Santana about the Dominican Republic and Buen Pastor It is still to be determined if we will collect kid food for NCEON or summer food for Buddy Bag children or both this summer. Our next meeting is 5:30 June 18 th prior to the Women s Guild. At this meeting, we prayerfully will consider how we might continue to serve the Lord by serving others using the $4500 endowment check received in May. We are blessed to have this annual gift from the Dorothy LeMarquand Social Ministries Endowment to help those in our local community and in our global community. Reverend Margarita Santana Visits on June 9 On Sunday June 9 we ll welcome the Rev. Margarita Santana to our church where she will preach at both services and speak at a reception at 9 am sponsored by the Ladies Guild and Social Ministries. Margarita+ served as a priest at Buen Pastor, a school for extremely poor children in the Dominican Republic that St. Alban s has supported with scholarships for many years. Now she serves as coordinator for Hispanic ministries in our diocese and as priest of Iglesia Episcopal de la Resurrection in Baltimore. She is a direct source of the latest information on Buen Pastor and she also can help us consider mission opportunities. June

4 St. Alban s Day is June 22-We re Celebrating June 23 Saint Alban was the first British Christian martyr. Along with his fellow saints Julius and Aaron, Alban is one of three martyrs remembered from Roman Britain. Alban is listed in the Church of England calendar for 22 June and he continues to be venerated in the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox Communions. In 2006 some Church of England clergy suggested that Alban should replace St George as the patron saint of England. We ll be celebrating St. Alban s Day with a luncheon following the 10:30 service on June 23. There will be no 8 :00 am service that day. If you know of anyone who attended St. Alban's but has moved away or not attended in awhile please call the church and give Lynne a name and address so we can send an invitation. Wouldn't it be nice to have a "Homecoming Reunion" on our special day? Youth Trip to New York City On June 7-8, St. Alban s youth will travel by train to New York City to participate in Nightwatch at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Nightwatch is an overnight spiritual and faith exploration for middle and high school youth. This is the age when young people begin to think about the big issues of religion, philosophy and justice. It is a vital period of life, with great opportunity to guide young seekers toward awareness of their own spiritual resources and tools to develop these resources. Professionals in the areas of music, theater, art, and spiritual direction will offer sessions to open discussions on compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, faith and social justice. Prayer and meditation techniques, practiced in the sacred setting of the Cathedral, are part of the experience. At the close of the evening, everyone shares an Eucharist that we will create together with music by teen peers. We sleep over in the cathedral s gym. After breakfast, there s time for a little basketball or volleyball and a tour offered by Cathedral educators. 4 This Is the Church For You

5 Glen Burnie Memorial Day Parade Fun June

6 June 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 Church Picnic Lake Waterford Park Pasadena 10:30 am Holy Communion, potluck lunch following 3 4 7:30 pm Food Addiction 5 6 6:30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Choir 7 7:30 pm Alanon 7:30 pm Alateen 8 9 Rev Margarita Santana guest preacher 8:00 am Holy Communion 9:00 am Potluck Brunch 10:30 am Holy Communion :00 Prayer Shawl Ministry 7:30 pm Food Addiction :30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Choir 14 7:30 pm Alanon 7:30 pm Alateen :00 am Holy Communion 10:30 am Holy Communion :30 Social Ministries 6:30 Ladies Guild 7:30 pm Food Addiction 19 7:00 pm Vestry Meeting 20 6:30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Choir 21 12:30 pm Lunch Bunch 7:30 pm Alanon 7:30 pm Alateen St. Alban s Day 10:30 am Holy Communion Lunch following 6:30 Concert in Columbia :30 pm Food Addiction :00 am Holy Communion 10:30 am Holy Communion 6 This Is the Church For You June

7 Food, Fun and Fellowship! June Birthdays James Daubert 6/03 Linda Bumgarner 6/06 Wynter Radcliffe 6/9 Mildred Rogers 6/11 Devon Cramer 6/14 Patrick Marshall 6/16 Nancyjane Bailey 6/22 Natalea Cramer 6/26 Patricia Lerner 6/28 The St. Alban s Lunch Bunch meets once a month, rain or shine. The week, day, and location change from month to month. The only thing that remains the same is the time: 12:30. Men and women of all ages are welcome. Our group ranges in number from 12 to 20 depending on people s schedules and we have a lot of fun. You should Try us, you ll like us! The Lunch Bunch will meet at the Two Rivers Restaurant in Lake Shore Plaza in Pasadena for lunch on June 21 at 12:30. Contact Cindy Johns for details and directions at Ladies Guild End of Year Pot Luck The Ladies Guild will be having their final meeting of the year on June 18 at 6:30. If you will be coming, please bring a gift costing no more than $10 for our annual Bingo game. Judy Smith's granddaughter Nikki, will again be calling numbers. It is also pot luck. So ladies, please bring one of those delicious dishes that you do so well. And also, remember, St. Alban ladies, you all are Guild members and we would love to have you come to our last meeting before we take our summer break The Beacon will resume with the September issue. Please send your submissions by August 25 to lynnmcfarland@gmail.com, or place them in the newsletter editor bin in the vestry room. 8 This Is the Church For You

8 June Anniversaries Has anyone told you have a nice strong, clear speaking voice? St. Alban s needs more lay readers! The readings are not hard and you can start off with the Prayers for the People that don t have those crazy biblical names. Contact Bob Lumbert if you can read at either the 8 or 10:30 services. St. Alban s handbell choir and voice choir need your time and talent! Please contact Michael Arrington at arringtonfamily@aol.com or come to the basement choir room on Thursday nights at 6:30 for handbells or 7:30 to sing! The ability to read music is preferred but there are no auditions and we have a lot of fun! We would really like to be able to use all of our bells and we can t without more ringers! We can teach you how to ring if you ve never done it before and want to try to take your musical talent in a new direction! More acolytes are needed-adults and youth can serve! You ll start off buddying with an experienced acolyte until you feel ready to take on the whole job. Training is provided. Contact Brenda Gish at cedarpup@cablespeed.net The Altar Guild can always use extra helping hands around the holidays and throughout the year. Contact Brenda Gish at cedarpup@cablespeed.net Ron & Joan Biermann 6/5 Natalea & Michael Cramer 4 years 6/6 Mary & Robert Wilcox 41 years 6/17 Harold & De Moors 65 Years!! 6/19 Susan & Russell Glantz 26 Years 6/20 James & Sharon Amrhein 13 years 6/23 Becky & Thomas Lloyd 24 years 6/24 June

9 229th Convention of the Diocese of Maryland by Louise Izat This year the convention was held on May 3 rd and 4 th at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum, just ten minutes from St. Alban s. How convenient for us. It was an impressive gathering of 300+ priests and lay delegates worshiping together and making decisions for the good of our parishes and our surrounding communities. There is something very special about being part of this larger Episcopal community and hearing what is happening at the other churches in our Diocese. The convention began somberly with a time of remembrance and prayer for the victims of the shootings last May at St. Peter s Episcopal Church in Ellicott Mills. The current rector spoke eloquently of how the Holy Spirit has been healing the church and has given them the grace needed to move on from the terrible tragedy and to continue serving others as the church has done in the past. With regard to the business sessions of the convention, there were 12 resolutions submitted for a vote. The first resolution which passed involved creating congregational websites and social media presence. St. Alban s is way ahead on that resolution thanks to the skills and diligence of our webmaster, Jim Koblinsky! The last resolution which passed involved safeguarding the integrity of creation and sustaining life on earth. Again, our church is doing well in this area, having just held a Creation Service during the week of Earth Day, and with the other aspects of our environmental ministry. The 3 most interesting resolutions, which provoked the most discussions, were resolutions advocating a strategic approach to ending gun violence, establishing churches as Gun Free zones, and mandating non-violence training for priests. The mandatory training for priests was sent back to Diocesan Council for further study. The other 2 resolutions passed, but one was by a very narrow margin. At first, the Diocese advocating non-violence seemed like a no-brainer to me, but discussion revealed some differences in the churches in our Diocese, and caused me to appreciate both sides of the debate for these resolutions. We heard from a female priest who is rector of a church in Baltimore City where she hears gun shots right on the sidewalk outside of her church. She wanted her church to be a Gun Free zone because she considers the church is a sanctuary and a place of peace, where guns should be left at home. At the opposite end of the debate was the church located in a rural area in Western Maryland where many people carry guns to protect their families and property because it might take law enforcement 30 or 40 minutes to respond. The highlight of convention for me was a fantastic keynote speaker, Brian McClaren. Brian used to be a pastor of a huge church in Burtonsville. He is now an Episcopalian, living in Florida, and has written a number of thought provoking books on church and faith and saving the world. He spoke about the church s role and our role as Christians, 10 This Is the Church For You

10 in addressing our three global crises: saving the planet, eradicating poverty, and creating world peace. There were many heavy issues addressed at this convention. But, on a lighter note, going to convention with our new priest- in-charge was fun, and a very interesting experience. Although she has only been in Maryland for a short time, Paula+ knew many people at convention. Actually some priests in our Diocese were her students when she taught at seminary and she has made many connections already within our Diocese which will benefit us at St. Alban s. At convention, there were many stimulating discussions and exchanges of ideas during the breaks. Our encounter with the Rev. Monique Ellison, Priest-in-Charge at St. Christopher s, gave us information about programs like Spiritually Thirsty (for Young Adults), the Episcopal Service Corps, and community organizing efforts. A discussion with the Rev. Susan Oldfather, of St. John s in Kingsville, prompted a possible labyrinth event here at St. Alban s next year. Having lunch with the Reverend Margarita Santana, the Diocesan Hispanic Coordinator and Vicar of Iglesia Episcopal de la Resurreccion in Baltimore, gave us lots of ideas for possible outreach, and another strong connection to Buen Pastor. Look for Margarita+ to be preaching at St. Alban s on June 9 th. I came away from convention feeling that Paula s+ energy, vision, creativity, and connections, as well as her years of teaching experience, will bring many ideas to St. Alban s, and possibly new ways for us to consider serving the Lord in our community. Attending our Diocesan Convention was an interesting and spiritually uplifting experience. Also, those leading convention each had a great sense of humor, especially Bishop Sutton, so there were lots of laughs. I was glad to be a lay delegate for our church. Many of our parishioners have been lay delegates in the past and can share their experiences. Again this year, Rebecca Glantz represented St. Alban s as a Youth Page. If you have never had the opportunity to attend the annual Convention for the Diocese of Maryland, you might want to consider becoming a lay delegate for St. Alban s or a Youth Page next year. I found it a very gratifying experience. June

11 The Beacon of St. Alban s St. Alban s Episcopal Church 105 1st Ave SW Glen Burnie, MD Phone: , Fax: stalbans.church@verizon.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) 10:30 am - Sunday School, K-12 and Nursery Church Office Hours Tuesday-Thursday 9-1 Priest In Charge Rev. Dr. Paula Datsko Barker 12 This Is the Church For You