Jan. Word - St. Alban`s Episcopal Church

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St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
January 2015 Volume 15, Issue 1
From the Rector
At the Last Supper in the Gospel of Luke Jesus asked his Disciples, “…who is greater, the one who is at the table, or the
one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am
among you as one who serves.” The word Jesus used for
serves is the Greek diakoneō, which means “to serve” or literally “to wait on” like a waiter. Throughout the New Testament diakoneō is used to describe the kind of work in which
followers of Christ are engaged. Service to others, then,
seems to be key to ministry in the Christian life.
After Jesus’ ascension, his small band of followers grew until
it became a substantial community, and it was no longer feasible for the twelve Apostles to be leaders, spiritual advisors,
administrators, and caretakers of the aged and the infirm. And
so the Apostles appointed seven men to minister to the needs
of the community. These men were the first true Deacons in
the Church – Christians whose vocation and calling is to
serve others. In our Catechism (page 854 in the BCP) we say
that the ministry of a deacon is “to represent Christ and his
Church, particularly as a servant of those in need; and to assist bishops and priests in the proclamation of the Gospel and
the administration of the sacraments.”
The Episcopal Church has neglected, if not forgotten, the
ministry of the Deacon in more recent times. But that is
changing as the importance and significance of the role of
the Deacon in Christ’s Church is remembered and recovered.
Epiphany Pageant January 2014
Another successful pageant! Thank you Jane Cheek and
all the parents, helpers and actors who made this possible.
Maggie Barker played baby John. Julia Olkowski was a
cute sheep. Henry Clune was Joseph; Hillary Leersnyder
was Mary; Gwendolyn Jillson was baby Jesus. More inside!
I am very happy to say that we now have an active, thriving
and growing order of permanent, or Vocational, Deacons in
the Diocese of Virginia. These dedicated women and men
commit themselves to a two-year program that grounds them
in scripture, theology, Church history, preaching, pastoral
care, ethics and liturgics. In the second year of the program,
each student is assigned to a parish for a year-long practical
internship.
St. Alban’s has been richly blessed in that Ms. Theresa Lewallen, a postulant for the Diaconate in the Diocese of Virginia, will be spending her year-long internship with us, helping us to grow our servant-ministries while we serve as an
integral part of Theresa’s training and formation for Holy
Orders.
Theresa’s year-long sojourn with us started on the Feast
of the Epiphany, January 4. Please reach out to Theresa and
make her feel at home here in our home. This is a wonderful
and rare opportunity to learn more about the ministry of the
Deacon in our Church. I am thrilled that Theresa will be with
us and look forward to a year of learning about, and exploring
more deeply, our call to be servants of Christ.
-Fr. Jeff
Theresa’s note to parishioners on page 2.
The Warden’s Pen
Introducing Theresa Lewallen
The start of the new year
often bring new beginnings. I am humbled and
pleased to be with you for
my new beginning at St.
Alban’s. I am a postulant
for the vocational diaconate in the Diocese of Virginia and a student in the
training program for those
preparing ordination. This
is my second year of Deacons’ School which includes a parish internship
and capstone project.
As you read this, I will have completed
my term as Senior Warden. It
has been an incredible year of
service I was honored and privileged
to perform. I know I leave as Senior
Warden confident in our Rector, staff
and congregation. St. Alban’s is a healthy place, both
financially and spiritually. I will continue in our good
work, just not in an official capacity.
I hope you will welcome your new Vestry officers.
Betsy Anderson was elected Senior Warden. Chris
Martin has graciously agreed to continue as Junior
Warden until his move to Houston in June. Camille
Stern has been elected as Registrar.
My home parish is Grace
Church, Alexandria, which I have attended for nearly 30
years. I was received into the Episcopal Church (from the
Roman Catholic Church) there and my adult son grew up
at Grace Church. I have been active through the years in a
variety of ministries, including serving as a lay Eucharistic
minister and Eucharistic visitor and working in local outreach, international mission, and evangelism. During the
week, I work for an education membership association
located in the west end of Alexandria.
I would like to take a moment and thank Kate Lauderdale, Marie LaPrade, and Melinda Patterson for
their time and talent on the Vestry. For Art Deverill,
Duncan McBride, Cathy Knowles, Trish Huheey
and Betsy Murray, I was proud to serve with each of
you.
To your new Vestry Members, Peter Larson, Justin
Traum, Fred Holmes, Moira Skinner, Betsy Murray
and Mike Sinsabaugh, I am very pleased that you
have all agreed to run and hope that you find your
service to St. Alban’s as rewarding as I have.
I am excited to be able to worship and minister alongside
you in the coming year and thank you for your support as
I learn about the parish and community. –Theresa Lewallen
-Nancy Harrell, Senior Warden
From Fr. Andy
We always give thanks to God for all of you
and mention you in our prayers, constantly
remembering before our God and Father
your work of faith and labor of love and
steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus
Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).
My word for you this month is very simple:
Thank You! My heartfelt thanks go out to
everyone at St. Alban’s for your support on
the occasion of my ordination to the priesthood last month. For your gifts, your presence, but most importantly, for your welcoming and affirming hearts, I do not cease
to be grateful. When I came to St. Alban’s I
was still discerning whether I truly felt
called to the priesthood. But ministering
among you this fall confirmed my sense that God was indeed calling me to
that office. So, thank you, St. Alban’s for being faithful to the One who has
called you, and for letting God speak to me through you. I look forward to
continuing in ministry with you!
-Fr. Andy
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Publisher: The Very Rev. Jeff Shankles;
Managing Editor
Photo Editor, Design & Layout:
Barbara Hallman
Production and Distribution:
Monica Beniste; Sharon Belanger.
Contributors:
The Very Rev. Jeff Shankles; The Rev.
Andrew Guffey; Nancy Harrell;
Theresa Lewallen; Clarence Zuvekas.
Photographer: Barbara Hallman.
Articles/photos welcome! email to:
[email protected]
Deadline Next Edition: January 15
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: 703-256-2966
www.stalbansva.org
Choir Notes
January 4. The familiar text and tune, Puer Nobis Nascitur, #98 in our Hymnal, dates from a collection compiled in
1582. We will be singing an arrangement of this hymn by Sir David Willcocks (b. 1919). Willcocks was born in
Newquay, Cornwall and was an organ scholar at Cambridge University. His education was interrupted by the outbreak
of World War II, during which he served with distinction (1941-45), receiving the Military Cross for his decisive actions
in Normandy in July 1944. Willcocks served as organist at Salisbury and Worcester Cathedrals before becoming Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge (1957-1974), and he made numerous recordings with the widely-traveled
King’s College Choir. He has also served as Musical Director of London’s Bach Choir (1960-1998) and general editor
of the Church Music series published by Oxford University Press.
January 11. Another familiar Epiphany hymn is #120, The Sinless One to Jordan Came. This Sunday’s anthem is an
arrangement of this hymn by C. Timothy Blickhan (b. 1945 in Quincy, Illinois), Emeritus Professor of Music (theory
and composition) at Northern Illinois University. Like David Willcocks, he served in the military before completing his
musical studies, in this case at the University of Illinois. Blickhan’s choral compositions are available without charge at
the Choral Public Domain Library. Blickhan composes chamber works as well as choral music.
January 18. Our anthem for this Sunday is Followers of the Lamb, one
of a number of Shaker songs recently arranged by the contemporary
American composer, Kevin Siegfried (b. 1969). Siegfried holds a doctorate from the New England Conservatory of Music and since 2004 has
been on the faculty of The Boston Conservatory. Earlier this year he was
named composer-in-residence for the Capitol Hill Chorale, directed by St.
Alban’s Music Minister Fred Binkholder. We have previously sung
Siegfried’s Vidi Aquam, commissioned by St. Alban’s Choir.
Kevin Siegfried (b. 1969)
Muldoon Concert Series
February 1
4:00 pm
David Kelly
Organ
March 1 4:00 pm
Malarky
with Debbie Rosse
January 25. As mentioned in the September 2014 Choir Notes, the English composer Richard Farrant (c1525-1580), choir director and play producer, left few surviving compositions. This Sunday we will sing his anthem, Lord, for Thy Tender Mercy’s Sake. Maybe it’s not really his; some
sources now attribute it to John Hilton the elder (1565- 1609?).
January 4 Muldoon Concert
The Splendor
of Trumpet and Piano
Dr. Chuck Seipp (trumpet) and Dr. Joal
Ayau (piano) delighted a capacity crowd
with masterful performance at the January 4 Muldoon Concert. It was an entertaining evening of majestic music. Some
musical selections accompanied a patriotic slide show of Washington D.C.
monuments and Arlington National
Cemetery. Stunning!
April 12 4:00 pm
Brass of Peace
May 3 7:00 pm
Carmina
early music vocal ensemble
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Christmas Eve 2014
Fr. Jeff & Fr. Jaisen Thomas, vicar of Immanuel Mar
Thoma Church, Sterling, Virginia officiated at Christmas
Eve services.
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2015 Epiphany Pageant January 4
They came upon a midnight clear…
Pageant actors include:
Narrators: Angela Leersnyder and Elizabeth Lauderdale
Angel Gabriel: Allison Perina
Angel of the Lord: Olivia DePasquale
Zachariah: Bobby Dubas
Elizabeth: Kendall Huheey
Mary: Hillary Leersnyder
Joseph: Henry Clune
Baby Jesus: Gwendolyn Jillson; Maggie Barker (baby John)
Innkeepker and wife: Jack Lesko and Emily Chambers
Head Shepherd: Eleanor Lauderdale
Herod and assistant: John Lesko and Felix Howton
Wise Men Lindsay Gelman, Erin Dubas, James Perina
Head Angel: Gracie Gelman
Many little angels, sage shepherds and tiny sheep as well!
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Through the Sacrament of Baptism we are initiated into Christ’s Holy Family.
Emma Camille Conkle was baptized by Fr. Jeff and Fr. Andy on January 4 at the 8:15 am service. Emma Camille is the
daughter of Heath and Tammy Conkle.
More Epiphany Pageant 2015
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Dinner for the Parish
Support St. Alban’s
while shopping online at Amazon!
The Youth Group would like to
thank the people of St. Alban’s for
their financial and spiritual support
over the years by holding a “thank
you dinner” on Sunday, January 25
at 5:00 pm. The Youth Group will
be preparing and serving a taco dinner and all are invited. Of course, it
wouldn’t be a Youth Group function
without some fun and games,
so come prepared! Please email
Monica at [email protected] if
you plan to attend.
1. Go to smile.amazon.com
2. Log-in with your email address
and password
3. Enter “St. Alban’s Annandale” in
the “pick your own charitable organization” field and search.
4. Select “St. Alban’s Annandale”
5. Start shopping.
6. Remember! for future shopping
always go to smile.amazon.com and
a portion of your sale will go to St.
Alban’s.
Thank you for your support.
Say it ...with flowers
Honor a loved one or celebrate a
special day by offering flowers for
the altar. Please write your name on
the flower chart in the narthex.
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
he word
The Word, in Color
Getting a printed version of The
Word in your mailbox is nice, but
wait til you see it online in large
format and in full living color!
Please visit St. Alban’s website
home page after the 1st of each
month. Look on the upper right side
for News Room; click on the tab for
the latest newsletter.
Share it with friends and family!
Passages
Colonel Lawrence Vogel
of Fairfax, VA, father of Ron
Vogel and father-in-law of
Barbara Hallman, died on
December 18. Services were held
locally on December 28.
Francis Baden of Melbourne, FL, father of
Barbara Hallman and father-in-law of Ron
Vogel, died on December 26. Services will be
held in Florida on January 17.
Please keep Ron, Barbara and their family in
your thoughts and prayers.
Above: Cole is getting his candle
ready for the candlelight Christmas Eve singing of Silent Night.
Right: Processing into the service.
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January Birthdays
Robert Wulff
Liz Lusk
Bill Sargent
Hillary Leersnyder
Trevor Hershner
Jo Hodgin
Steve Hershner
David Allison
Cole Lieberthal
Dottye Stacy
Jack Martin
Jeff Harre
Ben Dillard
Erica LaPrade
Lori Lane Ebersohl
Kathy Wright
Christopher Phillips
Jan Keith
Braxton Koppelman
Christina Van Balen
Stephanie Rosse
Katie Slacin
Catherine Archer
Amy Perina
Ginger Caress
Millie Tisland
Chloe Achieng
Ella Jackson
Natasha O'Loughlin
Kathy Moore
Fred Chatelain
Tom Tycz
Kris Keyer
Matt Gelman
Alisa Tibbs
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St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
6800 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
First Class Mail
U.S. Postage
PAID
Annandale, VA
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Calendar Highlights
Christmas Eve 2014
January 25
Thank You Dinner for parish by Youth Group 5:00 pm
January 22-24
220th Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia
January 31
Annual Chili Cook-off
February 1
Youth Group Sub Sale
February 17
Shrove Tuesday
Henry spreads incense at the early service procession on
Christmas Eve. Followed by Felix, Ben and Emma.
Youth choir meets
after the 10:15 am
service on the 2nd
and 4th Sundays
each month.
February 18
Ash Wednesday
7:00 am Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes
12:00 pm Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes
6:00 pm Ash Wednesday Service for children
7:30 pm Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes
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