St. Alban's Episcopal Church
The Weekly Red Door
Sunday, March 13, 2022
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Our vision for St. Alban's is to be a spiritual home
to share God's grace through worship, service, faith, and love.
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We welcome all and strive to promote justice, peace, and love in our communities
by following Jesus.
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Come! Worship, Learn, Care, Connect with us
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In This Issue
New information:
Updated Guidelines from the Diocese
Worship this Sunday, March 13: 2 services
Sunday's Bulletins & Children's Pages
Studying the Scriptures & Link to Readings
Donations for Easter Flowers
Volunteers Needed to Deliver Easter Flowers
Choir Rehearsal Resumes March 24th
Lenten Formation Gatherings
Ministry Scheduler --New Schedule
Prayer List
Recurring Information & Reminders:
Caring & Sharing: Partners in Ministry in Liberia
Prayers & Meditations Booklet for use during Lent
Upcoming Changes in Sunday Worship Schedule
Reconciliation of Penitent
UpComing Meetings
Pastoral Care
Visit our Website
Pledge Payments & Donation Links
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Updated COVID guidelines from the Diocese:
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The Diocesan COVID Medical Task Force met Thursday, March 3, to consider the most recent CDC recommendations and how they might apply to the parishes and communities in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. The Task Force reached a consensus on the following updated guidelines:
- Social gatherings, including coffee hours, shared meals, and receptions, are now allowed. Precautions should include good hand sanitation, cross-ventilation for airflow, and social distancing for indoor events.
- With these precautions in place, congregations may resume food ministries, and outside groups may return to our buildings.
- Wearing masks is optional but often prudent—and always permitted—both at social gatherings and in worship. Everyone may sing, either with a mask or without.
- Congregations may offer the common cup at communion. Each person should decide whether to receive in one kind (the bread only) or also to drink from the cup. Intinction, once so common in the Episcopal Church, contributes to the spread of any communicable disease. The Task Force strongly discourages this practice.
- At-risk groups deserve special attention, and these include the oldest and youngest among us. Young children have not yet had access to vaccines, and planners should consider this fact when planning Sunday School. Masking, hand washing, using larger rooms, and providing cross-ventilation make a safer space for those ages zero to four.
- The past year’s data has shown that vaccinations do more than anything else to prevent disease spread and serious illness.
- The Task Force, as it has all along, strongly recommends the vaccine and booster.
- Many of our congregations have grown accustomed to using dual platforms, both in-person and digital media, for much of what we do—worship, education, and meetings. The Task Force encourages the use of both platforms. The capacity of clergy, staff, and unpaid volunteers should be a consideration, however, as the increased demands of providing two platforms has stretched the limits for many of our people and leaders.
- Leaders, lay and ordained, should continue to monitor COVID spread locally, both to assess the larger community and the needs of parish. A trend signaling increased spread of the virus, or the arrival of a troubling new variant, will require a return to stricter guidelines.
The downward trend of infections and hospitalizations may signal a turning point in the pandemic. The way forward is likely not a straight line, but there is reason for hope. Pray God that cause for hope will continue.
George Wayne Smith, Bishop Provisional
Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio
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9:00 a.m. Service:
In Person
In the Church
Masks may be worn
Rite I
Holy Eucharist
(See above for guidelines about receiving Communion)
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10:30 a.m. Service:
The Service will be on Zoom.
Here is the Link:
Join Zoom Meeting
- (Please be sure to download Zoom to your home computer if you have not done so yet.)
- We will use a spoken Liturgy of the Word (Ante Communion) for worship with no Holy Communion
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We have a longstanding tradition at St. Alban's of placing a glorious display of lilies and other spring bulbs in the church for Easter services. Following Easter worship, flowers are taken to members unable to worship with us in person.
We invite you to participate with a contribution oof any amontto offset the cost of the flowers. You may mail a check along with your contact and donation information and return it to St. Alban's, 333 South Drexel Avenue, Bexley, OH 43209. In clue "Easter Flowers" in the memo line of your check.
You may also complete the form and donation on line by visiting "https://stalbans-bexley.org/easter-flowers/. At this link, you can enter your donation information and pay on line by check or credit card. We ask that all donations be received by Wednesday, April 6th in order to include the names in the service bulletin.
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Volunteers Needed
to deliver Easter Flowers to those who cannot worship in person
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March 24th--
Choir Practice begins again!
7:30 pm in the choir room at the church
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Lenten Formation gatherings
Wednesdays in Lent
7:00 - 8:00 pm
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Adult Formation
In person gathering from 7:00-8:00 pm in the living room
We will use "The Social Justice Bible Challenge" as our reference for reflection and conversation.
Here are the dates & leaders:
March 16: Deacon Craig
Please read Day 8 through Day 14 and think about what reading strikes you most and the common themes you see in these readings and reflections.
March 23: Carol Kaufman
March 30: Kristen Fout
April 6: Fr. Devin
Books are $15.00 --please write "Lent Formation" in the memo line of your check--
The books are available at the church.
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Young Adult Formation:
Middle School -- College Adults
We will be gathering on Wednesday evenings beginning March 9 at 7-8pm in the EYC room in the Ed Building.
The Room Where It Happens takes us on a Lenten journey exploring identity and belonging, ambition and temptation, forgiveness and redemption, love and sacrifice, and hope and courage through adversity utilizing the musical Hamilton.
We invite all middle school- college age folks to join us for this journey through Lent beginning March 9th.
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This schedule runs from March 13 through April 24. Some sections are still incomplete; these are being developed.
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Recurring Information & Reminders
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Caring and Sharing
March partner:
Partners In Ministry in Liberia
(P.I.M.I.L.)
What is “Caring and Sharing?” --St. Alban’s Social Concerns Committee selects an organization to receive the loose plate offering each month on Caring and Sharing Sunday.
CARING & SHARING SUNDAY IS MARCH 13
Contributions can also be made at any time during the month.
Partners-in-Ministry-in Liberia (PIMIL) was established in 2005 following 2 civil wars (1989-2003) and democratic elections also in 2005. PIMIL was started at St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Westerville by The Rev. Abeoseh Flemister (whose only brother was killed in the civil conflict) to focus on the education and health needs of the people in Liberia. PIMIL's ministry is to rebuild the human resources of the country.
St. Albans, guided by the Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations and adopted by the Episcopal Church, has been a partner in this ministry since its inception.
We were the primary sponsor of two nursing students, who have graduated from Cuttington University in Liberia and are now helping others with their health needs. More recently, funding has been directed toward primary education of children.
Due to COVID, many of PIMIL’s fundraising and promotional activities have not been possible.
Please read more about Liberia (a country on the west coast of Africa with long ties to the United States) and PIMIL by clicking HERE
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Prayers & Meditations
for Lent
Each day within Lent (including Sundays, which aren’t actually part of Lent), this booklet will offer suggestions for thought, prayer, reflection, and/or action. The pre- Easter season of turning back to God can include sorrow and joy, solemnity and delight. May each of us experience these things as the loving God chooses.
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Sunday Worship
Sunday Worship In March
We will offer 2 worship services.
9:00 am
Rite I In-Person in the church
(see new guidelines above)
10:30 am
Worship via Zoom
Schedule Changes
Beginning Sunday, April 3rd
8:00 a.m. Rite I worship - in the church
9:30 a.m. –Relaxed, Family worship -in the Klages ED Building
10:30 a.m. Rite II worship—in the church
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Reconciliation
“All may, some should, none must!”
On March 11, April 1 & April 8 --all are Friday dates from 9am-11am, (or by appointment) Fr. Devin will be available for individuals desiring “The Rite of Reconciliation.” This sacramental rite, often overlooked, misunderstood, and misnamed “confession” is beneficial to us and our relationship with God and one another as it helps us “let go” of burdens.
If you would like to schedule a time with Fr. Devin or have questions about this practice, please email him at rector@stalbans-bexley.org.
You can learn more about Reconciliation on page 446 in the Book of Common Prayer.
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Upcoming Meetings
Vestry: regular meeting is 3rd Tuesday of month
Next meeting: March 15 7:00 pm
We will meet in person in the Living Room.
All members of the congregation are welcome to attend.
Choir: practice resumes! March 24th 7:30 pm
Building & Grounds: regular meeting is 1st Tuesday of each month
Next meeting: April 5 -7:00 pm
We will meet in person in the Living Room.
Book Club: regular meeting is 1st Monday of each month
Next meeting: April 11 7:00 pm
This meeting will be in person in the library!
Social Concerns: regular meeting is 2nd Thursday of each month
Next meeting: May 12 7:00 pm
The April meeting falls on Maundy Thursday; we will not be meeting then.
The meeting will be in person in the Living Room.
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Pastoral Care
Telephone at office: 614-253-8549
All calls and emails are confidential.
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[614-253-8549] [admin@stalbans-bexley.org]
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