St. Alban's Episcopal Church

The 2008 Fall Worship Schedule

Sundays

7:45-8:30 am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Rite I on 5th Sundays), without music or nursery
8:45-9:45 am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with music, including Children’s Choirs, nursery provided, Children's Chapel
10:00-10:45 am, Spiritual Formation (Sunday School) for all ages.
11:00am-12:00 pm, Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with music, including the Adult Choir, nursery provided

Weekdays and Saturday

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Morning Prayer II, 9:15-9:30 am
Third Wednesdays of each month: Holy Eucharist II, with special prayers and anointing with oil for the sick, 12:15-1:00 pm.
Thursdays, Centering Prayer, 7:00-7:45am
Second Saturday of Each Month: Contemporary, youth-led, Holy Eucharist “III”, with music provided by a youth Musical Group and Ensemble, 5:00-6:00pm, followed by meal and youth fellowship.

Crucifer, Torchbearers, Lay Readers, and Chalice Bearers Needed!

If you’re interested in helping to lead worship as an acolyte, lay reader or chalice bearer, please come forward! The new service schedule means that we need additional worship leaders, and this is a great way to get involved. As one of our parishioners said, “Being an Episcopalian is not a spectator sport!”

And there will be training for all! Please fill out an interest sheet located in the Narthex, or contact any member of the clergy for more information!

Thank you—and we look forward to seeing YOU!

Our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, November 16 at 9:30 a.m. in the nave. At the meeting, you will be able to vote for 4 new Vestry members and preview the 2009 budget. Childcare will be available for the children in the nursery and downstairs.

SPECIAL NOVEMBER EVENING MEETING FOR ECW: Episcopal Church Women

November 11, Tuesday – meeting in the Nave
6:00 p.m. Business – Election of New Officers
The election of the President, Vice President and United Thank Offering Coordinator for a term of one year to begin January 2009.
6:30 p.m. Costa Rica Youth Experience
In August of 2008, a team of eight youth from St Alban’s journeyed to Heredia, Costa Rica on a mission trip. The cost of the trip was covered through generous donations from St Alban’s, from ECW and other groups, and from the families and friends of the youth. During their time with the church in Costa Rica, they delivered prayer books and first aid kits; they provided a Vacation Bible School for the children of Guarari and labored inside the diocesan house to prepare space for future missionaries; they met with youth from Guarari in a new outreach effort and they visited an active volcano and flew through the forest canopy.
Come and hear the stories from the youth who met the people of our companion diocese of Costa Rica.

Parish Life Christmas Greenery Sale!

Please see the green forms in the narthex for our 2008 Greenery sale.

The forms and checks are due back to the church by November 13.

You may mail them or drop them by the office.

The greenery will be at the Stenhouse home for pick-up on December 7.

November Ingathering

Please bring diapers (size 3 and 4), canned vegetables, soups, stews and beans, healthy cereals, bar soap, toothpaste, deodorant and feminine hygiene products for the Ada Jenkins Loaves and Fishes food pantry for November’s Ingathering. You may bring your items throughout the month of November.

Please bring only unopened, new items for the food pantry.

Holy Eucharist at The Pines Retirement Community

This month on the 2nd and 3rd Thursdays at 11:00 a.m., St. Alban’s will hold an Eucharist at The Pines Retirement Community in the upstairs living room in the main building. St. Alban’s members are invited to attend this service along with the residents of the Pines. In November, Eucharist will be held November 13 and 20—-due to the Thanksgiving holidays.

Middle School and High School Sunday School News:

The youth will begin their class time at 9:45a.m. rather than 10:00a.m. This earlier start time will mean youth and teachers may have to leave the 8:45a.m. service early—and that will be ok! This will allow for an hour of meeting time for our older youth.

The Middle School meet in the large room at the bottom of the stairs—what was called the Library.

The High School meet in the green corner room to the right of the Middle School room.

Music at St. Alban’s: Beggar Boys Concerts

Our holiday concerts will be Saturday, December 13th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 14th at 3:00 p.m. with the Beggar Boys and Kate Minogue. They will be performing a Celtic Christmas concert complete with Irish step dancers and a few surprises. Tickets are already in demand.
Please call the concert series line at 704-941-0650 to reserve yours in advance.

United Thank Offering: UTO

Pick up your blue boxes this week. They are available in the narthex and in the downstairs Assembly Area.
The Ingathering will be on November 23. You can bring your boxes (full of coins!) to church that day or place in the giant box that is downstairs in the Assembly Area.
By offering thanks on a daily basis, we form a joyful way of life.

November Mission of the Month: MOM

This month we will be collecting the following items which will be distributed to the needy thru the Mooresville Soup Kitchen. Please bring only NEW items for this collection. Items may be purchased for men or women: Gloves/mittens Scarves, Socks, Winter hats, Sweatshirts, and Blankets.

You may place your items in the hallway outside the office doors.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Calling all knitters, crocheters and those interested in learning! The Prayer Shawl ministry has taken a hiatus from meeting as a group, but that doesn't mean we've stopped working on our prayer shawls.

We will meet on Monday, November 17th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. to discuss our mission, plan for 2009 and re-connect as a group. Bring your current work or call ahead if you want help getting started.

For more information, contact Colleen Kopchick, 704-892-8033 or colleenkop@gmail.com

Girlfriends Group

The next gathering of Girlfriends will be on Thursday, November 20th … the meeting starts at 7pm but doors open at 6:15 for visiting time. This month we will be meeting upstairs. We will be packing boxes of goodies to send to our three Girlfriend Soldiers in Iraq . We will also be finalizing plans for Girlfriends night at Room In The Inn in December. Girlfriends Group is open to all the women of the church (18-108) who enjoy fellowship and the opportunity to meet members who attend different services. Come join us !

The Middle School Youth Group-MSYG- 2008 Angel Tree

The tree will be in the narthex—loaded with ANGELS— on Sunday, November 30—the First Sunday of Advent. We ask that you take an angel for you and your family.
Don’t forget to sign the notebook next to your Angel Tag number.
We have been given the names of local Charlotte area children who need our support.
We will again team up with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department and 107.9-The Link.
PLEASE return the angels and the corresponding gifts to the church by Sunday, December 14.
Write the Angel Tag Number on the packages for your child.
The gifts may be wrapped or unwrapped. It is helpful to place multiple gifts to one child into a large bag. For more information, please contact Jenny Langford at langford@elangford.net.

St. Alban's Habitat For Humanity Update

Big things are happening with our Habitat for Humanity " A House with a Heart" project. The Golf outing just happened on October 20th and was a success in every way. The weather was just about perfect and so many wonderful organizations helped support our cause and really made it a great occasion. We want to extend our thanks to Kim Fleming and Beth and Mike Marshall for all their hard work.

It doesn't end there! T-shirt sales are going on now. There were too many great designs to chose just one so the t-shirts feature all the kid's creative work on a single shirt. They will be available on Sundays and at many of the church events in the future. Be sure to pick up one soon.

Also, don't forget our big event of the year. George Winston will be performing live in our sanctuary on March 11th, 2009. The word is just starting to go out to the public about this event so we do expect it to completely sell out. Church members will be able to buy tickets BEFORE they are on sale to the general public beginning in December. Don't miss out on this once in a life time opportunity.

St. Alban’s Cookbooks

Copies are still available for purchase. They are $12 each and you may purchase your copy in the church office during the week or in the narthex on Sunday mornings.

Christmas 2008 Eve Schedule

4:00 p.m. Family Service-nursery available

7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist with the RSCM Children’s Choir--nursery available

11:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist with the Adult Choir