Worship at St. Alban's
Worshipping in a new church can seem daunting. At St. Alban's our life centers around the weekly celebration of Eucharist - often called Holy Communion, Mass, or the Lord's Supper - on Sundays as our principle act of worship as a community.
The Eucharist, a word that literally means "thanksgiving", breaks into two components, the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of Communion. One might go so far as to call them two "acts" in a drama with each participant playing their vital role. In the first act we hear our shared story as scripture lessons are read, a sermon is preached, prayers are said together, and as we share in a common confession and are reminded of God's forgiveness. In the second act we hear the words of our common story of redemption again in the long prayer of communion, we see the bread broken and the wine poured out, and share in these elemental representations of God's presence with us and we are sent out bearing that presence and our common story to the world.
What to Expect
St. Alban's Parish is a member of the Episcopal Church, a branch of the Worldwide Anglican Communion. The majority of what we say and do in worship can be found in our Book of Common Prayer (BCP) - the red book in the pew racks - and the Hymnal - the blue book also in the pew rack. On Sunday mornings we print the page numbers of prayers and hymns in a tri-fold bulletin handed out in the entrance of the church. This bulletin also contains a printed version of the days scripture lessons, a collect (a prayer that summarizes the worship themes of the day) and any additional music not found in the Hymnal. The BCP includes options for a more traditional language Eucharist (8 & 11:15 AM) called Rite I, and a more contemporary language version (9:15 AM) called Rite II. For a complete list and a short description of each service, please check out our worship schedule. For those who need it, a complete printed copy of the entire service is available in larger print.
At St. Alban's we try to model God's gracious inclusivity as we have encountered it in our lives and we try not to put up barriers to keep people from sharing and participating in our worship. At all services you will see folks of all ages, backgrounds, and income levels. The person next to you may be homeless or a lobbyist, wearing a t-shirt and jeans or a three piece suit. We truly believe that God welcomes all people and thus you are welcome to participate in our worship as fully as you feel comfortable.
If you would like to know more information about what to expect during our worship, please contact the parish office (202-363-8286 x200).
Child Care on Sundays
Child care is provided in the Nursery in the Warner Memorial Rectory by experienced and trained care givers. The Rectory is the second building on your right as you pass through the Lych Gate off of Wisconsin Avenue and the Nursery is just inside the main entrance to your right. The hours are 9 am–1 pm. Please sign in and leave your contact number. Parents are welcome to pick up their children and bring them to the Church to receive the Eucharist or a blessing. Please contact the parish office if you have concerns or suggestions.
Prayer Requests
To have your prayer requests included in the Sunday service and printed in the Announcements, contact the Rev. JIm Quigley, (202) 363-8286 x217. Prayers for those in need remain on the prayer list for three weeks. Prayers for other purposes are listed for one week.
Members of our Prayer Chain are dedicated to daily prayer on behalf of those who request it. The Prayer Chain is also a “safe” place to be remembered in prayer if you would rather not be prayed for publically in the context of the Sunday service. To have your prayer request remembered by our Prayer Chain, or to volunteer, contact: Dee Dykstra.
Assisted Listening
For those with auditory difficulties, an assistive listening device may help you to hear better, in coordination with a hearing aid or if no hearing aids are worn at all. A device is available from the ushers, who will show you how to operate it and suggest a seating location for the best reception.
Memorial Flowers for the Altar
Altar flowers are usually given in remembrance of deceased loved ones. Names of those who are remembered are listed in the Announcements and included in the prayers on Sunday. Flowers may also be dedicated on a birthday, anniversary of death, or any occasion. Contact: Adelaide Brown, 703-845-7975 (h)
Recordings of Sermons
Audio recordings and text copies of most Sunday sermons are available online at Media & Archives.
