Christian Formation

Chairs: Jim Curren and Gina Clune

Vestry Liaison: Betty Petersilia

Committee members: Fr. Jeff,  Jane Cheek , Trish Huheey, Mary Daymont,
Larry Murphy, Gina Clune, Meredith Gelman,  and  Lara Wulff 
 

Sunday School Teachers

and

Classroom Assignments

Adult Forums

Our Adult forums are clergy and lay led.  Forums meet during Sunday School time in room 11. 

All classes and forums run from 10:15 to 10:55 AM

Fall 2009 Schedule

Christian Formation for Youth

Sunday School

(3 years through 5^th grade)

Our Sunday School program for pre-Kindergarten through elementary youth is based on the Firelight II series from the Evangelical Lutheran Church.  This series takes bold and creative new looks at our faith using interactive, age-appropriate content, crafts and games.  Our teachers are committed and dedicated to enriching the spiritual lives of our youth by helping them delve deeper into scripture and learning. 

Middle School/Junior High Sunday School

(6^th - 9^th grades)

 Our junior high or middle school-aged youth use the Episcopal Curriculum for Youth.  Through it our youth are challenged to test their values in the context of their Christian faith and it equips them to make smart choices about tough issues. In this program Biblical characters come to life as real people who dealt with issues of good and evil, happiness, truth and ultimate meaning.

Senior High Sunday School

(10^th through 12^th grades)

 Our older youth are invited to participate in the Sunday School program as teachers helpers.  This gives them an opportunity to express their faith and to serve as role models for our younger children.  High School youth will be assigned a classroom where they will feel most comfortable helping lead our children in their Christian faith journey.

St. Alban’s Youth Program

St. Alban’s is blessed to have adults who are committed to giving of their time and talents to lead our youth as examples of Christian witness in fellowship and worship.

 The Youth Group consists of parish youth and teenagers in 6th—12th grade.  The Youth Group is led by Fr. Jeff Shankles and Kate Lauderdale.  Youth Group usually meets twice a month on Sundays from September through May from 4:00-5:30 PM. 

In the past year the Youth Group has gone on outings to play laser tag, a ski trip to Wintergreen, Six Flags and rock wall climbing.

 The Youth Group is also mission minded.  The group has made two trips to Mississippi for Katrina relief and has helped out with maintenance and upkeep at the Ronald McDonald House at Fairfax Hospital.  The Youth Group has also established a tradition of serving Sunday morning breakfast at a northwest Washington soup kitchen twice a year.  Zeal for mission work is contagious, and the Youth Group plans to do even more mission work in the coming year.

Christian Formation for Adults

For the 2009-2010 series of Adult forums we are introducing a lectionary based program called “The Wired Word.”  In this program we will be confronting the news with scripture—relating current events and stories in today’s news to the scripture passages we hear in church.  This program will be thought provoking as we consider our own beliefs and its application to our own day-to-day life.

Mid-week (Evenings and Mornings)

Wednesday Evenings at St. Alban’s—GLOW

The Fall 2009 Wednesday evening program will include musician Dr. Ray Glover, iconographer Nadine Thola and Shape Note song leader Tim Slattery.

Our Wednesday evening program, also known as GLOW (Gathered in the Lord on Wednesdays), begins at 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall with a potluck dinner.  The program begins at 7:15 and ends with prayer at 8:15.  Childcare is provided.  For more information and for a series schedule please see the Fall 2009 GLOW flyer.

Education for Ministry

Education for Ministry, also known as EfM, is a program of theological education-at-a-distance from the School of Theology of the University of the South. Students sign up one year at a time for this four-year program.  It covers the basics of a theological education in the Old and New Testaments, church history, liturgy, and theology.  Students meet regularly, usually once a week, in seminars under the guidance of a trained mentor.  Please contact St. Albans’ EfM Mentor Steve Lusk through the parish office at (703) 256-2966 for more information.  Or check out the Diocese of Virginia's new EFM website:   http://www.efmvirginia.com/default.asp

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Every Tuesday morning following the 9:00 AM Eucharist an informal group gathers for prayer and studies the scripture lessons for the upcoming Sunday.  Meeting in the Laylor Library across the hall from the parish office, the conversation over coffee draws upon history and theology as well as myth and legend and life experience.  All are welcome to participate in this study which usually ends around 11:00 A.M. 

Kerygma Bible Study:

Romans—A letter for today

Called “the most influential letter ever written,” the Book of Romans echoes with energy and power. In this real letter to real people, we witness Paul wrestling dynamically with enduring issues: justification and grace, sin and salvation, a vision of unity, and the faithfulness of God.  This study course will be presented in the Fall.  Watch for an announcement concerning date and times.

Christian Formation in Worship

Christian formation extends beyond the Sunday school classroom and adult forum lectures and discussions.  As we participate in our community’s worship life we cannot help but be changed and formed, and part of our faith formation is being an active participant in worship services.  In the Anglican tradition there is a wide variety of opportunities for individuals to serve in worship. 

Acolyte training for younger people will be incorporated into the Sunday School program to ensure maximum participation by all youth interested in serving as an acolyte.  

For more information contact the clergy or Gay Haran through the church office.  Following are just some of the opportunities available to extend your worship life at St. Albans:

Music Ministry at St. Alban’s

St. Alban’s is blessed with an abundance of musical talent and a long tradition of musical excellence.  The St. Alban’s Choir, led by Music Minister Fred Binkholder, adds a spiritual depth to the 11:00 AM service with its offerings of anthems, sung Psalms and other special music.  The choir, which has toured internationally, is always eager for new talent. 

 Fred also directs the  St. Alban’s bell choir, which performs periodically throughout the year—typically at Christmas and Easter.

 For more information about music ministries at St. Alban’s please contact Fred Binkholder through the parish office. 

Children’s Chapel

Children’s Chapel is held during the 9:00 AM service on the first and third Sundays of the month in room 12 for younger, elementary school-aged children.  The Children’s Chapel program is run by clergy and adult volunteers—each month one or two parents and perhaps some teenage helpers are needed to help tell the Gospel story to the children, lead a small craft project or play a game.  Children and volunteers meet in room 12 at 9:00 AM.  Children’s Chapel ends at the passing of the peace in the adult service, at which point the children will be escorted into the nave. 

Children’s Chapel provides a time for our youngest members to hear God’s Word and the story of salvation in language more appropriate for their age.  Simple and easy activities such as games will give them a chance to stretch their legs and work off some of their energy before going to the nave to join the rest of the parish community for Holy Communion.