NEWCOMER INFORMATION
St. Alban’s Welcome Information
About St Alban’s
St. Alban's is an active and caring parish of more than 500 members. We gather in a church dedicated in the fall of 2001 that serves as the centerpiece of one of Davidson’s newest neighborhoods. We are a diverse congregation: long-time residents, young families, singles, Davidson College students, empty nesters and retirees. We come from different economic backgrounds and work in many diverse professions, from the farmlands to the local shops, to the office towers in the city of Charlotte. Our unity is in our common commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the ministry we have been given within our church family, in our town, and in the world.
In joyful response to the message of Christ, we gather in community to worship God and to love and serve our neighbors as ourselves.
St. Alban’s……….
- centers its life in the celebration of Holy Eucharist each Sunday
- is committed to the spiritual nurture of all members, particularlyits youth seeks to love and serve God by loving and serving each other, the community, and the world
- honors - and uses - the diversity and gifts of its members
- enjoys fellowship, food and fun (often!) across generational lines
An Open Door
If you are new to the area, visiting from out of town, or just exploring new churches, we welcome you to St. Alban's and invite you to participate in our life of worship and service. You do not have to be a member of the parish or an Episcopalian to participate in St. Alban's programs or ministries. If you choose to join the congregation of St. Alban's, you will be received with love and joy.
Staff
Diocese of North Carolina
Bishop of North Carolina...... The Right Reverend Michael Curry......
Bishop Suffragan of North Carolina...... The Right Reverend Ann
St. Alban’s
Rector...... The Rev. David Buck......
Associate Rector...... The Rev. Greg McIntyre......
Davidson College Episcopal Campus Minister… The Rev. Greg McIntyre......
Deacon...... The Rev. Rebecca Yarbrough......
Music Director...... David Palmer......
Financial Secretary...... Erin Garrett......
Director of Children and Youth...... Lisa Givens......
Director of Communications...... Lisa Givens......
Parish Administrative Assistant...... Jan Topp......
Preschool Director...... Meg McConnell......
How to Contact Us
Visit: 301 Caldwell Lane, DavidsonNC28036.
At the light at Main Street and Concord Road, turn onto Concord Road. Go approximately one mile to St. Alban’s Lane; turn left. You will see the church tower straight ahead. The entrance to the parking lot is to the left of the church. There are two handicap-access parking spaces on the upper level.
The church office is on the upper level. Go in the main door, and then go through the double doors to your left. You will see the office entrance ahead. The office is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Call:704-892-0173
Fax:704-892-6506
By Mail:PO Box 970, Davidson, NC28036
Email:
Web:
Diocese web:
St. Alban’s 2015 Lay Leadership
VESTRY
The Vestry is made up of lay members of the parish. They are elected for three year terms. Each year, a third of the vestry retires and new members are elected. Vestry members meet once a month to discuss the status of the finances, building matters, and address general parish issues. Vestry members are always available to discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding St. Alban’s. Their contact information is listed below.
Name / Parish Liaison for: / Email / TelephoneLeslie Urban / Senior Warden / / 704-975-2300
Skip Notte, Jr. / Junior Warden
Building and Grounds / / 704-997-5030
Len Arcuri / / 917-848-6100
Fred Berta / Financial Liaison / / 704-655-8901
John Bolton / Treasurer / / 704-895-4343
Richard Colven / / 704-997-6299
Courtney Fossett / / 704-992-6426
Cory Muir / Outreach Liaison / / 608-217-5726
Will Storey / / 704-756-3747
Juli VonCanon / / 704-437-0837
Worship Information
- We celebrate the Holy Eucharist every Sunday and on Holy Days.
- Service times are:
8:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist Rite II
Holy Eucharist Rite I - 5th Sunday of the month
10:30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist Rite II -- with choirs
(nursery care available)
- Morning Prayer is offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9:15 a.m.
- When Davidson College is in session, the Eucharist also is celebrated on campus at Davidson College.
- Holy Eucharist is celebrated at The Pines Retirement Community on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 11:00 a.m. This schedule can change based on activities at The Pines.
- Holy Days: Services of various kinds are held on Holy Days, particularly during Lent and Holy Week. Some of these are focused towards adults, and some towards families and children, but all are welcome at any service. Check the church website for dates and times.
Worship in the Episcopal Church is participatory. The congregation is active in worship sharing with joy in the words and music. The bulletin you receive from an usher will guide you through the service, and you will use the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal that are found under your seat.
The central moment of our worship is the celebration of Holy Eucharist (also called "Communion," "The Lord's Supper" or “Mass” by some Episcopalians). Eucharist is a Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”. The first part of the liturgy consists of hymns, prayers, scripture readings and a sermon. This is followed an Affirmation of Faith (The Nicene Creed), the prayers of the people, confession of sin, absolution, and the exchange of peace. The second part of the liturgy begins with the offerings of the congregation, and then proceeds with the Eucharistic prayer, consecration of the bread and wine, Communion, the post-Communion prayer, blessing and dismissal.
You may wonder when to stand or kneel. Practices varyeven among individual Episcopalians. The general rule is to stand to sing, for the affirmation of faith, and for the reading of the Gospel. We sit during readings from the Old Testament and New Testament Letters, the sermon, and the choir anthems. Some stand, while others kneel for prayer.
All baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion in the Episcopal Church. A baptized child may receive Communion at any age; that decision is left up to the child and his/her parent. Children and adults are invited to come to the Communion rail to be blessed, even if they are not receiving the bread or wine.
Christian Formation
Music Ministries
St. Alban's music ministries are varied and responsive to the gifts of the congregation. The Adult Choir serves at the 10:30 Eucharist most Sundays of the year and for two services on both Christmas and Easter. The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. The Children's Choir is for children grades 1-5 and sings once a month at the 10:30 service and at the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. They practice on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 5:45 PM. The Youth Choir is for young people in middle and high school. They sing a few times a year for select events like Christmas. Instrumentalists are encouraged to offer their gift: we have had children, youth, and adults play their instruments for preludes, anthems, and postludes. On the second and fourth Saturdays of most months, St. Alban's offers alternative masses at 5:00 PM at which a variety of musical cultures are used as vehicles for worship. Please contact David Palmer for more information: there is always room for one more voice or instrument!
St. Alban’s Weekday Preschool
St. Alban’s Weekday Preschool is privileged to offer classes to 75 to 80 children who are two, three and four years of age each school year. St. Alban’s Weekday Preschool is a ministry of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. The Preschool prides itself in providing age appropriate, concrete experiences to meet developmental needs in the lives of young children, including experiences that nurture the development of the whole child.
Preschool classes are offered each weekday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Our school year runs from September through May, and follows the Charlotte-Mecklenburg calendar closely within its nine months of operation.
Children's Sunday school: Age 4 – 5th Grade
Children's Sunday schoolfor children ages four through fifth grade takes place from 10:15 - 11:00 a.m. in our Sunday school classrooms during our 10:30 a.m. service. Following their classes, children are accompanied by their teachers to the service, where they return to their parents during the Peace, so that they might receive Holy Communion as a family.
Our Sunday school classes use the Weaving God's Promises curriculum. This curriculum helps to teach children how God’s promises of salvation are woven into our lives and to teach children the way of Christ, not only in the church but also in the world as Christ’s ambassadors.
In addition, our programs encourage a sense of community -- both in the fellowship shared together and in outreach beyond our church doors through gifts to a food pantry, LearnWorks Bridge program, Angel Treeor creating art for those on our prayer list. Would you like more information about PreK - 5th grade Sunday school or to volunteer with our Children's Sunday School?Please contact Lisa Givens, Director of Children and Youth Formation.
Youth Ministry: Middle School and High School
Youth are defined at St. Alban’s Episcopal as any 6th thru12th grader. Youth Sunday school is held in the Youth Room each Sunday at 10:15. Light breakfast foods are served, so come and enjoy some good food and great fellowship with your peers.
This past year we explored the theme of Diversity & Relationships and how it relates to our own personal lives. We had some truly meaningful discussions about diversity in our communities and schools. Currently we are discussing Difficult Decisions and how your faith can help guide you to the best decision. We also participate in service projects, take mission trips, and are learning how to simply have fun all in the name of Christ. We value the ideals of the larger body of St. Alban’s. We also believe, as our Episcopal signs read, “All are welcome.” We believe each person has talents and gifts given by God and we want to help everyone find these gifts and help each other to find their place in God’s creation, and grow into the person God has called each of us to be.
All 6th -12th graders meet together and then break off into middle and high school groups. We welcome new faces all the time, so stop by and start enjoying our youth program.
For information on our youth program, please contact Lisa Givens, Director of Children and Youth.
Adult Education
We see all of our adult ministries as opportunities for growth and learning what it is to be a Christian man or woman. Sometimes we learn by mopping a floor or setting up tables for our annual Fall Festival. We learn through worship as we sing, pray and serve the church in the Altar guild, or as an usher, acolyte or lay reader. We learn as we pray the daily office and on Sunday mornings and as we pray our way through the church year. We also provide regular opportunities for learning through study, including:
Each Sunday morning at 9:10 a.m. our Adult Forum meets in the church and focuses on topics of interest that have included studies of particular books of the Bible, church history, religion in America, music in the church, studies of the world’s faiths and an examination of issues within the Episcopal church.
We encourage you to attend!
Education for Ministry (EFM)
Education for Ministry is a four year lay ministry development program provided and administered by the University of the South Divinity School. The coursework includes the Old Testament, the New Testament, early history of the church, and recent history of the church. It is a serious commitment to a faith journey that is life changing. Graduates receive a certificate from the University of the South. We do not have an active EFM program at this time, but it is under consideration.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Matthew 28:19-20
Page 1