Christian Formation, Training Opportunities & Parish Fellowship
Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church invites the parish community to a
fall season of learning, service, fellowship, and spiritual growth.
This guide brings together Adult Christian Formation, Youth
Christian Formation, ministry training opportunities, and our 1st
Sunday Breakfast gatherings for August through December.
Our Invitation: Come learn, serve, grow, and share in
community this fall at Saint Alban’s.
Fall Programming Overview
This fall, Saint Alban’s will offer opportunities for formation,
worship support, hospitality, and parish connection. Each
offering is designed to help members and newcomers grow in
faith and become more deeply connected to the life of the
church.
Area Focus
Adult Christian Formation Episcopal 101, Episcopal 102,
Cottage Groups, faith formation, Anglican identity, and deeper
spiritual growth.
Youth Christian Formation Age-appropriate lessons,
conversation, prayer, and community building for children and
youth.
Training Opportunities Preparation and support for LEMs,
acolytes, greeters, ushers, and welcome ministries.
1st Sunday Breakfasts: Monthly fellowship between services
during August, September, October, November, and December.
Other Activities and Events throughout the Fall. Find
something for everyone.
Fall Theme
A season to grow in faith, strengthen our shared ministries,
welcome one another, and prepare the parish
community for continued service in Christ’s name.
Adult Christian Formation Options
Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church is excited to offer opportunities
for adults to grow deeper in their faith, strengthen their
understanding of the Episcopal tradition, and build a meaningful
Christian community through study, discussion, and spiritual
formation.
Episcopal 101
A Foundational Study of the Episcopal Church
Led by: The Rev. Dr. Richard Bardusch
Timeline: Sundays during the Advent Season
Dates: 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20
Time: Following the 9:00 AM Service
Episcopal 101 is designed for anyone who wants to learn more
about the Episcopal Church and the foundations of Anglican
Christianity. Whether you are new to Saint Alban’s, exploring the
Episcopal tradition for the first time, returning to the church after
time away, or simply wishing to deepen your understanding, this
course offers a welcoming and engaging introduction.
Episcopal 102
An Advanced Study of the Episcopal Church
Led by: The Rev. Canon Hendrick (Mother Liz)
Start Date: August 5, 2026
Schedule: Every other Wednesday evening
Time: 6:00 PM
Duration: 22 sessions (Books will be provided by Saint Alban’s)
Episcopal 102 is an advanced Christian formation course
intended for those who desire a deeper exploration of Episcopal
theology, spirituality, leadership, and practice. Building upon the
foundations introduced in Episcopal 101, this course invites
participants into thoughtful discussion and deeper study of the
Anglican tradition and the life of the Church. The course will
include several (optional) Sunday field trips to attend Episcopal
churches in the area whose worship liturgy differs what what we
do, but is still considered Episcopal worship. This class will
also offer an Instructed Eucharist in the Spring.
Episcopal 102 Session Dates
August 2026
● August 5
● August 19
September 2026
● September 2
● September 16
● September 30 — Fifth
Wednesday
October 2026
● October 7
● October 21
November 2026
● November 4
● November 18
December 2026
● December 2
● December 16
● December 30 — Fifth Wednesday
January 2027
● January 6
● January 20
February 2027
● February 3
● February 17
March 2027
● March 3
● March 17
● March 31 — Fifth Wednesday
April 2027
● April 7
● April 21
May 2027
● May 5
● May 19 (If needed)
Be on the lookout for other Cottage Group events and
activities.
Here is a NEW group learning
together, studying
Richard Foster’s book,
Prayer: Finding the Heart’s
True Home.
A Study of:
Richard Foster Book, Prayer:
Finding the Heart’s True Home.
This is a ten week session on Richard Foster’s book, Prayer:
Finding the Heart’s True Home. It has three sections of seven
chapters each, Moving Inward, Moving Upward, Moving outward.
Here’s a quote that might interest you. “The truth of the matter is,
we all come to prayer with a tangled mass of motives, altruistic
and selfish, merciful and hateful, loving and bitter. Frankly, this
side of eternity, we will never unravel the good from the bad, the
pure from the impure, but what I have come to see is that God is
big enough to receive us all with our mixture.We do not have to
be bright or pure or filled with faith or anything: that is what
grace means. And not only are we saved by grace, we live by it
as well. And we pray by it.”
Led by: Ted and Susan Griswold
Start Date: August 11, 2026 – October 26, 2026
Schedule: Tuesdays
Time: 6:30- 8:00 PM
Duration: 12 sessions
Location: The Griswold Home
First three folks signing up get a free book!
Other Activities to Participate in:
● Bible Study Wednesdays 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 6:00PM
● Centering Prayer 1st and 3rd Saturdays
● Saint Alban’s Fellowship Breakfast. NEW
○ (Formally Men’s Breakfast. All are invited. 2nd Saturday
of the month. 9:00 AM)
● Choir Rehearsals each Wednesday.7:00 PM
● Ladies Luncheon: On the 3rd Thursday of the month.
Full Calendar Here: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=Y184OTVkN2Y3YWFlM2FhMjNlMzE1ZmU2NTI0YzM1MzYzMzQ2YjM1NTg0ZTNhYzQ5ZGI1MDNmNmFmNjJiYjllZmIxQGdyb3VwLmNhbGVuZGFyLmdvb2dsZS5jb20
Youth Christian Formation will provide age-appropriate opportunities
for children and teens to learn, ask questions, build community, and
grow in their relationship with God.
• Build a foundation of Scripture, prayer, and Episcopal worship.
• Encourage children and youth to participate in the life of the church.
• Create a welcoming environment where questions and
conversation are encouraged.
• Support families as partners in Christian formation.
Youth Christian Formation – Fall Planning Update
Here is the current plan for youth and children programming for the
fall season at Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church. Our goal is to continue
creating meaningful opportunities for children, youth, and families to
grow in faith, build community, and participate fully in the life of the
church.
Meeting Schedule
We plan to continue meeting on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each
month. We are also adding 5th Sunday gatherings in both August
and November (since September begins with Labor Day and there
will be no official programming in December).
We hope to continue participating in church-wide activities and would
also like to introduce a possible Coffee Hour Theater experience
during the fall and Advent season.
Youth/Children Full Calendar
Full calendar and schedule details are available here:
Special Events & Fellowship
● For the Fall Kick-Off Sunday, we can plan to order pizza
following the second service unless another church-wide lunch
plan is already in place.
● The last Sunday in October will include a special Pizza &
Costume Party for youth and children following the second
service.
● In December, we are planning another Pizza, Popcorn, and
Pajama Movie Night. The exact date is still to be determined.
Sunday Morning Food Plans
Since programming is shifting to the time between services:
● On the 1st Sundays, groups may either participate in the
church-wide breakfast or provide simple food for the youth
gatherings.
● On the 3rd Sundays, donuts, muffins, fruit, or similar light
breakfast items will typically be provided.
● Pizza will generally be reserved for special events since regular
gatherings will no longer occur during lunch hours.
Curriculum Discussion
Our Christian Formation lessons are currently developed
collaboratively using a variety of trusted resources. While this
approach has provided flexibility and creativity, it can also make
long-term planning and curriculum continuity more challenging. We
welcome recommendations, ideas, or connections to individuals with
experience in strong elementary Christian Formation curricula.
Moving forward, we anticipate continuing to use the Virginia
Theological Seminary / Episcopal Church Lesson Plans as the
primary foundation for our younger children’s classes. These lessons
provide a solid Episcopal framework while allowing teachers the
flexibility to adapt discussions and activities to meet the needs of our
students.
Elementary Lesson Plans:
https://lessonplans.episcopalchurch.org/
During the month of May, our curriculum is focused on helping
children develop a greater understanding of the Bible, including how
it is organized, how to navigate its books, and how Scripture shapes
our faith and daily lives.
Future Class Structure & Leadership Needs
As our Christian Formation program continues to grow, additional
adult volunteers will be essential. Having more teachers and
classroom assistants will allow us to better serve students through
smaller class sizes and more age-appropriate instruction.
A proposed class structure includes:
● Kindergarten–3rd Grade – Teacher Needed
● 4th–7th Grade – Amarie Warren
● 8th–12th Grade – Tricia Williams
Older high school students are always welcome to participate.
However, as students advance through high school, they may benefit
from opportunities that are specifically designed for their stage of
faith development and life experience.
If there is sufficient interest, we would also like to offer a Youth
Confirmation Class for students 16 years of age and older. This
class would provide a deeper exploration of the Episcopal faith,
Anglican traditions, Christian discipleship, and the meaning and
significance of the Sacrament of Confirmation, while also serving as
preparation for those who wish to be confirmed or received into the
Episcopal Church.
Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church continues to be committed to
creating a welcoming, engaging, and spiritually enriching
environment for children, youth, and families. We look forward to a
meaningful fall season of Christian formation, fellowship, and shared
ministry together.
Training Opportunities
Training sessions will be offered for parishioners interested in serving
in worship and hospitality ministries. These training sessions help
volunteers serve with confidence, reverence, and joy.
Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs): Serving at the altar, assisting
with Holy Communion, reverence, preparation, and Episcopal
worship practices.
Training Dates: September 9 & 23. 6:00 PM
Acolytes: Supporting worship through processions, candles,
crosses, altar movement, and service leadership. Please see Chris
Comfort.
Greeters: Creating a warm first welcome, helping newcomers, giving
directions, and connecting people with parish life.
Training Dates: August 9th and 16th, after the 9:00 Service.
Ushers: Assisting with seating, bulletins, offerings, hospitality, safety,
and the overall worship experience.
Purpose of Ministry Training
To equip parishioners to serve faithfully, support worship, extend
hospitality, and help Saint Alban’s continue to be a welcoming and
prayerful community.
Our 1st Sunday Breakfasts will continue as a time of fellowship and
community between services. These gatherings are a wonderful way
to connect, welcome newcomers, and enjoy time together as a
parish Family.
1st Sunday Breakfast Date Focus
- August 2, 2026 Fall Kick-Off fellowship and welcome back
breakfast. - September 6, 2026 Community connection and ministry
invitation. Theme: Autism Awareness,
Book signing with Author: Michelle Sutherland
- October 4, 2026 Fall fellowship and hospitality.
- November 1, 2026 Thanksgiving season fellowship and
gratitude. - December 6, 2026 Advent fellowship and parish community.
Safeguarding Training August 8th
● Centering Prayer Workshop August 15th
9:00 AM -1:00 PM
● Stewardship Campaign September -November
● Newcomer Lunch September 13, 2026
12:00 PM
● Family Pictures – October TBD
● Blessing of the Animals October 4, 2026
● Fall Festival October 9 & 10, 2026
● Vestry Retreat – October October 24, 2026
● Halloween Costumes October 25, 2026
● All Saints Sunday (Possible Baptisms) November 1, 2026
● Diocesan Council November 7 & 8, 2026
● Stewardship Lunch November
● Advent Retreat November 28th 9-1PM
● Winter Solstice December 20, 2026
5:30 PM
● Christmas Eve Service 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Outreach Initiatives:
We are actively identifying and developing outreach opportunities
for the fall season. Planned and potential initiatives include:
● FISH Events
● Coins Collection for Youth
● Country Store
● Christmas Shoebox project
● Additional seasonal outreach programs
Closing Invitation
Whether you are joining a formation class, helping with youth
ministry, training for a worship or welcome
ministry, or sharing breakfast with the parish family, there is a place
for you this fall at Saint Alban’s.
Come learn, serve, grow, and share Christ’s message.
