Edwina Johnson; Blane Roehrich; Kengan Richardson; Cameron Jackson; Emily Bailey; Russell Gray; Brynda Roth; Linda Jordan; Pat Broach; Rhonda Thrailkill; Bruce Hall; Pam McGarity; Stan Brassie; Peggy Bresser; Kara Russe; Vida Broach; Meredith Farmer; Brenten Cruthirds; Sam Owens; Liz Jaye; Jennifer Manasco; Jackie Hall; Helen Cohenour; Donald H.; Rion Henderson; Al Henderson; Dana Henderson; Anna Gooch McLane; Carol Anglin; Tyler Laughery; Don & Jeani Holder; Richard Pardue; Abbey Malcolm; Kim Brown; Jake Bothun; Jeff French; Christopher Ray; John Bililla; Dale Cordell; Jan Pardue; Javan Goodman; Dennis Schmidt; Jean Schmidt; Travis Bothun; Bob Whitehead; Jeff Cohenour; Perry Preston; Chick Krautler; Janice Rhoden & Phil; Mallory Sanders; Cindy Little & Family; Peter Hunt; Family & Friends of Cheryl Cowles
Please pray for our Vestry:
Jennifer Finegan; Dan House; Michael Hulchanski; Dick Jones; Jennifer Mata; Carol Nufer; Valerie Richards; Jon Spear
Please pray for our Priest: Fr. Rich Bardusch
Bishop’s Message
Enough
We don’t talk much about miracles these days. Surrounded by stories of division and suffering, we have become skeptical. The world tells us there is never enough—not enough resources, compassion and hope. We wait and pray for a miracle. The feeding of the five thousand invites us to understand miracles differently: not as dramatic supernatural events, but as signs of God’s presence breaking into ordinary life and revealing abundance in a world obsessed with scarcity. Jesus takes what seems insufficient, blesses it, and somehow there is enough for everyone. That miracle continues today. Sometimes it is dramatic, but often it appears in quiet, ordinary ways. We see it when forgiveness overcomes bitterness, or when someone who has lived in isolation finds a community where they are welcomed, loved, and accepted. These quiet acts may never make the news, but they are signs of God’s Kingdom. Each Sunday, we gather at Christ’s table with our fears, doubts, and frustrations. Christ receives what we bring, blesses it, and reminds us that there is enough grace for everyone. Perhaps the greatest miracle is not that five loaves and two fish fed thousands, but that God continues to transform ordinary people into a community where no one is forgotten, love is multiplied, and there is enough for all.
August 1 – Mary & Ray Herren
August 7 – Marty & Kirby Atkinson
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
August 1 – Bob Emmons
August 2 – Belinda Bardusch
August 3 – Nicole Richards
August 4 – Melanie House
August 5 – Missy Burns
August 5 – Jim Laird
The ECW of Church of the Good Shepherd in Covington is meeting this coming Saturday the 1st at 11 AM in the Parish Hall to discuss Women of the Bible Speak: The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today. This is a pretty popular book from the last few years that looks carefully at women from Scripture. No one has to have read the book to come and participate in the discussion! Link to the book is here: https://a.co/d/0dA0z0lA. The church address is 4140 Clark Street, Covington, GA 30014.
YOU ARE INVITED to brunch on August 16th between services in the parish hall to celebrate Lou and Melissa Young’s 50th wedding anniversary. Please join us from 10 am to 11 am. No gifts please.
Episcopal 102 Walk in Love, Episcopal Beliefs & Practices
Walk in Love is a book written by Scott Gunn and Melody Wilson Shobe. It is the most comprehensive, and comprehensible, guide to Episcopal faith and practice. The authors walk through The Book of Common Prayer, the place of the Bible, the practices of faith, and the structure of the Episcopal Church, connecting them to everyday life. Mother Liz will be conducting the study of this book the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month through December starting on August 5th at 6:00 pm. The book is $10.00 and is available for purchase in the church office. Please sign the sheet provided in the parish hall if you wish to attend this class.
This next year I will be leading the Greeter Ministry. It is an important ministry in all churches as guests to a congregation usually make a decision about whether or not they will return based on first impressions in the first 3-10 minutes. That means our Greeter Ministry is determinant for whether or not someone will return. As a first step I am leading a Greeter Training on Sunday, August 9 between the services at 10:00 a.m. in the Spiritual Learning Center. There is a sign-up sheet in the parish hall. I am inviting anyone who might have an interest to join us. There is no commitment required to attend. Consider it an exploration on your part or perhaps consider it a learning experience about Greeter Ministry. I anticipate the commitment, if you should want to try it out, will be about once a month at whichever service you attend.
Summer Blessings,
Father Rich
Youth/Children Kickoff Pool Party
August 9th after the 11:00 am service (12:30 pm)
There will be pizza, drinks, and dessert.
Ms. Susan’s pool (same as last year)
2001 Cedar Bluff Road, Monroe
In an effort to make it easier for parents to sign up their child/children for Acolyte services, a QR code was created. Parents, please sign your child up to be an Acolyte today!
Planning Meeting for the 2026 Advent Lessons & Carols Silent Auction & Fundraiser – Help Us Make Our Biggest Fundraiser Even Better!
Our annual Advent Lessons & Carols and Silent Auction has quickly become one of St. Alban’s most anticipated holiday traditions. The evening begins with a beautiful service of scripture and music in the sanctuary at 6:00 p.m., followed by a festive reception in the Parish Hall featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine, fellowship, and an exciting Silent Auction. Parishioners are encouraged to invite family, friends, and neighbors, making it a wonderful outreach event as well as an important fundraiser.
We’re looking for creative, enthusiastic volunteers to help plan our 2026 fundraiser! Whether you love creating themed baskets, soliciting donations from local businesses, decorating, organizing logistics, marketing, or simply enjoy fundraising, we’d love to have you on the committee.
Our Success So Far
2024
· Raised nearly $2,500 to support our Belize mission partnership at Holy Cross School in San Mateo
· 25 Silent Auction baskets
· Bourbon & Wine Pull generated more than $1,000 2025
· Raised nearly $3,500 to support our intergenerational Mission Team serving on the Navajo
Reservation in the Four Corners region
· 33 Silent Auction baskets
· Bourbon & Wine Pull sold out in the first 30 minutes!, and we had a special raffle for a donated bottle of Pappy Bourbon, valued at $1,500
In just two years, this event has grown from approximately 50 attendees and $1,500 raised to one of our largest annual fellowship and fundraising events, generating nearly $3,500 for missions while bringing our parish and community together. We’ve expanded the event to include a popular Bourbon & Wine Pull, online bidding through 32Auctions, raffles, and Youth Group baked goods. Every dollar raised helps support our mission trips and outreach ministries.
Join us as we begin planning for our 2026 Advent Lessons & Carols Fundraiser on Sunday, August 2, at 10:30 before the 11AM service. This is our Kickoff Sunday Breakfast and a great way to start the excitement.
We’ll discuss:
· Selecting the 2026 event date
· New fundraising ideas
· Silent Auction baskets
· Bourbon & Wine Pull
· Marketing and online bidding
· Decorations and hospitality
· Volunteer opportunities
· Ways to make this year’s event our most successful yet
Bring your ideas! One exciting suggestion already on the table is hosting a Bingo Night or Casino Night, with many of our beautiful baskets used as prizes. We’d love to hear your creative ideas for growing this event.
Be Part of Something Special – This fundraiser succeeds because of the generosity, creativity, and enthusiasm of our parish family. Whether you can donate a basket, help gather items, decorate, organize, or simply bring fresh ideas, your participation makes a difference.
Come help us make 2026 our best year yet!
Sunday Evening Small Group Bible Study “The Story of Abraham”
Led by Chris Comfort, this eight-session study meets the second and fourth Sunday evenings in the Spiritual Learning Room of St. Alban’s at 6 pm. If you enjoy Biblical history, this investigates the life of Abraham and is one of the most fascinating studies of the Old Testament. Study dates: June 14 & 28; July 12 & 26; August 9 & 23. (Sunday morning between services each week is an alternate session. Contact Chris Comfort for the details.)
Join us the first Sunday of every month for breakfast at 10:00 am.
USHERS NEEDED
We now have two Sunday services and need additional ushers. Its an easy job and a great place for young people to get started participating in the worship service. So, please join us! Teenagers through seniors—all are welcome to be part of our team. If you are interested please contact Chick Krautler (krautler2442@gmail.com; 404-376-5503).
Our coffee hour ministry will now be between our two services at 10 AM. We hope you will stay after the 9 AM service or come early before the 11 AM service to enjoy the camaraderie and fellowship. It is a great time to catch up with everyone and stay connected.
Please sign up to help on the monthly sign-up sheet for volunteers – even helping once in a while makes a big difference in keeping this ministry going. Thanks to everyone who helps to make our coffee hour such a warm and welcoming time for fellowship!
St. Alban’s T-shirts & Polo Shirts for Sale – $15.00/t-shirt & $25.00/polo. All proceeds will go to the Missions Fund. Please contact Nicole or Valerie Richards if you would like one. You can also purchase them at the Country Store the first Sunday of every month.
FISH Donations Needed
Please continue to bring in canned fruit, canned soup, and canned legumes (beans, peas, and lentils) The blue wagon is in the coffee lobby beside the kitchen. These items will be greatly appreciated.
We need volunteers to work in the church nursery (children under 4). We have a consistent paid employee but we need one adult (over 18) to volunteer to help out each week as well. If you would like to volunteer, please see Riley.
Our parish library book collection can be found online through the Librarika platform. Use the link below and click on “Catalog” to browse. We will continue checkouts on the clipboards. See Kristina with questions.
Saturday Morning Breakfast Second Saturday of Every Month
All are welcome! The men do the cooking!
Next Breakfast – August 8, 2026 9:00 am – 11:00 am
DOK (Daughters of the King) have been volunteering at the FISH Community Soup Kitchen on Thursdays and Fridays. The kitchen serves lunch to about 40-60 people Monday through Friday behind the FISH Store on Spring Street.
St. Alban’s provides two volunteers on Thursday and Fridays from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. We help prepare and serve the meal. While this is a DOK service project, we have a sign-up sheet (in the parish hall) if others are interested.
Second & Fourth Wednesday of Every Month 6:00 pm – Led by Dan House
LADIES LUNCHEON
Thursday, August 20, 11:30 am San Andres Mexican Restaurant
600 Pavilion Parkway, Monroe
(Publix Shopping Center @ Monroe Pavilion)
Please sign the sheet provided in the parish hall if you plan to attend.
PRAYER & A PINT – Join us the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. The next meeting will be August 4th at The Southern Ox, 320 S. Madison Ave., Suite 300, Monroe.For more information, contact Rob Howard at 404-427-2709 or rob@pinad.com.
If you are unable to attend worship in person, please join us each Sunday at 11:00 a.m., on the St. Alban’s Facebook page (St.AlbansEpiscopal) or via our website: (www.saint-albans.org) which links you directly to our YouTube Channel as we conduct our Eucharistic Worship Service from the Nave (sanctuary) of St. Alban’s in Monroe, GA.
Log On information to join the St. Alban’s Worship Services: go to www.saint-albans.org and click on Worship Services (Live Streaming) top blue box* on right hand side of homepage, then click the live box*.
*This will take you directly to our YouTube channel for viewing the service by clicking on the live button. If you wish to view at a later date, the recorded service will be also available on the live button as archived.
