Christian Formation for Adults
From traditional Bible studies and theological discourse to church history and Bible study, there are plenty of opportunities for the adults in our parish family. Adults are usually offered two choices on Sunday mornings:
Sunday Mornings@St. Alban’s
This series presents a wide variety of topics ranging from the theological to the political to the practical. On Sunday mornings there is a full schedule waiting for you from our Adult Forum Committee.
Sunday mornings@St. Alban’s (room 2)
1/13
Join Steve Lusk as he provides insight with a bit of humor into the Feast of the Epiphany and its lore.
1/20
Pre-Diocesan Council forum—Join our clergy and delegates to Diocesan Council as they discuss upcoming legislation and events.
1/27
Post-Diocesan Council forum—A follow-up session to keep you informed as to what transpired at Diocesan Council.
2/3
History and evolution of the Prayer Book—Learn about the roots and origins of the Book of Common Prayer.
2/10
Theology of the Prayer Book—An investigation into the theology contained within the Book of Common Prayer and how it helps define us as Anglicans.
2/24
Content of the Prayer Book—A tour of the services and other rich material found in the Book of Common Prayer.
3/2
The Outreach Committee presents an update on events, projects and opportunities for ministry at St. Alban’s.
3/30
Part I of a series on “Who were the Anglican Divines, and what effect did they have on Anglican Theology (and you)?”
4/13
Part II of “Anglican Divines”.
4/20
An introduction to Virginia Diocesan Homes and the St. Alban’s connection.
4/27
Part III of “Anglican Divines”
5/4
Finding the Spiritual in Secular literature—a look at how faith and spirituality can be found even in secular poetry and literature.
5/11
Cinema and the Bible—How has Christianity and religion been portrayed in popular movies over time?
5/18
God, etc.
Bible Stories for Grownups
Join parishioner Steve Lusk in the Laylor Library after the 9:00 AM worship service to talk about the historical background of the day’s Bible readings and how they relate to today’s problems; look at how different translations render (or mis-render) difficult passages, and what the Church Fathers (and Mothers!) have said about their meaning.
Meeting every Sunday (except as noted) in the Laylor Library, join parishioner Steve Lusk after the 9:00 AM worship service for a discussion of the background and contemporary implications of the week’s Bible readings, plus a look at holy day traditions, the folklore behind the Bible, issues in Church history, the treachery of translation, and other appropriate topics.
Because the class follows the lectionary readings, and those jump from topic to topic each week, you can enjoy this class even if you can’t come every week.
Bible Stories for Grownups (Laylor Library)
When Jesus Was Born in January: Epiphany and its lore
Who’s in First? Calling the Apostles
The Virgin, the Wolf, and the Groundhog: The War on Candlemas
Ballast Your Bellies: Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and Lent
The First Temptation: Jesus and Paris
2/17
Born Again?
The Women at the Wells
The Trials of Pontius Pilate
Jesus Shanghais a Saint, or a Doubtful Passage to India
4/6
A Hard Man to Recognize
A Time to Fight: The Church of Virginia Chooses Sides
A Martyr Purged and Restored: Alphege, the Vikings, and the Normans
Paul Plays Athens, Lays an Egg plus Rogationtide In the Good Old Days
“It Is Not for You to Know”
Why the Devil Avoids Horseshoes
The Other Creation Stories
Wednesday Evenings at St. Alban’s (GLOW)
The Spring series takes a look at discipleship, discernment, vocation and our Christian responsibility. Our series begins with an examination of Christian vocation in our daily lives—discerning God’s call to us in the midst of our daily routine. We move on to looking at how forgiveness effects us in body and soul as we forgive others and ourselves, and we examine prayer as a call to social action. Finally, we’ll hear from the clergy and lay delegates about events and actions from the annual Diocesan Council held in Reston, VA in late January.
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.
Wednesday Evening Program Schedule
January 9
Discernment and Vocation
January 16
The Gift of Forgiveness
January 23
The intersection of prayer and social action
January 30
Recap of events at Diocesan Council
Lenten Programs
This Lenten season there are two Wednesday Lenten study programs, one in the evening and one in the afternoon. The evening program is four weeks long and focuses on our Baptismal Covenant as one of the foundations of our faith. “Return to the Source: Remembering Our Baptism” runs February 13th, 20th, 27th, and March 5th. Like GLOW, the evening Lenten program 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.
On Wednesday afternoons the Lenten program is “Sowing Tears, Reaping Joy...The Bible and Brahms's Requiem.” This seven-part series from Kerygma follows Brahms’ famous German Requiem “on a tour of Biblical prompts about death, grief, the brevity of life, and faith for here and hereafter.” Through music and Scripture, move from graveside to grieving, from the challenges of self-reflection to new perspectives and hope beyond. This seven-part course requires each participant to purchase a resource book for $13. The parish office must receive all orders for the resource books by January 23rd. As always, scholarships are available.
The afternoon Lenten program will be held on February 13th, 20th, 27th, March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th.
Adult Confirmation Class
Confirmation is the rite in which one makes an adult profession of their faith and becomes an adult member of the Episcopal Church. Confirmation is preceded by a multi-week program of education, training and introspection. This series of classes is for adults who are not Confirmed in the Episcopal Church; Confirmed adults who want to reaffirm their faith or for those who are just interested in learning more about Christianity and their faith – everyone is welcome to attend.
The clergy of St. Alban’s will be leading a series of Confirmation classes beginning April 7th, building toward Confirmation by the Bishop of Virginia on June 15th. This series covers a variety of areas in the church life and community: The Book of Common Prayer, church history, theology, mission, and church structure and hierarchy will be both engaging and thought provoking. If you are interested in attending, even if you are undecided about being Confirmed, please contact the parish office.
Other Mid-Week Offerings
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 trained mentors. Contact St. Albans’ EFM Mentor Tracey Herzer-Tompkins through the parish office (703) 256-2966 for more information.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Every Tuesday morning following the 9 a.m. Eucharist an informal group gathers for prayer and studies the scripture lessons for the upcoming Sunday. Meeting in the Laylor Library, the discussion is lively and insightful, and sometimes just a bit irreverent. The conversation over coffee draws upon history and theology as well as myth and legend. All are welcome to participate in this study which usually ends around 11:00 a.m.