Parish Life

The Parish Life Committee is the foundation of our fellowship and is a great opportunity to spread the good news of our faith. The committee customarily consists of a member of the Vestry along with one or two assistants from the congregation.

Several events occur on an annual basis: the visit of the Bishop in January followed by a reception for him and those confirmed that morning, the Shrove Tuesday (just preceding Ash Wednesday) Pancake Supper, the Spring Tea, and the chili & soup luncheon prior to the “greening” of the church for the Christmas season. Other events are done on an occasional basis: bus trips to New York City & Washington, D.C., a May Cabaret, seasonal picnics (as seen in the photo here), soup & salad suppers during Lent, a fall festival of arts & crafts, the blessing of the animals on the Sunday nearest the Feast of Saint Francis, and incidental receptions for special birthdays and anniversaries.

One of the special functions of Parish Life is the “Mini Parish” telephone group. When a special event or important occasion is upcoming, the leader phones a small group of volunteers who in turn phone a designated subset of the Parish Directory.

How You Can Help the Parish Life Committee

Recent Photo Galleries

Holiday Craft Fair

St. Albans Holiday Craft Fair on December 13th was a successful and festive occasion with seven craft vendors, a cookie swap, a white elephant sale, and the raffle of gift baskets. The event generated aproximately six hundred dollars to be donated to the Claymont Food Closet and the Emmanuel Dining Room.

Fellowship Hour

A social gathering with coffee, juice and snacks occurs immediately after the 10:30 Sunday service. This is a wonderful time for fellowship and an opportunity to catch up on news with other members of the St Albans family. Visitors are especially encouraged to mingle. You are certain to feel at home and may even make a new friend or two.

If you would like to volunteer in hosting a Fellowship hour, there is a sign up sheet on the board in the Narthex. It is easier than you think and appreciated by all. It is also a wonderful way to greet members of the congregation, friends and visitors. There are so many wonderful parishioners, that it takes quite a while to get to know each other! Hosting fellowship hour is a great way to get acquainted with everyone. The chores are straight forward with details listed on the kitchen bulletin board. The Host prepares coffee and serves it along with juice and a light snack (cookies, cake, or other treats). But please keep the snacks simple.

photo: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, 2008

Daytime Book Group

We meet from 10:30 to 11:30 every Tuesday morning. The focus of our study is spiritual growth, and many books fit that description. We read one chapter per week in the selected book and find that the subject matter lends itself to enlightening discussions. For details, please call the church at 302-478-7778. Beginning April 20th, 2010, we will discuss Harold Kushner’s “When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough.” We found his previous book “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” to be more engaging than we anticipated and want to learn more. We all felt that our beliefs were challenged and our knowledge of God enlarged. We welcome new readers.

The Sexton

At St. Albans, the Sexton is a volunteer who assists the Vestry’s Junior Warden with upkeep of the physical plant. This may entail contacting outside vendors or agencies to arrange for needed repairs such as plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc. In the case of simpler needs, he may do the work himself, or he may contact other parishioners to take over or assist in the effort. Liaison with vendors for seasonal services — such as heating and air conditioning — may also be included. All costs are borne by St. Albans, and major expenditures are only undertaken with the approval of the Junior Warden who is responsible for the maintenance budget and would seek any special approval for the expense (if needed) from the Vestry.