All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 30, June 20, 2010

THINKING ABOUT ST. ALBAN

Tuesday, June 22 is St. Alban’s day.  Given that the feast day is next week, that our parish was born from St. Alban’s Church, and that our cathedral is perched atop Mount St. Alban, it seems appropriate that we recall something about this first martyr of Britain.  What follows is from Lesser Feasts and Fasts (2003).

Alban is the earliest Christian in Britain who is known by name and, according to tradition, the first British martyr. He was a soldier in the Roman army stationed at Verulamium, a city about twenty miles northeast of London, now called St. Alban’s. He gave shelter to a Christian priest who was fleeing from persecution, and was converted by him. When officers came to Alban’s house, he dressed himself in the garments of the priest and gave himself up. Alban was tortured and martyred in place of the priest, on the hilltop where the Cathedral of St. Alban’s now stands. The traditional date of his martyrdom is 303 or 304, but recent studies suggest that the year was actually 209, during the persecution under the Emperor Septimius Severus.

The site of Alban’s martyrdom soon became a shrine. King Offa of Mercia established a monastery, there about the year 793, and in the high Middle Ages St. Alban’s ranked as the premier Abbey in England. The great Norman abbey church, begun in 1077, now serves as the cathedral of the diocese of St. Alban’s, established in 1877. It is the second longest church in England (Winchester Cathedral is the longest, by six feet), and it is built on higher ground than any other English cathedral. In a chapel east of the choir and high Altar, there are remains of the fourteenth century marble shrine of St. Alban. The Venerable Bede gives this account of Alban’s trial: “When Alban was brought in, the judge happened to be standing before an altar, offering sacrifice to devils . . . ‘What is your family and race?’ demanded the judge. ‘How does my family concern you?’ replied Alban; ‘If you wish to know the truth about my religion, know that I am a Christian and am ready to do a Christian’s duty.’ ‘I demand to know your name,’ insisted the judge. ‘Tell me at once.’ ‘My parents named me Alban,’ he answered, ‘and I worship and adore the living and true God, who created all things.’ ”

Giving thanks for all who have gone before us, those known and unknown, we give special thanks for Alban.  John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . Thanks to all who marched in the Capital Pride parade and to those who volunteered at the All Souls booth at the festival.  Special thanks to Dale Lewis and Erwin de Leon for all their work in coordinating volunteers . . . The Rector will be on vacation June 15—22 and June 25—28 . . . Attendance last Sunday at the 8:30 a.m. Mass: 32; at the 11 a.m. Mass: 115 . . . Total pledge offerings for the week were $6,730.00 and the plate offering was $702.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Walter Hollis, Gene Dunn, Susan Johnson, Jim Wallace, Susan Kornacki, Frasier, MaryJane, Bob and Louise Osborne, Joan Shapiro, Ann Dixon, Lorenzo Martinez, Family of Tom Martin, Hugh Yeomans, Helen Horne, Erling Hansen, Mona Bauer, Mary Backus, Sandy Jenkins Dixon, I. Kathryn McKewen, Thais Blanchard, Bruce MacDonald, Bob Colborn, Elizabeth McKee, Freddie Cameron, Robert Long, Barb Chaffee, Harriet Martin, Chris Cobb, Landis Vance, Vickie Drell, Stephanie Russell, Ruth & Fred Huber, Jim St. George, Mark Henderson, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Walter and Sally Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, Ted Field, and for the repose of the soul of S.S. McClendon III, cousin of Sally MacDonald . . . Pray for members of the parish in the foreign service and others who are working overseas, especially Tim Zladitch, Chuck Hunter, Steve Kerchoff, Brad Moore, and Michael Pate . . . Pray also for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Jack Severson. . . If you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe at lowevg1@verizon.net.

Liturgical Notes . . . Flowers at the High Altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Sarah and George Jansen, parents of Sydney Ponturo . . . Flowers in the Mary Chapel are given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the friendship of Lee Kadrich on his birthday, given by Geno Sexton . . . This Sunday, June 20, the Rev. Nancy Hildebrand will be the celebrant and preacher at both Masses.  Rev. Hildebrand currently serves as a chaplain at the National Cathedral . . . On Sunday, June 27, the Rev. Ronald Conner will be the celebrant and preacher at both Masses.

Are you new to All Souls? . . . Please join us for a newcomers wine and cheese on Sunday, June 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the undercroft to learn more All Souls and more about becoming involved in our parish family.  This is a wonderful time to meet others in a casual atmosphere.

South Africa Mission . . . The Rev. Sharron Dinnie in South African has confirmed our dates for visiting her congregation, the Kwasa Centre, and the Diocese of the Highveld October 11 through October 20, 2010. Airfare costs approximately $1,300 and we will plan to stay at a Bed and Breakfast or inn in Springs, South Africa.  More information will be available as plans develop.  If you are interested in joining the mission trip, please speak with Marcia Anderson or Father Beddingfield.

Small Church Religious Arts Festival . . . On Saturday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria will be hosting the fifth annual event.  This will be a celebration of the arts in small churches, and the whole community is invited to attend.  There will have tables for local churches to display and demonstrate their arts and crafts, food and wonderful music (featuring John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland), and fun activities for everyone, including children. It promises to be a fun and exciting time.  For more information about the day and its activities, please see http://www.vts.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=121883

National Cathedral Sing-along . .  . On Sunday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m. the Cathedral Choral Society will present a sing-along of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana in the great choir of the Cathedral. Singers of every ability are welcome to experience singing in this glorious setting. Participants enjoy a lively interaction with CCS Music Director J. Reilly Lewis.  Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at http://www.cathedralchoralsociety.org/CONCERT6.htm

All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church

The Reverend John Beddingfield, rector; The Reverend Christopher Worthley, adjunct clergy;

Mr. Seth Walley, seminarian; Mr. Isaac Borocz, parish administrator; Dr. Philip Cave, director of music and organist

2300 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008-1505;Voice: 202-232-4244, Fax: 202-232-8593

Email: allsouls1@aol.com; website: www.allsoulsdc.org