Gospel and Readings for January 5th, 2025
OT Lesson Jeremiah 31: 7-14 Psalm Psalm 84 NT Lesson Ephesians 1:3-14 Gospel Matthew 2: 1-12
The Way We Worship
Our Mission Statement: The mission of St. Alban’s Anglican Church is to serve the Great Commandment: To love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves, through worship, education and outreach.
Service Times
Two services are offered each Sunday: 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM.
Each service is approximately 60 to 75 minutes long.
The Individuals Included in the Service
Officiant – The Reverend Dr. David Grissom
Ushers – At the second service two individuals assist in handing out bulletins, taking collections, and coordinating communion
Acolytes – Altar servers are called acolytes and can be of either sex , usually no younger than ten. An acolyte can assist in worship by carrying a processional cross, candles, or torches, holding the Gospel book, lighting Altar candles, assisting a deacon or priest at the altar, and any other tasks as seen fit by the priest or acolyte warden.
Chalicists – Individuals who assist with communion by offering the wine.
A Typical Sunday Service
You are greeted in the Narthex by the ushers who offer a warm welcome, hand you the bulletin and answer any questions you have before you enter the church. Feel free to sit wherever you like. The bulletin has everything you need to follow along with the service, but the Book of Common Prayer is also in each pew if you prefer to use it.
As you enter the church you see the altar in front of you, the communion rail, and often flowers.
Our church service is participatory, meaning that we all follow along and take part in the service. In addition to the Book of Common Prayer, you will find in the pews, the Bible, a hymnal, cards and pens for you if you have questions, or to share your contact information.
Some parts of the service change from week to week; others remain the same. Bible readings and music are the most obvious parts that change.
You may wonder when and whether to stand, sit or kneel. That information is also included in the bulletin.
If you attend the early service at 8:30 AM on Sundays, you may notice that it is celebrated simply, without music.
If you attend the later service, 11:00 on Sundays or special celebrations such as Christmas, music is customary and beautiful.
Both services include Holy Eucharist and the ushers assist with getting everyone to the communion rail. Anyone who has been baptized as a Christian is welcome to come to the communion rail and receive the Eucharist. After the 11:00 AM service you are invited to join us in the Fellowship Hall to socialize and enjoy coffee, snacks, and sweets. This is voluntary, of course. You are also welcome to stay in the church to listen to the beautiful organ postlude or to just have a private moment in prayer. At times, Father David stays inside the church at the end of the service to give individuals the opportunity to ask for prayer privately.
Occasionally, in lieu of a Eucharist Service, Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer may be held.
When you attend a service at St. Alban’s, we assure you that you are respected and welcomed to worship God with us.
Readings and Sermons
Click on any reading below to hear an audio recording of the sermon.
Sermon and Readings from Sunday, December 15.
St. Alban’s Family: For 2024, the readings for the third Sunday of Advent are: OT Lesson Zephaniah 3: 14-20 Psalm Psalm 85 NT Lesson Philippians 4:4-9 Gospel Luke 3: 7-20
Sermon and Readings from Sunday, September 15.
St. Alban’s Family: For 2024, the readings for the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost are: OT Lesson Isaiah 50:4-9 Psalm Psalm 116: 1-16 NT Lesson James 2: 1-18 Gospel Mark 9:
Sermon and Readings from Sunday, September 8.
St. Alban’s Family: For 2024, the readings for the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost are: OT Lesson Isaiah 35:4-7 Psalm Psalm 146 NT Lesson James 1: 17-27 Gospel Mark 7: 31-37
Sermon and Readings from Sunday, September 1.
St. Alban’s Family: For 2024, the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost are: OT Lesson Deuteronomy 4:1-9 Psalm Psalm 15 NT Lesson Ephesians 6: 10-20 Gospel Mark 7: 1-23
Deborah Silverstein, Choir Director
We at St. Alban’s consider ourselves blessed that our Choir Director, Deborah Silverstein, and her talented family make the trek from the West Hills of Pittsburgh to Murrysville more than once each week in order to bring us the beautiful music that accompanies the prayers and readings each Sunday. She considers herself blessed to have a choir who have a love of the music and of the service and who give 100% of themselves each week. As her husband, Lawrence, says Deb has a gift for bringing out the best in people.
The Silversteins came to St. Alban’s on the referral of a friend and parishioner. They spent 22 years at Trinity Church in Beaver, and feel that God led them to St. Alban’s where, Lawrence said, they felt right at home! While Deb leads the choir, Lawrence sings in it, and occasionally we have the pleasure of hearing their twin daughter’s or their son’s voices. At times, they have accompanied Deb on her piano or organ by playing flute, baritone sax, French horn or tuba. It’s difficult to describe the richness that the choir voices and the instruments bring to the music.
Deb also gives instrument lessons to students, and at times they travel with her to St. Alban’s and we have the pleasure of hearing them accompany her and the choir.
Each week the music changes to reflect that week’s scriptures, which takes the service to new level. The music is always a combination of traditional hymns, and modern Christian music that keeps young and old engaged and ensures full participation by everyone.
On holidays and other special occasions, Deb and the choir rehearse and practice to bring special music, accompanied by guest musicians, to enrich the Sunday service. We all look forward to seeing, and hearing, what they have in store for us.