YouthGroup - Saint Alban's Episcopal Church

1.	Nina's Art

Attention Acolytes

I would like to announce and recognize an acolyte each year for exceptional performance at the altar and at St. Alban’s. I have spoken to others in the church and we are all in agreement that Maggie is Acolyte of the year. She has been present at all training class, on time for her duties at the altar, properly dress and is very attentive at the altar. Has substituted for others when they were unable to serve at the altar. She has been present at all training class. She set’s a fine example for all of our Acolytes.

St. Alban’s will begin a new Acolyte training program in July. It will start on July the 13^th for one hour and continue each Wednesday for the month of July. This training will be a little advanced compared to where and what we have done in the past. I hope you will be proud to be part of the St. Alban’s Acolyte team.

Traditional Acolyte Prayer

Almighty God, who has called us your servants to the sacred office of Acolyte in your

Church, that clothed in white we may minister before you, we pray your great mercy to

Guide, strengthen, and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit, that, always doing your will, we

May both by our service in your house and by our daily life, please you and glorify your

Name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The things you will learn about at this special training:

1. History of the office of Acolyte

2. Acolytes at St. Alban’s

3. Our Purpose; Order of S. Vincent

4. Cathedral corps rules

5. Vestments

6. Altar, Baptistery and Procession Appointments

7. Christian Symbolism in Architecture and Appointments

8. Liturgical Colors; Banners

9. Customs and Procedures

10. Acolyte Vestments

11. General instructions

12. Procession and service duties; Incense adjustments

13. Church History

14. Organizational Information

15. The Prayer Book

16. Church Year

17. Order of Procession (principal Sunday liturgy)

18. Order of Service; Extra Rites which may be added

19. Altar Servers

20. Weddings

S.W.A.T.

As the New Year dawns we are excited by the many opportunities for adventure, learning, growing and serving we will have in the upcoming months. The St. Alban’s Youth Group has had a great fall with many activities and programs. We have chosen a new name – the S.W.A.T. Team ~ Christ’s Special Forces. S.W.A.T. stands for Service, Worship, Action, Teaching; four tenets we believe we are called to as Christian Youth.

In October 11 young people and 5 adults attended the Genesis Retreat in Buena Vista. God provided us with an absolutely perfect weekend of gorgeous fall weather, spectacular scenery, and inspirational programs. At the ministry fair the S.W.A.T. Team sold refreshments raising over $80 and sponsored a holiday “goodies” auction that raised almost $450.

During Thanksgiving we directed our focus on gratitude by preparing leaves for the Thanksgiving Tree and during the Christmas season we decided to participate in Operation Christmas Child, a program that provides a shoebox full of toys, clothes and toiletry items for severely underprivileged children in emerging nations around the world. Our youth put together over 50 boxes containing Christmas presents, cards and the love and prayers of our church.

This year we were also privileged to participate in the unique opportunity of meeting the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The youth traveled to St. Timothy’s parish in Denver and joined other youth from around the diocese in a special program in honor of the bishop’s visit. Our group performed a play based on the characters from Charlotte’s Web.

Looking ahead to the New Year we are planning many more service projects, outings, learning opportunities and fellowship. Providing dinner at the Denver Ronald McDonald house, working on a project for One Nation Walking Together, sponsoring a child through World Vision, and organizing a summer mission trip are just a few of the projects we are looking forward to over the upcoming months. We are currently working on a curriculum exploring diversity in our world and understanding how racial, cultural, spiritual, gender, and other forms of diversity strengthen us and help us live more fully into our baptismal promises to seek and serve Christ in all persons. After completing this program we will begin work on the God in Me curriculum and begin delving deeper in our Episcopal faith, learning more about the rich traditions and liturgy that make up our spiritual life.

Dena, Youth Director