Anglican Parish of Grand Bank Grand Bank NL

There is an air of excitement at the Sunday service at St. Alban’s Church. As the Rector is welcoming the congregation and making announcements, the children are waiting quietly in the porch, baskets in hand. The baskets are for the collection of pennies. The pennies are being collected to provide children in other parts of the world with fresh water.
It began last fall, as Sunday school was beginning. It was municipal election season, and the children were given the opportunity to learn about elections. A polling station was set up and they voted for their choice of charities. One child, one vote was the process, and the children by a large majority voted to save towards the provision of fresh water. So each week, when the opening welcome and announcements are complete and congregation enters into the opening hymn, the porch doors open and the children, baskets in hand, collect the pennies on their way to the chancel steps for the weekly children’s talk.
In this process there is joy in the act of giving; joy in the faces of the congregation as they give to the children; and joy in the hearts of the children as they pursue a goal of providing for the less fortunate and learn of the blessings of participating in outreach.
The children’s penny drive is the newest outreach program in the parish.
As well, each year in the midst of the Lenten season the St. Alban’s ACW participate in a long running annual activity. They plan a rice supper to follow one of the mid-week Lenten Services. Everything is Rice! Rice salads, rice main courses, rice desserts; wonderful rice dishes to match any taste. Congregation and guests are invited to attend this veritable rice feast for the price of a freewill offering. The total amount of monies collected is matched by ACW and forwarded to the PWRDF fund. Over the years thousands of dollars have been collected through this event for this charity.
Outreach is not just all about collecting for charities; it is also about bringing Christ’s presence out into the world. In our parish, we seek ways to be involved in our local community. Two activities which demonstrate this involvement are participation of a small group in Holy Eucharist services at the local Senior’s Home, and those of the St. Alban’s Choir.
Each month the group visits Bluecrest Senior’s Home with the rector to provide a service of praise, worship and Holy Eucharist to the residents. The residents truly enjoy and involve themselves in these opportunities to celebrate the Lord in the tradition they grew up with. Most of the residents are
Anglicans but they are joined by those from other faiths.
St. Alban’s Choir has small numbers, but large hearts. Each week they lead the congregation in songs of praise. But they do so much more. They participate in ecumenical activities - annual ‘Carol-fest’ services’, or special concerts such as the one held for Haiti. They touch many hearts as they raise their voices in praise.
The children, the ACW, outreach worship team, and choir - these groups continue to make large contributions to the life and growth of the Parish; groups that continue to shine for the Lord in family and in community.
They are not the only groups, nor are theirs the only activities where we seek to serve the Lord. The mission of St. Alban’s is to build up the Body of Christ through prayer, study, worship and action: working together to the glory of God to make Christ’s presence known and desired. As we strive to meet this mission, we will enter into many more activities, and by the grace of God we will continue to grow and reach out in His name.

 

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