St.Alban's Episcopal Church
Albany · Episcopal Congregation
Overview
We are a lively, multi-generational group of people who gather weekly to worship, learn more about what it means to follow Jesus, join together in acts of service and enjoy one another’s good company, all under the broad tent of God’s love.
Mission: We are involved in the community around us, and believe strongly that God’s inclusive love means that whoever you are, YOU welcome in our church.
Services offered
- Seasonal donation projects for youth at the YEAH shelter.
- We collect food for the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
- We volunteer with Albany Thrives Together
- With Jubilee USA we fight for economic justice by addressing international debt through legislation and advocacy.
- Through letter-writing and financial support, we help Bread for The World work for more just U.S. and international food policies.
- Our church is a member of the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations of the Bay Area.
- 12-Step Meetings
- Free Community Shower Program: St. Alban’s Parishioners volunteer as part of a true Albany community effort to provide free, refreshing showers to those experiencing homelessness. Fridays from 1-2:30 pm at the Albany Aquatic Center.
Leadership
Clergy & Staff Amy Kessler- Parish Administrator Amy joined the St. Alban’s staff in January 2024 and is very happy to be part of this wonderful and caring spiritual community. She has spent most of her professional life in nonprofit arts development and broadcast communications, including the Center for Investigative Reporting, Merola Opera Program, San Francisco Symphony, and MTV Networks in New York. A professional singer who has performed as a recitalist and with many symphonic and operatic groups, Amy is the alto section leader and soloist for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oakland. She and her husband Merle reside in Oakland with two spoiled cats. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, lifting weights, reading, collecting vintage clothing, and walking all over North Oakland and Berkeley. Becky Osborn-Coolidge and Sondra Lavrov -Volunteer Parish Administrators Becky and Sondra staff the office on Fridays. They produce our Sunday bulletins, manage filing, and other important tasks. And they are friendly people who love St. Alban’s! You can reach them at the Parish Administrator’s email address. Morel Briones - Sexton Morel has been keeping things clean and rolling along at St. Alban’s for well over a decade. A passionate bicyclist and skilled repairman, he keeps in shape pedaling all over the Bay Area and beyond! IN MEMORIAM Richard Cushman, Ph.D. Organist Emeritus Our dear friend Richard passed away on December 26, 2024. A church organist since his first years of high school, he began to play professionally at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Petaluma, where he conducted several choirs and oversaw a highly successful rebuild of the pipe organ. Though always dedicated to sacred music, Dr. Cushman devoted his graduate study (UC Berkeley) to Renaissance literature, lyric, and drama, especially sacred verse. He taught at Stanford University, where he received the Walter J. Gores Award for Faculty Excellence in 1997. He also taught at USF and the College of the Holy Names. Most recently, Richard taught courses in literature at the College Preparatory School in Oakland, including classes in classical Greek and Roman literature, Dante, Shakespeare and early twentieth-century fiction. Richard was an inspiring teacher and a champion of young musicians, and a beloved member of the St. Alban’s community.
Donating
All that we do at St. Alban’s is rooted in gratitude for the gift of life. Our financial contributions are one way to celebrate that abundance and ensure that our ministries continue to thrive. We are a modest-sized congregation, and we feel strongly that everyone’s gift makes a difference. Please click the link above to join us in supporting our work. Through our secure online portal you may: Give a one-time donation Schedule a recurring gift, or make an on-going pledge Buy flowers for the altar in memory of a loved one
Location and service area
1501 Washington Ave. Albany, CA 94706
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