St. Alban's Reaches Out to the Community

St. Alban's provides the focal point in the country for worship and community outreach. The parish hosts several activities during the year that provides for community fellowship and fun. In addition, we have been active in revitalizing St. Mary's, Bolton, whose doors have been closed for nearly two decades.

It was last July 2010 when we met for the first time at Saint Mary's Church.  We opened the doors to a dusty and musty interior.  Within a matter of weeks the interior was sparkling and we gathered for the first worship service in September. Now we will gather in an newly air conditioned worship space.

The St. Alban's, St. Mary's and Bolton community are to be commended for your vision. You saw what was possible and made it happen!!! Extraordinary performances have been presented with Evening Prayer and Eucharist services every Second Sunday for a year, even without heat or air conditioning.

As of the first of July 2011, the air conditioning is up and running for the July, Second Sunday series prayer service followed by a performance of the the Brick Street Barber Shop Quartet performance and ice cream social.

On December 3, 2011, St. Mary's revived the traditional "Old Fashioned Christmas Bazaar and Chicken Spaghetti Lunch." The highly successful event attached several hundred visitors and raised over $5,200.

St. Mary's was designated a "Mission Station" of St. Alban's by Bishop Gray in December 2011. The designation allows St. Mary's to be represented at the 2012 Council to be held, February 2012 in Vicksburg.

Revitalizing St. Mary's, Bolton, Mississippi

In 2010, St. Alban's the Episcopal Diocese gave The Very Reverend Abraham permission to reopen St. Mary's in Bolton, Mississippi, and celebrate the Holy Eucharist once a quarter. Assisting her efforts will be Harvey Smith, Lay Worship Leader from St. Alban's, who will lead a bi-monthly Evening Prayer service. St. Mary's had been closed for nearly two decades.

On August 28, 2010, the entire Bolton church community pitched in to help clean up the beautiful structure and plan services and events. An old pump organ (electrified) was donated to the church by James Anderson.

On Sunday, September 12, 2010, at 4:00 p.m., the Holy Eucharist was celebrated at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Bolton. The Reverend Billie Abraham, rector of St. Alban's Episcopal Church at Bovina, officiated. The service was the first to be held at St. Mary's since the church closed its doors a decade and a half ago.

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Lenten Arts Program

St. Alban's believes that arts is a ministry. The Lenten Arts Program, features local music, plays and art during the five week period between Lent Ash Wednesday and Easter. The Wednesday evening begins with a Holy Eucharist Healing service and soup dinner before each program.

The 2011 program begins on Wednesday, March 16th and continues for the next four Wednesdays.

The Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Soup Dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. At 7:00 p.m. the arts program, featuring Irish Music, an organ concert, spiritual & gospel music, live sculpture demonstration and a choir concert. The programs are free. Everyone is welcome.

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Blessing of the Animals

St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment. He reminds us of the relevance of treating animals and the environment with care and concern.

On St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day, St. Alban's holds a special service to bless animals. People arrive at church with dogs, cats, rabbits and more to get blessings in honor of St. Francis and his dedication to animals and the environment.

 Animal lovers bring their companions to blessings on St. Francis of Assisi Day. Even those who do not or cannot have animals can celebrate the day by volunteering at an animal shelter or donating money to an animal rights organization.

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Founder's Festival

The last weekend in October, St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Bovina hosts its annual Fall Founders' Festival, an event featuring a weekend of fun and fellowship. This year's festival will mark the 155th Anniversary of the founding of St. Alban's.

The weekend of activities featured Civil War reenactors and Boy Scouts camp on the spacious grounds of the church. The reenactors dress in period costumes and remain in camp throughout the weekend. Living History demonstrations are held at the Civil War encampment. Union and Confederate reenactors skirmish in the woods between the St. Alban's Church and the rectory.

Saturday evening featured the traditional All Saints' Memorial Service. This lovely event will feature the lighting of the luminaries. The service was followed by a lamp lit cemetery "stoll" where reeactors play the part of individuals buried in the cemetery.

Other activities include: Dinner on the Grounds, Wagon Rides, Live Music, Country Market and a vintage car show displaying antique and classic cars.

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