Blog - St. Albans

St. Al’s Stories: Gillian and Iain

Gillian and Iain Wallace are easy to spot at coffee hour. They’re among a crowd, reaching out to new faces or catching up with old ones. Gillian’s usually sporting her long dangly earrings and recognizable fun-coloured hair.

Although St. Albans has a high student population with the progressive band music and the proximity to the university, Gillian enthusiastically points out “middle-aged people love it too!”

Gillian and Iain made the transition to St. Albans a few years ago from a church they loved but one that struggled with embracing change. She said it was stuck in the idea of doing things “the way it’s always been done.” This frustration led the pair to St. Albans, which Gillian said is unique because it challenges traditional views people have of church. It launched on social media and was keen on connecting with people online and Gillian said the welcoming people and fun worship music drew them in.

Top 10 things to know about Prayer

“Jesus was praying in a certain place.” The gospels often remind us that Jesus spent time in prayer. There seems to have been a rhythm to his life, a rhythm he maintained even in the midst of his journey to Jerusalem.

St. Al’s Stories: Taylor & Travis

Taylor Stokes and Travis Holmes came to St. Albans one Sunday morning with one purpose in mind: to see if it was a suitable church to get married in.

They were nervous about arriving late. As soon as they sat down someone introduced themselves and invited them to grab a coffee. It was past 10 a.m. already but they were told at St. Albans you can never be late. People were still chatting with friends or searching for the service program on their phones. It didn’t take them long to realize this church was different.

St. Albans Big Give: A day of radical generosity

By Erica Howes (published 26 June 2018)

2018 Big Give 1On June 2, St. Albans, St-Bernard-de-Clairvaux, and Centre 454 opened their courtyard gates and hosted the Big Give, a garage sale where everything is free.

Tables and boxes were sorted and filled with kitchen supplies, household decorations, children’s toys, clothing and furniture. Many people were incredulous or skeptical when volunteers said everything is free and repeated the motto of the Big Give: “take what you need.” There’s no judgement or catch, it’s simply a day of radical generosity.

They say one person’s junk is another person’s treasure and it was true at the Big Give, where many interesting objects had people guessing at their hidden stories and wondering how they could fit into their own homes.

“Some of us have difficult lives of no fault of their own. Today is a chance for those of us who have been lucky to make a little bit of a difference of those who haven’t,” said St. Albans volunteer Gillian Wallace, explaining that many people at the Big Give live in shelters or have recently got housing.

Open Table grows in numbers and sense of community

Published in IMAGE, Sandy Hill Paper.

There’s free food, the opportunity to meet lots of people and don’t forget to bring containers for leftovers. That’s how the Open Table advertises their monthly meal program for University of Ottawa students that has grown to serve up to 100 per month. As its numbers increase, so does the community and strength of relationships within the program.

“Sometimes you don’t have the resources to make healthy and nutritious meals. Open Table was started to give students the opportunity to connect with different churches… and for churches to look after students and make sure they’re taking care of themselves,” she said.