Website: http://www.stalbans-albany.org/

Re: Seeking welcoming church with inspiring minister
If you are looking for a welcoming church, please take a look st St Alban's Episcopal Church in Albany at the coner of Washington and Curtis Streets. It's a friendly parish, with active programs for children and teens. There is someone teaching QiGong in the parish hall at least one evening a week, and a number of early music groups present concerts there. For more information, check out thier website at http://www.st-albans-albany.org/ or call the paish at 510-525-1716. There is a regular Sunday choir, and the church has an organ. Jennifer

Re: Seeking tolerant, inclusive Catholic community
St Alban's Episcopal Church (which is located directly on the Albany-Berkeley border just off Solano, at Curtis and Washington) would probably meet your needs. My husband was raised Catholic and I was not, and we went to St Alban's as a kind of middle ground. It's a small church with great music, a nice community feeling, and blossoming youth programs, including a Godly Play session for 4-7 year olds. Lori

Re: Churches with kids near El Cerrito?
Check out St Alban's Episcopal on Washington Street in Albany. It's just a few blocks from El Cerrito, off Santa Fe. We are a small, very friendly church. While there isn't a huge number of kids, the number is growing. Lori

Re: Looking for Protestant Church in El Cerrito area
Hi Amy, Our Episcopal Church, St. Alban's, sounds like a good match for you. We also live in El Cerrito and have belonged to St. Alban's since I was pregnant with my first child 20 years ago! There are a lot of young families, child care, Sunday School, etc. I know that there is a very active youth group. The music is wonderful. We have a pipe organ, choir, and many musically-talented members. (Bay Area Early Music groups often use the church and parish hall for their concerts.) The church is located on the corner of Curtis and Washington streets just one block north of Solano. The musical service which has child care is at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Marcia

Re: Inclusive & Friendly Church
For the family seeking a church in the Albany/El Cerrito area. You might want to look into St. Alban's Episcopal at the corner of Curtis & Washington in Albany. It's a very friendly parish and there are a lot of families with young children. There are multiple levels of Sunday school and active youth groups. Baby- sitting is available at the Sunday 10 a.m. service, but a lot of parents bring their infants into church anyway. In addition to the music in the church service, several choral groups use the church facilities for practice, and the Early Music Society runs its Hausmusik programs there. The rector is Jim Stickney. The assistant rector is Laurie Willis. The phone number is 510-525- 1716. Give them a call, or come by for a visit. Jennifer

You might want to look at St. Alban's Episcopal in Albany (at the corner of Washington and Curtis). They have an active Sunday School with organized programs for children of all ages (and there are a number of families with young children). The people there are friendly and welcoming. The rector is Pastor James Stickney and Bobbie Ryan is the director of the Sunday School. Jennifer