We invite you to join us for our monthly book club. The books for this fall will be based on the summer book reads suggested by our Community Engagement Committee. These books address topics of food security, global justice, and racial justice. Different members of this committee will facilitate the conversation each month.

This month we will be discussing Born a Crime by Trevor Noah facilitated by Barbara Holley and Michelle Walker

If you are interested in joining us for one, two, or all the book clubs, please REGISTER HERE. A zoom link will be provided upon filling out this form.

Book Club | Third Mondays | 7:00-8:30 p.m. | Zoom
September 20th | Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, facilitated by Barbara Holley and Michelle Walker
October 18th | Animal, Vegetable, Junk by Mark Bittman, facilitated by Sheena Mackenzie and Matthew Cole
November 15th | Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson, facilitated by Sue Bland and Gwynn Crichton
December 20th | A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park and Ginger Knowlton, facilitated by Matt and Will Stehle

Two-Part Workshop on Wednesdays, September 22nd and 29th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Zoom

Join Becky Robinson, Chapter Coordinator of Contemplative Outreach in Richmond, to learn about centering prayer. Centering prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence.

We will gather for two 1.5-hour sessions over Zoom to discuss prayer as a relationship, guidelines for centering prayer, “thoughts” and what to do with them, and the impact of centering prayer in your life. There will be an opportunity to practice 20 minutes of centering prayer during each gathering.

Please REGISTER HERE or e-mail Keli Shipley Cooper, Minister for Faith Formation, by Monday, September 20th, if you are interested in attending one or both sessions.

Two-Part Workshop on Wednesdays, September 22nd and 29th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Zoom

Join Becky Robinson, Chapter Coordinator of Contemplative Outreach in Richmond, to learn about centering prayer. Centering prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence.

We will gather for two 1.5-hour sessions over Zoom to discuss prayer as a relationship, guidelines for centering prayer, “thoughts” and what to do with them, and the impact of centering prayer in your life. There will be an opportunity to practice 20 minutes of centering prayer during each gathering.

Please REGISTER HERE or e-mail Keli Shipley Cooper, Minister for Faith Formation, by Monday, September 20th, if you are interested in attending one or both sessions.

We miss you! As St. Paul’s begins the process of gathering for in-person worship, we want to create space to be with you and hear from those of you who are new/newish to St. Paul’s. We want to answer any questions you might have about regathering details, coming back to church (maybe attending St. Paul’s in person for the first time), and continuing your journey with St. Paul’s. The clergy of St. Paul’s look forward to seeing you and connecting with you face-to-face very soon.

Click Here to RSVP.

Click Here to Join Zoom.

Contact Sarah Nolan by e-mail or at 804-545-5407 with questions.

This year the picnic will be outside on the Capitol grounds across the street from the church following the Sunday worship service. Bring chairs and blankets. St. Paul’s is providing lunch boxes or you can bring your own. There will be cupcakes and room for kids to run! Everyone is welcome whether you join worship in-person or online.

Due to State Capitol rules and so we can order the correct number of lunches, you must RSVP (even if you do not need a lunch order).

The deadline to RSVP for boxed lunch is Tuesday, May 18th.

If you do not want to order a box lunch, but would like to attend, please contact Carter Johann at cjohann@stpaulsrva.org or 804-545-5401.

SIX WEEK BIBLE STUDY SERIES | May 5th – June 9th on Zoom

Wednesdays @ 7:00 p.m.
(We are experimenting with having Bible Study at 7 p.m. to accommodate the schedules of working people who cannot make 5 p.m. Let’s give this schedule a try! Feedback always welcome.)

Bible Study is Back! Our next six-week series will be led by Rainey, Charlie and Gwynn.

Our first session on May 5th will be led by Charlie to reflect on what we learned from Dr. Karoline Lewis’ recent series “What is the Bible and Why Should We Care?” (You can access the recorded sessions if you missed these lectures! Click links to find: Session One and Session Two).

The remaining sessions will focus on the Sunday Revised Common Lectionary Gospel readings from the previous Sunday. Each week Gwynn, Charlie, or Rainey will give some background with history and/or context as we begin our discussion. And then we can explore together. We have gained some good tools from our sessions with Drs. Gench and Lewis. Let’s keep the great discussions going on Wednesday evenings!

Texts for Each Week –
May 5th | Reflecting on Karoline Lewis’ Lectures on Bible
May 12th | High Priestly Prayer (Ascension) – John 17:9-16
May 19th | Pentecost – John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
May 26th | For God So Loved the World – John 3:1-17
June 2nd | Jesus and Beelzebul – Mark 3:20-35
June 9th | Jesus’ Parables – Mark 4:26-34

Please note we will be using multiple translations which you can access online through www.biblegateway.com (or simply click on the hyperlinks for text listed below).

RSVP is helpful, but not required. Click Here to RSVP.

Zoom Log In Information: https://zoom.us/j/91956001401?pwd=SGlmUFJhU1pxTTkxdVhxZWg4RWtmZz09
Meeting ID: 919 5600 1401 | Passcode: 680755

Contact Rev. Gwynn Crichton or Rev. Rainey Dankel with any questions.

January-May, we will gather on the specified Monday at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the monthly book read. There will be some guided questions as well as space for you to share your thoughts about the book. We will meet for approximately an hour and a half. All are welcome.

Monday, May 17th @ 7:00 p.m.

Practicing Imperfection by Rev. Dr. Charles T. Dupree | Facilitated by Rev. Charlie

To know life is to look at it honestly. Practicing Imperfection is a candid exploration of one person’s move from being addicted to praise and perfection to becoming more comfortable in his own skin. Through humor and a healthy dose of sarcasm, Practicing Imperfection shares the journey of Episcopal priest Charles Dupree in developing a consistent, sustainable, meditation practice. Dupree describes how the ancient practice of meditation can bring about a healthier, happier, more awakened existence, and what, for him, has been a healing balm in a busy world and demanding vocation. Drawing from childhood experiences, a recent sabbatical, and the experiences of serving as a parish priest, Dupree examines some of life’s larger questions. As an Episcopal priest, he is clearly religious, but also whole-heartedly spiritual. Uniting those seemingly conflicted qualities, he helps us see that we are all looking for the same thing: freedom from that which no longer serves us. In our modern world, it is difficult to carve out the space to examine what is going on in our lives and minds; meditation is a way to create that space. This is a book for people who want to be released from the pressures of being better, smarter, or more successful, and those who want to lighten up and be a fuller participant in life.

Zoom Information: https://zoom.us/j/94265099761?pwd=eFh3dm5MNko4Mlo0U0ZxN0Zvc2pPdz09

Meeting ID: 942 6509 9761 | Passcode: 578123

CLICK HERE to RSVP

Joyfully celebrating Easter together online AND in-person! The bishop has updated the guidelines for in-person, indoor worship, and we are now able to offer reduced capacity seating (approx. 50-60 persons) for an in-person Easter service inside the Church (registration is required). We will also offer Holy Communion of one kind (bread only) both during and following the service.

What Easter will look like this year:

• 8:00 a.m. Easter Worship Service offered in-person indoors with pre-registration. Click here to register for 8:00 a.m.
• 10:00 a.m. Easter Worship Service offered in-person indoors (with pre-registration) and simultaneous online live-stream on Facebook and website. Click here to register for 10:00 a.m. (Currently at capacity. You can sign up on the waiting list or consider joining the 8:00 a.m. service.
• We will offer Holy Communion (bread only) during the in-person service.
• We will also offer the opportunity to receive Holy Communion with an Easter Blessing in the Memorial Garden after the service from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for anyone who would like who did not attend the service. You do not need to register for this.

Check out our indoor worship guidelines to know what to expect HERE. Please only attend worship and receive communion if you are healthy and non-symptomatic with COVID-19 or any other transmittable disease that could compromise the health of another congregant.

If the registration is full, we will have a waitlist which you can sign up for through the same process in case someone cancels their attendance. If you have any trouble registering, please contact Carter at the church office at 804-545-5401.

For the 2021 Lenten Speaker Series, St. Paul’s is featuring various poets and artists who will reflect on the concept of journey and journeying together during this season of pandemic and political turmoil.

This week’s speaker is Richmond’s 2021 and first-ever Poet Laureate, Douglas Powell (aka Roscoe Burnems).

Douglas Powell/Roscoe Burnems is Richmond, VA’s first poet laureate. He is also a published author, spoken-word artist, comedian, educator, father, and husband who has dedicated his craft to entertaining and enlightening. As a career poet, he has become a National Poetry Slam Champion, two-time southern regional finalist, Tedx Youth speaker, and the star of the first poetry and comedy special streaming on Amazon Prime, entitled Traumedy. Website: roscoeb.webs.com.

Click here to register. You can sign up for just one or all of our speaker webinars. All sessions will be recorded and available on our main events page below for one week following the presentation.

Click for more details on Lenten Series and other speakers.