For some, Christmas can be a painful, difficult, and lonely time of year because of the recent loss of a loved one or painful memories. The Liturgy of the Longest Night, also known as “Blue Christmas,” is symbolically held on the Winter Solstice (December 21st). This service creates a sacred space to lift up our grief and lament to God as we wait together in hope and longing for the Eternal Word Made Flesh to be born anew in our weary hearts and world. Please join us for this special service of Holy Eucharist that will include candle lighting and healing prayers with oil.

Liturgy of the Longest Night | December 21 @ 7 PM | Service Leaflet

Join us for a beautiful choral liturgy, which includes scripture readings alternating between carols and hymns, preparing the way for Christmas.

A festive reception will be held after the service. Childcare will be available.

In-person and live-streamed.

In 1934, sixteen years after he had introduced to King’s College, Cambridge the Festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas Eve, Dean Eric Milner-White, composed a further service, a service of Advent Lessons and Carols. This move was brought about by his concern for more imaginative forms of worship. The new service was so well suited to the Chapel that Lydia Lopokova (ballerina and wife of John Maynard Keynes, then of King’s) commented ‘Now we know why the Dean is such a lover of ballet: he is the best choreographer of us all.’
Milner-White wrote of it: “In the old English liturgies, the Advent Offices made a preparation for the coming of our Lord to this earth far more vivid and eager than those of our present Prayer book. The purpose of the service is not to celebrate Christmas, but to expect it.”

The liturgy alternates lessons from the Old and the New Testaments with carols and hymns, finally climaxing in St. Matthew’s Gospel, in which the angel brings the news that Mary will bring forth a son, “and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Sunday, October 16th at 4:00 PM

Join us for our first Choral Evensong of the season, focusing on Social Justice. The choir will present works by Gerre Hancock, John Ireland, and Sarah MacDonald. Scott G. Hayes, Director of Music at All Saints Episcopal Church, will serve as guest organist. A festive reception will be held following the service. Childcare is also provided. Evensong is part of the Daily Office, along with Morning Prayer. The Daily Office is derived from the regular services of monastic communities in the early Church. At the heart of these services was the recitation of the Psalter, the songbook of the Bible, and texts that Jesus himself knew and sang. All are welcome.

CHORAL EVENSONG | October 16 @ 4:00 PM

Please join us for a choral concert, “Back in Bloom,” performed by the Richmond Men’s Chorus.

The Richmond Men’s Chorus (part of Richmond Allied Voices) was founded in 2001 and is a diverse chorus of singers, of all sexual orientations, the chorus is also a member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses. Dr. Christopher Reynolds was appointed the fourth director of the chorus in February 2022. The Richmond Men’s Chorus will feature a variety of repertoire of sacred, folksongs, and show tunes. The concert is open to all and tickets are free, donations are most welcome. This is in-person only.

For more info and to RSVP CLICK HERE.

Please join us for our fourth, and final, service of Choral Evensong for the season. Evensong is part of the Daily Office, along with Morning Prayer. The Daily Office is derived from the regular services of monastic communities in the early Church. This Choral Evensong will mark the final Evensong for Assistant Director of Music, Karen Harris. A special reception will be held in the Gathering Space following the service, where you can greet Karen. The choir will be presenting the following works: Come, thou Lord, creator Spirit – Jeffrey Rickard, Preces & Responses – Sarah MacDonald, Evening Canticles (Collegium Regale) – Herbert Howells, Spiritus intus alit – Barry Ferguson.  All are welcome! In-person and live-streamed.

CHORAL EVENSONG | June 5 @ 5:00 p.m. | Service Leaflet

St. Paul’s is excited to host One Voice Chorus on Saturday, May 21st for their Spring Concert.

One Voice Chorus is a non-auditioned community chorus whose mission is to promote racial harmony through choral music. Join One Voice Chorus for our COVID-delayed Spring Concert, Our Collective Spirit. With works by composers from Handel to Moses Hogan and styles from spirituals to jazz to traditional African and Navajo, this concert will have something for everyone! Our pre-concert conversation, In Living Black and White, starts at 6:00 pm. The concert starts at 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:45 pm). $15 suggested donation. Visit www.onevoicechorus.org for more information.

MASKS FOR AUDIENCE MEMBERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.

Please join us for our third service of Choral Evensong for the season. Evensong is part of the Daily Office, along with Morning Prayer. The Daily Office is derived from the regular services of monastic communities in the early Church. The Choir will be joined by guest organist, Dr. David Kelley from the Church of the Holy Comforter in Vienna, VA. The choir will be presenting the following works: Preces & Responses – Martin Neary, Evening Canticles in E Minor – Leo Sowerby, and The Altar – Roland E. Martin. All are welcome! In-person and live-streamed.

CHORAL EVENSONG | April 3 @ 5:00 p.m. | Service Leaflet

Join us for a concert of Richmond’s newly-formed professional vocal ensemble. The concert will feature Lenten treasures from the Tudor Period, Mendelssohn, Buxtehude, Christmas in April, as well as pieces with text written by Langston Hughes. The ensemble features St. Paul’s own William Bradley Roberts (director), Dr. Christopher Reynolds (accompanist), and Stephanie Hill Blackwood. The concert is free, donations accepted. Come experience the vocal stylings of this exceptional ensemble.