Even though Homecoming Sunday will look different due to the pandemic, we still intend to celebrate in true St. Paul’s fashion. Remember that our worship service is live-streamed, so you can always watch from the safety of your own home. If you do choose, however, to be with us in person, here are a few highlights:

Children’s Sunday School Kickoff

At 9:00 a.m. we will have Sunday School for our children, youth and families.

• The Family Group will return to a new space for parents and caregivers on the second floor utilizing the book Faithful Families with an accompanying 4-week discussion. The Family Group is open to all.
• Youth in 6-12th grades are invited to join together with Miriam Farris in their new room on the second floor. However, if you would prefer to join us via Zoom, please contact Miriam Farris.
• Children from 3 years old – 5th grade will gather in Scott Hall on our Godly Play mats, distanced and wearing masks. Following Sunday school, Scott Hall remains a worship space with live-streaming from the sanctuary. Please feel free to bring items from home like books, paper, crayons, etc. Communion will be brought to worshipers in Scott Hall.
• The Nursery for children under 3 years old will be open from 8:50 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more details about signing children in, please contact Linda Willis at.

Sunday Morning Meditation | 9:00-9:35 a.m.
Join Minister for Faith Formation Keli Shipley Cooper for meditation in the Memorial Garden (weather permitting). Come prepare your hearts and minds for worship as we gather for a brief reading, reflection, and twenty minutes of silence.

Service of Holy Eucharist | 10:00 a.m.
Service of Holy Eucharist with the St. Paul’s Choir. All are welcome for these lovely services of prayer, Word, preaching, and song in the beautiful and historic St. Paul’s sanctuary. Services are held in person and streamed online at www.stpaulsrva.org. Also – this Sunday is the second Sunday of the month and everyone is invited to wear ORANGE as a way to raise gun violence awareness. The Clergy will be wearing orange stoles.

New Member Rite of Welcome
We want to recognize you! On Homecoming Sunday we will be publically recognizing many of you who have joined St. Paul’s just prior to or during the pandemic with a Rite of Welcome during the service. Whether you are able to be present physically that day or not, we would love to make sure you are included. If you already consider yourself a member but did not get the opportunity to be more publicly recognized when you joined or if you would like to become a member contact Keli Shipley Cooper at kshipleycooper@stpaulsrva.org or 804-545-5405.

Altar Guild Leadership Recognition
The Altar Guild is a very important, “behind the scenes” ministry that prayerfully and carefully prepares our space for worship each Sunday. On Homecoming Sunday we will honor some special leaders and give thanks for their faithful service.

Social Hour with Ministry Spotlight (outdoors following service)
Homecoming Sunday will kick off our new social/coffee hour format. Each week, following the worship service, representatives of various ministries will be present to share information about their ministry, their current activities and ways that you can get involved. For the time being the social hour will not include any refreshments due to the pandemic.

St. Paul’s Adult Choir
The St. Paul’s Choir will be resuming full rehearsals on Thursday, Sept. 9th, 7-9 pm, with the full choir singing starting on Homecoming Sunday. The choir here at St. Paul’s is open to all, anyone who is interested in joining the choir should contact Director of Music, Dr. Christopher Reynolds. We do ask that everyone who participates in the choir be fully vaccinated. For more information about the choir and safety measures being taken, please contact Christopher.

Children’s Choir Begins (Virtual)
We are proud to announce Canti, the new name for the St. Paul’s Children’s Choir. “Canti” is the plural of “Cantus” a Latin word for song, which also can mean the highest voice part in choral polyphonic music. So, Canti is a perfect name for our choir of children’s and youth voices! All singers from grade one through high school are invited to join, no experience is necessary.

Fall term: Five virtual rehearsals on Zoom on Sundays, September 12th through October 10th, from 1:00 p.m. to 1:40 pm. (Alternative rehearsal days/times as needed to accommodate singer’s schedules.) Contact Karen Harris, Assistant Director of Music, for more information by e-mail or call 804-382-1900.