Study and Learning

Wednesday Nights (September - May)

Christian Journey Series: “Life in the First Century”

Wednesdays: January 15, 22, 29, and February 5, 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Valentine Hall AND Sunday, January 26, 10:15-11:00 a.m., Valentine Hall What was a Roman banquet like? What were illness, medicine, and death like in the ancient Near East? How were Roman cities designed? How do stories of mythical heroes compare to stories […]

Life Transitions Study Series

This three-week study with the Rev. Dr. Mark Cooper addresses how to prepare for and approach major life transitions, considering spiritual, practical and emotional aspects. Explore topics relevant to those in the “sandwich generation,” such as how to care for both aging parents and adult children, what legal paperwork to prepare, and how to manage [...]

Learn the Way of Love

Our next Wednesday-night series considers "The Way of Love." Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s office released this magnificent guide for Christian living for use across the Episcopal Church. Come learn more about the Way of Love in particular and the ancient Christian tradition of rules of life in general with the Rev. Hilary Streever and Br. [...]

Chris and Marb Beth Abplanalp talk about Financial Peace

Financial Peace with Wisdom for Life

Not your typical “money” class, Financial Peace University is practical, entertaining and fun! 9 Wednesdays, starts January 10. Chris and Mary Beth explain.

Wednesday night class

Christian Journey Fall 2018

An engaging series for deeper inquiry into the ongoing faith journey of adults.

images for Lent

Reconciliation is Lenten Theme

Reconciliation is our theme for our adult formation classes this season of Lent.

Christian Journey

This engaging series invites deeper inquiry into issues relevant to the ongoing faith journey of adults. 

Fall Wednesday Night Programs

Starting the evening of September 16, St. James’s Episcopal Church will offer our regular semesters of Wednesday night programs

Wednesdays during Lent: The Practice and Experience of Prayer

On Wednesday nights during Lent we’ll explore questions about our prayer life. How do we learn to pray and listen for God through our prayers? How do we begin to develop or deepen a prayer habit in the midst of lives that are already full and active? Ann Dieterle and Mark Cooper will be teaching […]

Bible Studies

Sisters in the Word Bible Study

In this weekly Bible Study, women from St. James’s and other local churches gather for coffee, fellowship, reflection (more…)

Lectionary Ladies Bible Study

This is a lectionary Bible Study for women of all ages. Each week, we examine the scripture passages for the upcoming Sunday, (more…)

Living Faith Bible Study

This opportunity for spiritual refreshment and enlightenment begins with a period of silence for prayer and meditation, (more…)

Thursday Men’s Bible Study Breakfast

We are led by Christ’s example of service to others, and members take turns in leading the morning worship (more…)

Tuesday Men’s Breakfast Bible Study

A weekly hour of fellowship, discussion and good food. (more…)

Women’s Bible Wisdom Study

Second and Fourth Tuesdays 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Michaux House Library (more…)

The reverend Thom Blair, interim rector

Sunday Bible Study

Most Sundays of the month, September to May. 10:15 to 11:00 a.m., Parkinson Room (more…)

Small Groups

Summer Study and Prayer

This Summer! Contemplative Prayer Hour (more…)

Adult class

Adult Confirmation Spring 2019

(formerly Pilgrim’s Path) This year, our adult confirmation program has a new model based on the early church’s practice of teaching new members during Lent in preparation for Easter. (more…)

Generation Change: A Financial Education Series for Teens

This is a brand new financial education program called Generation Change for students in 10th-12th grade.

VMFA Guided Tour of Religious Art

Come for a tour of religious art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, from Byzantine sculptures and liturgical furniture to Russian orthodox icons.

SelfStarters at Gather W. Broad

SelfStarters for Business Intelligence

While loosely about spiritual community, SelfStarters is a resource of networking and business insights.

Education for Ministry

Are you seeking to deepen and grow your faith? Education for Ministry (EfM) is designed to help us understand our lives and shape our actions.

Christian Journey

This engaging series invites deeper inquiry into issues relevant to the ongoing faith journey of adults. 

Book Clubs

New! The Permanent Things Book Group

Augustine. Dorothy Day. Julian of Norwich. Gregory of Nyssa. Evelyn Underhill. You’re invited to join in the discussion of classic works of theology with the Permanent Things Book Group, meeting on second and fourth Tuesdays, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., in the Michaux House library. At our first meeting on Tuesday, September 10, we will discuss [...]

Brown Bag Book Club

first Thursday of the month, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Gibson Hall, Conference Room B (more…)

Tuesday Readers Book Club

Fourth Tuesdays (with exceptions), 7:00 to 8:30 p.m, Michaux House, Fagan Parlor January 28: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Lewis’s classic reflection on faith and theology that sheds new truths as relevant today as they were when written- based on BBC Broadcasts- in the 1940s. February 18: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson A story of justice [...]

Rector’s Book Club

The Spiritual Book Club has been meeting for a decade. If you love to read and discuss good literature, you’re invited to attend.

Lectures

Interfaith Dialogue: Honoring and Remembering the Dead

Interfaith Dialogue with Congregation Beth Ahabah: Tuesdays, October 29 & November 5, at Congregation Beth Ahabah We are excited to offer our interfaith dialogues with Congregation Beth Ahabah throughout the program year. This fall, we explore how we honor and remember our dead through both traditional customs and superstitions. We’ll discuss Yizkor, Mourner’s Kaddish, Halloween [...]

Dr. Garwood Anderson, New Testament scholar

Dr. Gar Anderson Talks About St. Paul February 10

St. Paul: A Man Misunderstood with Gar Anderson, Ph.D In her popular book, Karen Armstrong called St. Paul “the apostle we love to hate.”  And, to be sure, Paul of Tarsus has been the object of both veneration and intense contempt. But is it really Paul or is it a caricature of the historical figure, […]

Beth Ahabah and St. James's

Interfaith Dialogue with Beth Ahabah

Interfaith Dialogue with Congregation Beth Ahabah We are excited to offer our interfaith dialogues with Congregation Beth Ahabah throughout the program year, rather than simply once per year. First Session: Let the Good Times Roll! Monday, February 25 Meal at 6:00 p.m., in the Main Lobby of the Joel House Dialogue at 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., [...]

2015 Short Course - Campos

Sunday Adult Forums – Online via Zoom – 2020

This fall, our Sunday study sessions for adults include three types of engagement on a schedule that allows you to make easy choices.

The Ache of Addiction Lenten Series

Special Lenten series starts Wednesday, February 21 Click here for all upcoming events in this series. February 21, 7:00 p.m. What Really Causes Addiction?: Science Speaks to Our Assumptions Dr. Danielle Dick, Professor, VCU Developmental Psychology Program, Departments of Psychology and Human & Molecular Genetics   February 28, 7:00 p.m. Do Less Harm: Public vs […]

Generation Change: A Financial Education Series for Teens

This is a brand new financial education program called Generation Change for students in 10th-12th grade.

Pilgrims Path

Starting the evening of September 13, St. James’s offers Pilgrims Path in our regular Wednesday night programs

images for Lent

Reconciliation is Lenten Theme

Reconciliation is our theme for our adult formation classes this season of Lent.

transition graphic

Grace in Transition: Coping with Change

Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., through April 10 with The Rev. Caroline Smith Parkinson.

Financial Peace University

In Financial Peace University Dave Ramsey and a St. James’s teaching team will walk this adult class through the basics of budgeting, dumping debt, planning for the future, and much more. Students are equipped with biblical principles to be who God created them to be, do more with their money, and manage their finances with […]

Interfaith Dialogue with Beth Ahabah

Annual Interfaith Dialogue with Congregation Beth Ahabah “Identity & Responsibility: What are the Markers of Our Faiths?” Wednesdays, April 26 and May 3, 7:00 p.m. Congregation Beth Ahabah – Joel House 1111 W. Franklin Street Sometimes defining what it means to be Jewish or to be Christian seems straightforward. Certainly, we have certain obvious markers […]

Christian Journey

This engaging series invites deeper inquiry into issues relevant to the ongoing faith journey of adults. 

Retreats and Pilgrimages

Exploring God’s Creation Field Trip

Looking for a chance to reconnect with the natural world and reflect on the many gifts God has given us?

SNOWFEST

St. James’s SNOWFEST (6th-12th) A winter youth retreat to Shrine Mont, February 7-9, 2020 (more…)

Lenten Retreat: Mindfulness Meditation

Saturday, March 9, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Valentine Hall On Ash Wednesday, the people are invited “to the observance of a holy Lent” through a number of practices, including self-examination and reflection. (more…)

Annual Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont

The historic Shrine Mont Retreat Center offers a beautiful setting for St. James’s annual fall retreat in the mountains!

Lenten Retreat: “Connecting to the Faith That Is In Us”

Saturday, February 29, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Valentine Hall This phrase comes from the Litany for Ash Wednesday - “We confess to you, Lord, our negligence in our prayer and worship and our failure to commend the faith that is in us.” Dr. Friend will offer five meditations interspersed with silence: 1) lack of [...]