Events
The Windows of Saint James' with Ninie Laing
Ninie Laing is a longtime parishioner and a retired art history professor at Sweet Briar College.
Back by popular demand, Ninie Laing will give a lecture in the church about the history and meaning behind the stained glass windows at Saint James’.
Ninie is a retired art history professor at Sweet Briar College, and she authored an informational booklet about the history of each stained glass window here at church.
Episcopal 101
This series of adult formation classes begins Sept. 13 and continues each Sunday in the Reception Room through Nov. 15. This series will to prepare those interested in confirmation, reception or reaffirmation for the Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris’ pastoral visit on Nov. 22. It is also open to anyone who wants to learn more about our faith tradition.
Teenagers wishing to be confirmed may choose instead to attend a series of three classes on Sunday, Oct. 4, Oct. 25 and Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.
If you are interested in confirmation, reception or reaffirmation, contact the church office at admin@saintjameswarrenton.org.
Fittingly, we will also celebrate an instructed Eucharist at 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. on Sept. 13. Before each movement of our worship service, Father Ben will explain the intent. This is intended to deepen your knowledge, appreciation and full participation in our weekly worship.
Background
When we are baptized, whether as a child or adult, “God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God,” as catechism in the Book of Common Prayer puts it. As members of Christ’s Body, any baptized person is welcome to become a formal member of Saint James’ so long as they were baptized in the name of the Trinity. (Not sure if you are? Send an email to admin@saintjameswarrenton.org and Coy will let you know.)
But God doesn’t intend for our story to end there. God calls us to claim the responsibilities of our baptismal covenant and respond actively to God’s grace. The Episcopal Church — like many Christian traditions — recognizes these sacramental rites as outward signs of an individual’s commitment to that covenant. These rites require a bishop laying hands on the person making that commitment, echoing the practice of early Christians.
Confirmation is for baptized Christians who have not yet made a public affirmation of their faith. Reception is for those who have been confirmed in another Christian tradition but want to be formally received into The Episcopal Church. Reaffirmation is for anyone who feels called to renew their baptismal covenant after returning to the church after a period of unbelief or entering a new level of spiritual life.
High School Youth Group
The High School School Youth Group meets most Sundays during the school year for a meal followed by formation, discussion, games and more. Throughout a typical program year, young people will visit Verdun Adventure Bound, participate in a ski trip to Seven Springs and help out with various parish-wide outreach events. Youth groups are open to any young person, regardless of whether they attend church at Saint James’.
Teen Confirmation Class
This is the first of three classes intended for teenagers (eighth grade through high school) wishing to be confirmed when the bishop makes her pastoral visit to Saint James’ on Sunday, Nov. 22. We will talk about our faith tradition and what it means to make a public affirmation of our baptismal covenant.
Additional classes will be held Sunday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 15. Those being confirmed should attend all three classes if possible.
If you or your child is interested, email Jen Taylor at jennifer.taylor@saintjameswarrenton.org.
Children's Communion Instruction
Children make Communion bread during a Communion instruction class in 2019.
All children from second through fifth grade are invited to join Father Ben and Jen Taylor for this instructional class on three Sundays — April 19, April 26 and May 3.
As a culmination of these lessons, the 10:15 service on May 3 will be especially geared toward children, and we’ll use the bread we made during the class for Communion.
Communion is a precious, holy reminder that our life was bought with a price by a savior who loves us intensely enough to die in our place. We believe one of the greatest gifts we can offer our children is helping them learn about the meaning of Communion and how it is a sacred part of our relationship with Jesus.
Please email Jen at jennifer.taylor@saintjameswarrenton.org if your child plans to attend.
Lenten Mini Retreat: Drawing from the Well (Day 2)
Gita Grady will be leading this time together to “reset” during our Lenten journey.
Living as a faithful Christian requires thought, discipline and action. This commitment happens best when it is sustained by more than what we see at the surface of our lives. This weekend is meant to support ways to sustain faith and examine the different wells from which we draw as we journey as Christians.
This event takes place over two days — March 13 at 5:30 p.m. and March 14 at 9 a.m. — and participants are welcome to join for either one or both sessions however they feel led.
On Friday evening, March 13, we will have an informal dinner discussion in the Parish Hall. We will take a look at our spiritual journey to date during Lent, and discussion may include the study, prayer time or service projects we have taken on. Special attention during the discussion will be focused on what we wished to do, what we have been able to do, and barriers to the spiritual path. Participants are encouraged — but not required — to share from their own experience. We will end with a brief Compline service.
On Saturday, March 14, we will get started at 9 a.m. with morning prayer in the Side Chapel. We will briefly learn about centering prayer and meditation, have some time to learn about the lectio divina (divine reading) steps and process, and then have some time to deeply read and discuss the story about the Samaritan woman at the well in the Gospel of John. We will conclude with a prayer service in the Side Chapel.
On Friday, we’ll order pizza — please bring cash to help cover the cost. Lunch will be provided on Saturday.
Margreta Grady is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience working with groups, families and children. She is a lifelong Episcopalian who has enjoyed many different retreat experiences all over the country. She is currently a postulant to Holy Orders in the Diocese of Virginia and plans to attend seminary in the near future. She is also an Associate of Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, New York, which means she follows a rule of life based on Benedictine principles. She has been a member of Saint James’ Warrenton for over 10 years.
Lenten Mini Retreat: Drawing from the Well (Day 1)
Gita Grady will be leading this time together to “reset” during our Lenten journey.
Living as a faithful Christian requires thought, discipline and action. This commitment happens best when it is sustained by more than what we see at the surface of our lives. This weekend is meant to support ways to sustain faith and examine the different wells from which we draw as we journey as Christians.
This event takes place over two days — March 13 at 5:30 p.m. and March 14 at 9 a.m. — and participants are welcome to join for either one or both sessions however they feel led.
On Friday evening, March 13, we will have an informal dinner discussion in the Parish Hall. We will take a look at our spiritual journey to date during Lent, and discussion may include the study, prayer time or service projects we have taken on. Special attention during the discussion will be focused on what we wished to do, what we have been able to do, and barriers to the spiritual path. Participants are encouraged — but not required — to share from their own experience. We will end with a brief Compline service.
On Saturday, March 14, we will get started at 9 a.m. with morning prayer in the Side Chapel. We will briefly learn about centering prayer and meditation, have some time to learn about the lectio divina (divine reading) steps and process, and then have some time to deeply read and discuss the story about the Samaritan woman at the well in the Gospel of John. We will conclude with a prayer service in the Side Chapel.
On Friday, we’ll order pizza — please bring cash to help cover the cost. Lunch will be provided on Saturday.
Margreta Grady is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience working with groups, families and children. She is a lifelong Episcopalian who has enjoyed many different retreat experiences all over the country. She is currently a postulant to Holy Orders in the Diocese of Virginia and plans to attend seminary in the near future. She is also an Associate of Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, New York, which means she follows a rule of life based on Benedictine principles. She has been a member of Saint James’ Warrenton for over 10 years.
EfM Community Gathering
This is your chance to explore Education for Ministry (EfM) at Saint James’ and see what our group is all about. We will all be viewing a few short videos and then discussing them together.
Please contact Connie Chintall at cmchintall@gmail.com or 540-454-4507 if you are interested.
Events listed on this page reflect special events and services that occur once a month or less. Click here to find a comprehensive schedule of what’s happening this week at Saint James’ Warrenton, including weekly services and events.
