October 2nd, 2026

Each week, St. Paul’s writes prayers for justice, hope, and healing for personal daily devotion.

St. Paul's livestreams our Sunday Service. You can find us on YouTube

or use the link below.

THIS SUNDAY @ ST. PAUL'S

Annual Giving Campaign Kickoff is this Sunday! | The campaign is a way for our community to offer financial support to St. Paul’s through making pledges. Pledges allow us to create the budget that supports our various ministries. During each week of the campaign, we’ll hear from a parishioner who will highlight one of our commitments. The campaign marks an important season and we hope you will participate. You can read Rev. Charlie's Weekly Chapel where he speaks about this campaign HERE. Pledge cards are located throughout the church or you can make your pledge using the button below.

Nursery | (Children 3 - 5 years old) Staffed 8:45am - 12:30pm, the worship service can be heard within the Nursery. A changing table is available.

Children's Sunday School | 9 am | Room 112

Youth Faith Formation | 9 am | Room 110 | Join us as we invite participants to explore ways that they experience God's love in community.

Rector’s Bible Study | 9am in the Norwood Room | Join our clergy and volunteers as we explore the readings for Sunday worship. This informal setting offers the opportunity to ask questions, get to know others, and learn how to navigate the often- tricky and mysterious world of scripture. No prep work is required.

This Sunday's Guest Preacher is the

Rev. Bruce Yoder | Bruce began attending St. Paul’s in 2005 and has served in a variety of ministries, presently as Junior Warden and Vestry liaison to the Annual Giving Campaign Committee. A graduate of Yale Divinity School, Bruce is ordained in the Mennonite Church and served as Pastor of First Mennonite Church of Richmond from 1976 to 1986. He is now retired from working with nonprofit organizations that focus on community health and social justice. Bruce is an avid photographer, focusing primarily on landscapes and festivals.

Children’s Chapel at the 10am Service | Children 3 years and older are invited to participate in Children’s Chapel. We’ll leave following the Gospel reading and return at the Passing of the Peace to take Communion with our families.

Congregational Town Hall | Sunday, October 4th @ 11:30am in Scott Hall | At this gathering, various committees and lay leaders will offer updates about our Annual Giving Campaign, Vestry Elections, and an overview of the 2027 Draft Budget. More surprises are in store, so please plan to attend, learn more about the St. Paul’s family, and hear how the Spirit is calling St. Paul’s to proclaim Christ from the heart of the city and live fully into our five commitments.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Second Sunday Family Worship Service | October 11th | 4:30pm - 5:15pm in Scott Hall | Join St. Paul's families and clergy for a late afternoon worship service designed for children and families with a special focus on St. Francis! Drawing from the Book of Common Prayer, this is a casual and engaging intergenerational service with communion. Children and families are active participants in all aspects of this service. Everyone is welcome! For more information, contact Linda Willis (Linda's email).

Families are invited to bring a donation of pet food for our Emmaus guests as an offering.

5:15pm | Simple Kid-Friendly Supper

5:15pm | Youth Group and a Simple Youth-Friendly Supper

Youth Formation: Gentle Movement Yoga | Sunday, October 18 from 9am-9:50am | Room #110 | Mrs. Brittany Morton will be leading a Youth Formation class on Intro to Gentle Movement. Brittany is a certified Yoga instructor with a focus on Hatha Yoga, which emphasizes Yoga's meditative benefits along with its physical poses and positions. Brittany is also an active member of St. Paul's. You may recall that her son was baby Jesus in last year's Christmas pageant. This program seeks to foster more awareness of the connection between the mind, body, and spirit, and provide coping skills for calming daily life. We are excited to offer this opportunity to the youth. Bring a friend! Please let Youth Director Jabriel Hasan (Jabriel's email) know if you plan to attend this special event.

Newcomers Lunch | October 25th @ 11:30am in Scott Hall | Are you interested in learning more about St. Paul’s? A few times a year, the rector and members of our welcome team host a lunch especially for those who are new to St. Paul’s. And the definition of “new” is completely up to you! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our clergy and staff and to get to know others who are discovering St. Paul's. Please RSVP HERE. Questions? Contact Bo Cresswell (Bo's email).

Prayer Vigil for City, Commonwealth, and Country | Monday, October 26th @ 6pm |

St. Paul’s Front Steps |During this time of turmoil and trial, we hold a vigil of prayer for the most vulnerable and powerless among us, lifting up our lament, fear, and hope to God’s redemptive and healing power. United as One Body, we make known the love and justice of Jesus of Nazareth for the poor, the oppressed, the sick, and the stranger. This service is offered every last Monday of the month and is hosted by St. Paul’s in collaboration with the Downtown Community Ministry. Free parking available in St. Paul’s garage at 111 N. 8th Street. Contact Rev. Gwynn Crichton (Gwynn's email) for more information.

All Saints Sunday Forum | Nov. 1st @ 11:30am in Scott Hall | A Great Cloud of Witness | All are welcome to join us for an interactive celebration of both familiar and unexpected saints of the Church. (Have you heard of St. Eligius, the patron saint of gas station workers?!) There will be trivia and other games, as well as an opportunity to share stories about unexpected saints in your own life. Come prepared for fun and learning on this holy Feast Day.  

All Saints Festival in the Memorial Garden | Come dressed as your favorite saint! Games, prizes pinata, fun for children, youth and all ages! 

Holy Baptism on the Feast of All Saints| Sunday, November 1st |  Our next opportunity for baptism is on the Feast of All Saints! If you would like to have your child baptized, please contact Rev. Andie by October 12th. Learn more about what is involved HERE. Contact the Rev. Andie Rohrs, Associate for Pastoral Care (Andie's email) for more information.

Election Day Prayers at St. Paul's | Tuesday, November 3rd | St. Paul's will be open 9am to 4pm for prayer on Election Day. From 12noon - 12:30pm, clergy will offer prayers and readings appropriate to this important day for all citizens, as we choose leaders and representatives for our Commonwealth.  Stop in the church and help us come together as faithful people, exercising our freedom to vote and asking for God's blessing on the candidates and the participants in the election process. 

BECOME A LUNCH BUDDY at Woodville Elementary for the 2026-2027 School Year | Put a smile on a child's face by building a relationship with a young student at Woodville. Lunch buddies are needed to help these young students become readers. The ability to read affects the rest of their lives and you can help make this happen. Volunteers are required to do CIS Volunteer Orientation training and spend at least one hour per week with their Lunch Buddy during school hours. Contact Annie Campbell to learn more (Annie's email).

Walking with the Enslaved: A Pilgrimage Toward Truth, Reconciliation, and Hope in Richmond | Walking with the Enslaved announces nine pilgrimages for 2026. 

October 17

November 21



Rooted in the intertwined histories of Richmond’s St. Paul’s and St. Philip’s Episcopal Churches, Walking with the Enslaved offers Spirit-led pilgrimages through historical sites of enslavement and resistance. Participants are invited to confront the truth of slavery, encounter stories of courage and resilience, and open pathways toward healing, reconciliation, and shared wholeness. 

To register for a pilgrimage or to learn more about Walking with the Enslaved, please visit www.walkingwiththeenslaved.org.

Emmaus Item Spotlight: Summer Apparel | Now that the heat and humidity are upon us, we are in need of cool, breathable summer clothes for our Emmaus guests, especially for women and men's in sizes large and up.  Shorts, lightweight pants and skirts, t-shirts, light-colored shorts and long-sleeve button down shirts are all in high demand. In addition, summer hats and footwear would be welcomed. Please prioritize donating gently used items by cleaning out your own closets or visiting a local thrift store.  Thank you for your generosity.Drop off all items in the Emmaus donations nook between the Gathering Space and the coat racks. Thank you for your continued support! For assistance or more information, please contact Katy Fenn (Katy's email).

2026 Fall Emmaus Lunch Ministry Sign Up is Available | The Emmaus Ministry provides a complimentary hot meal to 120-180 downtown neighbors every Thursday between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. This is a ministry of hospitality, where we “seek and serve Christ” in all who walk through our doors. In addition to lunch, we offer clothing and toiletries, health care screenings, social service referrals, and financial assistance. Each Thursday, we need 20+ volunteers for shifts of 1-2 hours, between 10am and 1pm to ensure our guests receive a warm welcome. Please sign up to volunteer HERE! Contact Nancy Chafin (Nancy's email) for more information.

Phoebe’s Fund October Recipient Spotlight | Phoebe’s Fund recently loaned $50 to Soleil in Rwanda through Kiva.org. Soleil has borrowed a total of $5,000 to further develop her business of community water distribution. She currently operates two Jibu water franchises and will use this loan to purchase a tuk-tuk vehicle for water deliveries. This will enable her to reduce current transportation costs and serve customers more reliably. Soleil is a dedicated and successful entrepreneur. Once she has repaid the $50 loaned by Phoebe’s Fund, the funds will be loaned to another borrower vetted by Kiva.

Join the Choir! | The St. Paul's Choir is always welcoming new volunteer singers to join us in worship and song. The choir season will resume weekly rehearsals on Thursday, September 10th. If you are interested in joining the choir or have any questions, please contact Dr. Christopher Reynolds (Chris's email). 

Care, Grief, and Grace | Are you caring for a loved one or navigating the pain of the loss of a loved one? You are not alone. This fall, the Rev. Andie Rohrs will be facilitating a safe, compassionate space to share, listen, pray, and find encouragement with others who understand. The forum (in person or virtual), days, and times will be mutually determined by the group that comes together. Contact Andie (Andie's email) if you are interested in participating.  

WOCA Invitation | If you’re a Woman of a Certain Age (retired or nearly so) who might be interested in joining others for a monthly dinner and conversation at a local restaurant, please send your name and contact information to Sue Wilson (Sue's email). 

Comforting Stitches | Mondays 2pm - 4pm | Room #213 | Comforting Stitches, often referred to as the "prayer shawl ministry", creates shawls, quilts, baby blankets, and scarves to offer comfort and celebrate life's transitions. This group meets on Monday afternoons at St. Paul's for creative work and fellowship.

Comforting Stitches is Offering Free Knitting Lessons | One of our members will arrange a convenient meeting time to meet and teach the basics of knitting and keep in touch with you until your skills are up and knitting!!

For more information, contact Rev. Andie Rohrs (Andie's email).

Online Wednesday Morning Reflections | Wednesdays from 10am -10:30am (Zoom) | Consider a time of quiet in your week. On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. members of St Paul's gather on Zoom for quiet reflection. The format consists of reading one of the upcoming Sunday's readings and twenty minutes of silent meditation. Participants are invited to comment on the reading or the silence. Contact David Hoover (David's email) for more information.

St. Paul's Flower Arranging for Sunday Services | Please consider signing up to arrange a beautiful flower assortment one Sunday during the year. We are offering a simple flower arranging class for up to four people at a time, to ensure that everyone feels empowered to participate. Help us continue our ministry to foster beauty through God’s creation at St. Paul’s.

Upcoming Vestry Nominations | The Vestry Nominating Committee is charged with selecting a slate of four persons to serve on the Vestry. The Committee is composed of five persons from the congregation, along with the four members of the outgoing Vestry class (Debbie Cole, Mike Francis, David Ready, Bruce Yoder). The Junior Warden, Doug Callaway, serves as an observer. The Nominating Committee will meet in December. If you would like to serve on this Committee, please contact Bruce Yoder, Senior Warden (Bruce's email) by October 25th.

Pound Cake Raffle Results | At the Ministry Fair this past Sunday, Stephen Peple was there to represent Lenten Lunches. Stephen made four pound cakes (synonymous with Lenten Lunches) and raffled them away! The lucky four winners are Bob Johann, Bo Cresswell, Lynn Kotrady, Kia Bentley!

Birth, Death and Funeral Announcements | If you are not currently receiving emails from St. Paul's regarding birth announcements, death announcements and funeral updates, and you would like to receive these emails, please contact St. Paul's’ Director of Communications and Digital Evangelism Matthew Cole (Matthew's email) and he will add you to the email list to receive these notices.  

Protect yourself from phishing. St. Paul’s clergy and staff will never ask for an urgent favor, the purchase of gift cards or other financial instruments via email.

When in doubt, please call the church office at 804-643-3589.

Linda Willis

Director of Children and Family Ministries

Linda's email



Jabriel Hasan

Youth Ministry Coordinator

Jabriel's email

Children, Youth and Family Newsletter | Stay updated on all of St. Paul’s offerings for our children, youth and families! Please contact Linda Willis (Linda's email) to receive the Family Newsletter and the Youth Newsletter directly to your inbox.

We Need Your Help | Our Children and Youth Ministries need your help! We need volunteers to assist with Children’s Sunday School and Youth Faith Formation (1^st - 3^rd grades, Sundays 9 – 9:50am), and Children’s Chapel (Sundays during worship). Please consider helping!

To volunteer to help with Childrens Chapel, CLICK HERE.

To volunteer to help with Children's Sunday School, CLICK HERE.

To volunteer to help with Youth Faith Formation, CLICK HERE.

Stroller Parking | We have a parking spot for strollers now! Right outside the Nursery. Thanks to the Guh family for being our first “parkers”!

Moms2 Group | Tuesdays @ 6:30pm | September 1st, November 10th, March 2nd, May 11th | If you have a child or youth living at home, this group is for you! Fun and fellowship with other Moms at Brambley Park

(1708 Belleville St.). Contact Linda Willis (Linda's email) to learn more.

New Leadership in Acolyte Ministry | We are excited to announce that Brian Carr will serve as the new Acolyte Master for our acolyte ministry. Brian and his wife, Scott, have been involved at St. Paul’s since 1997, raising their two sons who both served as acolytes! Brian has also been involved in leadership on many levels, from helping with the St. Paul’s renovation project, to serving as Sr. Warden. Thanks to Brian for offering his gifts! Our acolyte ministry is a great way for our kids and youth to get to know the church, each other, and develop leadership skills. If you’d like to know more about how to get involved, please reach out to Brian at (Brian's email). 

First and Third Sundays

September - April

Children's Sunday School | 9 am | Room 112

Youth Faith Formation | 9 am | Room 110 | Join us as we invite participants to explore ways that they experience God's love in community.

Second Sundays

September - April



Second Sunday Family Worship Service | 4:30pm - 5:15pm in Scott Hall | Join St. Paul's families and clergy for a late afternoon worship service designed for children and families. Drawing from the Book of Common Prayer, this is a casual and engaging intergenerational service with communion. Children and families are active participants in all aspects of this service. Everyone is welcome! For more information, contact Linda Willis (Linda's email).

5:15pm | Simple Kid-Friendly Supper

5:15pm | Youth Group and a Simple Youth-Friendly Supper

Last Sundays of the Month

August - April

Family Breakfast | 9am in Scott Hall | Everyone is welcome to enjoy this delicious breakfast. Enjoy fellowship and a great meal before our Sunday Worship Service. At St. Paul's everyone is family!

Every Sunday

Nursery |  (Children 3 - 5 years old) Staffed 8:45 AM - 12:30 PM, the worship service can be heard within the Nursery. A changing table is available. 

Children’s Chapel | Children 3 years and older are invited to participate in Children’s Chapel. We’ll leave following the Gospel reading and return at the Passing of the Peace to take Communion with our families.

Worship Bags and Book Cart | Every child is welcomed to utilize the worship bags in the narthex. Our worship bags contain drawing paper, crayons and children's bulletins, ensuring that all of our families are part of St. Paul's vibrant worshiping community. Our book cart is regularly updated and contains books for children of all ages. Please return bags to the narthex and books to cart.

Family Worship Space| St. Paul’s is committed to creating an inclusive worship experience for every child. Families are invited to join their young children at the Family worship space in the front of the sanctuary. This carpeted area with pillows and games allows our youngest members to fully participate in the service. Our ushers will be happy to direct you.