Celebrate Thanksgiving in worship at St. Paul's! Our 10 a.m. Thanksgiving Day Holy Eucharist in the Chapel is brief and joyful, with traditional Thanksgiving hymns.
Parishioners, newcomers, and friends in their 20s and 30s are invited to a social brunch—no host, no RSVP, no stress—at Kardinal Hall on Sunday, November 30. Meet in the parish hall after Common Hour. For questions or to be added to our 20s & 30s email list, contact Assistant Rector Caroline Carter at caroline.carter@spmcuva.org.
On Tuesday, November 4, we will have a prayer service at 8 a.m. as well as our regular Tuesday Eucharist at 12:15 p.m., both of which will include special prayers for the nation as we remember the sacred responsibility of elected officials and voters to seek justice and peace for all people.
On Wednesday, October 29, immediately following our informal, family-friendly 5:30 p.m. service, kids of all ages are invited for our annual outdoor (weather permitting) pumpkin-carving and pizza party. Bring your own pumpkin (we'll bring the carving tools). Halloween costumes are encouraged! Activities for children include a pumpkin pinata and a Halloween-themed mini golf course. Parishioners, friends, and neighbors are all welcome.
Parishioners, friends, and neighbors are encouraged to participate in IMPACT's Annual Assembly on Monday, October 27, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Church of the Incarnation (1465 Incarnation Drive). St. Paul's is a founding member of IMPACT, a faith-based justice ministry coalition of more than two dozen local congregations with a proven track record of effecting positive change for the poor and marginalized in the Charlottesville area. We will gather with IMPACT's other member congregations to kick off the next year of doing justice together, drawing inspiration from testimonies and stories from neighbors yearning for a more just Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
Director of Music & Organist Deke Polifka will present a solo organ recital showcasing the total restoration and expansion of the 1926 E. M. Skinner pipe organ, Op. 597, by the A. Thompson-Allen Co. of New Haven, CT. Parishioners, friends, neighbors, and visitors are invited to this free concert which features music by Widor, Whitlock, Bach, Howells, Portman and Spicer. A brief reception will follow the recital, preceding Evening Prayer at 6:30 p.m. in the chapel.
Parishioners, newcomers, and friends in their 20s and 30s are invited to a brunch at Brazos Tacos at IX Park after the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, October 5, for a fun and relaxed time with good food and great company. Meet in the parish hall after Common Hour. For more information or to be added to our 20s & 30s email list, contact Assistant Rector Caroline Carter at caroline.carter@spmcuva.org.
Parishioners, friends, neighbors, and pets of every description are invited to gather in the church on Wednesday, October 1, at 5:30 p.m. for a brief, beautiful, and potentially chaotic service of prayer, music, and pet blessings. Dinner for all will follow on the lawn outside the church. Blessings will be available for any live animal you care to bring, as well as for stuffed animals and photographs of absent pets.
On Sunday, September 28, guest organist Dr. Christopher Reynolds (Director of Music and Organist at St. Paul's, Richmond)* will present a 30-minute organ recital at 6 p.m., followed by Choral Evensong for the Feast of St. Michael & All Angels, sung by our Parish Choir.
Dr. Reynolds will play works by Dubois, Willan, Howells, Manz and Mendelssohn, showcasing our newly restored 1926 E. M. Skinner pipe organ. Evensong includes the St. Paul’s Service by Herbert Howells and Edward Bairstow’s haunting setting of Let all mortal flesh keep silence, as well as festive hymns and service music by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange and John Goss.
Choral Evensong, considered the crown jewel of the Anglican choral tradition, is a form of Evening Prayer that draws from the medieval Latin offices of Vespers and Compline. This service is unique to churches of the Anglican Communion and has remained unchanged for centuries. All are invited to this beautiful service of music and prayers.
A reception with light refreshments will follow the service.
* Christopher Reynolds is Director of Music and Organist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Capitol Square in Richmond, VA, where he oversees an active music ministry in this historic parish. Prior to serving at St. Paul’s, he was the Associate Director of Music at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Christopher studied with world renowned organist, Dr. Marilyn Mason, while earning a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance and Church Music from the University of Michigan. Prior studies were at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA, where he studied with Dr. Steven Cooksey and Dr. W. Dudley Oakes. Christopher holds the Choirmaster Certificate from the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and is also active with the Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM). Christopher is the former Dean of the Detroit and Richmond chapters of the AGO and was recently appointed the fourth artistic director of the Richmond Men’s Chorus.
St. Paul’s is supporting Child Health Partnership by collecting 236 new coats for children and their parents across the Greater Charlottesville area.
Child Health Partnership is a local nonprofit whose registered nurses and family support specialists provide at-home support to babies, young children, and their parents to promote the health and wellbeing of families facing challenges in our community.
Please sign up to provide a new coat for a particular individual or for a whole family, and bring your donated coats to the church by Sunday, October 5.
If you would prefer to support this effort by making a donation, send a check to St. Paul’s with “coat drive” in the memo line or donate via Venmo (@StPaulsMemorialChurch) or PayPal.
Join us in helping our neighbors stay warm this winter!
Shrine Mont 2025: August 29-31
Save the date for St. Paul’s annual parish weekend at Shrine Mont, the Diocese of Virginia’s spectacular mountain retreat center in Orkney Springs, Virginia. The weekend offers fun, fellowship, relaxation and renewal for families, undergraduates, elders, and everyone else, with activities for all ages, and plenty of non-activity for those who just need a break. Newcomers are especially encouraged to attend. Register here!
Parishioners, newcomers, visitors, and friends are warmly invited to St. Paul’s on Wednesday, August 27, at 5:30 p.m. as we resume our Wednesday Evening Prayer service in the Chapel, followed by a Welcome Back Picnic. Help us celebrate as we begin our program year and welcome new and returning UVA students. The Primary, Junior, and Parish Choirs all resume rehearsals that day as well.
On Sunday, August 24, we will kick off our fall programming, including fellowship and Christian formation programs for all ages. The 6:30 p.m. evening worship service, followed by food and fellowship, will also resume on the 24th.
What: All middle schoolers are encouraged to come enjoy tacos and fellowship!
When: 6:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesdays: June 24, July 1, and July 8
Where: Local taco restaurants in the Charlottesville area
Details: The first meeting (June 24) will be at Brazo’s Tacos (at IX park), the second meeting (July 1) will be at Torchy’s Tacos, and the third meeting (July 8) will be at the Tacos Gomez food truck.
Leader: Heather Annis - Director of Children’s, Youth & Family Ministries
RSVP: Email Heather Annis to sign up: heather.annis@spmcuva.org.
What: Book discussion of Resurrection: Interpreting the Easter Gospel, by retired Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
When: 1:15 – 2:30 p.m., Tuesdays after the 12:15 p.m. Eucharist: June 17, July 1, and July 15
Where: St. Paul’s Chapel
Details: Participants will need to order the book (also available on Kindle). Participants should bring their own bagged lunch if they wish to eat during the meetings.
Leader: Vickie Gottlob
RSVP: Email Vickie Gottlob to sign up: vgottlob@gmail.com.
What: Conversation and fellowship with fellow dudes and dads.
When: Thursday, June 12, at 4:30 p.m. at Three Notch'd Brewing (520 2nd St. SE) & Thursday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m. at Kardinal Hall (722 Preston Ave)
Where: Offsite location (see above)
Details: Come hang out with fellow dudes and dads, enjoy a libation and/or snack of your choosing, build relationships and have some fun. No prep, no stress.
Leader: The Rev. Dr. Peter Kang
RSVP: Email Peter Kang to receive reminder notifications about meeting times and locations: peter.kang@spmcuva.org. Drop-ins welcome.
After our 10 a.m. service on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, all are invited to a reception on the front lawn, where we will celebrate and recognize the leaders and participants in all of our children's and youth ministries, from nursery through high school. The reception will include homemade strawberry shortcake for all.
What: Walking group that will meet for walks along local trails.
When: 8:00-9:00 a.m., Saturdays: June 7, June 21, July 5, July 19, August 2, and August 16
Where: Meet at local trails around the city and county.
Details: First walk (June 7) will be at Darden Towe Park starting in the parking lot close to the river, other locations are to be announced.
Leaders: Vickie Gottlob and Peggy Galloway
RSVP: Email Vickie Gottlob or Peggy Galloway to sign up and receive information about trail locations: vgottlob@gmail.com pegawaymak@gmail.com. Drop-ins welcome.
St. Paul’s will observe Ascension Day (May 29) with a special Thursday edition of our weekly Tuesday Eucharist in the Chapel at 12:15 p.m. Bring a sandwich or bag lunch to eat in the courtyard immediately following the service.
On Sunday, April 27, at the 10 a.m. service, St. Paul’s will welcome the Rt. Rev. Gayle Harris, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, for a pastoral visit at which she will preach, celebrate the Eucharist, baptize, and administer the sacraments of Confirmation and Reception. Nineteen St. Paul's parishioners, including teenagers, undergraduates, and other adults are preparing to be confirmed and received.
Parishioners, visitors, and guests of all ages are invited to celebrate the Bishop and confirmands with refreshments on our front steps and lawn following the service. Our friends from Ben & Jerry’s will even be on hand to scoop ice cream from their mobile ice-cream cart!
Our annual Easter egg hunt will take place on the front lawn immediately following the 9 a.m. service on Sunday, April 20. Kids through grade 5 are invited to bring their own basket or bag and gather on the front steps.
Palm Sunday (April 13)
8 a.m., 10 a.m.*†, 7:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday in Holy Week – 8 a.m.
Morning Prayer in the Chapel
Monday - Friday in Holy Week – 8 a.m.
Morning Prayer on Zoom
Monday in Holy Week – 8 p.m.
Chanted Compline
Tuesday in Holy Week – 12:15 p.m.
Holy Eucharist
Wednesday in Holy Week – 5:30 p.m.
Evening Prayer
Maundy Thursday – 6:30 p.m.
Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing
Good Friday – noon
Good Friday Liturgy
Good Friday – 6:30 p.m.
Liturgy with Chanted Passion
Holy Saturday – 7:30 p.m.
The Great Vigil of Easter
Easter Sunday (April 20)
7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m.†, 11:15 a.m.*†, 7:30 p.m.
*These services also livestreamed on Zoom.
†Nursery care provided for infants through pre-K.
Parishioners of all ages are invited and encouraged to participate in IMPACT's annual Nehemiah Action on Tuesday, April 8, from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the MLK Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School, as we join with hundreds of members of a diverse group of local churches and other faith communities to seek commitments from county officials to support well-researched solutions to the affordable housing crisis.
We hope to see upwards of 150 St. Paul's parishioners at the Action this year as we seek to demonstrate the breadth and depth of our commitment to building a more just Charlottesville community.
St. Paul's is offering an opportunity to discuss the book Reclaiming Quiet: Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention by Sarah Clarkson on Tuesday, March 11, at 1 p.m. in the parish library. Parishioner Michele Allen will lead a discussion of the book, which invites readers to resist our cultural obsession with distraction and to cultivate a life of holy attention. Participants are encouraged to buy and read the book ahead of time.
Join St. Paul's parishioners and members of congregations across Charlottesville for IMPACT's interfaith rally at Church of the Incarnation (1465 Incarnation Drive) on Monday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. St. Paul's is a founding member of IMPACT, a faith-based justice ministry coalition of more than two dozen local congregations with a proven track record of effecting positive change for the poor and marginalized in the Charlottesville area. At the Rally, you’ll hear powerful testimonies about the issues we’re working to address, get important updates on which officials will be attending the April 8 Nehemiah Action, and learn about the commitments we’ll be asking these officials to make. Let’s unite and make our voices heard for change!
For the first five Sundays during Lent, parishioners, friends, and neighbors of all ages are invited to join us for a simple soup lunch (including a kid-friendly soup option) in the parish hall after the 10 a.m. service. Following lunch, we will offer a presentation from a local expert (for adults) and lessons and activities (for children and youth). Nursery care will be available until 12:30 p.m. Below is our Lenten Common Hour schedule:
Adults: Presentations on Art, Beauty, and Faith
March 9 – Joy through Art: Experiencing the Christian Duty of Delight (Christen Yates, Painter, Theological Horizons Fellows Program Director)
March 16 – The Spirituality of Paying Attention: Reflections on the Poetry of Mary Oliver (The Rev. Elly Sparks Brown, D. Min.)
March 23 – Music as Affective Prayer: A Discussion of Musical Selections in Lent (Deke Polifka, Director of Music & Organist)
March 30 – Artist of Faith: The Life and Spiritual Work of Allan Rohan Crite (Ginny Reynolds Badgett, PhD, Independent Curator, Specialist in American Art)
April 6 – Sufi Poetry & Poetics (Oludamini Ogunnaike, PhD, Associate Professor of African Religious Thought and Democracy at UVA)
Children & Youth: Lenten Lessons & Activities
March 9 – What is Lent? (grades K-5), The Great Litany (grades 6-8) and Liturgical Seasons (grades 9-12)
March 16 – What is Communion? (grades K-5), Superpowers (grades 6-8), and Sacraments (grades 9-12)
March 23 – What is Servanthood? (grades K-5), Retreat at Shrine Mont (grades 6-8), and What is a Creed? (grades 9-12)
March 30 – All-ages Lenten Activity (grades K-12)
April 6 – What is Forgiveness? (grades K-5), Easter Egg Prep (grades 6-8), and What is a Covenant (grades 9-12)
On Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. - noon, Bishop Susan Goff, retired Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Virginia, will lead a lenten retreat focused on Claiming Hope in Difficult Times.
Bishop Goff is a visual artist, writer, and bishop in The Episcopal Church. In 2012, she became the first woman elected bishop in the Diocese of Virginia. She led churches, schools, retirement communities and other organizations through the Covid pandemic while taking her own journey through the wilderness of breast cancer treatment. Bishop Goff delights in exploring the intersections between spirituality, nature, and the arts.
At our lenten retreat, Bishop Goff will invite us to explore psalms of lament and praise from the Bible and share contemporary psalms from her recent book, The Desert Shall Rejoice; Psalms from the Wilderness of Breast Cancer. Throughout the morning, she will invite us to reflect on our own wilderness journeys and support us in claiming hope in the midst of the challenges we face. There will be time for silent reflection, quiet conversation, and journaling. (If you keep a written or visual journal, please bring it with you.) All are welcome.
At 8 a.m. each weekday during Lent, parishioners, friends, and neighbors are invited to a brief service of Morning Prayer. The service is hosted by The University Fellowship and includes a short meditation guided by the daily reflections offered in St. Paul’s Lenten Meditation Booklet. A simple, free, here-or-to-go breakfast for students follows in the parish hall.
On Ash Wednesday, March 5, worship services are scheduled for 7:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent with a special liturgy that invites the congregation into a season of reflective self-examination in preparation for Easter. At the 6:30 service, the parish choir will offer a beautiful setting of Miserere, mei Deus (Psalm 51) by Katherine Webb, Canon for Music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon. This is an exquisite new setting, reminiscent of the famous one by Gregorio Allegri. The choir will also sing music by Elizabeth Coxhead and Charles Wood.
Parishioners, friends, and neighbors of all ages are invited to our Shrove Tuesday pancake supper on Tuesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. in the parish hall. Our youth and University Fellowship students will be on hand to prepare and serve pancakes, sausages, fruit, and all the fixings, and games and activities will be provided for children. There's no charge for dinner, but donations are encouraged, with all proceeds supporting the purchase of items from the wish list of our friends at Child Health Partnership. Please come hungry and give generously!
On Sunday, February 2, the 7:30 p.m. service will be a Choral Evensong for the Feast of Candlemas. This day commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple of Jerusalem, referring to him as the light of the people of Israel.
The Parish Choir will sing service music by English composers Herbert Brewer, Humphrey Clucas and Hubert Parry. The anthem Truly the light is sweet, by American composer Carson Cooman, is a setting of verses from Ecclesiastes, written in celebration of the restoration of Appleton Chapel, The Memorial Church, Harvard University. Deke Polifka and guest organist Jonathan Schakel will play music by Jehan Alain and Théodore Dubois.
Evensong, considered the crown jewel of the Anglican choral tradition, is a form of Evening Prayer that draws from the medieval Latin offices of Vespers and Compline. This service is unique to churches of the Anglican Communion and has remained unchanged for centuries. All are invited to this very special and beautiful service of music and prayers.
The Annual Meeting of the parish will be held on January 26 at 6:30 p.m., preceded by a potluck dinner at 5:30 p.m., and followed by our usual Sunday Evening Prayer service at 7:30 p.m.
All parishioners are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting. The meeting will include our Vestry election, reports from the rector, wardens, and treasurer, and a look back at 2024 highlights.
