Church and Community Events
Want to Share Your Event?
To include your announcement on this page, send details to the POJ office. Include text for the announcement in the body of your email. A link to more information on your website also is helpful. Please do not send graphics.
December 2024
Blue Christmas Worship Service
December 18, 7 p.m.
Orange Presbyterian Church
Bon Air Community Blue Christmas Service
December 19, 7 p.m.
Bon Air Presbyterian Church, 9201 W. Huguenot Rd., N. Chesterfield, VA 23235
A Service of Light, Peace, and Comfort.
Winter Camp
December 28-30
Camp Hanover
Grades 5-12 will love this exciting two-night mini camp at Camp Hanover. Enjoy favorite camp activities—like archery, the climbing wall, and crafts—in the winter. And no Camp Hanover visit is complete without songs around a campfire. This is a not-to-miss event with a winter twist!
January 2025
THE SHALOM ACADEMY RETREAT - Release to the Captives: Restorative Justice, Abolition, and Ministry with Incarcerated Persons
January 6-8
Eastern Mennonite University
The Shalom Academy is a peace-and-justice-forward retreat experience in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley with daily worship, keynotes, workshops, conversational spaces, and time set aside to relax or connect with fellow wayfarers. A virtual access pass is available for keynotes and teaching sessions.
Workshops will feature POJ's Voices of Jubilee (a nonprofit organization accompanying children in detention and their families), advocates for racial, social, and economic justice in public policy, learning for trauma-informed spiritual care, as well as current practices for restorative (even transformative) encounters in local communities.
Day for All People
January 15, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Centenary United Methodist Church
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy invites you to join other people of faith and goodwill in Richmond on January 15, 2025, for its annual advocacy day, the “Day for All People.” Participants will learn about social justice issues being considered in the upcoming General Assembly, meet with their legislative representatives, enjoy lunch with other members of your faith tradition from around the state, and attend workshops on key issues.
Take advantage of the early-bird registration rate of $30 by signing up before December 31.
Digital Power and Play Training: Social Media's Impact on Adolescents' Spiritual Development and Identity
January 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Hermitage
The Hermitage is offering this free continuing education lunch event on the impact of social media on the spiritual development of teens and young adults. With its constant presence in the lives of many, social media is a major influence in shaping how adolescents develop spiritually. To help us better understand its impact and how to use social media responsibly, Rev. Dr. Karen-Marie Yust of Union Presbyterian Seminary and President of the Religious Education Association and Director of the Children’s Spirituality Hub will offer a lecture and facilitate conversations on this important subject.
Contact Chaplain Steve Flowers at [email protected] or 804-474-1881 with questions.
Missional Entrepreneurship Training: Training for Pioneers at the Intersection of the Marketplace and God’s Mission
January 29-31
Riverside Presbyterian Church, Sterling, VA
Your neighborhood is full of people who will likely never come to your church. What can churches and leaders do to bless our communities and connect with neighbors?
Fresh Expressions makes space for denominational leaders and pastors to use both traditional services as well as innovative forms of church to live out Christ’s mission. One does not replace the other, but rather creates a mutual benefit for both—a “mixed economy of church.”
Everyday churches like yours are using their underutilized properties to address local needs, such as tiny home communities, affordable daycare, and community gathering spaces. Join us to explore the Bible’s vision of how God’s people impact their community and imagine innovative opportunities.
Confirmation Retreat
January 31-February 2
Massanetta Springs
This retreat focuses on broader questions of why we join the Church, what we want our churches to be like, and how we can actively engage in that work. Participants will join small groups to hear ideas from people from other churches, and also have time with their home group to continue with their own lessons.
February 2025
Randoph-Macon College Bailey Scholars / Pre-Ministerial Program Application Due Feb. 1
February 1, 2025
For students who are discerning a call to Christian ministry, Randolph-Macon offers an enriching program to explore how you might answer your unique call from God. The pre-ministerial program is supplemental to your work in the classroom, and pre-ministerial students may major in any subject. In our weekly group meetings, students participate in experiences carefully designed to help you prepare for seminary and/or life as a pastor or priest, youth minister, missionary, faith-based non-profit leader, music minister, and more.
Significant financial support is available to many pre-ministerial students, through the selective A. Purnell Bailey Scholarship or Randolph-Macon’s pre-ministerial grants.
Handbell Retreat
February 14-16, 2025
Massanetta Springs
Join us for a weekend-long handbell retreat featuring fellowship among bell choirs and great music under the skilled direction of David M. Harris, director of the Raleigh Ringers. Individuals as well as full choirs are invited to attend!
Summer 2025
Middle School Conference 2025
June 19-July 18, multiple sessions
Massanetta Springs
Middle School Conference is a transformational program that welcomes hundreds of middlers and their leaders from all over the country each summer. Participants attend keynotes, recreation, workshops, and worship designed by the Advocates (high school leaders) with them in mind.
2025 Presbyterian Youth Triennium
July 28-31, 2025
Save the date! The next Presbyterian Youth Triennium will be in July 2025.
Recurring Events
Requies Divina: Blissful Sleep Meditation
Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.
Chester Presbyterian Church
Wear comfortable clothes and bring a mat and a pillow for this time of guided contemplation and centering prayer for spiritual rest and renewal. Participants should leave feeling more spiritually aware and physically relaxed.
Grief Support Groups
Weekly
Full Circle Grief Center
Support groups are designed to care for individuals, families, and children experiencing loss. Led by professionals, these groups meet weekly to discuss coping strategies for those affected by loss.
Want to Share Your Event?
To include your announcement on this page, send details to the POJ office. Include text for the announcement in the body of your email. A link to more information on your website also is helpful. Please do not send graphics.
