St. Paul's Episcopal Church Invites You to Rekindle Your Faith This Lent

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Starting this March, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Old Town Alexandria (228 S. Pitt St.) will offer a variety of educational courses, worship services, and other programs for anyone looking to deepen their faith during the season of Lent.

Lent is observed in the Christian faith as a time of penitence and fasting, in preparation for Holy Week and Easter. During these forty days, we are invited to observe a holy Lent “by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word” (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 265). Lent is the perfect opportunity to contemplate and revisit your faith—whether you are a weekly churchgoer, only attend on Christmas and Easter, or have been long-removed from any religious tradition. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church offers several programs to guide you in your spiritual journey this Lent.

Inquirers’ Class
Each Lent, St. Paul’s welcomes both parishioners and community members to take part in a six-week Inquirers’ Class. The class meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:30-9 p.m., March 8 ­– April 12. For those who are new to St. Paul’s or the Episcopal Church, this course serves as an introduction to the tenets of the denomination, as well as the history and parish life of St. Paul’s. For existing members and those who simply want to further explore their faith, the class can be as in-depth and fulfilling as you make it. As the class concludes, all are welcome to commit to being confirmed, received, or reaffirming their baptismal vows when the Rt. Rev. David Jones, former Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, visits St. Paul’s on Sunday, April 23. To sign up, contact the Rev. Ross Kane at ross@stpaulsalexandria.com.

Cloister Night
In recent years, St. Paul’s has begun to offer an intimate, meditative Lenten series of Cloister Nights. This program is designed to provide intentional devotion that resembles the deep spiritual experiences of living in a monastery. Meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. each Tuesday from March 7–28, the evening consists of Evening Prayer with Eucharist, a simple supper, shared devotion, and prayerful silence. To sign up, contact Bob Steventon at cloisternight@gmail.com.

Center for Spiritual Direction
Those seeking more personalized guidance may benefit from one-on-one spiritual direction. In September 2016, St. Paul’s opened its Center for Spiritual Direction, with three seasoned spiritual directors to help individuals explore how to live out their faith. “Spiritual direction provides a safe space apart for individuals to deepen their awareness of wholeness, and begin to move more into the persons that God intends them to be,” said St. Paul’s Rector, the Rev. Oran Warder. While spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with God, or to develop a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human, it is not psychotherapy, pastoral counseling, or life coaching. The Center for Spiritual Direction is led by the Rev. Dr. Howard F. Kempsell, Jr. (hkempsell@gmail.com), Regina Roman (rgroman@comcast.net), and the Rev. Sam Mason, ObJN (wcolwor@gmail.com). Contact any of the spiritual directors to learn more and schedule an appointment.

About St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is a parish of over 3,000 people, blessed with a beautiful house of worship and a powerful sense of our calling to "shine as a light in the world to the glory of God." For over 200 years, St. Paul's has served the Alexandria community through our services, education, outreach, and Christian fellowship. From our historic roots in Old Town Alexandria to our commitment to moving beyond the familiar and embracing new missions, we worship in the midst of history—but are not its captive. We rejoice in all those who come to St. Paul's for prayer, spiritual growth, and service, whether as visitors, friends, or members.

For more information on St. Paul’s Church, please visit stpaulsalexandria.com.