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Adults

On this page: Education for Ministry (EfM) | Sacred Ground | Adult Forum | Centering Prayer
The pandemic has paused many in-person gatherings that make Grace’s campus one that buzzes day and night and sent others to Zoom. Online is where many of Grace’s groups are meeting. Interested in one? Check our calendar and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, call the office and we’ll help. Below is a sampling of the groups Grace hosts as ways to grow in faith and community.

Education for Ministry

Known by the shorthand “EfM,” this is a formal, four-year program of theological education and is administered and supported by the University of the South School of Theology. Trained mentors lead small groups with six to 12 members during the academic year, September through June. Grace supports daytime and evening groups, which meet on weekdays.

Through the successive four program years, members in EfM groups study the Old Testament, New Testament, Christian Church history and then Ethics and Theology.

For more information, contact the church office, 757.898.3261; or mentors Melinda Reed (ozarklady60@cox.net, 757-890-2229) and Angier Brock (abrock@vcu.edu, 757-234-6170).

Sacred Ground

Sacred Ground is a new offering from the national Episcopal Church that has its first class at Grace underway. This is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class and political and regional identity. It’s a 10-part series built around a powerful curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on ndigenous, Black, Latino and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. Sacred Ground is part of “Becoming Beloved Community,” The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice in our personal lives, our ministries and our society. It is open to all, and especially designed to help white people talk with other white people about race. Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love. Learn more at the Sacred Ground website; call the office – 757.898.3261 – to see when a new group at Grace will form.

Adult Forum

Adult Forum was the hour between services in non-pandemic days. It featured coffee and finger foods plus a variety of programs, from representatives of organizations that benefited from Grace’s outreach funds talking about their work to improv workshops to Bible quiz showdowns between teams. This will return, likely to occur at the same time as youth Sunday School.

Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer meets at 7:30 a.m. Mondays. In non-pandemic times, this group gathers in the Parish Hall parlor. During the pandemic, this group has moved to Zoom. It’s open to all and first-timers are provided brief instruction. The time begins with short readings about Centering Prayer practice and from Scripture. Then follows 20 minutes of silence and a time for reflection, with the experience concluding at 8:15 a.m. Contact the office – 757.898.3261 – for the Zoom link or to learn more.