Adult Formation
The goal of Adult Formation at St. James’s is to form and equip disciples of Jesus in heart, mind, and body to live into the fullness of who God has called them to be in all areas of their lives. We seek to do this primarily through Sunday Morning Forums, Wednesday Night Classes, Bible Studies, and other small group opportunities. We also acknowledge that formation isn’t limited to these spaces, because we believe that all we do at St. James’s forms us as disciples, from worship to fellowship to service and everything in between.
Sunday Morning Forum
Throughout the program year (September through May), we gather in Valentine Hall at 9:00 AM for a wide variety of programs on topics of Christian concern in today’s world. This is a chance for us to host speakers and exchange questions and ideas.
Join a Bible Study or Book Club
Find a Bible Study or Book Club below that speaks to your interests, fits your schedule, and expands your relationships.
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Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 AM in Valentine Hall
A weekly hour of fellowship, discussion, and good food. Areas of study for this group have included the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the Book of Acts, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Genesis, and Exodus. To join, contact Patrick Strickler at jpstrickler@verizon.net.
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2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM on Zoom
This Bible study meets twice a month to read together through a biblical book or theme one at a time. We explore when and under what conditions the passages were written, and prayerfully ask how God is speaking through them now to us as Christ’s followers. To join, contact Becky DeCamps at rahylton2@gmail.com.
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1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, Location Varies
A flexible study, discussion, prayer, and fellowship group for women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. We often follow the lectionary and readings, using them as a basis to discuss the upcoming week’s Gospel. To join, contact Kendal Sibley at ksibley@hunton.com. -
Every other Thursday at 7:30 AM in Valentine Hall
We are led by Christ’s example of service to others, and members take turns in leading the morning worship and explaining the following Sunday’s readings, or in the cooking and cleaning up of the breakfast meal. To join, contact Michael Smith at michaelcsmith2509@gmail.com.
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Every Wednesday from 10:00 to 11:30 AM on Zoom
This opportunity for spiritual refreshment and enlightenment begins with fellowship, a prayer followed by study, and discussions that help to make our Christian faith a “living faith” and apply the witness of the Scripture to our everyday lives. We will discuss the lessons appointed for the upcoming Sunday service. (The Collect, the 1st lesson, the Psalm, the New Testament reading and the Gospel.) To join, contact Betse Trow at betsytrow@gmail.com.
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Monthly Meetings from noon to 1:00 PM on Zoom
The Brown Bag Book Club Group reads and discusses both fiction and non-fiction selections, recommended and selected by members. The book list is determined in late summer for the next year. Click here to view the remaining meetings and books for 2026. All interested readers are invited to join our lively and thoughtful lunch-time discussions. To join, contact Linda Owen at lindaowen23@gmail.com.
Wednesday Night Classes
Most Wednesday evenings, our campus is bustling with activities for all ages. We invite all adults to participate in liturgical and seasonal classes on the 3rd floor of Michaux House. Everyone is welcome to stay for our free community dinner in Valentine Hall starting at 6:00 PM.
Easter Classes finish on Wednesday, May 6. This also marks the end of classes for our program year. We will see you in September with new offerings!
Confirmation & Reception
In the Episcopal Church, confirmation is the sacramental rite in which the candidates, “express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop" (BCP, p. 860). If you were baptized as an infant, confirmation is an opportunity to affirm the vows that were made on your behalf. If you were baptized in another denomination, confirmation is an opportunity to become an official member of both St. James’s and the Episcopal Church. If you were confirmed in certain other denominations and wish to become a member of St. James’s and the Episcopal Church, we call this “reception” rather than confirmation. Both confirmation and reception happen once a year when the bishop visits (usually in the spring). Preparation takes place in the weeks and months leading up to the bishop’s visit.
Contact our Interim Associate Rector, The Rev. Dr. Kyle Babin, through the button below if interested in learning more.
Please note that you do not need to be confirmed or received to participate and serve in almost all areas of our church life. The one exception is that you must be confirmed or received to serve on the vestry.
Additional Offerings
Education for Ministry (EfM)
EfM is a program created by Sewanee’s School of Theology. Through individual and group study and theological reflection, participants move toward a greater understanding of the fullness of God’s kingdom. They also discover opportunities for responding to their own call to ministry. To learn more, get in touch with mentor and facilitator, Billy Baxter, through the button below.
Becoming Beloved Community (BBC)
Following Christ’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves and living into our Baptismal Covenant to respect the dignity of every human being, St. James’s BBC Ministry works to promote racial justice and understanding within our parish and in the communities we serve.
WomanKind
The 2026 two-day conference took place this past April 24-25, 2026. We were honored to feature internationally recognized author, activist, and speaker Lisa Sharon Harper.