Small Groups at St. Paul’s, Ivy

Whether you’re new to the Christian faith, The Episcopal Church, St. Paul’s, Ivy, or if you’ve been at St. Paul’s forever, you’re invited to join this small group where conversations about the fundamentals of our faith give way to authentic connection and community. Fr. Justin and Mthr. Amanda lead the group over the course of five sessions to explore what it means to live as a Christian and an Episcopalian in the world today. How do we read the Bible? What do we really believe? What’s so special about the sacraments? How exactly did the Episcopal church come to be? And what does it mean to be a member of the St. Paul’s, Ivy parish family? You’ll be surprised at the rich conversations these questions inspire! Come with us on this journey, and ask all those questions you’ve always wanted to ask, in a friendly small group environment.

Living Your Faith groups

New sessions are offered throughout the year. Watch for session announcements in The Vine. If you are interested in joining a Living Your Faith group, please email Mthr. Amanda or Fr. Justin to let them know.

Participation in this group serves as preparation for adult Baptism, Confirmation, or Reception into the Episcopal Church from other denominations, as well as membership at St. Paul’s, Ivy. Childcare can be made available if needed.

For more information, contact Mthr. Amanda.

Wednesdays (all year), 11:00 a.m., in Neve Hall

This weekly Bible study is led by our rector and requires no pre-reading or preparation. The group reads a selection of scripture, and the discussion is guided by the questions that emerge, with a special focus on understanding the Christian faith and the application of the Holy Scriptures to daily Christian life. Grab your Bible and join them any Wednesday morning, immediately following the 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Eucharist with Prayers for Healing.

Mondays (during the program year), 9:30 a.m., in the Parish Hall (begins September 8)

Are you feeling a desire to grow deeper into scripture, church history and theology? At St. Paul’s, Ivy, our Education for Ministry (EfM) group meetings foster a warm, accepting space for adult seekers to learn, question, and follow their call to serve God. The curriculum, provided by the University of the South School of Theology, is designed for reflection on how our scripture, tradition, and practice inform our daily walk with God, and includes a year each on the Old Testament, New Testament, church history, and theology. This short video by Presiding Bishop Curry describes the EfM experience very well.

This year EfM is introducing a one-year program called EfM Wide Angle that offers an EfM experience with a less rigorous time and reading commitment. It is ideal for new students who might want to test drive EfM before committing to the four-year program. Wide Angle also welcomes EfM graduates who want to continue their theological studies.

New EfM groups form each fall. To enroll or learn more about this transformational program please call (‭434-979-6354‬) or email the church office.

2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. (begins September 9)

Ruth and Naomi, Mary and Elizabeth… these are just two examples of the many life-giving women’s relationships in the Bible and their stories, along with those of the other women in scripture, are foundational to our understanding of our Christian faith. Our Women’s Group spends time together in fellowship and Bible study to strengthen the spiritual friendships and sisterhood of women in our parish.

The group gathers in private homes or in Neve Hall at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (*during our program year). Guests are asked to bring a beverage or a snack to share, and to be present with an open heart and mind.

For more information or to be added to the contact list, please contact Mthr. Amanda.

3rd Thursdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. (begins September 18)

Join Fr. Justin and Mthr. Amanda on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. for a time of fellowship and theological discussion at Selvedge Brewing in Ivy. (No previous theology experience needed!) Over the course of the program year, the group will discuss the Apostles’ Creed, one of the oldest statements of faith in Christian history.  The discussions will be based on the book “The Apostles’ Creed for Today,” but purchasing the book is optional. For more information, please contact Fr. Justin.

Selvedge Brewery is located at 2415 Ivy Road, Suite 190, Charlottesville, VA 22903 in the back of the building next door to the Bellair Market. Childcare will be available at the church from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m.

Fridays, 11:00 a.m., Neve Hall (begins September 26)

Meet Mother Amanda in Neve Hall at 11:00 a.m. on Fridays for a small group book study! The group will read a variety of books related to our Christian faith, life in the world today as a Christian, and meet some fascinating characters in Church history, too. For more information or to see what the group is currently reading, please contact Mthr. Amanda.

1st and 3rd Saturday of each month*,
7:45 a.m.–9:00 a.m., in Neve Hall (begins September 20)

The St. Paul’s, Ivy Men’s Group meets for prayer, fellowship, and Bible study on the first and third Saturdays of each month (*during the program year). Topical discussions are centered on the Gospel reading for the following day as well as other resources on the Christian faith. Join the Men’s Group to find meaningful, faithful community with other men at St. Paul’s, Ivy. For more information, or to join the group, please contact Geoff Bollier.

Young Family Fellowship | Monthly

During the program year, this group, designed for families with infants and toddlers, meets regularly for different activities and events designed to be either young-family-friendly or for parents of young children (with provided childcare at the church). Led by parishioners Kathryn Fish and Meg Flanagan, this group will meet for activities like backyard cookouts, pumpkin patch visits, movie nights, and more. For more information, or to join this group and connect with other young families at St. Paul’s, Ivy, please contact Mtr. Amanda.

Explore the beauty of God’s creation with this family-friendly group on a variety of outdoor adventures! Hike, paddle, climb, and more with your St. Paul’s, Ivy friends on adventures that are generally scheduled on a monthly basis, and led by parishioner and outdoor enthusiast Chris Fields-Johnson. For more information or to join this group, contact Chris or Mtr. Amanda.

Our popular mystery dinner event, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, will be back this fall, starting on Thursday, October 2.  Sign up to host a dinner or be a guest, and the mystery is that no one knows who they’ll be at the table with until the dinner begins! These dinners are a great way to get to know more people from our parish, and they’re a whole lot of fun. Hosts will provide an entrée and beverages; guests will bring a side dish or dessert. Our 2026 dinners will be held on Thursday, February 26, Thursday, May 7, and Thursday, July 30. Save the dates today! For more information, contact Mthr. Amanda.

Gentle Yoga | Thursdays, 1:45–3:00 p.m, Parish Hall

Led by parishioner and professional yoga teacher Ra, this small group meets for some movement and centering through gentle yoga. Adaptations for mobility issues are provided. $20 fee per session.