The Church of the Holy Comforter, Richmond Virginia, in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. The title of this blog comes from the book of the same name by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In Life Together, Bonhoeffer describes Christian community as a gift from God. Our church is a gift from God for those who take part in the life of our faith community and a gift to those we serve in Christ's name. This blog is about our life together as the members and friends of Holy Comforter.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Welcome Back Sunday - September 13th
Join us for worship at 10:00 am and for a fun ministry fair following, with prizes!
Monday, September 7, 2015
Labor Day Sermon - What does the Church have to say about Labor Day?
Our life together, as members and friends of HoCo, is a life that is also lived in community with our wider community. Within walking distance from the church is Broad St., where many people labor for very little money. This sermon, give yesterday, Sunday September 6th, is a Labor Day sermon. What does God desire for the working poor?
Wisdom for Life, Justice for the Poor
Wisdom for Life, Justice for the Poor
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Book club meets monthly
We have a really great book club group at HoCo. 
Everyone is invited to join. Here is info about it for this month. To find the group, enter from the Staples Mill Rd side of the church, through the red doors, they will be down the hall on the left, in the parlor. --- Our book club will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 9th at 6:30 pm for light snacks and discussion of the modern classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) by Zora Neale Hurston. The group meets monthly.
Monday, June 29, 2015
The Spirit at Work
Bp Shannon: I agree that it is certainly true that there are many arguments for and against whether or not we are putting canons in conflict with the prayer book and all of that, but I must suggest that we - I speak in favor of this motion. I must suggest that we cannot make the perfect the enemy of the good. Before I came to General Convention I wrote a very strongly worded letter to my diocese asserting my utter and absolute commitment to marriage equality and wanted to bring the fullest, strongest, statement for that, that we can provide. I think after many days of consultation this is the best we can do, and it’s something I can support. I came here with the sense that we couldn’t do this by a simply canonical route. That we needed to do something fuller that required a little more time and a two-reading sort of way, and I’m pleased with that. And I think we need to be careful that, however important they are, making idols out of our rules. And I’m reminded that our Lord said that humankind was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for humankind. We know that in Jesus’ day that would be akin to us saying that we repeal the Holy Communion. If we have to wait some time to sort out a conflict between canon and liturgy, rules and that sort of thing, I’d much rather it be a canon than a loving couple that wants to bring honor and glory and witness to God through the bond and covenant of marriage.
Watch General Convention Live
The Media Hub
You can share in the worship and legislative sessions of both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops.
Holy Comforter is part of the Wider Church
The 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church
Our priest-in-charge, Hilary, is one of the Diocese of Virginia's deputies to General Convention. She is there working to pass legislation that will make the Church an even more inclusive and justice-oriented community of faith. Here is a picture of Hilary and the other members of the deputation on "Camp Day" when deputies wore T-shirts from their camp and conference centers...ours is Shrine Mont.
Friday, June 26, 2015
We Celebrate Marriage Equality
I write to you from the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church on the day that the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of love. Now the two couples married at our church in the last two months are able to go everywhere in the country and be protected under the law as married. We all have so much to celebrate and give thanks for today.
This legal ruling comes at a time when the Episcopal Church is seeking to equalize and normalize marriage for all couples in our church. There has been debate in the weeks leading up to Convention and since we arrived a few days ago, on how best to move forward liturgically and canonically. There is a sense that momentum is building to accomplish much at this meeting of General Convention with regard to full marriage equality for same-sex couples. We continue to pray for a good and faithful witness to all people that the Episcopal Church does in fact welcome all.
We want marriage equality in the Church for our members and so as to be a witness to the world that there are Christians who celebrate the ruling of the Supreme Court today. This is certainly true of Holy Comforter in Richmond Virginia.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
The Spiritually of Life
Sermon Preview for June 21, 2015
To be given by the Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith
What may seem like a given to many of us is still debated, and we hear that debate in the news: what is appropriate to discuss in church? In this sermon, through engaging the Gospel reading, Mark 4:35-41, I consider how all of life is spiritual and important to God and therefore important to be said in church. I will look at both the tragedy in Charleston and the teaching from Pope Francis on caring for the environment, and how we need to discuss these matters and how our theology helps us to do so.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Sermon Preview for June 7
Sermon Preview for tomorrow, June 7th, The Limits of Man-Made Systems of Governance. In this sermon I focus on the turning point in the life of God's people, when they ask the prophet Samuel to appoint a king for them, like other nations, 1 Samuel 8:4–15, 16–20, 11:14–15. And as we are two weeks away from the start of General Convention, yes, I get into that a bit too.
Peace,
Hilary+
Monday, June 1, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Pentecost Celebration!
The procession out into the world to live in the power of the Spirit and share God's love. Great celebration of the Day of Pentecost!
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Episcopal 101 Class
Episcopal 101 Class this week will be very fun. We are starting with a look at the Baptismal Covenant, and then we will watch videos from Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina, entitled: How to be a Crazy Christian. Bp. Curry is one of the nominees for our next Presiding Bishop. You can get a sample of Bp. Curry on the topic here, see link in the comment below. All are invited to join us even if you have not been to the class up to this point. Wednesday, 7pm to 8pm. at the Church of The Holy Comforter Episcopal
https://www.churchnext.tv/school/catalog/course/how-to-be-a-crazy-christian-with-michael-curry-for-groups/
The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith
Priest-in-Charge
The Church of the Holy Comforter
In the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
Priest-in-Charge
The Church of the Holy Comforter
In the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
Check out our Mobile App http://HoCo.mobapp.at
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Photography Exhibit
We're very excited about church member Reid Hall's upcoming show. His opening is Friday night, May 22nd, but if you cannot make and would like to see his work, it will be hanging in the Center Gallery East at Art Works for the whole month of June.
Monday, May 11, 2015
The Editorial Board
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Sermon Preview for May 3rd
Preview for tomorrow's sermon, entitled: Sacred Seed, Sacred Vine, Sacred Branches
The Christian faith and life is all about relationships. In the Sunday's Gospel reading from John, we are given the powerful image of the vine and branches. We are as connected to God as branches are to their vine.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Earth Day Sunday - April 26th
Celebrate Earth Day with us with a special worship service at 10:00 am. We are a community of faith that celebrates the earth every day in our care for creation.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Vacation Bible School- Register Today
Vacation Bible School is right around the corner and we are currently accepting registration forms! Have you registered your children yet? How about your grandchildren? Neighbors have children? Invite them to come along as well! Come join us as we journey back in time to explore historical Nazareth! Registration Forms can be found here: http://hoco.org/pdf/vbs_2015.pdf
Saturday, April 11, 2015
The 2nd Sunday of Easter-- Come Celebrate
Thursday, April 9, 2015
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