Church of the Holy Comforter

Evan Herr, Vestry Liaison

The mission of the Formation Ministry is to provide a variety of opportunities for education, exploration, experiences, discussion, and practices, as we all continue to grow in Jesus' Way of Love. We take seriously Jesus' wisdom to love God with all one's heart, body, mind, and being. Walking through our church doors shouldn't mean leaving your intellect behind. We are a church community that senses God through science, politics, art, music, fun, nature, and various religious faiths.

All of the following offerings are open to anyone interested - consider yourself invited to join us. No advance registration is required! If you don't see what you are looking for, please let us know.

Sunday Morning Class - meets from 8:45 to 9:45 am Sunday mornings, usually September through June, for presentations and discussions.
Sunday School- occurs after the Blessing of the Children at the start of our worship service until the Eucharist. Children are embraced by our community, and those who decide to not attend Sunday Schooll are welcome in any pew. There is a special children's area in the sanctuary that is carpeted with toys and activities. For those children who attend Sunday School, adult teachers provide meaningful instruction and learning activities to a variety of ages, differentiating for the various ages and developmental needs present.
Church Nursery - all infants, toddlers, and children are welcome in our nursery during the 10:00 service, to be cared for by our amazing nursery staff. Emphasis is placed on play, happiness, and social-emotional learning.
Storytime Service, VBS, and Youth Group - these opportunities exist to nurture our youngest within our church community.
The Storytime Service is a family-friendly service held during the school year on the 3rd Sundays (4:30pm), that integrates music (with instrument-playing for all), child-friendly messages, and a special Eucharist for all who wish to participate. Dinner is often provided free of charge after the service. Youth Group is held once per month and is geared for middle and high-schoolers. It provides the same fun, friendliness, and meaningfulness at an appropriate developmental level. HoCo's youth group partners with St. John's Church in Church Hill and rotates between the two locations. VBS occurs every summer. This past summer (2023) was themed, "Waves of Gratitude," and focused on connections, having fun at church, and thinking about faith in a way that makes sense to children.
Adult Forums are occasional presentations after the Sunday worship service and coffee hour, usually from 11:30am to 12:30pm. The topics vary, and presenters may be in-house or special guests. For example, a recent forum featured a female Muslim speaker who taught participants about Islam, its positive contributions to social justice and society, and its relationship with Christianity. Please check out our calendar, newsletter, bulletin, and eMessenger on the website for monthly and weekly forums. The group which oversees this Ministry meets quarterly to plan and evaluate. The current chair is Peggy L. Hombs. If you are interested in being part of this work, please contact Peggy, or the Rector.
A Book Group meets monthly to discuss a book chosen by the group. Books have been fiction and non-fiction, contemporary and 'classic,' with authors, male and female, with an emphasis on diverse and marginalized perspectives being included.
The Rector periodically offers an Episcopal 101 series for people new to Holy Comforter and/or the Episcopal Church. These are usually offered on Wednesday evenings for 4-5 weeks.. Coming again, Fall of 2023!
Weekly Bible Study - these occur at various times throughout the week, and are conducted by individuals with much experience and education.
Lenten Programs - the annual Wednesday evening Soup Supper and Program tradition continues. For example, in 2016, the participants viewed and discussed 5 sessions of the TV series Joan of Arcadia, in which a typical American teenage girl is regularly visited by God in various guises. Lenten-focused resources were made available to the congregation, including daily reflection booklets from Episcopal Relief and Development; daily on-line video shorts and reflections from the Society of Saint John the Evangelist/Cowley Brothers; and daily reflection booklets from residents and staff at Westminster-Canterbury. 2023's program was entitled "Empty Altars: American Saints in a Cynical Age", and took place over Zoom. Leaders Diana Butler Bass and Tripp Fuller focused on "one of the biggest historical challenges the church in the West faces – our contested history."
Annual Shrine Mont Parish Weekend Planning for the next annual parish weekend, usually in late October, begins almost as soon as the current event concludes. The 2017 program centered on a theme of Friendship; the theme for 2018 was Enneagrams. The 2019 program was based around labyrinths. This time away in a special place includes rustic accommodations; a Southern comfort food menu; time to hike, nap, read, knit, or explore, alone or with others; time together to explore the year's theme; and worship time.Learn more about the location at www.shrinemont.com
Men at the Movies - a monthly opportunity for men to gather for fellowship, viewing of a movie, selected for its entertainment value and for embedded theology, and discussion.