On Sunday, February 7, there will be one service at 10:00 AM

Welcome to the website for Manakin Episcopal Church. Founded in 1700, the church is a member of the Diocese of Southern Virginia.

We are a suburban church conveniently located in a rural setting of Powhatan County just 1 mile west of Route 288. The congregation is a blend of members from a wide geographic area that includes Powhatan, Chesterfield, and Henrico counties.

Our cornerstone beliefs include a committment to the parish family, Christian education, and community service through outreach.

Thank you for taking a moment to visit our web site.  If you are searching for a church home and would like more information about Manakin, please contact us so we can learn more about you.  We look forward to your visit.

From the Rector:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The end of the year is upon us – or, more accurately, the end of the years. The calendar year, with the change of dates (hard to believe a full decade of “the new millennium” is already gone!), the beginnings of tax computations, the inevitable resolutions to improve our lives, makes its big transition at the end of the month. More than a full month before that, of course, we will witness the end of the Liturgical year and welcome the new on Advent I. 

The reality that the secular calendar is “more important” in governing our lives than our Liturgical calendar should not surprise us. The values of the world are so different from the values of our Faith that it should not seem unusual that the terminology would be so different. Each of the calendars has a sequence of seasons that succeed each other in a systematic way that makes sense of cycle of life that it defines. The calendar year has the seasons of nature, combined with the seasons defined by the academic year – with an extra “new year” around Labor Day. The Liturgical calendar has its seasons that teach us, remind us, and engage us in the story of our Faith. The anticipation of the birth of the Christ Child in Advent, the Incarnation of Christmas, his revelation to the world at Epiphany, the preparation for his death in Lent and the Glory of the Resurrection all lie before us. We tell and hear the same story over and over again, year after year.  The basic story remains the same, and yet we benefit from hearing it repeated each time. Our Jewish brothers and sisters have always known the value of such an exercise – each Passover, the youngest child asks, “Why is this night different than all other nights?” And, once again, the family gathered around the table is called into the events of that night, not merely told the tale of an ancient event.

Our liturgies are designed to engage us in our sacred story, not merely recall the past. That’s why it is so important to observe each season and each feast day, as each sets the stage for the next, so we can more fully appreciate and understand it. Advent, with its images of anticipation and expectancy, provides a richer understanding of the birth of Christ than a mere “Christmas” event.  More is to be gained from lighting a new candle on the wreath each week – in Church and at home – than the best possible “Christmas” party that actually falls in Advent.

This Advent, the parish clergy will present a program exploring the history, customs, and nature of Advent on Saturday, December 5th in two parts. From 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM, at the Men of the Church breakfast, there will be a presentation on the aspects of Advent mentioned above, and, for those who are able to stay on, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM there will be an opportunity to explore its meaning in more depth, with some time for personal reflection. Both parts of the program are open to the ladies of the church as well as the men.

I hope that you will avail yourself of the many Advent and Christmas events and worship services.  Each one adds to your understanding – and enjoyment – of this remarkable Truth these seasons present – that God did, indeed, love the world so much that He sent his only Son into our midst to save the world.  The fact that He came in such an unexpected way and in such a humble setting should not surprise us – any more than the fact that we, unlike the world, say “Happy New Year” on Advent I and January 1st!

Yours in Christ,
Michael