Welcome

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. 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 Friends,

With summer approaching, we are reminded that all of us need times of rest and relaxation, and times when we change our routines. Ours is a culture that is often geared to the rhythms of work schedules and, whether we have children in the house or not, the academic year. Many people take their vacations during the summer months, and our social lives and planning are geared toward a different pace in the summer and a return to “normal” in September. The life of the Church follows that pattern in many ways – not just here, but in most places. Attendance drops off in May and then plummets in June or July, to be restored after Labor Day. It is part of a natural tendency, as it reflects many other factors in our lives. Often, churches (Manakin included) actually plan for this trend and, in fact, inadvertently encourage it in our scheduling, especially in regards to Church School. It may be a “chicken and egg” question of whether many of our families “disappear” for much of the summer because we, in essence “give them permission” by not offering programs for our kids or whether the schedule simply reflects the reality that attendance will be down. Either way, the effect is the same.

In this year in which we are dedicating time and energy to “engaging and re-engaging” new comers and long-time members alike, the Parish leadership is finding new ways of approaching our life that may give all members of the Household new opportunities for involvement. One such initiative is that we will not be “taking vacation” in our children’s and youth programs for the whole summer as has been the tradition here and in many other congregations. Our assumption is that most people do not have the whole summer off from work and other obligations and that, just because most schools are out, people will not be gone for three months! Certainly, most of us will take some time off in the summer, but not all of it. Therefore, we want to make a statement that involvement in Church is not seasonal, with a prolong hiatus for attendance and participation. God, after all, never takes a “vacation” from us, so it seems inappropriate if we take an extended leave from worship! The Christian Formation Committee is working on plans for an offering each Sunday this summer for our children during the Church School time frame. The Parish leadership is committed to supporting this endeavor, both with their support and with their time. The Vestry will be providing much of the leadership for these “Summer Doings,” which will not be “Church School,” as most kids do not want anything called (or which feels like) “school” in their precious time away from class rooms and homework. These “doings” will be a wide variety of offerings, based on the knowledge and skills and life experiences of each week’s leader. The Vestry will be working with others to offer something different each week, and all promise to be interesting and informative – and fun!

In addition to Vestry members offering their time and talents, others folks will be needed to help. We are hoping that people who do not teach for us during the school year will lend a hand so that our hard-working and dedicated Church School teachers can have the break they deserve. If you would like to help, please give me a call or email me.

I hope you and those you love are still finding that glory in this continuing season of Easter and will find your “rest and relaxation” as the summer unfolds.

In Christ’s Love,
Michael+