In Spiritual Friendship, students will explore the theme of friendship in the Gospel of John, Celtic Christianity (anam cara), Anglo-Saxon spirituality, Cicero, St. Augustine, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Merton, and most of all, in the life, work, and teachings of the English Cistercian abbot St. Aelred of Rievaulx, author of the Christian medieval classic …
View course details “Spiritual Friendship”

Join the Rev. Erin Jean Warde in a 5-week study of her book, Sober Spirituality: The Joy of a Mindful Relationship with Alcohol. In this course, you’ll explore how alcohol affects us in mind, body, and soul, such that you will be encouraged to get prayerfully curious about how drinking shows up in your life, …
View course details “Sober October”

Master Iconographer will guide students through creating one complete icon (to be determined). Any level of experience is accepted. Each step is demonstrated to students, followed by time to copy what has been taught. Students will learn: filling in, rendering clothes and flesh, 23 karat gold leafing, and varnishing. In addition, students will gain familiarity …
View course details “Icon writing Workshops”

How do we practice spiritual presence in challenging times? And let spirituality lead us to action? When communities are polarized, and peace is unpopular, these are urgent questions. Together, we will explore answers from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Each tradition offers powerful tools to critique institutional power, confront the ego, open the heart, and explore …
View course details “Interfaith Spirituality for Polarized Times”

When bad things happen, what is our reaction? Do we trust God even when we don’t understand? When difficult things happen, we begin to doubt God’s concern for us or His control over our lives. But when times are hard, when the world feels like it’s caving in on us — it’s even more important …
View course details “TRUSTING GOD–EVEN WHEN LIFE HURTS”

The only thing that is constant in our lives is change and it will come whether we are ready for it or not. Change means altering our lives, creating a new routine, and doing things differently. Explore the various emotions associated with change and how to adjust and cope when change arrives. Learn how to …
View course details “Change is Calling – Are you Ready?”

Grief moves and changes like the seasons. Come and explore grief through the seasons of loss, change, growth and renewal. This retreat is for people experiencing loss through death/separation/divorce/lost relationships and life changes. An opportunity to examine your loss by using the seasons as a metaphor to discover the personal impacts of loss and grief. …
View course details “Seasons of Grief”

We live in a fast-paced society with a seemingly endless list of demands. Life naturally brings its share of challenges and stress. The key is to move forward so that stress doesn’t impact other areas of your life. Stress affects us all, but why exactly do we feel it and what causes it? This Workshop …
View course details “Good bye stress–Hello Life!”

What is preventing you from accepting yourself just as you are? Many of us spend so much time trying to be someone else rather than being ourselves. Rather than comparing our lives and experiences to others -we should embrace and enjoy the things that make us who we are! The most important relationship that you …
View course details “Free to be me”

This event is brought to you by Forma, a ministry of the department of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary. This event will be held in person on the campus of Virginia Theological Seminary – click here for more information about visiting campus, including a campus map, as well as at The Westin Alexandria Old …
View course details “2023 Forma Annual Conference: Called to Covenant”