The Programs and Ministries of Richmond Hill

Richmond Hill offers retreats and classes to revive and inform the life of metropolitan Richmond. In addition to weekend retreats and introductory classes, we offer on-going, intensive programs of study in Spiritual Guidance, Contemplative Prayer, Pastoral Care, Christian Healing Ministry, Urban Spirituality, Race Relations, and Christian Formation.

Below you can find out more information the programs and ministries of Richmond Hill:

A.A. Twelve-Step Meetings - Held every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.

Centering Prayer Groups

Healing Prayer Ministries - Richmond Hill offers a variety of classes, retreats, healing prayer services and individual prayer ministry to the metropolitan Richmond community. We find that both physical ailments and personal distress are often related to inner woundedness. We believe that God desires the healing of this inner woundedness for every single human being. The purpose of the healing ministry is to nurture the healing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people in this retreat center and in metropolitan Richmond.

Holistic Pastoral Counseling Services - A counseling ministry at Richmond Hill designed to assist those suffering from physical, emotional, and spiritual difficulties. HPCS uses psychology and theology to minister to persons with such difficulties. We use the Metanoia Model of counseling. "Metanoia" is a Greek term that means to change one's mind or attitude. Thus, the Metanoia Model is a defined way of helping persons deal with their problems by changing the beliefs that contribute to their distressing feelings and behaviors. In addition to the School of Pastoral Care & Counseling, HPCS also offers the following:

Pastoral Care - A conversational ministry whereby a religious person guides individuals, families and community relationships through "everyday" experiences. These meetings are typically brief and less therapeutic in nature.

Pastoral Counseling - A specialized type of pastoral care that focuses specifically on the articulation of pain, needs, or concerns. This type of extended converstion requires more structure and a contractual agreement, for at least six sessions, between the client and the counselor.

Pastoral Care and Counseling is provided for individuals, couples, families and small groups by a certified pastoral counselor. Please contact The Rev. Dr. Alice W. Harris at 804-783-7903 for an appointment.

Personal Retreats - Enjoy a guided or individual retreat with access to our chapel, library and garden. Overnight accommodations are available.

Spiritual Guidance - This is a process of listening prayerfully with another person to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God. Richmond Hill maintains contact with a broad network of spiritual directors.

Taize Service

12-Step Holy Communion Service

Soaking Prayer Service

Eucharist for Generational Healing

The RUAH School of Spiritual Guidance - This is a two-year course designed for laity and clergy who wish to discern, develop, and nurture a call to the ministry of spiritual guidance.

The School of Pastoral Care and Counseling - Pastoral Care and Counseling is a one-year course designed to enhance skills in ministering to people experiencing physical, emotional or spiritual difficulties. It also helps develop participants' own capacity for self-reflection in order to better assist others. Informed by our capacity for metanoia, to change one's mind, the program focuses on listening skills, theological assessment, religious resources, contemplative prayer, boundaries, co-dependency, transference/counter-transference, stress management, grief and loss, addiction, hospital visitation, mental and physical health problems. The course includes two class retreats, one individual retreat, weekly classes and all meals.

The SOZO School of Christian Healing Prayer - This one-year school consists of four 24-hour retreats and three eight-week sessions. Weekly sessions are held on Thursday nights beginning with community prayer in the chapel, followed by dinner and class. The first trimester focuses on an introduction to Christian Healing Prayer, the second on Inner Healing and the third on special topics around healing prayer, ethics and guidelines for ministry and self-care for the prayer minister. Classes include presentations, discussion and prayer. The SOZO faculty includes both clergy and lay members of the Richmond Hill healing prayer team. All have had extensive training and experience in the healing prayer ministry.