Opportunities



		Opportunities There are many different ways in which you can become a part of the Richmond Hill community. Click on any of the links at right or scroll down the page to learn more. Visit Us Richmond Hill is an ecumenical Christian community which is supported by all major denominations. There are many places in the retreat center for quiet and prayer. Our library includes an excellent collection of spiritual writings available on site to everyone. Our beautiful garden is always available for prayer and contemplation. Our residential community, staff, volunteers and guests share a daily rhythm of common prayer at 7:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 6:00 p.m. Meals follow prayer times. On Monday evenings we hold a service of holy communion at 5:30, celebrated by ordained persons according to their own tradition. Supper follows for all who attend. When you are at Richmond Hill, you are supported by the prayer of this community and are invited, as you will, to participate in its life. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Richmond Hill publishes a free monthly newsletter. To subscribe, click here. Ways to Contribute There are three main ways anyone can participate in the work of Richmond Hill: through prayer, volunteering, and financial contributions. Prayer: The community joins in prayer for the Richmond metropolitan area three times daily: 7:00am, noon, and 6:00pm (except on Mondays, when we begin evening prayers at 5:30 and celebrate the Eucharist). All prayer services are open to the public. Each day we pray for a different segment of metropolitan Richmond. For a complete description of our cycle of prayer, click here. Financial Contributions: Richmond Hill is a non-profit corporation sustained by the grace of God and the continuing contributions of many people. We keep our requested donations for services as low as possible to encourage a spirit of giving and to keep Richmond Hill open to all. Individuals and churches are asked to support Richmond Hill through modest monthly pledges and gifts. Six hundred and twenty-three individuals and churches giving $25 a month or $300 annually are needed to sustain the operation. Any gift will be deeply appreciated. If you would like to contribute to our work, you may make out a check to Richmond Hill and mail it to 2209 East Grace Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223, or click the icon below: Volunteering: We estimate that about 90% of the services provided at Richmond Hill are performed by volunteers. You may choose to participate on a committee, or you may serve as part of the hospitality team, the front desk staff, the mailing team, the maintenance and repair crew, the housekeeping staff, or the gardening crew. Whatever your gifts may be, they can be well used here. Call (804) 783-7903 to sign up for a one-time opportunity or a regular commitment. Learn more about volunteering at Richmond Hill Fill out a Volunteer Interest Form Residency Richmond Hill is home to an ecumenical Christian community composed of persons who commit themselves to a minimum of one year in residency, and usually to longer periods of time. The community members maintain a ministry of prayer, hospitality, and community life according to the modified Benedictine Rule used by the community. After a period of discernment and a three-month trial period, persons joining the community make five commitments in a public service: Conversion of life: a commitment to live one's life as if it were a conversation with God, attempting to take responsibility for one's own inner transformation through a regular personal discipline of life. Stability: Committing oneself to the community of Richmond Hill and to the community of metropolitan Richmond as if it were a place of permanent residence, where one must live one's life fully and attempt to be a full part of the community's transformation. Obedience: Living a life of service where the question is which is asked is, "What does God want of my life?" rather than simply, "What do I want of my life?" The community's decisions are made by prayerful discernment and consensus. Hospitality: Community members commit themselves to the ministry of hospitality, healing, and racial reconciliation which are the vocation of the Richmond Hill community. Prayer: A commitment to the community's daily offices of prayer at 7:00am, 12:00 noon, and 6:00pm of the community, which include prayers for all the people and institutions of metropolitan Richmond, and to a life of personal prayer. Residency is a major commitment. We encourage anyone who is thinking of joining the community to visit and volunteer at Richmond Hill, in order to become familiar with its life. Any person who thinks he or she may be called to residency is encouraged to speak with the Moderator of the community or the Pastoral Director. Once formal application is made, the person enters a process of prayerful discernment, during which she or he, with the community, inquires whether or not that residency is God's will for the person and the community at this time. We estimate that community life at Richmond Hill will take time which most people do not normally include in their lives, perhaps as much as 20 hours a week, to be a part of regular community prayers, meals, and meetings. Residential community members share in providing meals. They keep Richmond Hill as a place of hospitality. Membership in Richmond Hill's residential community is open to persons of faith who wish to commit to regular Christian prayer and worship. We understand that the more committed we are to Jesus Christ and the more we find ourselves in prayer with Him, the more we will seek to be respectful of any person who comes to us. As a residential community, therefore, we commit ourselves to the earnest attempt to knit ourselves together deeply in the name of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, and to be hospitable to all in God's name. Every resident at Richmond Hill maintains the Rule of the Community and helps with the ministry of hospitality, healing, racial reconciliation, and prayer. In addition to this commitment, residents have other duties: Full-time Residential Staff: Some residents have full-time positions at Richmond Hill. All receive the same stipend. Health insurance and a retirement contribution are provided, together with ample vacation and a continuing education allowance. Position availability varies, and persons are always invited to make inquiry. Assistanceships: Some residents have half-time assistanceships. These persons need sources of income outside the community, or they may be students. Assistanceships are frequently in housekeeping or food service, but they may also be in other areas. Inquiry is invited. External Ministry: Some residents have full-time employment outside the community. These persons make a contribution to the community for room and board. Most persons in this category already give so much to the community that no money is really due, but the community needs the contributions and requests them. Learn more about part-time and full-time ministries at Richmond Hill Jobs and Assistanceships Richmond Hill has a number of non-resident staff positions, offering ample opportunity for ministry. We have a wide variety of jobs available, but funds are limited. We encourage persons interested in positions at Richmond Hill to let us know their area of availability. Sometimes positions are available which are not generally publicized, and sometimes positions may be developed for persons who are available. Generally, preference is given to persons who are called to explore residency in the Richmond Hill community. But persons who cannot be resident may still be of immense help to this ministry. In all cases where a person has a non-resident position at Richmond Hill, the stipend is individually negotiated on the basis of that person's need. Richmond Hill's staff are a committed and generous community of people who believe in this ministry. For information on current openings, please call our office at (804) 783-7903. Learn more about part-time and full-time ministries at Richmond Hill	Visit Us Subscribe to Our Newsletter Ways to Contribute Jobs and Assistanceships More About Volunteering Volunteer Interest Form Part-Time & Full-Time Ministries Contribute to Richmond Hill through the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg and the Local Governments and Schools United Way Campaign by using ID #3264. To contribute through the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC), use Code #3081. Note: The mission of Richmond Hill is to work for the healing of metropolitan Richmond, Virginia. While we gladly accept all contributions, we do not actively solicit donations outside the state of Virginia.
		2209 East Grace Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223 phone: (804) 783-7903 fax: (804) 783-7957 e-mail: retreats@richmondhillva.org