Christian Formation
This webpage provides information on empowering Christians through formal and informal learning opportunities, with a focus on establishing environments for self-discovery and ministry within congregations.
Christian Formation is a lifelong process - the purpose of which is to support the people of God as they seek to live out their Baptismal Covenant and to express their unique calling as followers of Jesus Christ.
One of the greatest challenges for the leadership of the Church is the empowerment of all Christians through both formal and informal learning opportunities and experiences. It is the responsibility of the leadership in each congregation to establish and to develop an environment which enables people to discover themselves as God’s people and to carry out the ministries to which they are called. It is through this vision and leadership that the whole congregation comes to feel its responsibility for community and total ministry within the life of the Church.
Canon for Formation Lynn Farlin can assist you with Christian Formation questions and program planning.
Invite · Welcome · Connect
Invite Welcome Connect is sparking renewal across the Episcopal Church, giving congregations fresh ways to share faith and build authentic community. Centered on the simple call to invite, welcome, and connect, it’s a resource hub packed with practical tools, stories, and inspiration that help churches turn good intentions into real, Spirit filled action.
Through engaging webinars, hands on guides, and creative ideas that can work in any parish setting, Invite Welcome Connect helps communities of faith reach new people, extend genuine hospitality, and connect everyone more deeply to the life of the Church.
Visit and Learn More
When you land on the Invite Welcome Connect website, you’re immediately welcomed with a short video that captures the heart of the movement in just a few minutes.
From there, the site opens up into a hub of stories, resources, and practical tools that congregations of every size can put to use. It’s designed to be both inspiring and easy to navigate - the perfect place to start exploring what Invite Welcome Connect can bring to your parish.
Explore Upcoming Webinars
Want to see Invite Welcome Connect in action? Their upcoming webinars are lively, practical sessions led by church leaders and practitioners who are living out these practices in real time. Each gathering is a chance to hear new ideas, ask questions, and take away concrete steps that can energize your own parish ministry.
From hospitality hacks to creative approaches in evangelism and discipleship, these webinars are designed to spark fresh thinking and equip you with tools you can use tomorrow.
Every parish in Southern Virginia has access to Invite Welcome Connect through our diocesan subscription. If you’d like to learn more or explore how your congregation can get started, reach out to Canon Lynn Farlin!
CE-Net: Christian Educators Network
We are educators, laity and clergy, volunteer and professional, who work with Christian Formation in parishes around our diocese. CE-Net is committed to life-long, transformational Christian Education through leading, serving, pastoring and developing partnerships in the name of Christ. CE-Net meets five or six times a year for programs, support and sharing.
For more information on CE-Net contact:
Colleague Groups
Would you be interested in forming a colleague group in your area of the Diocese? If you would be interested in forming a group, contact Canon Lynn Farlin.
Formation In Southern Virginia
Facebook Page
CE-Net Contact List
Are you responsible for providing some aspect of Christian education/formation for children, youth, families, or adults in your church? If so, we need your help to update our diocesan Christian Education Network (CE-Net) contact list. This updated contact list will be used to share information about resources and upcoming events with the folks who are engaged in formation ministries.
Click here to submit your response. If you have any questions, contact Canon Lynn Farlin lfarlin@diosova.org. Thanks in advance for your help!
JustFaith Conversation
Hosted by CE-Net: April 2025
JustFaith was founded as a “community of people compelled by the Gospel to build a more just and peaceful world.” At its core, their program offerings challenge participants to explore and live into the intersection of how we love God and our neighbors.
Canon Lynn Farlin invites you to learn about the scope of the JustFaith offerings and hear from others in our diocese who have facilitated these programs.
Disciples and Dragons
Hosted by CE-Net: July 2025
Looking for a fresh way to engage youth with Scripture? In this recorded webinar, Rev. Joe Kennedy introduces Disciples and Dragons - a creative, D&D-style roleplaying curriculum that brings Bible stories to life through adventure, character-building, and meaningful conversations around identity, truth, and justice.
Watch now and get inspired to bring this powerful tool into your ministry!
Prison Ministry & Pastoral Care with GraceInside
Hosted by CE-Net: July 2026
Learn how your congregation can support and participate in vital prison ministry across Virginia. In this CE-NET presentation, the Rev. Aaron Brittain introduces GraceInside, an organization providing chaplaincy services and pastoral care to incarcerated individuals for over 100 years.
Discover the essential work of prison chaplains and practical ways your faith community can get involved.
Formation Resource List
Below is a collection of our favorite resources to aid in the formation process.
- Grow Christians
- A Sanctified Art
- Edible Theology
- Christina V. Hines
- Rows of Sharon
- Living Compass
- The Good Book Club
- Bible Project
- Messy Church USA
- Flame
- Pray As You Go
- Illustrated Ministry
- Church Next
- Sparkhouse Digital
- Lesson Plans That Work
- GenOn Ministries
- Intergen
- Twinkl
- God’s Word My Voice
- Common Prayer for Children & Family
- Lambsongs
- Sermons 4 Kids
- Yale Divinity School Youth Ministry Institute
Bible Translation
What’s the Difference between English Bible Translations?
Explore the rich tapestry of English Bible translations with the concise guide, "What’s the Difference between English Bible Translations?: A Quick Guide." Delve into the subtle variations found in familiar verses such as Psalm 23:1 and John 3:16, and uncover the interpretive and cultural influences that shape each translation.
From the historic King James Version to modern renditions like The Message and the Common English Bible, this article provides a thoughtful examination of how different translations can impact our understanding of scripture - offering valuable insights into the diverse approaches to translating the Bible.
Virtual Formation Resources
Stations of the Nativity
Spend some time during the season of Advent “walking” through the virtual gallery to reflect on the scripture passages and featured artwork for each station. The Stations of the Nativity provides the opportunity to connect words of scripture with art that was created by a number of gifted artists.
Advent World
AdventWord is an inspirational online Advent calendar featuring a daily prompt word selected from the Sunday Lectionary readings. Followers receive a daily meditation and image inspired by the day’s word, and are invited to share their own personal reflections, art, poetry, or other creative expression.
Sanctified Art
Resources for Advent and Christmas - Sanctified Art wants to equip you with comprehensive materials for a whole season. Each year, they release a new Advent bundle in August so you have time to plan for the upcoming season. Browse this blog post to see all 70+ of their individual resources for Advent through Christmas.
Lenten Resources from The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church’s offering Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent is a 7-session video based adult curriculum that can be used in small groups or for individual reflection and learning. The program also includes a Quiet Day for Lent Curriculum.
Some tips for navigating the Stations of the Nativity gallery: The tour provides stops at each of the stations to help make navigation in the gallery easier. The program has an auto timer for each station but you can pause the tour, go back, go forward or select a specific station. If you click on the image the artist’s credits will appear.
Way of the Cross video and reflection guide
The Department of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary is pleased to offer a video version of The Way of the Cross and a reflection guide. Through scripture, art, and music, the video invites us to walk with Christians of every generation on a virtual pilgrimage, meditating on our Lord’s passion and death.
The Season of Creation
September 1st through October 4th is celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation. Visit the webpage to leanr more.
Bible Project
Experience the story of Jesus like never before with a reading plan from BibleProject. Reflect on major themes in Scripture as you read through the entire Bible in one year. Sign up for a weekly email, where you’ll find passages to read, a video to watch, and thought-provoking questions.
The Work of the People
A spiritual visual library. They offer a number of FREE films for streaming and their videos can be streamed in Zoom gatherings (here's how to do that).