Wednesday, February 17, 2021, is the start of the Lenten Season. We’ve recently compiled and printed our annual Lenten Journey – a devotional for each day of Lent, with submissions by staff and residents. Lent is a time of preparing ourselves for following Christ through his ministry, his sacrifice and on to Easter. Many of the submissions thoughtfully […]
Today’s Live Update on our in-house TV970 covered the latest news at Westminster Canterbury Richmond. It featured John Burns, President and CEO; Debra Jacobsen, Administrator Residential Living; Tom Henning, Director Construction Management; and Lynn McClintock, Director Pastoral Care. The next Live Update will be Tuesday, February 2. The following updates were shared. John Burns Vaccination […]
Thanks to YOU, Westminster Canterbury Richmond was voted “The Best” by Richmond Magazine and Virginia Living magazine. Winning these awards each year means so much because it lets us know that you see and value the work done here – the work that YOU, our generous donors and supporters make possible. It takes a village. […]
Isn’t it about time for some good news? Excitement is rising at Westminster Canterbury Richmond as our new Spiritual Center nears completion! The one-year project is living up to our promise to put our mission first, lean into our spiritual roots and prioritize spiritual care for residents, staff, families and guests. Spacious and beautiful, the […]
Join us as we give glory to God for the R. Cary Montague Memorial Chapel and remember the many special moments held in this beloved chapel since 1975. We also give thanks for our lovely Memorial Garden—a final resting place for loved ones. A virtual Service of Thanksgiving will air via our closed circuit television […]
This has been a “holy season” like none other. While those of the Jewish faith were celebrating Passover—and Christians, Holy Week and Easter—we may feel more like we are still wandering in the wilderness rather than brought to the promised land or entered into resurrection joy. In this time of COVID-19 what we are to […]
During our lifetimes, we are faced with challenges that can stress our bodies and minds. Even in the retirement years, stress presents itself in many different ways. Ongoing stress contributes to many physical and mental health problems. Learning different techniques for managing stress is a key factor to staying happy and healthy! Here at Westminster […]
Westminster Canterbury Richmond is growing from our roots in faith. We are grateful for a long legacy of generosity that has helped us get to where we are today. That generosity began as long ago as 1971, when Mary Morton Parsons herself was a huge part of the inception of our community. She made a […]
Every year since 1996, Westminster Canterbury Richmond residents and staff write Lenten devotionals published in our annual Lenten Journey. These beautiful booklets are printed and distributed to churches throughout the Richmond region. The devotional is also available on our website. The project’s purpose is beautifully described in the Introduction, written by the Rev. Dr. Jim […]
“Without Westminster Canterbury Richmond’s Fellowship Program, I don’t know what would have become of me. After my parents’ and my husband’s illnesses and the cost of their medical care, I had very few options. The Fellowship Program literally saved my life. Now, I no longer spend my nights awake, wondering if I should buy food […]
Westminster Canterbury Richmond’s Cultural and Educational Series allows residents and guests to experience a wide variety of engaging and entertaining performances, lectures, excursions and more. This collection of events and activities showcases how each department is connected and works together to put on a show for all audiences. In this season’s playbill, residents are able […]
Spiritual wellness is core to a healthy and purposeful life – for people of all ages, but particularly as we age. Elderhood offers a stage of life when we can deepen our pursuit of the things that matter most. For many people, deepening their spiritual lives increases a sense of peace and forgiveness. Experiencing worship […]
Westminster Canterbury Richmond is growing from our roots in faith in a new way. On Wednesday, May 22, we will celebrate the groundbreaking for a new Spiritual Enrichment Center located front and center on our campus on 1600 Westbrook Avenue. Westminster Canterbury was founded by the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches in 1971 and opened in […]
Lent is a time for reflection and prayer leading us to one of the most important days of the Christian year, Easter Sunday. Over time, Lent has come to resonate with people of varied faith traditions, including those who may not practice a formal religion. Why? True, observance of Lent can follow the more traditional […]
Westminster Canterbury Richmond is committed to providing overall wellness opportunities for our residents. Two dimensions of comprehensive wellness include physical and spiritual wellness. Tai Chi is a form of exercise that combines the two. Gary Decatur came to Westminster Canterbury to teach a series of Tai Chi Classes. Watch this video to learn about some […]
During this Lenten season, many at Westminster Canterbury Richmond, and many out in the community and at churches across the Richmond region enjoy reading daily devotions like those found in A Lenten Journey. For twenty-one years Westminster Canterbury has produced this devotional guide featuring stories and thoughts from residents and staff. This year, 7,000 booklets […]
Hello – I’m John Burns, the President and CEO of Westminster Canterbury, and I enjoy writing to you from time-to-time through this blog. Recently, our Pastoral Care team published our 2018 devotion booklet, A Lenten Journey, our 21st collection of writings by staff and residents. Annually we distribute 7,000 of these to local churches and […]
Though we wish it weren’t true, statistics demonstrate that the institutional church in America is changing – with church membership declining and more people choosing “none” to describe their church affiliation. On November 30, 2017, at 4 p.m., at our annual David F. Peters Lecture, guest speaker Steve Eason tackles this issue with candor and […]
Each year the Westminster Canterbury Richmond Pastoral Care team hosts an All Saints’ Day Service of remembrance. You are invited to join us for this service on November 5, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. in Cochrane Commons, as we remember and honor 89 residents and 4 board and staff members who have died since November 1, […]
Vibrant pastoral care programming has been part of Westminster Canterbury Richmond since we opened our doors in 1975. This tradition continues with extensive educational programs available to all residents. Education is an important part of one’s spiritual development, and our pastoral care department provides many opportunities for nurturing the spirit. Here are some examples of […]
Twenty years ago Westminster Canterbury Richmond resident Marguerite Wingo had a vision. While most Lenten meditation booklets were expansions of Bible verses, Mrs. Wingo wanted more. She wanted people to write something from their experiences that meant so much to them that it would inspire someone else to come closer to God. Residents and staff […]
The early signs can vary. Early signs of dementia may be very subtle and vary a great deal. You might notice that your mother keeps forgetting her best friend’s telephone number or your father no longer shaves every day. Should you be alarmed? Maybe. But you should be careful how you proceed to ensure you […]
Exciting New Resource Available from Westminster Canterbury Richmond More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease today—a number expected to triple in the next 30 years. Many more experience other forms of dementia. For faith communities, this represents a crucial opportunity for ministry and practical care—one that many aren’t adequately prepared for. Amidst […]
The star reminds us of God’s promise. Drivers whirling down Interstate 95 now have a holiday focal point to guide their travel. Last week, we continued a 38-year-old tradition by lighting the Advent star with a program that included music and poetry and prayer. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not […]
Thanksgiving is a season of gratitude. Thanksgiving is a celebration of our values. It is a time to worship and praise God for our blessings. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a feast that for many years was considered the first Thanksgiving in the New World. Virginia historians credited Berkeley Plantation with […]
We thank you for your service. Sacrifice. Duty. Honor. These qualities embody the patriots in the American story. Each Veterans Day we salute the soldiers who served in order to protect and defend our Republic. But how did this national holiday begin? Veterans Day has its roots in the temporary cessation or armistice of the […]
An outstretched hand is an invitation to fill a need with a hug, smile or special program. Sometimes just our hands tell a full story. That is certainly true here at Westminster Canterbury Richmond. Hands fold in prayer and join in showing appreciation for an inspiring performance. Hands of caretakers offer loving care. The hands […]
A daily devotion sets the stage for kindness and hugs. When the Westminster Canterbury Richmond housekeeping staff makes its daily rounds, tidying up a resident’s apartment is not the only agenda. “Housekeepers and residents share a spiritual and emotional bond and that is key,” says Naomi Hines, manager housekeeping and laundry. “Our staff gets to […]
Journey to the cross. The Lenten season begins with ashes and continues with a journey of 40 days. The Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches founded Westminster Canterbury Richmond, and we opened in 1975 as a faith-based charitable organization. We celebrate the journey to the cross during Holy Week. Lent is a time when we remember the […]
We explore sacraments and traditions to draw us back and help us remember. Living in the recesses of our minds are scriptures and poetry and stories, waiting to be recalled. All of these can be windows into the soul of an individual living with dementia. A special seminar, “When Words Fail,” offers clergy resources for […]
Our Cultural & Educational Series provides entertainment and inspiration. Music, lectures and performances are always on the Westminster Canterbury Richmond calendar. There are special movie previews, Seminary Mondays, cultural film series, theater performances and Pastoral Care events. Stimulating the mind and cultivating a more enriching spiritual life top the list of priorities here. Our winter […]
Remembering our past connects us to the present. Our past is our present. We remember our friends, families, good times and bad times. It is what makes our life unique. But what if you can no longer access your memories? Losing the gateway to life’s precious, irreplaceable moments can be devastating. The memory support program […]
Celebrating light against darkness. Westminster Canterbury Richmond celebrated Christmas in grand style! The halls were decked with trees, wreaths and twinkling lights, and live greenery outside extended the festive décor. We closed the season on Epiphany with the “Burning of the Christmas Greens,” an ancient and less-known tradition where holiday greens are burnt as a […]
Join us for a special healing service. Every Tuesday something special happens in the Montague Chapel. Our pastoral care staff brings together residents and staff for a service of music, prayers and comfort. Participants pray for members of our community in a holy and supportive setting. Our Healing Anew video has the details. click here