Seasons of the Spirit: Pentecost 2 (Issue 29)

SPIRIT S A I N T S T E P H E N ’ S E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H

PENTECOST

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Listen: a friend is trying to get your attention

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magine that a friend has been following you around for years, trying to get your attention. This friend has called your name from about a block behind you, calling, “Wait up! There are some important things you need to know about your life!” What this friend wants to tell you will be hard to hear. “But it’ll be healing, I promise! We really need to talk!”

This friend sounds gentle and kind. But you’ve kept on walking and refused to turn around. After all, you have a lot going on in your life, and you really don’t have time for this person or this message, whatever it might be.

in contemplative practices, along with sheer delight and joy in children. She joins Allison, one of the finest teachers and writers I know, and Sarah-Keel and Andy, young people whose wisdom, experience, and commitment belie their years.

By Gary D. Jones

So, your friend draws closer and calls your name more insistently. The friend starts to shout. But you keep walking.

Eventually, when even shouting doesn’t work, this friend gets frustrated and begins to pelt you with rocks and sticks, anything to get you to stop and turn around, and shouts, “This is important!” This gets painful and annoying. You start to feel a little anxious. But still, you keep walking away.

Finally, since friendly calls, insistent shouts, sticks and stones all fail to get you to stop and turn around, there was only one thing your friend could do: drop a boulder on you, so that you finally have to stop and ask, “What do you want?!” The boulder is called Depression.

This is how the author Parker Palmer describes what happened to him. Let Your Life Speak is the book in which Palmer first wrote about this friend with whom every one of us is born – this is the one Thomas Merton called our “true self,” as opposed to our ego or false self. This is our soul, the Christ who is our true life, and although this friend is easy to ignore when we are busy and there are so many other voices calling to us at various stages of our lives, there usually comes a time when we realize that we really have to stop and turn around.

“Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it,” Parker Palmer writes, “listen for what it intends to do with you.” Depression can be situational or the result of chemical causes, but it is also frequently true, as one medical professional has said, that “the etiology of depression is trying to be someone you are not, over a long period of time.”

At various points in our lives, we all need to stop, turn around, and listen. As difficult, inconvenient, or bothersome as it might be to do so, the promise is to set us on a healing path to our true life, to peace and contentment, to what Jesus called “abundant life.”

Throughout this issue of Seasons of the Spirit, you’ll notice many ways in which St. Stephen’s Church invites us to stop, turn around, and listen. And notice some of the fruits of people doing so, people like Deborah Streicker visiting our missionaries in Argentina.

Our family ministry program and staff –the Rev. Becky McDaniel, Allison Seay, Sarah-Keel Crews, and Andy Russell–are energetic leaders of depth and maturity who represent our church’s commitment to helping young people and parents stop, turn, and listen to the reliable and friendly voice of Christ in our volatile world.

With Becky’s arrival over the summer, we have assembled an outstanding team for ministry with children, youth, and parents. Becky brings deep learning and experience

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These young professionals are hard at work on ministries of greatest importance to us: • nurturing God-given awe and wonder (faith and prayer) in children, • companioning youth as they maintain attention to their inner teacher in the midst of many other voices calling to them among their peers, in school, and in social media; • cultivating supportive communities of parents who are navigating the complex world of careers, technology, and social pressures previously unheard of.

Episcopal Community Services is our parish’s newest initiative in Richmond’s East End, an attempt to stop, turn, and listen to the voices of some of our city’s most marginalized and vulnerable citizens. Christ promised that we would find him there, and as we did for these, we would be doing for him. ECS is the result of many different people listening and responding. The Rev. Andrew Terry, vicar of St. Peter’s Church in the East End and the first executive director of ECS, spent months walking the neighborhood and listening to the dispossessed he found there, people who told him how eager they were to find work and provide for themselves and their families.

He listened to people working two or three low-wage jobs at once, juggling issues of childcare and housing, and never being able to get ahead.

ECS is also the result of work by people like our director of outreach, Deb Lawrence, whose leadership and insights about the dynamics of poverty are among the most respected in the city. Carol Dickinson, a long-time advocate for the poor and a principle leader in our church’s capital campaign, has been a driving force, as has Gussie Bannard, a recent senior warden of St. Stephen’s and devoted volunteer at Anna Julia Cooper School and St. Peter’s Church. Our present senior warden, John Bates, has generously given legal advice in forming the organization. This is a very big deal for the City of Richmond, and it represents an opportunity for people of faith to listen deeply to the voice of Christ.

Our Emmaus Groups are all about stepping off the treadmill and listening more effectively to God and each other. A new “Introduction to the Old Testament” class offers a way to listen for the voice of God in Scripture. I’ll be offering a series in the Sunday Forum on Jesus, the one who calls us each by name. Special musical offerings will beckon to places of wonder and transcendence. Millie Cain, Jo Ann Deforge and others continue leading us in contemplative ministries, attuning us to what St. John of the Cross called “God’s first language,” silence. And there is much more – all because a friend is trying to get our attention, and the church is devoted to helping us stop, turn, and listen. ✤

In this issue

Confirmation: listening for the voice of God 2 Young people, unplugged 3 Outreach and service in many forms 5 Envisioning our future 6 Speakers coming this fall 8 Retreats for Advent and Lent 9 May Fair House is 40 10 Two exciting concerts 11 Get connected through service 12 Get connected online 19

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Listening for the voice of God Youth confirmation at St. Stephen’s Church

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ne of my new responsibilities this year is helping to coordinate the confirmation process for young people, most of whom are in 9th grade. As a former 9th grade English teacher, I like to think I am sympathetic to the challenges facing 15-year-olds; it seems everyone is demanding something of them—from their parents and teachers to their coaches and counselors to their friend groups and youth ministers. On the one hand, to invite them to think about something

By Allison Seay as significant as their spiritual life in the midst of the emotional storm that is high school feels wildly inappropriate. Yet in the sound and fury of their busy and stressful lives, the still, small voice of God is of course there and with them always. What better time to listen for it than now?

It is a great privilege of mine not to tell them about this voice, but to ask them if they would like to listen—and listen carefully—and to remind them that even when they are distracted and perhaps not hearing much of anything, God listens and knows them in a way they can neither undo nor escape. The confirmation process is an invitation and an offering and it is of course their choice to continue in the life of a church community, and their commitment to make. Our family ministry staff says it often: while parents may require their children to go through the process of preparation, it is important that the decision to be confirmed belong to the young person. It is their opportunity to say (or not), “Yes! Amen!” to the gift of baptism and to accept the transfer of responsibility from their parents.

While parents may require their children to go through the process of preparation, it is important that the decision to be confirmed belong to the young person. It is their opportunity to say (or not), ‘Yes! Amen!’ to the gift of baptism and to accept the transfer of responsibility from their parents.

I do not take my role in preparing them for such a commitment lightly. It was only four years ago that I was baptized and confirmed myself. As a thirtysomething new to the church, my learning curve is a steep one—bewildering, at times, but enriching, life-giving, and transformative. It is hard to say how I would have handled preparing for confirmation as a 15-year-old. I like to think I would have appreciated the experience, but I think it is much more likely I would have been ambivalent at best and, I daresay, resistant if not defiant at worst. I know that much about high school has changed since I graduated, but there’s something about being 15 that’s universally difficult no matter how long ago we were there.

After all, the challenges of 9th grade are the challenges of a lifetime: figuring out not only who to listen to and when, but how to be heard oneself; figuring out how to reconcile the private and public selves; figuring out how to navigate a morally ambiguous world; figuring out not how to avoid being hurt, but how to deal with and then heal from pain with dignity.

Preparing for confirmation is, at its best, an invitation to listen, to think, to sort. It can provide a space not to clarify but to engage, not to answer questions but to ask them. When the forces of the world are stretching young people thinner and thinner, demanding of them more and more, and raising the stakes for their success higher

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION? • A mature affirmation/claiming of one’s baptism The eternal reality that every person belongs to God and is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

• A transfer of responsibility from parent to child At baptism, parents were asked, “Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present is brought up in the Christian faith and life?” For 14 or 15 years, parents have carried that responsibility and now it is passed to the child.

• A mutual commitment with a particular community of Christians At the service of confirmation, the congregation will be asked, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?”

• A traditional rite of passage A celebration of emerging adulthood that connects the young person to parents, grandparents, all those who have come before, and all those who will follow.

• The next step For many, confirmation means an intentional choice to continue exploring one’s relationship with God—a relationship which often includes doubts and questions.

HOW DO YOUNG PEOPLE PREPARE FOR CONFIRMATION AT ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH? Philip’s Way: When Jesus has entered Jerusalem, some Greeks come to Philip looking for Jesus. (John 12:20-22) Strangely, Philip tells Andrew, and together they go to Jesus. This intriguing detail reminds us that the path to Christ, the path to spiritual maturity, is one that we walk together, in community. Philip’s Way groups are small Bible study groups—roughly 10 youth confirmands and two adult mentors—who meet twice a month on Sunday mornings from 10:10 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Over the course of the year, these groups will read through the Gospel of Mark in its entirety and reflect on it. Philip’s Way groups also get to know each other through games and sharing highs and lows of the week.

The Inquirers Class: This class, which is also for adults, welcomes teens who wish to prepare for confirmation. This class is a seven-week series taught by the clergy of St. Stephen’s. The fall and spring series meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. (typically October-November and April-May). The winter series (January-February) meets on Sunday mornings from 10:10 until 11:00 a.m. This approach is lecture-based rather than discussion-based, and includes an instructed Eucharist with the rector. While the majority of 9th graders tend to choose Philip’s Way, the more confined commitment of the Inquirers Class works best for some. The clergy ask that class members commit to all seven meetings. and higher, the church is here to offer something else, something counter-cultural, something deeper, something free from evaluation and correctness, something we hope is light rather than weight. The church is here to nourish that still, small voice of God within and to prepare the heart to hear it well. ✤ Allison Seay is associate for religion and the arts, a former high school English teacher, and a member of our family ministry team.

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SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

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Unplugged and unjudged: a mindfulness practice benefits any age students—whether elementary, middle or upper schoolers—answered, “The silence before we begin,” or “When you ring the singing bowl.” Sometimes students requested longer periods of silence, or after a 20-minute guided meditation session, asked, “Can we do that again?”

After working as a full-time school chaplain, I am excited to join the St. Stephen’s community and return to parish life, an entirely different rhythm from the day-today academic routine. It can be a challenge to ride the waves of parish life, which is why most healthy congregations maintain steadiness through the offerings of Morning Prayer and/or Evening Prayer, designated times to be still, reflect, and be with God and the community of prayerful individuals who carry the tradition of the Daily Office. What holds this kind of life together is the time we devote to being, rather than doing. It is the time we dedicate to the holding of silence, that holy space from which all mindful action arises.

Dr. Daniel Siegel, the bestselling author of The Whole-Brain Child and Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, writes that training in mindfulness skills “grows connections among our neurons that help create a more integrated set of circuits in the brain. And these integrated circuits support how we balance our emotions, focus our attention, understand others and ourselves, approach problems, and interact with others.” Learning to observe our thoughts and emotions builds empathy and insight, and there is no better time to initiate these life skills than during the time when our brains are developing the most rapidly, our youth.

This fall I plan to offer several sessions of mindfulness for youth. I hope that you will consider enrolling your child. Watch the Spirit, the eSpirit, and the family ministry e-newsletter for dates, times, and sign-up information. ✤

Having served as a chaplain in two very different Episcopal schools with distinct approaches to worship and ritual, I quickly discovered a common thread: an unconscious yearning for silence. When asked what they appreciated most about chapel,

The Rev. Becky McDaniel joined St. Stephen’s staff as associate rector in July and leads our family ministry team. She is also a yoga instructor and will lead a yoga class on Wednesday afternoons beginning this fall. (See page 13.)

Disconnected: coming of age with smartphones

Lift high the cross

Jean Twenge, psychologist, professor, and researcher, speaks at St. Stephen’s October 11 Adults who care about their children, their grandchildren, young members of their faith communities, and their students, are concerned about the influences shaping them. They worry about a generation of young people who have not only grown up with smartphones and social media, but who have never known a world without the internet.

Of course, adults themselves suffer from the effects of this technology, as well, including unhealthy preoccupation or even addiction. There is special concern, however, about the impact on children as they grow and develop, and a generation who has never known a world without these devices and influences.

As loving adults, we need help to understand such factors and learn to harness positive trends while mitigating negative ones. Jean M. Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University, and author of iGen: Why Today’s SuperConnected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy–and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood, is in a unique position to speak to these issues. St. Stephen’s Church has invited her to speak at a community-wide event on Thursday, October 11 at 7 p.m.

The original research she presents in iGen shows that teens who spend more time on screens are less happy. For example, 8th graders who spend 10 or more hours a week on social media sites are 56 percent more likely to be unhappy than those who spend less time on those sites. The link holds when gender, race, and socioeconomic status are taken into account. Though some might wonder if such statistics merely reflect that depressed teens are more frequent users of social media, Dr. Twenge cites additional data. Two longitudinal studies, for example, found that while social media use leads to unhappiness, unhappiness does not lead to social media use. A third study actually shows causation. People were randomly assigned to either give up Facebook for a week or continue their normal Facebook use. Those who gave up Facebook ended the week less depressed and less lonely. Dr. Twenge also points to the sharp increase in depression in this age group in the years after smart phones were introduced and became widely used.

In addition to conducting research, writing and teaching, she gives talks and seminars about her findings. Dr. Twenge’s audiences have included educators, military personnel, camp directors, and corporate executives. Her research has been covered in Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, and The Washington Post, and she has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Fox and Friends, NBC Nightly News, Dateline NBC, and National Public Radio.

To reserve your seat for this compelling and timely presentation, visit ststephensRVA.org/speakers. ✤ S A I N T S T E P H E N ’ S E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H

Acolyte service is a spiritual practice

By Andy Russell Many high school students at St. Stephen’s Church serve as acolytes during our regular Sunday morning services, as well as during special services, including seasonal liturgies, weddings, and funerals. They are trained by our family ministry staff and led by our most experienced acolytes. In fact, we designate a corps of acolyte “wardens,” high school juniors and seniors who have provided dedicated service. Not only do these wardens mentor younger acolytes, they serve as crucifers, leading the procession, cross held high.

We are proud of our acolyte wardens. Their individual and collective commitment, ability, and leadership help to make worship the moving experience it is at St. Stephen’s.

But the story isn’t just about them. Listening to acolytes of all ages reflect on what serving on Sunday mornings means to them, I am convinced that serving as an acolyte is truly a spiritual practice. These young people engage in a routine, physical activity that leads to encounters with God. It’s not always easy making the spiritual practice happen. Sometimes it’s difficult getting out of bed for the 8 a.m. service on Sunday (one of two days God set aside for sleeping in). Sometimes it’s tiresome to show up for the Maundy Thursday service (being an acolyte wasn’t supposed to infringe on my life during the week!). At times it doesn’t feel meaningful to participate in worship. And yet, sometimes, when the acolyte’s, and indeed our, hearts are open, we experience the awesome reality of God’s presence. Don’t take my word for it. The acolytes themselves have told us what they have found deeply moving during their service: lighting the Paschal candle to signify Christ’s resurrection during the Easter Vigil; serving communion to a young boy who afterwards solemnly closes his eyes and prays at the altar rail; watching a beam of light illuminate a healing prayer minister; serving alongside one’s sisters and brothers in Christ. Acolytes have shared these moments of God’s presence with me.

These moments cannot be fully described with words. They must be experienced.

And so, youth continue to show up. They continue to lead us, ready for glimpses of the Divine. ✤ Would you like to serve on an acolyte team? Contact Andy Russell, minister to children and youth, arussell@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867.

ACOLYTE WARDENS, 2018-19

Mary Clare Abbott Gracie Caplice Bobby Lee Cary Mauck Katie McCarthy

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Briget Ganske

Sarah Bartenstein

Perhaps it is surprising to learn that teenagers are happy to turn off their phones, drop them into a basket, and stretch out on the floor with their eyes closed while

By Becky McDaniel an adult voice drones on about how to breathe and where to focus in the body, but my students absolutely embraced their time of unplugged, unjudged mindfulness. It was a gift in the midst of an information-saturated week of tasks and assessments.

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Belle O’Keefe Catherine Ottley Chas Purrington Latane Reid

Laura Wallace Walker Wallace Eliza Wilson Maggie Young

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Food and beverages at the Bluegrass Bash will be available from the following vendors:

Carytown Burgers and Fries Goatocado Jadean’s Smokin Six-O BBQ River City Wood Fire Pizza Cheeszilla (grilled cheese) Growlers-to-Go Tap Trailer (beer) Label to Table Wines

Where does the money go?

The money raised by the annual golf tournament and Bluegrass Bash directly supports our outreach ministries by allowing the outreach committee of the vestry to award more substantial grants to our community partners than we otherwise could.

The recipients of grants in 2018 are: Area Congregations Together in Service (ACTS) Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School CARITAS ChildSavers Communities in Schools CrossOver Health Care Ministry Housing Families First Peter Paul Development Center Rebuilding Together Richmond St. Andrew’s School St. John’s Church Foundation St. Stephen’s Preschool Shalom Farms The Healing Place VIPCare Virginia Supportive Housing Westminster-Canterbury Fellowship Fund In-house outreach efforts and ministries of St. Stephen’s Mission trips and ministries in the U.S. and abroad

Bluegrass, green grass

Bluegrass Bash, golf tournament raise funds for outreach while providing fun for all

By Deb Lawrence St. Stephen’s will kick off the new program year with two annual events which offer fun and fellowship for the entire community, while raising additional funds for outreach. Note that the dates are slightly different than they’ve been for the past several years, coming about a week apart instead of back-to-back.

On Friday, September 14, all ages are invited to the Bluegrass Bash from 5 until 8 p.m. in the church parking lot. This event is not only enjoyable for St. Stephen’s parishioners, but it’s always proven to be a great draw for the neighborhood and an opportunity to encourage friends, co-workers and your own neighbors to join the fun. Headlining this year is the well-known Commonwealth Bluegrass Band, with the Richmond Rounders opening the show. In addition to great bluegrass, there are food trucks, local beer and wine as well as non-alcoholic beverages, and free activities for kids. Admission prices remain the same as last year: advance tickets are $7 for children (ages 2-11), $15 for ages 12 and up, and the family maximum is $30. Be sure to reserve your tickets in advance, as prices go up the day of the event ($10/$20/$40). You may purchase tickets in the parish office 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at ststephensRVA.org/bluegrass.

The following week, our outreach golf tournament takes place on Thursday, September 20 at Meadowbrook Country Club, with lunch at noon and a 1:00 p.m. shotgun start. Arrange a foursome to take part in the event, or register as an individual and we will team you up with other players. It’s an afternoon of fun and good-natured competition—there’s no pressure to be an expert golfer!—and it’s all to support outreach ministries. Even if you don’t play golf, sponsorship opportunities at a variety of levels are available. Find information and registration at ststephensRVA.org/golf and at the outreach table near the elevator and the parish office. ✤

ST. STEPHEN’S, FAIRFIELD SCHOOL MARK 20 YEARS The people of St. Stephen’s Church are blessed by a partnership with Fairfield Court Elementary School which includes parishioners spending time with students as lunch buddies, tutors, classroom assistants, and readers.

Volunteers also provide receptions and meals for the school community at various times of the year; shop for school supplies in the summertime to make sure that Fairfield students have what they need when school opens in September; and provide holiday meals and gifts. This partnership has completed its 20th year! Recently, teachers, staff and students at the school marked this anniversary with a beautiful handmade banner expressing their gratitude. You can see it in the hallway near the elevator and stairs.

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Briget Ganske photos

Food and drink

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hen I first started working for Communities in Schools as a site coordinator at Fairfield Court Elementary School in the East End, I was so excited. In my mind, I had developed a huge agenda. I knew what the kids were lacking and I had a good idea of how I was going to go about filling gaps and needs. In a school with 550+ students, each of whom qualified to receive free or reduced lunch, I thought it would be pretty easy to find and distribute resources to a

By Jessica Smith population living below the federal poverty line. I would solicit and distribute school supplies, clothing and food; I’d help students get eyeglasses; I’d coordinate a career and health fair, implement an anti-bullying program, and recruit enough volunteers so that every teacher had an assistant in their classroom.

I was sure I’d be able to fulfill everyone’s greatest needs and that I’d gain their trust as a result. People would share their stories with me. We’d have a great relationship.

When I got there, though, I quickly realized that aside from distributing school supplies, there the infrastructure within the school to support anything on my agenda. No one was sharing their stories with me or even asking me for anything. Clearly the needs were great but the formula that worked for other site coordinators wasn’t going to work for me at Fairfield. This was a school unlike any I had ever worked in and the needs I saw were way beyond my scope or sphere of influence, I thought. I began to feel hopeless, not knowing what I could do to make a difference. I believed it showed, making it more challenging to build relationships with staff and parents. It was a long year.

The next year, Communities in Schools, in partnership with FeedMore, received a grant to host mobile food pantries at Fairfield. This would allow each family to receive two large bags of groceries each month. I thought, This is great! Here is a need that I’m told is huge and we will distribute during PTA meetings thus increasing parental engagement, which was depressingly low. Throughout the year, with help from amazing St. Stephen’s volunteers, we distributed lots and lots of food. At each distribution, I handed out surveys to capture data: how many people were we feeding?

What were the ages of people in a household? Does this help people worry less about food security? I left an open space at the bottom for comments.

The surveys were not generally turned into me completed. The “yes,” “no,” or “fill in” spaces were left blank a lot of the time. The comments section, however, was not. What people wrote changed my entire approach to service. I didn’t get much at all of the comments that I expected like, “This food is really helpful,” or “This distribution frees up money that I can use to pay my electric bill.” No—instead I got comments like these: “I like how I feel respected when I come here…It is so nice to be treated with warmth and dignity…Thank you for being nice…I really appreciate all the smiles.” Clearly, there was a need as great as food: the need for parents to be treated with dignity and respect. To be greeted warmly. To have someone take time to look them in the eye, smile, and say, “It’s nice to see you; thank you for coming.” To be treated like a valuable human being. Isn’t that what we all need?

I learned so much from those food distributions about what I was doing by serving at Fairfield and I realized how much of a difference I could make, not by bringing resources, but by bringing myself. I could do it simply by being with other people and treating them the way that I like to be treated. That was the

St. Stephen’s volunteers head into Fairfield School.

year I began to build a rapport with families and started to feel accepted. I felt warmth, love and trust. The hopelessness began to dissipate because I knew I was filling a basic human need and I was doing it by just showing up and being me.

People began to confide in me and give me real insight into their challenges. We’d work together to figure out what they needed and I would try to help them get it, whether it was something tangible or intangible. I had found a purpose and I discovered how I mattered there. A new agenda formed.

The needs in the East End of Richmond are great. But the greatest one is the easiest to fill: for people to show up and be themselves. To come, to smile, to be authentic. This is a giving, loving, sharing, caring parish. When we concentrate on bringing our selves to the children and staff at Fairfield, or Peter Paul Development Center, or Anna Julia Cooper School, we are providing what is needed and we are making a difference. At the same time, we are learning. We are being served. These relationships are to our mutual benefit.

For help with how, when and where to bring your self, please contact me in the parish office, 804.288.2867 or jsmith@ststephensRVA.org. ✤

LEARNING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE

Windshield tours are a great way to familiarize yourself with the area of Richmond where most of our outreach partners are located. The tours begin and end at St. Stephen’s and take about 90 minutes aboard the St. Stephen’s bus.

We visit sites such as the Slave Trail, Fairfield Court Elementary School, Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School, Peter Paul Development Center and the location of the new Episcopal Community Services’ Employment Assistance Program.

If you have never visited North Church Hill or are curious about volunteering there, this is a great introduction to the area, our partners, the ongoing needs of the community and why we are so dedicated to this area of the city. Tour dates for the fall are September 19 at 1 p.m. and October 19 at 9 a.m. Space is limited, so please contact Jessica Smith as soon as possible to reserve your seat, 804.288.2867 or jsmith@ststephensRVA.org.

St. Stephen’s, St. Peter’s take next steps in employment initiative

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s announced in the Pentecost I (summer) edition of Seasons of the Spirit, regarded throughout the community. ECS is based at St. Peter’s, where Andrew the main beneficiary of centennial capital campaign funds which were serves as their priest and pastor. set aside for a major outreach project has been identified, and the work continues to progress. With St. Peter’s Church, the historically African American Over the summer, Andrew, Deb, and others on the board have been conducting a Episcopal parish in the East End, we have search for an employment coordinator. We expect to established Episcopal Community Services, a be able to announce the appointment of this person A thread running through our comprehensive organization whose initial focus soon, after which ECS will be able to begin recruiting is on employment assistance. partnerships inspired development and training volunteers, and accepting clients.

A thread running through our partnerships inspired development of specific plans to provide intensive support in this area. For example, many of the students we work with come from households challenged by unemployment or underemployment.

of specific plans to provide intensive support in this area. For example, many of the students we work with come from households challenged by unemployment or underemployment.

A detailed statement about this exciting program is available on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/ECS. We will communicate via the Spirit, eSpirit and other vehicles about how you can be involved.

The Rev. Andrew Terry serves as executive director, and ECS has formed a board which includes members of both St. Peter’s and St. Stephen’s, and which is chaired by Deb Lawrence. Deb is not only our highly capable director of outreach at St. Stephen’s, she is also well known and highly

Thank you for your generous support of the centennial capital campaign which is making the launch of this exciting venture possible. If you have not yet completed your capital campaign pledge, please keep in mind that the fulfillment of your pledge will make this vital outreach initiative a reality. ✤

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Senior high youth go to Azua

By Sarah-Keel Crews

pages she’d created, a bracelet, and a photo of herself. It meant more than any gift I’ve ever received.

Our trip was incredible, and I’m already wishing I was sitting around the dinner table with the group, sweating, laughing, and drinking a big glass of jugo de chinola (passionfruit juice).

Sarah-Keel Crews

I’m not the only one who thought the trip was incredible. Read some of the reflections of the youth who went.

The trip woke me up to the true hardships of a developing country. Their work ethic has made me think twice about my own work ethic, and what I take for granted.

– Will Coker

One of the universal languages at Vacation Bible School: arts and crafts

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rom July 17 to 24, 11 senior high youth from St. Stephen’s Church went to Azua in the Dominican Republic, where St. Stephen’s has had a close relationship with the local Episcopal Church for several years. Accompanied

by Judy Buchanan, Alice Goodwin, Deb Lawrence, Michael Luke and me, the group took Vacation Bible School to the children of Iglesia la Reconciliación and the surrounding community. We worshiped together, ate meals together, and sang and danced together until our feet hurt and our vocal chords gave out.

After we arrived and prepared for Vacation Bible School, I stood on the second floor of La Reconciliación, looking through the metal window vents. Not only was I exhausted, but I felt like a fish out of water. I hadn’t spoken Spanish in eight years, had never been to the Dominican Republic, and definitely needed some food. A young girl came up to me, stood next to me, and looked out the window.

Feeling awkward, I turned to her and said, “Tengo sueño” (I’m tired). She gave me a shy smile before I turned back to the window. After a few seconds, she turned and grabbed my hands, initiating a hand clap game like the ones I used to play in middle school. Before long, we were laughing as she tried to teach me how to play the Dominican way. Pretty soon we became inseparable. We saw each other at every meal, helped in the same group at VBS, and were able to hang out during our afternoon adventures. Each day, I grew more confident in my Spanish, and we were able to communicate.

Not once did my new friend become frustrated by my lack of understanding or jealous that I had my own apartment, car, or job here in the United States. She seemed happy to know more about me. In Azua, such differences seem to take a back seat to the importance of relationships.

On our last night, she took my hand and led me into the church, just the two of us, so she could give me gift. She cried as she presented me with a few coloring

Envisioning our future

The Dominican Republic is one of the most friendly and love-filled places I have ever visited. Every day when we drove to the church, we were greeted by people we had never seen before waving at us and smiling at us, and when we arrived at the church, we were greeted by hugs from both the children and the adults of the church. The ladies who cooked us food and ate with us every day gave us so much love right from the moment we got there and that will definitely stay in my mind forever. – Mary Lewis Simpson My experience in the Dominican Republic was everything I hoped for. So much love and happiness within everyone. I felt united within God’s presence with the people of Azua. We became a family and I’ll never forget this. – Ainsley Hawks My time in the DR was a lifetime of emotions and experiences in one week. Never have I ever felt so loved by so many strangers. The sense of community is astounding and left me pondering why we can’t have that in America. I love America, but I want to go back. – Marshall Rotella My experience in the DR was one that I’ll never forget. I saw God in the children that I played with and in the women of the church at every meal. It’s hard to come back to the U.S. and use all the things that I took for granted. I miss everyone dearly and I left a piece of my heart in Azua. – Caroline Ferguson The DR was a lot of fun. The kids touched me with the love that they shared. The food was incredible, and I’d love to go back. – Sean Dobb I honestly had some reservations before going to the DR, but felt comforted and supported by the group leaders, my peers, and those we met in Azua. Despite language and cultural differences, I felt a sense of genuine connection to the children and the women we interacted with each day. For me, this trip reiterated a mindset I find is often overshadowed: God is love. – Addison Ratchford By far, going to the Dominican Republic was the best decision I’ve ever made. The community in Azua is so loving, kind, and welcoming. The children are so generous and sweet. I loved being able to spend time with them, and I didn’t want to leave!

– Mary Clare Abbott ✤

Also this fall, we’ll take a closer look at our many ministries – what deeply rooted values they embody, how and when they were started, along with how they have evolved over time to the present. We’ll ponder how ministries often have adapted with the winds of changing circumstances.

Learning the skills (and benefits) of foresight

As I write this, I’ve just returned from a silent retreat at the beautiful Seven Oaks Retreat Center and nature sanctuary in Madison, Virginia. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, the center places a special emphasis on the care and growth of the trees on the property. As a result, the oaks, cedars and pines grow tall and flourish on the surrounding acreage.

One evening, I watched a storm coming in,

By Susan Wilkes the enormous trees swaying gracefully with the gathering winds. Even the tallest trees that had stretched toward the light of the sun earlier that day now moved rhythmically with the blowing currents. I recalled the effects of previous storms I had seen on my walks through the woods earlier that day – some trees had toppled while others stretched to even greater heights.

What enables a tree to thrive despite the weather is, in part, the depth and breadth of it root system. The primary roots, called taproots, often extend as deep as the height of the tree, gathering nutrients from the soil and providing a strong anchor during winds.

This is true for organizations like churches, too. Parishes grow best by reaching for the light of Christ. And churches need deep and profound roots that give us a strong base during the movement of wind around us. With both rootedness and adaptability in the face of change, we become ancient and wise. We flourish.

This fall, St. Stephen’s begins a process where we will together explore future trends affecting the church, how society is evolving, and how our ministries can reach even greater heights. Parishioners can be involved first through some forecasting sessions where we’ll consider societal changes that are already—or might in the future—create some wind around St. Stephen’s. Gary Jones will share some tools from his recent trip to the Institute for the Future and lead interested parishioners in learning the skills of foresight.

Many church leadership experts believe, however, that these particular changing circumstances now are dramatic, uncharted territory. One has likened the situation churches face to what the Lewis and Clark expedition faced as it sought to remain true to its mission – to find a Northwest waterway passage to the Pacific Ocean.

When they got to the source of the Missouri River, they were sure that on the other side of this rise would be a gentle slope to the river that would carry them gently to the Pacific. Instead, when they crested the rise with their canoes, they saw the Rocky Mountains! It was an entirely new journey ahead, and what got them to this point would not take them through the Rockies.

So which is it? Is St. Stephen’s like a deeply rooted tree seeking new growth, or more like an expedition through uncharted territory? Both! Our convictions and our deepest values will allow us to grow and flourish, to press into the future with confidence even as we consider entirely new ways to fulfill our inspiring mission.

Thus, parishioners will be invited to gather with others who are involved in particular ministries to reflect on these topics. A leadership group has identified 24 vibrant ministry areas at St. Stephen’s, along with ministry liaisons for each.

Another way parishioners can be active in Envisioning Our Future is by reading a series of four brief articles and perhaps offering a comment about them on a blog dedicated to this project. Go to ststephensRVA.org/future. In his introduction to these four articles, Gary Jones writes that these remarkable times we live in provide “a great opportunity for the church to rise, flourish, and tend to the world’s greatest needs.” As it explores new and innovative ways to do so, St. Stephen’s enduring values provide it with profound rootedness and strength. ✤ Susan Wilkes is the consultant working with St. Stephen’s on the ‘Envisioning Our Future’ process.

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A prayer presence in Argentina

Parishioner Deborah Streicker visits our missionaries and the people they serve, praying for and with them on our behalf

Jesus: A Pilgrimage Sunday Forum opens with series on re-centering and re-focusing our lives through renewed attention to Jesus

By Gary D. Jones There are a couple of exceptionally poignant moments in the ancient liturgy of the Episcopal Church that address the volatility, chaos, and anxiety of our time. The first is that moment when an acolyte goes from the high altar with the Gospel book and processes it down the center aisle among the people, and we all turn to listen again to Jesus in our midst. It is much more than an educational moment; it is a mystical one, as we remember that the Lord himself is still with us, addressing us even now.

Heidi (back row, second from left), Deborah (back row, right) and Monica (front row, right) with a group of boys on their day at the centro libertad.

I stand among you as one who offers a small message of hope, that first, there are always people who dare to seek on the margin of society, who are not dependent on social acceptance, not dependent on social routine, and prefer a kind of free-floating existence under a state of risk. And among these people, if they are faithful to their own calling, to their own vocation, and to their own message from God, communication on the deepest level is possible. And the deepest level of communication is not communication, but communion. It is wordless. It is beyond words, and it is beyond speech and beyond concept. –Thomas Merton, The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton

By Sarah Bartenstein eidi Schmidt and Monica Vega are missionaries serving in a remote, desperately poor part of northern Argentina in the province of Jujuy, in a town called Libertador General San Martin. St. Stephen’s has been blessed to support these two women, whose calling is to live among the poorest of the poor, in their work in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, and New York City.

H

Heidi and Monica work closely with women and children who suffer the effects of violence and addiction to drugs and alcohol, providing them with practical help to build new lives. They are engaged in projects that create a safe space and physical shelter for women and youth who are victims of violence and abuse. In addition, they have developed a comprehensive program and model to support children and youth in the community who are living in situations marked by addiction. This model has gained the attention of others and is expected to be held up as an example and replicated elsewhere in the country.

By immersing themselves deeply in the lives of native people, Heidi and Monica are a strong presence in the community and beyond, and are able to minister well to the needs of the families. They visit St. Stephen’s from time to time to reconnect with their friends in this parish, to keep us apprised of their work, and to enjoy some rest and refreshment. In July, however, St. Stephen’s visited them, in the person of Deborah Streicker.

While we often think of going to the “mission field” as a time to do or bring something tangible, Deborah’s work was different. Heidi explains, “Deborah was a full time prayer presence here. She prayed for all of us, a presence from the community of St. Stephen’s who came to be among those we accompany here.”

‘Deborah was a full time prayer presence here. She prayed for all of us, a presence from the community of St. Stephen’s who came to be among those we accompany here.’ HEIDI SCHMIDT Heidi reports that the program they’ve been introducing, called the Guadalupe Project, has three components: El Fogon—the Fire—for youth affected by alcohol or drugs; the Refuge Program for women who have suffered violence; and Las Ermitas—the Hermitage Program—composed of people who are committed to prayer and contemplation, and creating and offering spaces for silence to those who thirst for it. Deborah was part of Las Ermitas, and she was joined as a “prayer presence” by Belen, 32 years old. Belen will be one of two hermits living there full time, along with Hermana Laura, age 70.

Heidi says that Deborah was “a gift to us during this time of movement, getting the centro libertad off the ground with offering therapeutic activities to groups of children and youth….She prayed for us. She created a routine of praying the Daily Office, and each day we brought her more names of people to pray for, more stories that she could hold in her heart.” Deborah visited during the activities Heidi and Monica offer the local youth, and then returned to her prayer practice.

Deborah’s presence, on the church’s behalf, encouraged our missionaries who are engaged in work that can be lonely and exhausting. The people who met her remarked on what a beautiful presence she is—a presence that “says so much, without needing words,” says Heidi. That she traveled so far to be with people who are isolated and likely feel forgotten and insignificant at times, helped them feel remembered, honored, and loved.

“She is a sign of the love of the people of St Stephen’s, a visible sign our people can grasp,” says Heidi. “They are so in awe that someone from so far has come here to pray.” ✤ S A I N T S T E P H E N ’ S E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H

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The other poignant moment is when the people all leave their pews and come up the aisle to the altar to receive Jesus’ body and blood. This, of course, is much more than a memorial moment; it is again a mystical one, in which we are receiving the divine life into our own bodies and pondering the fact that this same divine presence is in everyone. No wonder the Lord pleaded with us to love each other, to be especially kind to strangers, and said that as we do to each other, especially to the least, we will be doing so to him.

The Lord comes to us from on high, and we all turn to face him with open hearts and attentive minds. Then, at his invitation, we all come up to the Lord, and we receive him in this strangely graphic way into our bodies. In contrast to the daily chaos and the ugly divisions of our day, these two poignant moments in our worship are meant to lift us out of our smaller selves and into our larger life together. They help us transcend the forces that divide us, so that we can surrender ourselves to the one who heals and unites us.

We turn together to center our attention on Jesus, and we open our palms to receive his life into our bodies, so that over time we might come to the realization St. Paul had, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

(Galatians 2:20) Many of us could benefit from renewed attention to Jesus. We might call on him when we’re in trouble, but we often don’t really know what to make of his teaching when we turn to listen to the Gospel, or for that matter, what to believe about what is going on when we receive Communion. Maybe now is a good time to refocus our lives. If there is a “peace that passes all understanding,” it is not coming from Washington, D.C., nor social media.

In this spirit, I’ll offer a series in the Sunday Forum on Jesus, using an engaging and accessible bestselling book, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, by James Martin, SJ (Society of Jesus). As the author makes his way through the Holy Land, visiting sites where Jesus lived and taught, this Jesuit priest uses his pilgrimage, the Bible, Ignatian prayer, and his own life experiences to illuminate the life of the one who is still companioning us today. Martin’s book has been praised by biblical scholars and spiritual writers, from Richard Rohr and Kathleen Norris to Harvey Cox and Desmond Tutu, and it will be an enriching companion to this series. Copies are available in the Bookshop @ St. Stephen’s. ✤

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Former lieutenant governor to speak here in September

St. Stephen’s Calendar 2018-19

Political but not partisan: Houston dean to speak about ‘God’s politics’

This year’s Club 45 trip to the pumpkin patch takes place October 14.

This calendar for the 2018-19 program (academic) year includes events we know about as this edition of Seasons of the Spirit heads to the printer.

Consider keeping this section for your bulletin board or refrigerator door.

Updates and additional details are always available on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org, and are publicized in our weekly communications, the Spirit and the eSpirit (sign up at ststephensRVA.org/email).

Indicates that registration, sign-up or advance tickets advised

September 2018

The Very Rev. Barkley Thompson, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, will be here to discuss his new book, In the Midst of the City: The Gospel and God’s Politics, on Sunday, October 28, at 7 p.m. A book signing will follow.

The book, available now in the Bookshop @ St. Stephen’s, is a collection of essays and sermons arguing that Christian faith and politics are inseparable. The Gospel, Dean Thompson asserts, is inherently political but not partisan. To embody God’s politics, we must first steep ourselves in God’s vision for the world embodied in the Gospels; only then can we act politically.

This event is free but registration is requested at ststephensRVA.org/speakers. ✤

Paul-Gordon Chandler to speak on Kahlil Gibran in Sunday Forum Paul-Gordon Chandler is an Episcopal priest, interfaith advocate, writer, and social entrepreneur who has lived and worked in North Africa and the Middle East for many years. An authority on Christian-Muslim relations and on the Middle East, he is now based in Chicago, and is the founder and president of CARAVAN, a peacebuilding non-profit that uses the arts to build bridges between the creeds and cultures of the Middle East and West. For 10 years he was rector of the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church in southern Cairo, Egypt, a spiritual home for people of over 30 nationalities and from many religious Paul-Gordon Chandler traditions, primarily from the diplomatic, aid and business communities in the country. During that period he visited St. Stephen’s several times to discuss this bridge-building work.

This fall, he will return to St. Stephen’s to speak in the Sunday Forum on November 11 at 10:10 a.m. He’ll discuss his latest book, In Search of a Prophet: A Spiritual Journey with Kahlil Gibran, about the all-embracing spirituality of this Lebanese American poet-artist, mystic and best-selling author of The Prophet. He will also preach at the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services. ✤ MORE SPEAKERS: visit our Web site for speakers coming to the monthly Women's Forum (ststephensRVA.org/woss) and the Men's Breakfast (ststephensRVA. org/mensbreakfast), or pick up brochures at Rally Day.

2 | SUN Last Sunday for summer worship schedule 3 | Mon Labor Day; parish office closed 5 | Wed Orientation for prospective, new, and returning Emmaus Group

leaders, 6 p.m.

8 | Sat Training for Palmer Hall servers (adults and children), 9 a.m.

9 | SUN Regular worship schedule, including Palmer Hall service, resumes;

Rally Day (ministries fair) after 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services;

training for all who work with children and youth, 3 p.m.

10 | Mon May Fair House re-opens, 10 a.m.

12 | Wed Mothers Bible study (9:30-10:30 a.m.); Evensong with the Virginia Girls Choir (5:30 p.m.), Wednesday suppers (5:45-6:30 p.m.), youth groups resume 14 | Fri Bluegrass Bash/outreach benefit, 5-8 p.m.

Youth group kickoff 16 | SUN Sunday school and other Sunday educational offerings resume,

10:10 a.m.; rector begins series, “Jesus: A Pilgrimage” 18 | Tue John Hager, Virginia’s former lieutenant governor, discusses his new memoir, Best Seat in the House, 7 p.m.

20 | Thu Golf tournament/outreach benefit, noon 22 | Sat Holy Baptism, 10:30 a.m.

24 | Mon Fall Covenant Period begins (through week of November 30) 26 | Wed Fall inquirers class begins, 6:30 p.m.

27 | Thu Wellness presentation on Alzheimer’s disease, 7 p.m.

9 | Sat Retreat for parents of youth confirmands, 9 a.m.-noon

October 2018

7 | SUN 11 | Thu 12 | Fri 14 | SUN 25 | Thu 28 | SUN

Blessing of Animals service, 3 p.m.

Jean Twenge talk, 7 p.m.

Confirmation retreat/lock-in Club 45 Pumpkin Picking, 1-4:30 p.m.

Wellness presentation on osteoporosis, 7 p.m.

Barkley Thompson, “In the Midst of the City,” 7 p.m.

November 2018

1 | Thu All Saints’ Day; service at noon 4 | SUN All Saints’ Sunday

Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m.

Turkey box drive begins (holiday meals for those in need) 10 | Sat Lock-in for grades 6-8 11 | SUN Paul-Gordon Chandler speaks in Sunday Forum, 10:10 a.m.;

John Philip Newell gives the reflection at the Celtic service,

5:30 p.m., and speaks in Palmer Hall afterwards 14 | Wed Instructed Eucharist, 6:30 p.m.

15 | Thu Barbara Brown Taylor, 7 p.m.

21 | Wed No Wonderful Wednesdays supper or youth groups 22 | Thu Thanksgiving Day; service at 10:30 a.m.; parish office closed 23 | Fri Parish office closed 24 | Sat Farmers market moves indoors (9 a.m.-noon) 25 | SUN Angel Tree ministry begins (gifts for those in need) 26 | Mon Holiday Memorial Service, 7 p.m.

December 2018

1 | Sat Advent quiet day with Allison Seay, 9 a.m.-noon 2 | SUN Advent I; Advent Fair 9 | SUN Advent II

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Briget Ganske

Former Lt. Gov. John Hager has published a memoir, Best Seat in the House, tracing his rise in politics and the challenges he faced along the way—the most obvious being his bout with polio. But this upbeat public servant insists that he has always “felt capable of success in my wheelchair,” thanks in part to people who have helped him along the way. Plan to attend his talk in the Large Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, September 18, at 7 p.m.

You can hear his inspiring story and learn from this Republican politician who has served both Republican and Democratic governors how we arrived at our current John Hager political moment. Copies of his book will be available in our bookshop and at the event. The event is free, but registration is requested at ststephensRVA.org/speakers. ✤

Sarah-Keel Crews

John Hager discusses his new memoir

12 | Wed 20 | Thu

21 | Fri 22 | Sat

Retreats offered for Advent and Lent

Last Wonderful Wednesdays supper until January Family Ministries Christmas caroling, 10 a.m.-noon Cart building for youth pageant, 6:30 p.m.

Winter Solstice Concert, 7:30 p.m.

Youth pageant rehearsal, 10-11:30 a.m.

Children’s pageant rehearsal, 1-3 p.m.

Children’s pageant, 3 p.m.

23 | SUN Youth pageant, 11:15 a.m.

24 | Mon Christmas Eve: services at 3, 5, 8 and 11 p.m.

25 | Tue Christmas Day: one service, 10:30 a.m.; parish office closed 26 | Wed St. Stephen’s Day; parish office closed 30 | SUN Christmas I; Lessons and Carols service

An Advent quiet day and two Lenten retreats will be offered here 2018-19.

Allison Seay, a poet and the associate for religion and the arts at St. Stephen’s Church, will lead an Advent quiet day on Saturday, December 1, 9 a.m. until noon, titled, “All These Things.” Just as we read about Mary who “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart,” we might consider the season of Advent as an invitation for similar work—a season of treasuring and of pondering. What are our gifts? How do we learn to keep and cherish well what we have been given? What is the difference in pondering in the heart and pondering in the brain? This retreat day at the very beginning of Advent is designed to inspire not only self-reflection but God-reflection and will offer writing prompts and meditative silence as a way of encouraging a prayerful entrance into this season of pregnant hope, expectation and “all these things” imaginative and divine.

We often begin Lent with a retreat led by one of the brothers from the Society of St. John the Evangelist. In 2019, we are privileged to have Br. David Vryhof as our retreat leader, Friday evening, March 8, and Saturday morning, March 9, 2019. Additional information about his focus will be available later this year, along with registration.

1 | Tue New Year’s Day; parish office closed 6 | SUN The Epiphany 9 | Wed Wonderful Wednesdays suppers resume 13 | SUN Holy Baptism, 9 a.m. in Palmer Hall, 11:15 a.m. in main church 14 | Mon Martin Luther King Jr. Day; parish office closed; Winter Covenant Period begins (through week of March 18) 20 | SUN Winter Inquirers Class begins, 10:10 a.m.

As Lent comes to a close, we will offer a retreat led by Kayleen Asbo, called “Dante: A Journey to Hope and Healing.” How do we hold on to hope when everything around us is falling apart? How can we face the difficult task of rebuilding shattered lives in the midst of persistent darkness? How do we find our way out of despair into healing and community? How do we turn towards the difficult tasks of personal and collective transformation with integrity? How do we discover a place of belonging and joy? Dante’s Divine Comedy is a 700-year-old roadmap to answering those deep, persistent questions. While the Divine Comedy has been called the most beautiful poem ever written, it is much more than that: it is a penetrating synthesis of imagination that weaves together Greek and Roman myth, European history and a pathway of universal spiritual development with deep cross cultural resonances.

Written during the “dark woods” of Dante’s midlife after a series of personal catastrophes, it is an epic achievement that saved the author’s own life, and can immeasurably enrich our own.

February 2019

3 | SUN Annual parish meeting and vestry elections 7 | Thu Lunch with the rector, noon (for newcomers/visitors) 22 | Fri Masterworks Concert: Mozart’s Requiem, 7:30 p.m.

23 | Sat Holy Baptism, 10:30 a.m.

March 2019

8| Fri Lenten Retreat with Br. David Vryhof, SSJE (evening) 9| Sat Lenten Retreat with Br. David Vryhof, SSJE (morning) 10| SUN Lent I 17| SUN Lent II; Sunday Forum: The Metaphysical Poets, with Gardner Campbell 24| SUN Lent III; Sunday Forum: The Metaphysical Poets, part 2 31| SUN Lent IV; Sunday Forum: The Metaphysical Poets, part 3 28| Thu Pico Iyer: “The Stillness We Ache For,” 7 p.m.

April 2019

1 | Mon Spring Convenant Period begins (through week of June 3) 3| Wed Spring inquirers class begins, 6:30 p.m.

4| Thu Reception with the rector, 5:30 p.m. (for newcomers/visitors) 12| Fri Lenten Retreat on The Divine Comedy, with Kayleen Asbo 13| Sat Lenten Retreat continues 14| SUN Palm Sunday; services at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

18| Thu Maundy Thursday; service at 7:30 p.m. followed by all-night vigil 19| Fri Good Friday; service, noon; Stations of the Cross, 5:30 p.m.

20| Sat Great Vigil of Easter with adult baptisms, 7:30 p.m.

21| SUN Easter; services at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.;

no Sunday Forum 22| Mon Parish office closed

May 2019 5| SUN 11| Sat 15| Wed 19| SUN 24| Fri 26| SUN

27| Mon

Senior Recognition Holy Baptism, 10:30 a.m.

Instructed Eucharist; last Wonderful Wednesdays supper until fall Bishop’s visit with confirmation (tentative date) May Fair House closes for the summer, 3 p.m.

Summer worship schedule begins (services at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.)

Memorial Day; parish office closed

June 2019

9 | SUN Pentecost; Holy Baptism 21 | Fri Parish weekend at Shrine Mont (through Sunday) The Divine Comedy

Dr. Asbo is a scholar of history, myth, music, art and comparative religion.

Her own encounter with the Divine Comedy during a dark period in her youth marked her life, and she has been sharing its universal message of hope and healing with churches, psychology associations and universities for the past decade.

Ben Emerson

Briget Ganske

January 2019

This year’s parish weekend at Shrine Mont; next year’s is June 21-23, 2019.

S A I N T S T E P H E N ’ S E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H

Educated at Smith College, Mills College, the San Francisco Conservatory, Pacifica Graduate Institute and the University of California, Dr. Asbo holds a PhD in mythology and additional master’s degrees in depth psychology and piano performance. She is a faculty member of the Pacifica Graduate Institute and a lecturer for the Osher Life Long Learning Institutes at UC Berkeley, Sonoma State University and Dominican University in California.

She will lead this retreat on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13. Registration will be available later this year. ✤

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A Tree Full of Angels: Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary

by Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB Tuesdays, September 25 through October 16, 7-8:30 p.m.

Led by Claudia Merritt “Everything can bless us, but we’ve got to be there for the blessing to occur,” says Benedictine Macrina Wiederkehr, the author of this little book. She encourages us to open our eyes, to be present to the moment. Through a series of essays she tells her story of finding God and thereby invites all of us to find and be found by God. She shares her awareness that God is found in the little things of life, what she calls “crumbs.” Not unlike Dame Julian of Norwich, Wiederkehr believes nothing is too small or too insignificant to contain the glory of God. She further maintains that each of us reflects this divine splendor and goodness; one of our tasks as we grow our spirits is to realize what lives within us.

Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Tuesdays, October 23-November 13, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Led by Steve McGehee In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the renowned Christian minister, professor, and author of The Cost of Discipleship, recounts his unique fellowship in an underground seminary during the Third Reich in Germany. At a time when hatred and suspicion were on the rise, Bonhoeffer promoted love and living in harmony, and offered practical advice on how life in Christ can be sustained in families and small groups. In this treatise on the formation of Christian community, Bonhoeffer focuses on the church as a present divine reality, on unity over uniformity in congregational assembly, and on true belonging though shared practice in worship and daily living—a fitting antidote to the division and polarization that grip the current culture. Each session will include a brief lecture, followed by Q&A and group discussion of this seminal work.

You may sign up for either book study at the ministries fair on Rally Day (Sunday, September 9), or on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/groups.

Copies of the books will be available in the Bookshop @ St. Stephen’s. ✤

Journal writing class offered Keeping a journal has a rich heritage in faith development and spiritual life. This fall, Regena Stith will offer “Journal Writing as a Spiritual Practice,” an eight-week class where participants will explore a variety of approaches to journaling, engage in reflective writing and incorporate meditation, poetry and structured writing exercises to deepen and enrich their writing practice.

The class will meet on Wednesday, October 3-November 21, from 10:30 a.m. until noon. There is no cost. You may sign up at the ministries fair on Rally Day, or register online at ststephensRVA.org/groups. ✤

Twice in the past few years, Barbara Brown Taylor has spoken at St. Stephen’s to standing-room-only audiences. We’re grateful that she’ll return Thursday, November 9, at 7 p.m. She was here in 2014, soon after the release of her book Learning to Walk in the Dark, and being named by TIME magazine as one of the ‘The 100 Most Influential People in the World.’ In early 2017, she spoke about how we can live with—and learn from—religious difference. She spoke not only from her own experience but from the things she learned from her students. This Episcopal priest left parish ministry a dozen years ago and has been teaching and writing books ever since.

We’ll let you know as soon as possible what her topic will be this November, but she is always a profound and captivating speaker. Reserve your tickets at ststephensRVA.org/speakers.

Barbara Brown Taylor

In the very first Lent/Easter edition of Seasons of the Spirit (2012), we reprinted an article by Pico Iyer from The New York Times titled “The Joy of Quiet” (excerpted from his book by the same title). Iyer had become known not only for his travel writing and novels, but also for his writing and speaking about quiet and stillness. Now he is coming to St. Stephen’s, on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 7 p.m.

His presentation is titled “The Stillness We Ache For.” At a time of round-the-clock news, beeping phones and escalating stress, it can be harder than ever to remember what we care for and what really matters. Drawing on his time in monasteries Eastern and Western, Pico Iyer calling upon his 44 years of talks with the Dalai Lama, and trying to maintain his sanity in an age of acceleration and distraction, journalist and essayist Pico Iyer shares practical tips and suggestions for how to make a life as well as a living in a world of clutter and confusion.

Brigitte Lacomb

Two book study groups will be offered this fall.

Barbara Brown Taylor, Pico Iyer, Marilynne Robinson to speak at St. Stephen’s

Born in Oxford, England to parents from India, Iyer was educated at Eton, Oxford, and Harvard. He is revered as a particularly astute observer of human nature. In addition to The Joy of Quiet, his books include The Lady and the Monk, The Art of Stillness, and many others. He is also known for his TED talks.

A longtime wish has come true with the planned visit by acclaimed author Marilynne Robinson, October 1, 2020. Robinson is the author of the bestselling trilogy of novels Gilead (winner of the Pulitzer Prize), Home and Lila, as well as Housekeeping, winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award. Her essays and nonfiction works include What Are We Doing Here and The Givenness of Things.

Books by these authors are available in our bookshop. ✤

Briget Ganske

Book groups to learn from a Benedictine sister from Arkansas and a dissident German pastor

The May Fair House celebrates a milestone Mini May Fair marks the 40th anniversary, nods to origin of this successful shop

By Fern Newsom Each year from 1949 through 1977, the Women of St. Stephen’s Church held an annual May Fair. This daylong event included a supper, bazaar and children’s carnival. The May Fair’s first chairman, Mrs. Hallowell Dickinson, called it “a wonderful way to get better acquainted with each other,” while raising money to meet the organization’s annual pledge of $1,000 to St. Stephen’s Building Fund. The first May Fair exceeded all expectations, raising $1,900.

In 1977, parishioner and active member of our women’s organization, Nancy Tucker-Wildrick, was visiting a friend in Norfolk who was a member of the Church of the Holy Spirit. The women of Holy Spirit operated a shop that sold gifts and Brunswick stew to church members on Sunday mornings. Nancy, knowing the Women of St. Stephen’s were looking for a project to replace the May Fair, returned home with the idea of a retail food and gift shop that would promote fellowship among the women and raise funds to support non-profit organizations in the Richmond area. Mrs. Dickinson’s vision and Nancy’s forward thinking were about to be realized.

May Fair House opened in the fall of 1978 in the former rectory which at the time was located approximately where the shop stands today. Managed by the Women of St. Stephen’s, May Fair House has thrived over the years. Several hundred women (and a number of men) have rolled up their sleeves each year, worked in the shop and the kitchen and supported the mission envisioned those many years ago. The proceeds from their efforts have grown considerably, now totaling between $30,000 and $40,000 each year. These funds are disbursed to various local ministries and non-profit organizations to address the needs of women and children at risk.

It is now 2018 and May Fair House has been in existence for 40 years. It’s time to celebrate! Please join us Saturday, October 6, for a “mini May Fair.” The shop will be open from 9:00 a.m. until noon. There will be a bake sale, children’s activities, and plants available for sale. We look forward to seeing you there for a fun-filled morning, joining us as we acknowledge the past, celebrate the present and anticipate the future. ✤

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Briget Ganske

Singers, instrumentalists invited to participate in worship at St. Stephen’s

E

veryone at St. Stephen’s is invited to help make music that glorifies God. There are choirs for almost every age, as well as a handbell choir for adults (no previous experience required), and opportunities for instrumentalists to share their gifts.

Virginia Girls Choir: grades 5-12 | Rehearsals, Wednesdays, 5:10-8:00, and Sundays after 11:15 service until 1:00 | sings Sunday mornings, Wednesday Evensong at 5:30 p.m., and at other times (auditioned); contact Kerry Court

Auditions for the Virginia Girls Choir (girls in grades 5 through 12) took place over the summer, but it’s not too late to audition. Contact Kerry Court for information, kcourt@ststephensRVA.org.

ADULTS (INCLUDING SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS) Hymn Choir: Adolescents and adults | sings once a month at the 9 a.m. service, with rehearsal immediately before the service; contact Chris Edwards

Adults who love to sing but don’t have time for weekly rehearsals: remember the Hymn Choir sings once a month during the 9 a.m. services and rehearses right before the service. Contact Chris Edwards, cedwards@ststephensRVA.org, to volunteer or learn more.

Here’s an overview of the choirs at St. Stephen’s Church.

YOUNG CHILDREN Cherub Choir: Grades K-1 | Rehearsals, Wednesdays, 6:30-7:00 | sings at 9:00 a.m. Palmer Hall service several times annually; contact Dawn Childs, dchilds@ststephensRVA.org.

Palmer Hall Choir: Grades 2-4 | Rehearsals, Wednesdays, 5:15-6:00 | sings at 9:00 a.m. Palmer Hall service weekly; contact Dawn Childs.

OLDER CHILDREN AND YOUTH Middle School Choir: Grades 5-8 | Rehearsals, Sundays, 10:10-11 a.m. | sings at Sunday morning services in Palmer Hall; contact Dawn Childs.

St. Stephen’s Choir: Adolescents and adults | Rehearsals, Thursdays, 7:30-9:15 | Sings at 9 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. service on Sundays, and at 10 a.m. summer Sunday service (auditioned); contact Chris Edwards Sanctuary: Compline Choir, staff singers and volunteers | Rehearsals, Sundays, 6:45-7:50 p.m., plus one Monday monthly, 7:30-9:30 | sings at Compline service, 8:00 p.m. Sundays (auditioned); contact Michael Simpson, simpsonmc2010@hotmail.com.

INSTRUMENTS Bell Choir: Adult handbell ensemble | Rehearsals, Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00; contact Susan Weis, susanweis@icloud.com.

Instrumentalists are invited to contact Greg Vick, gvick@ststephensRVA.org, to discuss playing during preludes at our Sunday morning services.

Two special concerts Two concerts by St. Stephen’s choirs are planned for the coming program year.

Tickets will be available online and in the parish office.

A Celebration of Light: Music for the Winter Solstice Friday, December 21, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. $20 adults/$10 students On the longest night of the year, join us for a candlelight concert celebrating the lengthening of days and the coming of light. Sung by the Virginia Girls Choir and Sanctuary (the Compline choir), the concert will feature musical reflections on light from composers across the ages.

Mozart’s Requiem Friday, February 22, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. $25 adults/$15 students St. Stephen’s is proud to present W. A. Mozart’s Requiem in concert. This performance of one of the great choral orchestral masterworks of the 18th century will feature the St. Stephen’s Choir and friends with members of the Richmond Symphony.

Proceeds from the event will support the music program at St. Stephen’s. ✤

Celtic service musicians are selected and directed by Michael Simpson. ✤

Canterbury Cathedral releases CD from choir tour Tracks include recordings from churches where choir sang during its U.S. tour in April, including St. Stephen’s Last spring, a standing room only audience attended a performance by the Choir of Canterbury Cathedral when they visited St. Stephen’s Church on their U.S. tour. A CD featuring pieces sung at various churches during that tour, The Canterbury Voice Live USA, is now available.

This new CD is the first time the boys and men have recorded a live concert CD. The recording includes works by Byrd, Tallis, Langlais, Vaughan Williams, Stanford, Britten, Elgar and Parry among others. Featuring music from a wide range of the Cathedral Choir’s repertoire, this program was designed to give a flavor of the musical tradition and voices of Canterbury Cathedral.

Briget Ganske

To purchase copies of the CD, follow the link found on St. Stephen’s Web site, ststephensRVA.org/canterburyCD, where you’ll also find a track listing. The CD price is $16.60 USD. Discounts are available for orders of more than one disc, and you can receive free shipping by using the code CHOIR2018.

If you prefer to download MP3 files, use the link on the site to sign up to receive a notification when these are available. ✤ The choir during their visit to St. Stephen’s last spring S A I N T S T E P H E N ’ S E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H

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Serving others through St. Stephen’s ministries

Those tasks that occur weekly do not require that you volunteer every week; we will work with your schedule.

In addition to these volunteer opportunities, there are a number of roles for lay people in our liturgies or pastoral care, including as chalice bearers, readers, healing prayer ministers, lay Eucharistic visitors, and reflectors at the Celtic service. To discuss any of these possibilities, please contact a member of the clergy.

High school youth who wish to serve as acolytes should contact Andy Russell, arussell@ststephensRVA.org, and middle school youth who would like to be ushers at the 9 a.m. service in the main church may contact Sarah-Keel Crews, skcrews@ ststephensRVA.org. To serve during the Palmer Hall service at 9 a.m., contact Andy, Sarah-Keel, or the Rev. Becky McDaniel, bmcdaniel@ststephensRVA.org.

EAST END PARTNERS There is a wide range of opportunity to serve students at Fairfield Court Elementary School, Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School, and Peter Paul Development Center.

Classroom assistants, classroom readers, tutors, mentors, and lunch buddies are all needed. Training and support are provided.

Time: some tasks are weekly, some are monthly, some are one-time; we will work with your schedule.

Contact/Info: Jessica Smith, jsmith@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867 FRUIT MINISTRY The fruit ministry, nearly 20 years old, provides fresh fruit to residents of subsidized housing. For many recipients this is the only fruit in their diet, and in rare cases, it is the only food that they will have to eat on the day of delivery. Besides encouraging wellness for those who are served, volunteers share Jesus’ love by their weekly presence.

They offer fruit, a smile, a hug, and an open heart.

Time: 9 a.m.-noon, Mondays Contact/Info: Jessica Smith, jsmith@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867 FOOD PANTRY Each Monday, our fellow Richmonders who struggle to feed their families come to St. Stephen’s seeking assistance. Pantry volunteers work on Mondays to stock the shelves and assist “customers.” Gleaners work on Saturdays as the farmers market winds down, collecting fresh, unsold produce from generous vendors and placing it in the pantry storage area.

Time: Monday, 9-10:15 a.m., stocking shelves; 12:453 p.m., greeting and assisting clients; gleaners: Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Contact/Info: Jessica Smith, jsmith@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867

PREPARE MEALS Our popular Sunday Community Supper is prepared primarily by volunteers. You can come on your own, or with your family or a group of friends.

Time: Food prep begins at 3 p.m.; those who wish to stop at 5:30 p.m. to attend the Celtic service are encouraged to do so.

Contact/Info: Ben Nelson, bnelson@ ststephensRVA.org, or Penny Nash, pnash@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867.

Sarah Der

“L

ove God. Love your neighbor. Change the world.” If you’ve ever heard Presiding Bishop Michael Curry speak, you’ve likely heard these words. There are numerous ways to love God and our neighbors through the ministries of St. Stephen’s Church. Opportunities for service can be frequent or occasional, depending on your schedule. Some tasks require training or particular skills, but many do not. The following list provides contact information for the staff member who can help you discern where your gifts and availability will be put to best use.

Wednesday suppers are served from 5:45 until 6:30 p.m. from September through May. Volunteers work with our kitchen manager on food preparation.

Time: arrrive at 3 p.m. and remain until 6:30 p.m. Many people like to come every week, but that’s not a requirement.

Contact/Info: Stan Barnett, sbarnett@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867 Gracious Gourmets are members of the Women of St. Stephen’s who prepare meals to deliver to those who have experienced a loss, or who have welcomed a new baby.

Time: Flexible; you prepare casseroles at home on your own schedule.

Contact/Info: Dabney McCoy, dabneymccoy@verizon.net; Joan Bruns, joanjohnb@comcast.net Side by Side is a local organization that provides support and resources for LGBT youth. Once a month, St. Stephen’s volunteers prepare and deliver a meal to Side by Side; this could be an Emmaus Group activity, a family activity, or you can simply pull together some friends to do it. Meals are prepared in St. Stephen’s kitchen.

Time: Third Tuesday of the month; gather in the kitchen in the afternoon, prepare and deliver the meal.

Contact/Info: Deb Lawrence, dlawrence@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867 HOSPITALITY—GREETERS Would you like to serve as a greeter for our Sunday morning services? We welcome visitors every week, and having warm, friendly people stationed near the entrances is a crucial part of our ministry of hospitality. Training is provided.

Time: Sunday mornings before the 9 a.m. service or 11:15 a.m. service (10 a.m. service in the summer); arrive 30 minutes before the service begins, and remain in place until after the service begins. The frequency varies, depending on your schedule and the number of available greeters, but it’s generally once every four to six weeks.

Contact/Info: Claudia Merritt, cmerritt@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867.

HOSPITALITY—USHERS Ushers are a key part of our ministry of hospitality at St. Stephen’s Church. Contact Claudia Merritt to explore whether this role is a good fit for you. If it is, you’ll be trained and placed on a team.

Time: Sunday mornings before the 9 a.m. service or 11:15 a.m. service (10 a.m. service in the summer); arrive 30 minutes before the service begins, and remain throughout the service. Teams serve roughly once a month.

Contact/Info: Claudia Merritt, cmerritt@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867

FARMERS MARKET Volunteers are crucial to the success of our weekly farmers market. They help with set-up, clean-up, and everything in between. It’s fun, it’s a great way to meet other parishioners, and it ensures that you have your pick of market produce and other goodies. You do not have to volunteer every week.

Time: Saturdays, one two-hour shift between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Online sign-up at ststephensRVA.org/farmersmarket MAY FAIR HOUSE—SHOP VOLUNTEERS Proceeds from the sale of food and merchandise in this shop support grants selected by the Women of St. Stephen’s grants committee, with a focus on organizations assisting women and children at risk. The paid staff is small, with volunteers doing much of the work, allowing more funds to be used for outreach.

Time: One 2.5-hour shift once a month; shop hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and occasional Saturdays, September-May. Contact/info: Joan Hines, joanhines42@gmail.com, or 804.241.8117 SUNDAY SCHOOL There are a number of adult volunteer roles in the Sunday school offerings for children. To explore the possibilities and discern with our family ministry staff where your gifts might be put to best use, please contact Sarah-Keel Crews, skcrews@ ststephensRVA.org.

HOME REPAIR Home repair skills are needed for our HANDS ministry (Hammers and Nails in Devoted Service), the annual Rebuilding Together Richmond event, and mission trips to U.S. communities affected by catastrophic weather events. There are also opportunities for those who, even if not highly skilled, are willing and able to help— other members of these teams will coach you.

Time: varies; HANDS tasks can occur at any time; Rebuilding Together Richmond is a one-day blitz on a Saturday in the spring; mission trips can last several days.

Contact: Deb Lawrence, dlawrence@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867.

HOSPITALITY—GREETERS AND USHERS FOR OCCASIONAL SERVICES Greeters and ushers are also needed for funerals and Saturday baptisms.

Time: arrive 30 minutes before the service begins; times vary for funerals, but Saturday baptisms take place several times a year at 10:30 a.m.

Contact/Info: Betsy Lee, blee@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867 HOSPITALITY—FRONT OFFICE Volunteers answer the telephone and greet visitors while staff are at lunch. Administrative and clerical tasks are sometimes available during these lunchtime shifts but are entirely optional.

Time: Generally 12:30-2 p.m., once or twice a month Contact/Info: Betsy Lee, blee@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867 DRIVERS Drivers transport people in St. Stephen’s vans to services here from WestminsterCanterbury and back. When we have a full complement of volunteer drivers, the commitment of time is very small (one service six times a year). Transportation is provided for the 11:15 a.m. service only (10 a.m. service in the summer).

Time: Arrive at Westminster-Canterbury 30 minutes before the service begins; return immediately after conclusion of the service.

Contact/Info: Betsy Lee, blee@ststephensRVA.org or 288.2867.

GUILDS The flower guild, the altar guild, the needlepoint guild and the prayer shawl knitters all use their hands in the service of others. Members of the flower guild and altar guild are placed on teams which rotate from month to month. The needlepoint guild meets on Friday mornings and some (though not all) members stitch kneelers and other furnishings for our worship spaces. The prayer shawl knitters gather on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. after the Wonderful Wednesdays supper to knit prayer shawls for those who are ill, homebound, or who would otherwise benefit from a tangible expression of our love and prayers. Beginners are welcome. Visit ststephensRVA.org/guilds for details and contact information. ✤

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Wellness offerings beginning this fall St. Stephen’s Church offers classes in several different kinds of yoga, meditation, mindfulness and moving meditation (tai chi/chi kung). Some require pre-registration but most do not. Yoga and moving meditation classes are come-when-you-can and are open to all, not just St. Stephen’s parishioners. Wear clothing suitable for physical movement and, for yoga classes, please bring a mat. Here are the offerings that begin this fall, organized by day of the week.

MONDAYS Introduction to Meditation led by Lynn Brooke | 9:30-10:45 a.m. or 6-7:15 p.m. | Session 1: October 1-29, Session 2: January 14-February 11, 2019 | $100 for the fiveweek session This introductory meditation course provides a step-by-step guide to the practice of mindfulness meditation. It is designed to familiarize students with meditation techniques, and makes the practice easier to understand. Over the course of five weeks, participants will explore mindfulness of the body and of breathing, followed by mindfulness of emotions and thinking. Each meeting will include talks, instruction, questions and answers, as well as guided meditation practice. This beginning-level course is also appropriate for those with some meditation experience who would like to revisit the basics, or deepen their practice. Register at LynnBrookeMeditation. com. Lynn is certified as a teacher trainer with the Yoga Alliance (500 RYT), and has been a practitioner in the healing arts for more than 25 years. She is a certified spiritual director though the Haden Institute.

WEDNESDAYS Yoga for Every Body led by JoAnn Bibb DeForge | 9:30-10:45 a.m. | year-round, beginning September 19 | suggested donation $10 per class This restorative yoga practice provides a thorough release of tension throughout the body. Using the principles of Swaroopa yoga, the Alexander Technique and mindfulness meditation, the student will recognize a state of stillness. All postures are on the floor and are adaptable for every individual.

Chair Yoga led by Celine Burn | 11 a.m. | year-round | suggested donation $10 per class Chair yoga is a safe and supportive style of gentle yoga that allows you to engage in strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. This class is open to all ages and is ideal for those who would like to improve and maintain their wellness as they age.

Celine has her 200-hour yoga certification from YogaWorks and is a member of the Yoga Alliance. No registration is needed. For additional information, call Celine at 917.294.9554.

THURSDAYS Yoga for Every Body led by JoAnn Bibb DeForge | 9:30 a.m. | year-round, beginning September 20 | suggested donation $10 per 75-minute class This restorative yoga practice provides a thorough release of tension throughout the body. Using the principles of Swaroopa yoga, the Alexander Technique and mindfulness meditation, the student will recognize a state of stillness. All postures are on the floor and are adaptable for every individual.

TUESDAYS Yoga for Vibrant Aging led by Kay Franz | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | suggested donation $10 per class This one-hour mindful yoga class is for active older adults or anyone else wanting to build strength, flexibility and balance. Single poses are done standing, on the floor, or at the wall. No up and down from the floor is required. The focus on gentle moves and long holds will help maintain and build bone and muscle strength and flexibility, as well as improve balance. Kay is a Yoga Alliancecertified ERYT-200, RYT-500 yoga teacher and a NAMA-certified Ayurvedic health counselor. She will share occasional tips on diet and lifestyle to improve health and well-being. No registration is needed.

For additional information, call Kay at 804.305.6374 or email her at khfranz@mac.com.

Moving Meditation led by Matthew Thornton | 6 p.m. | resumes September 13 | suggested donation $15 per class This class focuses on the relationship between movement and breath through moving meditation. Exercises increase coordination and range of motion while reducing stress and developing greater energy and balance. General control and spatial awareness benefit sport, dance and daily life practices. Matthew is a movement artist who combines dance, theater, somatic practice, and martial arts. He cofounded Agua Dulce Dance Theater with choreographer and dance artist Alicia Díaz, creating work for concert dance, outdoor environments, and other projects. He taught, performed and choreographed with the world-renowned dance company Pilobolus. He has taught dance at the college level and currently teaches movement arts at the Richmond Waldorf School.

Vinyasa Flow Yoga led by the Rev. Becky McDaniel | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | beginning September 19 | suggested donation $10 per class Vinyasa is a dynamic class that builds strength and flexibility while synchronizing breath and movement. This high-energy class also includes restorative poses and guided meditation to allow the body to rest and the mind to relax. The class is open to all, though we hope that its timing will make it especially convenient for parents whose children are in choir rehearsal or youth group at St. Stephen’s.

TWO SPECIAL OFFERINGS Two free seminars will be led by JoAnn Bibb DeForge, MS, Alexander Technique and Certified Yoga Instructor, and Tina Shiver, RD, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner.

Yoga for Every Body led by JoAnn Bibb DeForge | 11 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. | year-round, beginning September 18 | suggested donation $10 per 75-minute class This restorative yoga practice provides a thorough release of tension throughout the body. Using the principles of Swaroopa yoga, the Alexander Technique and mindfulness meditation, the student will recognize a state of stillness. All postures are on the floor and are adaptable for every individual.

JoAnn is an Alexander Technique teacher, yoga instructor, and a wellness consultant in Cardiac Rehabilitation at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital. She holds a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.

No registration is needed, and both are open to the public.

Thursday, September 27, 7 p.m.: Changing the course of Alzheimer’s disease with mind-body techniques and nutrition Tina and JoAnn will discuss ways to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Learn how to sharpen your mind and improve memory through food and mind-body exercises.

Mindfulness Meditation led by JoAnn Bibb DeForge | 6-7:15 p.m. for beginning students; 7:30-8:45 p.m. for continuing students | beginning September 18 | suggested donation $45 for the four-week course

Thursday, October 25 at 7 p.m.: Osteoporosis prevention and care Tina and JoAnn will present new data on nutrition and mind-body techniques believed to prevent or slow osteoporosis.

Mindfulness Meditation is valuable for those who are looking for new ways of dealing with stress. Using Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, a proven method for reducing stress, participants will learn to be still and present, a key component of wellness and growth in the spiritual life.

S A I N T S T E P H E N ’ S E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H

They will be joined by a yoga instructor who will begin a yoga class at St. Stephen’s for those seeking to prevent or slow osteoporosis.

Details about this class will be available at the October 25 presentation. ✤

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Seeking deeper connections Emmaus Groups at St. Stephen’s Church

When he was at table with them, he took the bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?’ —Luke 24:30-32 In 2018, people are more “connected” than ever, thanks to modern technology and social media. But there’s a difference between being accessible to one another (and even to people we hardly know) through such means, and the deeper kind of connection that many people desire, but lack.

At St. Stephen’s Church, Emmaus Groups provide a weekly opportunity for participants to make the kind of connections that truly matter, providing mutual care and support for the spiritual journey. As one of the largest Episcopal parishes in the United States, it would be easy to get lost in this parish. Yet through these groups, people here can experience a surprising level of intimacy that is all too rare.

Emmaus Groups are small groups of six to 10 parishioners who meet weekly for 90 minutes to tend to their spiritual lives and grow in Christian community. These groups are the focus of prayer, hospitality, and welcome—small communities within our larger parish. Each group has one or two conveners who have received training in facilitating small groups, and the core of the gatherings is attentiveness to the spiritual growth of participants and the experience of authentic community.

Groups meet for 10-week “covenant periods,” one each in the fall, winter, and spring. Participants usually join a group at the beginning of a covenant period, and many will continue with the same group indefinitely.

The name “Emmaus” comes from the well-known story from the Gospel according to Luke (24:13-32) about the disciples who encountered the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus. In that story, the disciples have a deep, spiritual conversation with each other and with Jesus as they travel together, but it is only when they reach their destination and break bread together that they recognize Jesus.

We are always traveling with each other and with Christ—who can seem hidden or disguised—and sometimes we need to stop and join in attentive hospitality with each other, in order for our eyes to be opened and for the events of our lives to fall in place.

Emmaus Groups are built on four pillars: Spiritual Reflection, Mutual Care and Support, Prayer, and Service.

Spiritual Reflection At the heart of the weekly 90-minute gatherings is the opportunity to reflect on one’s life of faith and relationship with God—where do we sense God in our daily lives, and how are we meeting the challenges of living faithfully? Sometimes groups will use a passage from the Bible, a spiritual book, or a special topic chosen by the group to serve as a catalyst for reflection. Scriptural and other resources are available for groups who request them. But it is enough for groups to provide an environment in which one is invited to reflect deeply, “How is it with my soul?”

Mutual Care and Support Emmaus Groups are not therapy groups; they are communities for growth and deepening in the Christian life. Emmaus Groups are designed to be centers of hospitality—we first of all welcome each other as Christ welcomes us. And Emmaus Groups are safe places where participants can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. Emmaus Groups very often manifest this care and support outside of group meetings, as well. When a participant is

going through a challenging time or a time of special celebration, fellow group members are sometimes the first to know and offer their support.

Prayer Each 90-minute gathering of Emmaus Groups includes an informal prayer or worship experience decided by the group. In this way, participants surrender themselves more completely to God and prepare for a meeting in which all are more attuned to the presence of God in their midst. Some groups choose simply to begin with a period of prayerful silence, as a way of leaving the busy world of “doing” and entering into a posture of listening and receiving.

Service During each covenant period, groups can choose to do a service project together, discovering Christ in the act of serving together. It could be helping with an event at Anna Julia Cooper School, Peter Paul Development Center or Fairfield Elementary School; it could be helping with a church meal, our farmers market, or providing hospitality for a church event; or it could be stocking our food pantry or helping with food distribution and welcoming the hungry; it could be preparing supplies for a pilgrimage to the Dominican Republic, helping the Fruit Ministry, or serving a meal to people who are homeless. The possibilities for a simple service project together are numerous. The idea is that we experience together something of what it means to embody Christ in the world, especially as we meet Christ in those whom we serve.

Joining a group The clergy and staff of St. Stephen’s have been working over the summer to identify and prepare new Emmaus Group leaders, and increase the number of groups available to those who wish to consider taking part in this unique opportunity. If you would like to join a group, please contact any member of the clergy, Janet Allen jallen@ststephensRVA.org, or Betsy Lee blee@ ststephensRVA.org. ✤

COVENANT PERIODS, 2018-19

Fall: week of September 24 through week of November 26, 2018 Winter: week of January 14 through week of March 18, 2019 Spring: week of April 1 through week of June 3, 2019

ORIENTATION FOR EMMAUS GROUP LEADERS

Are you a current Emmaus Group leader? Would you like to consider leading a group? Emmaus Groups are not “study groups” or book groups or classes, and there is no lesson planning or curriculum involved. Group leaders act primarily as conveners. A session for continuing and prospective Emmaus Group leaders is scheduled Wednesday, September 5, at 6 p.m.

Dinner is included. Please contact Penny Nash if you plan to attend, pnash@ststephensRVA.org. ✤

Look for new kneelers in Chapel of the Good Shepherd Ten needlepoint kneelers have been completed

St. Stephen’s needlepoint guild is making amazing progress, thanks not only to those who have stitched canvasses, but to the donors who have given so generously. Less than a year after offering this latest group of designs for parishioners to give as memorials or tributes, all 60 kneelers for the Chapel of the Good Shepherd have been spoken for. But don’t worry—more needlepoint projects are anticipated.

A group of four women has worked on the Good Shepherd project with John Phillips, the person whose vision led to the effort to needlepoint kneelers and other cushions in the nave: Robyn Kay, Sally Lester, Helen Sarrett, and Jessica Tongel. Jessica painted all of the beautiful designs on the canvasses. These women have stitched kneelers themselves, but have also recruited other stitchers. (Two more stitchers are needed; contact Robyn to inquire, rrkay1@gmail. com.) Ten completed canvasses were being attached

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to the kneelers when this edition of Seasons of the Spirit went to the printer; be sure to look for them the next time you’re in the chapel.

The first group of kneelers, for the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, was completed last year, having been coordinated

by Mary Anne Burke. Those kneelers, all of which have been installed and labeled with small plaques listing the person honored, are now being numbered to make it easier for donors to find the kneeler given for their loved one. (The cathedral chairs in Holy Spirit are sometimes moved to accommodate musical instruments, and this system will ensure that they are repositioned correctly.) Once the numbering has been completed, a legend will be available to show you where “your” kneeler is located in the chapel.

Thank you to all who have made this project possible. ✤ SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

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An active season Summer at St. Stephen’s Church

St. Stephen’s is different in the summer, but it’s not sleepy! Much happens here from June through August for people of all ages, and not all are parishioners or even local. And while the farmers market is year-round, summer is “high season” for this decade-old ministry to the community.

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4 1. Deb Stoneman of Byrd Farm, one of the first vendors at our 10-year-old market, chats with customers. Sarah Der photo 2. The annual Math Camp at St. Stephen’s helps Peter Paul Development Center students brush up on math skills before school resumes. Sarah Der photo 3. Anna Hurdle returned to offer two week-long workshops for catechists (and prospective catechists) for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. We had many out of town catechists take advantage of this opportunity. Sarah Der photo

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5. Another sold-out icon workshop brought students from Richmond and beyond to learn from Suzanne Schleck. Sarah Bartenstein photo 6. Vacation Bible School focused on the ways Jesus teaches us to make peace. Youth and adults were on hand to help. Briget Ganske photo

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4. Sunday Community Suppers bring those who attend one of our Sunday evening services—as well as people who might simply be passing by—to the table for a delicious meal prepared with local ingredients. Sarah Der photo

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Daughters of the King invite prospective members The Order of the Daughters of the King invites women and girls to engage in a ministry of intercessory prayer, conducted in community under a “Rule of Life” (as other religious orders do, including the Society of St. John the Evangelist). Daughters of the King define themselves as an order, not an organization. Community is found primarily in local chapters, but it extends around the world.

Members of this group keep all prayer requests in strict confidence; those desiring prayers but reluctant to be included on a published prayer list will find this way of prayer a great comfort. This is a wonderful gift to fellow parishioners. The parish itself is also supported by the constant stream of prayers. Knowing that we are being prayed for with such intentionality is a blessing.

Sarah Bartenstein

The community of the Daughters of the King is dispersed—young women in school or at home with children, those focused on professional pursuits or community engagement, retired women, homebound women, lay women, ordained women— being united by the Rule of Life, by prayer, and by the spiritual companionship of others in the order, wherever they are.

The commissioning of our chapter of Daughters of the King in January

St. Stephen’s Church offers a variety of ways for people to support one another in prayer, from our healing prayer ministry to a weekly contemplative prayer group to daily Morning and Evening Prayer to spiritual retreats here and elsewhere. In addition, women of the parish have another way to exercise a ministry of prayer, Daughters of the King, a churchwide ministry with local parish chapters. Begun last year with 12 women, our chapter–the St. Therese Chapter–is open to others who are called to this ministry.

Like those serving as healing prayer ministers or lay Eucharistic visitors, aspiring members of the Daughters of the King engage in a period of discernment. This discernment begins in the fall, with the initiation of new members into the St. Therese chapter in January.

To learn more and to explore whether you might be called to this ministry, please contact Claudia Merritt 804.288.2867, cmerritt@ststephensRVA.org or Sherlyn Dibble 804.928.2278, sydibble@gmail.com. ✤

PRAYER REQUESTS At times in our lives, we can be comforted and encouraged to know that others are praying for us by name. To request prayer, you may call the parish office (804.288.2867) or contact any member of the clergy. You may ask to be added to the prayer list that is published each Sunday in service bulletins, ask that the clergy pray for you, or request that the Daughters of the King pray for you. Prayer requests sent to the Daughters are kept in strict confidence and are not published on the prayer list. An online prayer request form allows you to submit a confidential request, ststephensRVA.org/prayerrequestform, or you may use a paper form with a sealable envelope, available at Welcome Tables and Information Central.

A great cloud of witnesses

Much ado about something: a year with the Old Testament

On All Saints’ Day, November 1, we especially remember the “communion of saints,” those who followed the Way of Jesus on their earthly pilgrimage and now worship with us “on another shore.” This is a day not only to remember those we love who are no longer with us, but to remember that we too are saints, and are part of this communion. We have come from God and we are going to God.

New offerings for the 2018-19 program year at St. Stephen’s include a 33-session survey course of the Old Testament.

The goal is to encourage parishioners’ engagement with sacred literature—to offer them not only a sense of the range and depth of the Bible, but also a clearer sense of its larger context, its narrative arc, its geography and chronology, its characters and its dramas. While this program will emphasize certain historical and critical concerns of the Old Testament and will necessarily tend to the theological ideas that have historically emanated from particular sections of the Bible, it is our hope that the program inspires more personal discovery, that it invites questions, and that it activates a more imaginative response to sacred writing, one receptive to ambiguity, contradiction, and mystery.

Many St. Stephen’s parishioners have made provision for the vibrant ministries of this parish to continue after they have died. Their planned gifts strengthen St. Stephen’s Church and are vitally important to building our endowment fund. Just as we know that the saints who have died still support us in our earthly journey as “a great cloud of witnesses,” so the gifts given in their memory and through their legacy continue to support our ministries, generation after generation.

Please consider following their example by making a planned gift through your will or estate. Brochures about the Legacy Society are available at Welcome Tables throughout the parish house. Information is also available on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/ legacysociety.

You may also contact John Crowder, chairman of the Legacy Society, at beechtreegolf@aol.com. ✤

By Allison Seay

It could be that in the course of a year of making one’s way through the Old Testament, there are moments of inspiration, clarity, or even epiphany. More likely, it will be a year of simply getting the lay of the land, a year of asking questions, a year of orientation. It could be, too, that “progress” is not determined by what is answered, but by what is asked. Perhaps progress is nothing more than a more sufficient vision of where we started in the first place, only to realize that the Bible is, after all, much ado about something.

Each session will be divided into two parts, with intentional and protected time at the end of the evening for questions, discussion, and a brief explanation of the following week’s assignment. More specifically, participants can expect the first part, usually led by clergy (Bill Sachs will lead in 2018-19) to offer an overview of the section of the Bible being discussed that clarifies content and makes note of historical, theological, and devotional ideas. The second part, led by another staff person and/or invited presenters (Allison Seay will lead in 2018-19) offers a more imaginative dive into a particular situation, character, or theme relevant to that section and will explore the ways literature, poetry, music, and art have contributed to our understanding of scripture. Our hope is that any given session offers participants an experience greater than the sum of its parts and invites them into an engagement with scripture that may illuminate and deepen their own understanding of the Bible, its significance and its relationship to a life of faith.

Space is limited and the course will require a significant commitment of time and energy; it will meet 6:308:00 p.m. on most Wednesdays for the duration of an academic year and its group success will depend upon the investment of its members, their completion of weekly reading assignments, and their willingness to prepare in both heart and mind in order to be fully present and accountable to one another.

Please call the parish office at 804.288.2867 if you’d like to join the class. ✤

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Special fall services are cherished traditions Fall is the time for four beloved services at St. Stephen’s Church.

On All Saints’ Day, we remember the “communion of saints,” many of whom are people we knew and loved. During a noon communion service at St. Stephen’s, we remember especially those who have died in the past year. If you have lost a loved once since last All Saints’ Day, consider this your special invitation—though of course all are welcome. Parishioners who have died will be included in our intentions, but if you have a loved one who might not be on our parish list, please send an email to Betsy Lee, blee@ststephensRVA.org.

Sarah Bartenstein photos

Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 22 | 10:30 a.m.

St. Stephen’s Thanksgiving Day service is well known and well attended, not only because there’s nothing else like it in town, but also because it is deeply moving.

This service of Morning Prayer: Rite One includes a sermon, beautiful music with guest instrumentalists, and colorful harvest-themed decorations at the altar. The attendance rivals that of Christmas and Easter, so get here early to ensure you and yours can sit together. Just like on Sundays, you are invited to bring donations of shelf-stable food for our food pantry to this service.

Blessing of the Animals | Sunday, October 7 | 3 p.m.

Like many other Episcopal churches, St. Stephen’s Church offers a Blessing of the Animals service near the Feast of St. Francis (October 4), who is often associated with the care of animals. Please bring your pets to church on October 7, for this brief service of prayers, hymns and blessing of individual pets. It will take place on the lawn (weather permitting) at the Three Chopt entrance to the church. If it rains, we’ll go indoors.

All Saints’ Day | Thursday, November 1 | noon All Saints’ Day is a major feast of the church year. While we are accustomed to thinking of “saints” as people of extraordinary virtue leading Christ-like lives, at one time, all baptized Christians were referred to as “saints.” The word means “sanctified” or “set apart.” Christians are people who have been consecrated or sanctified in baptism and called to live lives devoted to the Way of Jesus.

Holiday Memorial Service | Monday, November 26 | 7 p.m.

The stretch of time known collectively as “the holidays,” from Thanksgiving through the New Year, with Hanukkah, Advent, and Christmas in between, can be difficult for those who have suffered the death of a child. The family-oriented and nostalgia-laden character of these weeks provides painful reminders that life will never be the same again. Even those for whom this loss may feel somewhat less intense because of the passage of time, “the holidays” can still uncover the ache.

If you have experienced the loss of a child, or know someone who has, please note this date and share the information as appropriate. The service is held at St. Stephen’s, and has the same gentle, contemplative quality that characterizes our Sunday evening Celtic service. It is, however, an interfaith service, and is meant to serve the entire community. It is for anyone who has lost a child of any age through any circumstance. A simple reception will follow the service, and childcare for ages 4 and under is available. ✤

A beautiful way

to remember a loved one

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hen you enter St. Stephen’s Church on Sundays, we hope you enjoy the beautiful flowers arranged by the flower guild. This parish is fortunate to have dedicated, talented volunteers who select and arrange these flowers and greenery, enhancing our worship space.

You may have noticed in the Sunday bulletin that flowers are given by parishioners to remember or honor loved ones. This opportunity is available to all. To give a flower memorial and acknowledge a family member or friend who has died, simply contact Judy Kidd, flower memorial chairperson, with the name(s) of those to be remembered, the date you prefer, and a check. The donation for a memorial is $65. If you wish to repeat this memorial gift annually, Judy will remind you each year when it’s time to renew.

At Christmas and Easter, the flower guild invites you to send the names of loved ones to be remembered along with a donation toward the special flowers and greenery they use on these two major feasts of the church year.

The best way to contact Judy is by email, jettt@verizon.net. To fulfill your donation, please visit ststephensRVA.org/memorialflowers to make an online payment.

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Briget Ganske

At Christmas and Easter, the flower guild invites you to send the names of loved ones to be remembered along with a donation toward the special flowers and greenery they use on these two major feasts of the church year. Judy is also the recipient for these requests. You may choose any amount to donate for these memorials. Deadlines for these opportunities are published in the Spirit and the eSpirit.

The flower guild works in teams to arrange flowers, greenery and sometimes fruits and vegetables for special services as well as regular Sunday services.

If you are not a computer user, you may call Judy at 804.285.1689 to reserve your memorial, and mail a check directly to her. Please make it payable to St. Stephen’s Church and send to: Judy Kidd, 300 N. Ridge Rd., Unit 57, Richmond, VA 23229-7451. ✤

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Questions welcome An introduction to the Episcopal Church with the rector

Three times a year, St. Stephen’s offers an “inquirers class” for those who want to learn more about the Episcopal way of being a Christian. Some who take this class are brand new to the Episcopal tradition, while others are lifelong Episcopalians seeking a refresher. If you are an adult and thinking about being confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church, this class is your preparation. Even if you decide not to be confirmed, you’ll find this class fascinating. The fall class meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. from September 26 until November 14. (There is no class on October 31.)

Gary Jones will teach this class, which covers Anglican spirituality and traditions, worship, the Book of Common Prayer, creeds, and the basics of faith and what it means to be a Christian. The final class session consists of an engaging tour of the church and a hands-on exploration of the “symphony of symbols” found in our worship.

This informal and informative class includes plenty of time for your questions.

Episcopalians believe that dealing with our real questions is an important part of arriving at a real faith. All are welcome. Please sign up at Rally Day, or contact Janet Allen at 804.288.2867 or jallen@ststephensRVA.org. ✤

Clockwise: Thomas Cranmer, the archbishop of Canterbury who composed the first Book of Common Prayer; the font and the altar represent the two main sacraments of the church, Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist; St. Stephen’s window depicting the first Anglican Eucharist celebrated in the New World at Jamestown; the Book of Common Prayer; Queen Elizabeth I, whose reign saw the flourishing of Anglicanism.

General Convention meets in Austin, Texas Compiled from news reports from Episcopal News Service

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esponding to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s call to “Follow the Way of Jesus,” deputies and bishops at the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, who met July 5-13 in Austin, Texas, acted on a record number of resolutions on such issues such as immigration, prayer book revision, and readmitting the Episcopal Church of Cuba as a diocese. The convention also adopted a three-year, $134 million budget that reflects the presiding bishop’s priorities of evangelism, racial reconciliation and creation care.

Outside the legislative chambers, several events brought together bishops, deputies and visitors to mingle, socialize, pray, worship and advocate, with a public witness against gun violence and another outside an immigrant detention center challenging the actions of the U.S. government in the way it enforced its immigration policies. A revival service at Austin’s Palmer Events Center on July 7 drew a crowd of more than 2,500 people who listened to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s rousing sermon, “God is love and gives life.”

Full access to trial-use marriage rites: In passing Resolution B012, the convention agreed to give all Episcopalians the ability to be married by their priests in their home churches. It provides for giving rectors or other clergy in charge of a congregation the ability to provide access to trial use marriage rites (rites being used until final versions are incorporated in a new Prayer Book) that allow for same-sex marriage. Previously, clergy could only use the rites under the direction of their bishop, which meant that couples living and worshiping in dioceses where the bishop is opposed to marriage equality could prohibit such weddings in individual parishes. The resolution further states that if a bishop “holds a theological position that does not embrace marriage for same-sex couples,” he or she may invite another bishop, if necessary, to provide “pastoral support” to any couple desiring to use the rites, as well as to the clergy member and congregation involved.

Same-sex weddings will continue to use “trial use” rites until the completion of the next comprehensive revision of the Book of Common Prayer.

Liturgical revision: While some were calling for a revision of the Book of Common Prayer by 2030, the convention instead adopted a plan for revision in which bishops will involve parishes in their dioceses in experimentation and creation of alternative liturgical texts that they will submit to a new Task Force on Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision. These revisions will use inclusive and expansive language and imagery for humanity and divinity, and will incorporate understanding, appreciation and care of God’s creation. Meanwhile, the convention also adopted a resolution that allows all congregations in the Episcopal Church to use optional, expansive-language versions of three Rite II Eucharistic prayers in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, providing alternative language for Prayer A, Prayer B and Prayer D. The changes are available for trial use until the completion of the next comprehensive revision of the Book of Common Prayer.

(Doing the math: the year 2030 would mark 51 years since the 1979 prayer book was adopted; the 1979 prayer book was adopted 51 years after its predecessor, the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.)

Israel-Palestine: General Convention’s consideration of resolutions relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had mixed results due largely to the House of Bishops’ unwillingness to take many of the bolder steps urged by the House of Deputies. Of the 15 resolutions submitted on Israel-Palestine going into General Convention, only six passed both houses. The successful resolutions touch on the plight of Palestinian children, the status of Jerusalem, the disproportionate use of lethal force on both sides, and ways the Episcopal Church can press for peace through its investment decisions. Bishops and deputies, even those arguing for a tougher stance against the conditions of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian

territories, took pains to affirm Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself, citing longstanding church policy toward the region.

Welcome back, Cuba: The convention voted unanimously to admit, or readmit, the Episcopal Church of Cuba as a diocese. In response to the geopolitics of the time, the House of Bishops in 1966 voted unilaterally to separate from the Episcopal Church in Cuba. Formerly a missionary district, the Episcopal Church of Cuba has functioned as an autonomous diocese of the Anglican Communion under the authority of the Metropolitan Council of Cuba since it separated from the U.S.-based Episcopal Church in 1967. The Diocese of Cuba is set to join Province II, which includes dioceses from New York and New Jersey in the United States, as well as Haiti and the Virgin Islands.

Detention center witness: More than 1,000 Episcopalians stood in the blazing sun outside the Don Hutto Detention Center in Taylor, Texas, on Sunday, July 8 to pray, sing, and protest the separation of families at the border. At one point, Bishop Curry encouraged the demonstrators to turn their faces toward the windows of the detention center. Later that day, they heard from a woman inside the center who said that those being held inside were “glued to the windows until the last bus left the detention center. Women inside were crying, saying they knew they weren’t alone after seeing so many people there.”

More detail, including videos, sermons, and much more, is available at the General Convention media hub, https://www.episcopalchurch.org/general-convention-2018-media-hub.

CONVENTION FACTOIDS General Convention gathers once every three years in a different city. It is the legislative body for the Episcopal Church (domestic U.S. dioceses as well as those from several countries in Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean).

The next convention will meet in Baltimore in 2021.

The convention is composed of two legislative houses, the House of Bishops (all Episcopal bishops) and the House of Deputies (lay people, priests and deacons elected from their respective dioceses). In addition to its bishop(s), each diocese is entitled to elect and send four lay deputies and four clerical deputies. These deputies are elected by their diocesan conventions. The president of the House of Deputies is the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings; the presiding officer of the House of Bishops is the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, who is also presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.

The General Convention considers resolutions regarding the life of the church—liturgy, church governance, theological education and the ordination process, the church’s role in society, etc. It adopts a budget for the church’s work over the coming three years. In addition to legislative sessions, members participate in daily worship and other activities. At one of the worship services, dioceses present their United Thank Offering.

The Episcopal Church Women hold a concurrent triennial convention in the same location.

Every nine years at General Convention, the House of Bishops elects, and the House of Deputies confirms, a new presiding bishop. Since the current presiding bishop was elected three years ago at the convention in Salt Lake City, the next election of a presiding bishop will take place in 2024. ✤

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St. Stephen’s-to-go Have you been to our Web site or any of our social media platforms? Do you receive one of our email newsletters? Downloaded our app? If you haven’t already done so, be sure to explore the resources, photos, and information available to you via electronic media.

On ststephensRVA.org you can:

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Listen to a sermon or a reflection from the Celtic service

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Listen to a recent Compline service

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Find out what’s on the menu for upcoming parish suppers

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Sign up to receive our free email newsletters

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Register for an event or a group

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Register your child for Sunday school

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Make a pledge (and pay your pledge) Make a special gift or additional contribution over and above your pledge

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See the parish calendar

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Read the rector’s blog

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See the latest Weekly Bible Study Guide and the most recent edition of “Wellspring,” our poetry guide

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And there’s much more on the mobile-friendly site.

FIND US! WEB ststephensRVA.org INSTAGRAM St. Stephen’s: ststephensRVA Café @ St. Stephen’s: thecaferva Farmers Market @St. Stephen’s: farmersmarketststephens May Fair House: mayfairhouse6000 Youth: instagrove6000 FACEBOOK ststephensRVA ststephensRVAmarket complineststephensRVA virginiagirlschoir mayfairhouseRVA StStephensYoungAdults EMAIL NEWSLETTERS Subscribe at ststephensRVA.org/email.

In addition to our Web site, St. Stephen’s also has an app. Even though our Web site uses “responsive design,” so that the site adjusts to your device, whether you are using a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, or a phone, some people prefer an app that “lives” on your mobile phone’s screen. From the app, you can check the parish calendar, find a sermon, make a pledge or a gift, and more.

To download St. Stephen’s free app to your mobile device, go to the App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play (for Android) and, using the search function, type in “St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.” Our app will come up in the choices. If you need help, call the parish office at 804.288.2867.

St. Stephen’s is on social media, including Instagram (there are accounts for the church, for our youth group, for the farmers market and the café) and Facebook (with pages for the church, Compline, the market, the Virginia Girls Choir, and young adults at St. Stephen’s). These platforms provide a way to post timely information as well as photos of things happening in and around St. Stephen’s.

If you’re not receiving the eSpirit, sign up today! This newsletter comes to you each Wednesday morning around 6:00, and it has all kinds of valuable information and reminders. This is also the newsletter to sign up for to make sure you’re notified in case of weather closings or other unanticipated happenings.

We have a number of other newsletters you can choose, as well, including a weekly Bible study, a weekly poetry guide, a family ministries newsletter, a market newsletter and more. In every case, we will not give your email address to anyone else, you can unsubscribe at any time, and the newsletters are free. Why not give them a try? ✤

APP Search the App Store or Google Play for “St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.”

EMAIL NEWSLETTERS YOU CAN SELECT All newsletters are free and available to all (not just members); we do not give email addresses to any third party, and unsubscribing is quick and easy.

WEEKLY YEAR-ROUND eSpirit (Wednesdays—general information) Farmers Market (Thursdays—information on vendors and products for upcoming market day) Family Ministries (Fridays—the latest information, along with registration links to offerings for children, youth and parents) WEEKLY DURING COVENANT PERIODS Weekly Bible Study (sent Sunday afternoons; includes the Gospel for the next Sunday, a reflection and discussion questions; these are created for Emmaus Groups but are available to any group or individual) “Wellspring” (sent Monday mornings; includes a poem along with reflections) OTHER EMAILS Young adult offerings (sent once a month) Women of St. Stephen’s (reminders about upcoming offerings; generally sent monthly during the program/academic year) DURING ADVENT Daily Advent reflections written by parishioners, clergy and lay staff members

A box of gratitude The United Thank Offering, a ministry of the Episcopal Church founded over a century ago, is a ministry of prayer, and more specifically, one of gratitude. Episcopalians mindful of their blessings use the prompt of a small cardboard box to express appreciation by dropping coins or dollars into the box as they say prayers of thanks. When those prayers, and the offerings that represent them, are combined, they result in grants that address human need in our own community and throughout the world.

Twice each year—once in the spring, once in the fall—we bring these offerings to St. Stephen’s. The fall 2018 “ingathering” will take place Sunday, September 30.

If you do not already have a “Blue Box” in your home or office, pick one up (they are free) outside Palmer Hall. Bring your filled box to church September 30, then start with a new one for the spring ingathering. ✤

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Seasons of the Spirit Pentecost 2/Fall 2018

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Issue Number 29

Richmond, Virginia 23226

6000 Grove Avenue ststephensRVA.org

Parish Staff

Presorted First Class Mail U.S. Postage

PAID

Richmond, VA Permit No. 320

To reach a staff member, call 804.288.2867. To send an email to a member of the staff, use the initial and name provided in parentheses, with @ststephensRVA.org. (If no email is listed, it means that the staff member does not have a St. Stephen’s email address.)

Janet S. Allen (jallen), Associate for Development & Operations Stan Barnett (sbarnett), Coordinator of Kitchen Ministry Sarah R. Bartenstein (sbartenstein), Director of Communication Deonte Campbell, Sexton Marion S. Chenault (mchenault), Preschool Director (2886401) Dawn Childs (dchilds), Assistant for Children’s Music Ministry Donald Clements, Sexton Kerry Court (kcourt), Director, Virginia Girls Choir Sarah-Keel Crews (skcrews), Minister to Children and Youth Chris Edwards (cedwards), Director, St. Stephen’s Choir Melissa Hipes (mhipes), Finance Manager Chris Holman, Sexton The Rev. Gary D. Jones (gjones), Rector Deborah Lawrence (dlawrence), Director of Outreach Betsy Lee (blee), Office Manager Becky Lehman (blehman), Assistant for Hospitality & Communication Becky McDaniel (bmcdaniel), Associate Rector Christi McFadden (cmcfadden), Finance Assistant The Rev. Stephen Y. McGehee (smcgehee), Associate Rector The Rev. Claudia W. Merritt (cmerritt), Priest Associate The Rev. Penny A. Nash (pnash), Associate Rector Ben Nelson (bnelson), Sexton, Pressman, Sunday Community Supper Chef Andy Russell (arussell), Minister to Children and Youth The Rev. William L. Sachs (bsachs), Priest Associate Allison Seay (aseay), Associate for Religion & the Arts Steve Simon (ssimon), Facilities Manager Michael Simpson, Director of Celtic Service Musicians Jessica Framme Smith (jsmith), Outreach Assistant Elizabeth Spell (weddings), Wedding Coordinator Garner Stewart (farmersmarket), Assistant Market Manager Wei-Li Suen, Palmer Hall accompanist Greg Vick (gvick), Principal Organist

Vestry

Term Expires 2019 John Bates, Senior Warden Judy Buchanan Marie Carter Calle Luke, Junior Warden Mac McElroy David Wise Term expires 2020 Melinda Hardy Braxton Hill, Register Richard Kay Martha Orr Proutt Cyndy Seal Chip Tompkins Term expires 2021 Mary Bacon, Treasurer Orran Brown Sr. Robert Dibble Mollie Hines Mitchell Alston Williams Wesley Wright

Seasons of the Spirit Sarah Bartenstein, editor Steven Longstaff, designer

Contributors: Sarah-Keel Crews, Sarah Der, Ben Emerson, Briget Ganske, Gary D. Jones, Moriah Karn, Deb Lawrence, Becky McDaniel, Stephen Y. McGehee, Claudia Merritt, Fern Newsom, Andy Russell, Allison Seay, Jessica Framme Smith, Susan Wilkes

The healing power of food

By Moriah Karn

In Snake Oil: The Art of Healing and Truth Telling, Becca Stevens of Thistle Farms writes about her journey of discovering the power of natural oils and healing intentions. Though I was unable to attend her workshop at St. Stephen’s last winter, I recently read her book. I found it inspiring, exciting, and emotional to read.

Reading Snake Oil led me to reflect on my own life, where I am a practicing herbalist and use plants in many forms for healing. What this Episcopal priest and entrepreneur says about natural oils resonates with me. These plants have medicinal and therapeutic properties in and of themselves. However, the delivery, the intention, the prayer that comes with them can be just as powerful as the physical components.

I am fortunate to have been involved in two ministries at St. Stephen’s Church—the Café @ St. Stephen’s and the Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s—which are in keeping with Becca Stevens’ approach. Not only do herbal oils and concoctions come from plants with healing powers, so does our food. Our largest and most frequent interaction with plants, for most people, is through eating them.

What we choose to eat, where it came from, how it was grown, what chemicals were or were not used to grow it, how the people who grew it and prepared it were treated and compensated, all relate to our interaction with our food. The intentions of the delivery of the food are as powerful as the nutritional content.

The missions of the farmers market and the café include environmental stewardship, connecting consumers to the producers of their food, and encouraging and supporting the consumption of fresh, local, and healthy foods. I believe that the vendors at the market and the staff at the café strive to grow and prepare food to the betterment of our environment, our community, and our bodies.

I invite you to read the words of Becca Stevens, perhaps over coffee or tea lovingly prepared by the café staff, or to think about the purpose and energy behind the local produce or meat from our farmers market that you buy and prepare for your family. There is power in the plants that God has made us stewards of. We must learn to use them wisely, with love and respect for the earth and each other. St. Stephen’s Church is building a village green—one coffee, one tomato, one day at a time. ✤ Moriah Karn was the founding manager of the Café @ St. Stephen’s and was instrumental in getting the café open last November, and shepherding it through its first year. This St. Catherine’s School graduate also managed our farmers market during her tenure at the café, uniting these two food ministries which are such important portals through which members of the community beyond the parish experience St. Stephen’s Church.We are grateful for Moriah’s time here and her contributions to these ministries.

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Job Number: 280515 • Page Name: 280515_NEWSLETTER.p20.pdf Date: 20-Aug-2018 • Time: 10:24 Page Colors • Black, PMS 3425 C