Seasons of the Spirit: Lent/Easter 2018 (Issue 27) by StStephensRVA

SPIRIT LENT/EASTER | SPRING 2018

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

I want my attention back “I

want my attention back.” That’s how the New York essayist and photographer, Craig Mod, described his mindset last year, before he was granted a 28-day residency at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts near Lynchburg. He went there to finish a book he was writing, and he unplugged from all internet activity for the duration, because he was too distracted. In our world of constant connectivity, I suspect this is a feeling many of us share. We want our attention back.

As Blaise Pascal wrote in the seventeenth century, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” So, I commend to you this Lent, in a time you set aside for deeper, contemplative pondering, Brother David’s piece (page 2).Its title and brevity belie its depth and its power to change your life.

By Gary D. Jones

As we enter the season of Lent, I invite you to do just that – get your attention back. For many, it won’t be easy. It might require resolve and some new habits. But it can be done, and getting your attention back could mean the difference between truly experiencing Easter and merely observing Easter. A whole new life (what Jesus called “the Kingdom of God”) is available to us now. But the simple truth is that if our attention is stolen, we cannot enter it. In this edition of Seasons of the Spirit, you’ll find some interesting ideas for the observance of a holy Lent, and I want to commend to you especially a short piece entitled, “Simplicity,” by Brother David Vryhof, a good friend and Episcopal monk at the Society of St. John the Evangelist. If you are attentive to the wisdom this little tract offers, Brother David’s “Simplicity” could save your life. I mean that literally. But attention is key, and we are right to be concerned that our attention is being stolen. Billboards and commercials, internet pop-ups and smart phone apps, even videos at gas pumps. And as our attention is stolen, so is our engagement with each other. When was the last time you were in a meeting or at a meal, and someone was NOT looking at his or her smart phone? And even if no one looked at their phones, the mere presence of the devices has been shown to increase distraction and decrease quality of local engagement. The French philosopher Simone Weil wrote, “Attention, taken to its highest degree, is the same thing as prayer. It presupposes faith and love.” Craig Mod asks hauntingly, “Then is the lack of attention the opposite? Does a lack of attention presuppose fear and hate?” Reading the news today, I wonder. When we are robbed of our attention, are we also robbed of our compassion? Are we robbed of our ability to pray? Is there a correlation between the rise of 24/7 news and social media feeds and the decline of kindness, gentleness, and civil discourse? The challenge to a life of prayer and a deeper relationship with God is not just external. The problem is not just “out there” in technology, for example. As Martin Laird has pointed out, anyone who has tried meditation and other contemplative practices quickly discovers that we all have a raging cocktail party going on in our heads, with all sorts of distracting, internal chatter. Many of us give up on contemplative practices when we discover this incessant inner noise. We figure, “I guess I’m just not good at this.” But all the enduring religions of the world affirm that in fact, all people are made for contemplation – there is nothing more natural for a human being. Remember the last time you experienced the time-stopping, jaw-dropping wonder of a beautiful sunset. That is a contemplative moment, and it is as deeply human as it gets. The key is learning practices and habits of life that attune you to something deeper than the cocktail party in your head and return you to your own true and wonderful nature, and to the wonder in the people and world around you.

I also commend to you our three-week Lenten series on John Milton’s Paradise Lost (page 3). There’s nothing simple or brief about Milton’s epic – it will require your full attention. But we have a fabulous and enthusiastic guide in Professor Gardner Campbell. Great art and literature like this tend to reward us according to the degree that we give ourselves to them. As Karen Armstrong said, “Good theology is a form poetry, an attempt to express the inexpressible, and you can’t read a sonnet by Shakespeare in the chatter and tumult of a party.” And finally, notice the article by Peter Marty, “Church is inconvenient” (page 10). In an overly-busy and stressed out world, we naturally gravitate toward that which is convenient. And we are more and more segregating ourselves into like-minded social circles and neighborhoods, because it’s easier that way. But some things that are good and important for us are inconvenient. And worth it! At the end of his 28-day residency in rural Virginia, Craig Mod wrote a magazine article about his experience. It’s entitled, “How I Got My Attention Back.” (Ironically, it appeared in Wired magazine.) “There are a thousand beautiful ways to start the day that don’t begin with looking at your phone,” he wrote. “And yet so few of us choose to do so.” It doesn’t sound as churchy to say it this way, but I think Lent can be, for many of us, a kind of 40-day residency in the wilderness of a simpler life, a time to focus on “getting our attention back,” so that we can truly experience Easter, rather than simply observe it. ✤

in this issue: Monastic wisdom: simplicity 2 Surrounded with Sense: a series on Paradise Lost 3 Lent, Holy Week and Easter 4 St. Stephen’s team helps people in W.Va. rebuild 6 Carrie Newcomer to play benefit concert here 7 Local mission ‘trip’ offered for adults 7 What is essential is invisible 8 Meet the family ministry team 9 Canterbury Cathedral Choir visits this spring 11 Liturgical ministers recruitment and training 11 Farmers market begins 10th year 13 Needlepoint project is zipping along (you can help) 16

Simplicity: To will one thing

WISDOM TO PONDER “It is better to have fewer wants than to have larger resources.” – St Augustine, 354-430 “In everything, love simplicity.” – St Francis de Sales, 1567-1622 “If you are wise, you will dread a prosperity which only loads you with more.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882 “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” – Jesus in Matt. 6:26

Gary Jones

“Simple Gifts” was written by Elder Joseph Brackett, Jr. while he was at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine. These are the lyrics to his one-verse song:

ne of the virtues most sought after by the early Desert Fathers and Mothers (and by generations of monastics, saints and mystics who came after them) was the virtue of “purity of heart.” “Blessed are the pure in heart,” Jesus said, “for they will see God” (Matt. 5:8). To obtain this promise, these holy men and women of God rid themselves of all that was superfluous in their lives – money and possessions, luxurious clothing and rich foods, the desire for popularity, success and social status – and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to prayer, study, and good works. They examined their hearts continually to weed out envy, hatred, greed and lust, and focused all their prayer and effort on obeying Jesus’ command to “strive first for the Kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). They trusted that if they did this, God would provide them with all that was needed to sustain their lives.

Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher and theologian, captured the essence of “purity of heart” and of Christian simplicity in the title of his book, Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing. This “one thing,” he said, is God and God’s Kingdom. We are to seek and love God “with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with By Br. David Vryhof, SSJE all our mind, and with all our strength” (Mark 5:30). This call – to “purity of heart,” simplicity of life, and single-minded focus on God and God’s Kingdom – is much needed today. We are overwhelmed and inundated with too much of everything: too many possessions, too much food, too much stimulation, too many activities, too much work, too much information, too many choices. As a consequence, most of us live scattered, hectic lives, racing from one task to another, juggling too many commitments, always living on the surface and never really knowing ourselves, or others. Nor have we the time and space to truly know God.

Why not begin (again) today? Rid yourself of whatever is getting in the way.

The simplicity we need has both an inward dimension and an outward expression. Inwardly it seeks an integration of the self that is rooted in our identity as beloved children of God. When we know ourselves to be children of God above all else, we find the freedom to let go of the need to compete for status, success and popularity. We can let go of jealousy, envy and pride. Our hearts are fixed on one thing – knowing and loving and serving God. Everything else then assumes its rightful place and order in our lives. As our hearts become pure, others will notice changes in the way we speak, the way we dress, the way we work, the way we conduct ourselves. We will grow in appreciation for ordinary things, and will be content with less. Our hearts will fill with gratitude for the beauty and wonder of creation, for the gift of life, and for the loving kindness of God. We will grow in concern for the world and its peoples, and for our environment. We will be increasingly skeptical of our consumerist culture, and will grow in compassion for the poor. Our lives will become simpler, more generous, more authentic.

Why not begin (again) today? Rid yourself of whatever is getting in the way. Identify what is essential and let go of what is “too much.” Resolve to seek God and God’s Kingdom above all else, and examine every commitment, every relationship, every possession, every task, in the light of this one focus. Discover the gift and freedom of simplicity. ✤ Br. David Vryhof is a member of the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and he has led retreats for men and women from St. Stephen’s Church at the monastery and here at St. Stephen’s. SSJE is a community of men giving their whole selves over to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rooted in the ancient monastic traditions of prayer and community life, and critically engaged with contemporary culture, the Brothers seek to know and share an authentic experience of God’s love and mercy. They live a common life shaped by worship, prayer, and a Rule of Life. Learn more at SSJE.org. This article is reprinted, with permission, from Monastic Wisdom for Everyday Living, a continuing series of sermons, workshops and teachings from the brothers that seeks to distill the collective wisdom of the past and offer practical timeless messages to live by in today’s world. Visit SSJE.org/monasticwisdom to view all the available titles.

’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free ’Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, ’Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gained, To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed, To turn, turn will be our delight, Till by turning, turning we come ’round right. PRACTICES TO TRY Consider Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25-34. How might the images of “the birds of the air” and “the lilies of the field” inspire you to live more simply? What would your life look like if you were to make Matthew 6:33 (“Strive first for the Kingdom of God…”) your guiding principle? Go through your clothes closet, your bookshelves, your storage spaces, your attic or basement, and identify the things you need. Give away the rest. Practice gratitude. Look for beauty in ordinary things, in nature and in people – every day! QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER How is simplicity reflected in your speech? Ask yourself, “Is what I am about to say truthful? sincere? necessary? helpful? kind?” Review your calendar. Ask yourself, “Does my calendar reflect my values and priorities?” How pure is your heart? How pure is your life? What is getting in the way? What doesn’t belong? What is missing? RESOURCES TO EXPLORE Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, by Richard J. Foster (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1978). [Chapter 6, “Simplicity”]. Freedom of Simplicity, by Richard J. Foster (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1981). Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go, by Richard Rohr (New York, Crossroad Publishing Co., 1991, revised in 2003).

A PRAYER FOR SIMPLICITY

Knowing myself to be a child of God above all else, I pray for the freedom to let go of the need to compete for status, success, and popularity. Lord, help me fix my heart on one thing – knowing and loving and serving you. SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

‘Surrounded With Sense’

IF YOU DO WANT TO PREPARE • Read Paradise Lost, Book 1, lines 1-26.

Lenten series focuses on Milton’s masterwork, ‘Paradise Lost’

• If you get hooked and want to read on, one of Satan’s most famous speeches is at lines 242-270.

God. Angels. Satan and the rebel angels, now fallen. Heaven, Hell, Chaos. Our universe, our planet, Eden, and the Garden. Elephants, lions, lambs, and the “parsimonious emmet,” among many others, living together in a peaceable kingdom. Adam and Eve. A marriage, a love, communal worship, meaningful work. A wily serpent. Forbidden fruit. Temptation.

• You can find all of Paradise Lost (and many other works by Milton) online at the Dartmouth Milton Reading Room, linked from our Web site at ststephensRVA. org/paradiselost)

An aging poet, stricken with gout, freed from death row, loved by some, admired by readers in many nations, despised by many of his fellow citizens. And now, as he writes his masterpiece, totally blind. This is the story of what many consider the greatest poem written in the English language, John Milton’s Paradise Lost.

RECOMMENDED PRINT EDITIONS • For the complete poetry and major prose: Modern Library edition edited by Stephen Fallon, John Rumrich, and William Kerrigan (pictured; available in the Bookshop @ St. Stephen’s) • Penguin edition edited by John Leonard • For hard-core fans of the poem, Alastair Fowler’s edition of Paradise Lost has extraordinary notes and much valuable introductory material. OTHER RESOURCES • The Cambridge Companion to Milton, edited by Dennis Danielson, is a lovely overview of some of the rich conversation around the life and works of John Milton. • The Cambridge Companion to Paradise Lost, edited by Louis Schwartz, is a fine recent collection of essays on topics and contexts in the study of this great epic. Gardner Campbell’s essay on temptation is included. FOR PODCAST LISTENERS Gardner’s introduction to Paradise Lost for undergraduates at the University of Mary Washington (45 minutes) is linked from our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/paradiselost.

ABOUT THE TEACHER Dr. Gardner Campbell is associate professor of English at Virginia Commonwealth University. Since completing his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia in 1992, he has served on the faculties of the University of San Diego, the University of Mary Washington, Baylor University, and Virginia Tech, teaching Milton studies, Renaissance literary studies, film studies, new media studies, and teaching and learning technologies. He has published work in all these areas, and is a lifetime member of the Milton Society of America, serving on its executive committee from 1997 until 2000. His most recent Milton publication is the chapter on “Temptation” in Cambridge University Press’s Companion to Paradise Lost. His article, “The Enfolded Sublime of Incarnate Immortality,” is forthcoming in Immortality and the Body in the Age of Milton, scheduled for publication by Cambridge University Press in February. An accomplished public speaker, Gardner has delivered keynote addresses at conferences across the U.S., Canada, Italy, Sweden, and Australia. He blogs at gardnercampbell.com.

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

Fall of Adam II by William Blake

At the Sunday Forum on three Sundays in Lent (February 25, March 4 and March 11), Gardner Campbell, associate professor of English at Virginia Commonwealth University, will lead us through short, intense, fascinating parts of Milton’s masterwork. While this epic is over 10,000 lines long, in 12 parts (or “books”), the poet had a gift for locating the force and beauty of his “great argument” into brief passages of 50 to 100 lines, just enough for us to read and consider during each session. Paradise Lost is direct, complex, surprising, and familiar. From the moment of its publication in 1667, readers knew that Milton had accomplished something unusual, even astounding. In his native English, he had written a poem worthy of comparison with Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, with Virgil’s Aeneid. Moreover, Milton had done for Christianity what those earlier poets had done for their religions. Indeed, he had outdone them. Not content to describe the ways of the gods and their creations, Milton’s ambition was “to justify the ways of God to men,” by which he meant all human beings. Those ways of God could start with Milton’s own loss of sight, continue into his loss of position within the government, and extend to the loss of his first and second wives in childbirth, along with the loss of two of his children. But of course the ways of God included, for all humanity, the problems of death, pain, and evil within the world—even the problem of the Law, which Milton’s Satan audaciously diagnoses as the root of all evil. One of Milton’s earliest readers wrote these haunting words about Paradise Lost: A reader of Milton must be Always upon Duty; he is Surrounded with Sense, it rises in every Line, every Word is to the Purpose... The three sessions Gardner will spend with us will not get to every line, much less every word. But you’ll have the opportunity to experience what that reader describes, in a season of reflection and renewal that prepares us for the great celebration of Easter. You may know a lot, a little, or nothing at all about Milton, Paradise Lost, or poetry. But if you come with an open heart and an ear for beauty, you will get something out of this series. ✤

LENT/EASTER | SPRING 2018

Briget Ganske

Lenten offerings

Ashes for Ash Wednesday

Are you called to fast?

‘Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John’ Retreat opens the season of Lent

Fasting is an ancient discipline of the church. It is a means of drawing closer to Christ through our intentional self-emptying, through a spiritual union with the poor and hungry, and through a heightened awareness of God’s presence in our life. Lent is an especially appropriate time for fasting; it is commended to us in the Book of Common Prayer.

Stop to breathe, remember, and refresh Love as we begin Lent. Would you like to deepen relationship with God? How does “God is love” feel like in your everyday life? We will focus on stories and images from John’s Gospel especially about Jesus with his closet friends. Friday and Saturday sessions are related to yet independent from each other. Come to either or both for teaching with opportunities to pray alone and together.

Come to an introductory session on Tuesday, February 20, 7:00-8:00 p.m., to explore whether the Spirit is inviting you to a three-day Lenten fast. Following a discussion of spiritual fasting, each participant can decide whether this might be part of his or her Lenten discipline this year. The fast will begin on Wednesday, February 21 and conclude at Evensong on Friday, February 23. Coming to the February 20 session does not obligate anyone to fast; it is an opportunity for prayerful reflection. If you are interested, you may sign up at Information Central; if you have questions, please contact Claudia Merritt at cmerritt@ststephensRVA.org. ✤

How love heals:

a workshop with Becca Stevens

n Saturday, March 17, you have the opportunity to spend the morning with the Episcopal priest and entrepreneur who has helped countless women start new lives after leaving the sex trade and overcoming addiction and abuse through the residential program known as Magdalene and its related bath and body products business, Thistle Farms. The workshop takes place from 9 a.m. until noon. Becca was named a 2016 CNN Hero and a White House “Champion of Change,” and is featured in the PBS documentary, “A Path Appears.” Among her other honors is being named Humanitarian of the Year by the Small Business Council of America and being inducted into the Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame. Becca, who is herself a victim of childhood sexual abuse, has written several books, including one published last fall, Love Heals. The suggested donation for this workshop is $25; please register at Information Central or at ststephensRVA. org/lent. ✤

During the first week in Lent, St. Stephen’s will offer a Lenten retreat led by Br. Luke Ditewig of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. The retreat will take place Friday, February 16, 6-9 p.m., and Saturday, February 17, 9 a.m.-noon. The suggested donation is $25 for one or the other session, or $40 for both. An additional donation of $10 is suggested for supper on Friday. You may sign up by calling or visiting the parish office, 804.288.2867. A lenten study guide/journal related to Br. Luke’s presentations is available on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/lent. ✤

Resources for the Lenten journey In addition to the retreats and other offerings described on pages 3 and 4, consider the following resources for your Lenten journey. The Bookshop @ St. Stephen’s offers prayer books, Bibles, theological classics, devotional books and more. It is open during office hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) and on Sunday mornings. Monastic wisdom: the Society of St. John the Evangelist is offering prayer journals (free downloadable PDFs) and other materials related to the theme being presented by Br. Luke Ditewig at our Lenten retreat, “Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John.” We’ve embedded links to these items on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/lent. On the same page, we offer a link to subscribe to free emailed reflections from the Brothers. SSJE also offers printed copies of some materials for a nominal cost. Forward Movement: copies of Forward Day by Day (small booklets daily devotions based on the lectionary) are available for purchase in the parish office for $1 each; large print editions are also available. A selection of Forward Movement books is available in our bookshop. Prayer and worship: Lent is an appropriate time to take on a new spiritual discipline or practice such as regularly attending weekday Morning Prayer (8:10 a.m.), Evensong (5:30 p.m.), and/or the sung Compline service on Sundays at 8 p.m. You might also try attending a contemplative prayer offering such as the Tuesday morning group led by Millie Cain in the Lounge (8:45 a.m.) or the monthly Second Saturdays Centering Prayer session in Room 14 (9 a.m.-11 a.m.). Weekday Preaching Series: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church across from Capitol Square has held a well-known preaching series since 1897 that takes place each weekday during Lent. They also serve lunch before and after these daily services with proceeds supporting St. Paul’s outreach ministries. You can read more about this series at stpaulsrva.org, or pick up a brochure at Information Central. SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Holy Week and Easter services

‘Could you not stay awake with me one hour?’

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

All services take place in the main church. Monday through Friday Morning Prayer and Communion, 8:10 a.m. Evensong, 5:30 p.m. (except Thursday and Friday in Holy Week) Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, March 25 7:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One (note earlier-than-usual time) 9:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two* All gather at the Three Chopt entrance to the church for the Blessing of the Palms before processing to separate services in Palmer Hall and in the church. 11:15 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two* 5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion* 6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper in Large Fellowship Hall 8:00 p.m., Compline Maundy Thursday, March 29: The Institution of the Lord’s Supper 7:30 p.m., Holy Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar followed by all-night vigil Good Friday, March 30: The Crucifixion of Our Lord 8:10 a.m., Morning Prayer and Communion from the reserved sacrament 12 p.m., Liturgy for Good Friday 5:30 p.m., Stations of the Cross

Maundy Thursday Vigil On Maundy Thursday (March 29 this year), we remember Jesus’ commandment to his disciples, “Love one another.” It is the day we remember the institution of the Lord’s Supper before his betrayal, passion and death. At 7:30 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, there will be a service of Holy Eucharist, followed by the Stripping of the Altar and Procession to the Altar of Repose. This service is one of the most deeply moving liturgies of the entire year. An all-night vigil follows in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, and you are invited to take part for an hour, anytime between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.

EASTER SERVICES Holy Saturday, March 31 7:30 p.m., Holy Baptism and the Great Vigil of Easter Easter Day, Sunday, April 1: The Resurrection of Our Lord 7:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One (note earlier-than-usual time) 9:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two, followed by reception (two services, one in the church, one in Palmer Hall)* 11:15 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two, followed by reception* 5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion* 6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper in Large Fellowship Hall 8:00 p.m., Compline Child care will be available during the 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. services. ✤

Separation [from God] is not possible. God does not know how to be absent…The illusion of separation is generated by the mind and is sustained by the riveting of our attention to the interior soap opera, the constant chatter of the cocktail party going on in our heads. MARTIN LAIRD Doug Buerlein

Doug Buerlein

INTO THE SILENT LAND

Detail of the Palm Sunday window in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, St. Stephen’s Church

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

LENT/EASTER | SPRING 2018

Team helps rebuilding efforts in West Virginia

The group in Greenbrier County, left to right: Georgiana Ball, Dave Satterfield, Alice Goodwin, Martin Lane, Janie Satterfield, site supervisor David Hagelgans, homeowner Bill Richmond, Mac Hines, Earl Roney, and Durwood Usry

n June 2016 in West Virginia, eight to 10 inches of rain fell over a 12-hour period to cause one of the deadliest floods in the state’s history, affecting more than 40 counties, and leading to 23 deaths.

Last November, a team from St. Stephen’s went to Greenbrier County to help with the continuing work of recovery. With White Sulfur Springs as home base, the group worked in the new community of Hope Village, where 42 homes are being built for those whose houses could not be salvaged. The team also worked with Mennonites they knew from previous mission trips, installing vinyl siding on a house in Rupert. The group was able to spend time with homeowner Bill Richmond and hear firsthand about the tragic events that unfolded nearly two years ago. He was at home when the rain began. A creek and swampy area behind Bill’s house occasionally flooded, so when he saw water running through the detached garage behind his house, he was not alarmed. But this storm continued to intensify with more and more water coming in waves. As streaming water continued to build, the Richmonds started placing valued items and furniture higher up, on tables and counters. Bill’s wife left to help others. When water began coming through both the front and back doors, Bill left through the front. In seconds, the water was up to his knees. Bill went to a check on a neighbor. The fire department had advised her to take her children and leave her home, and when she refused, a firefighter told her that if she did not leave, a police officer would forcibly remove her. Bill helped carry two of the children from her house. The rain was such that he could not see as they moved to higher ground. Back at his house, the water rose all the way to the upper kitchen cabinets. A few things were saved, but most had to be discarded. Still, he was more fortunate than many others. Bill’s sister, who had retired and moved away, still had a house nearby; the Richmonds were able to live there.

Some of his neighbors weren’t as lucky. A grandmother and her grandson lived in nearby trailers. The grandmother’s trailer was dislodged and smashed into her grandson’s trailer. Her body was later found further downstream. The flood occurred in the early evening. Bill told our group that if it had come late at night when most people were sleeping, many more would have died. Team member Georgiana Ball reflected on the experience of working on the project after the group returned. She said, “When we see the catastrophe of homes being destroyed, we get a closer look at another person’s world, and the small aggravations of our lives seem to fade away. We feel connected to a huge community of helpers and helping organizations. We see a generous, hardworking spirit in the people we work with, from different places, backgrounds and religions. Our participation is a gift to us, through which we feel a greater sense of community. We sense the grace bestowed on others to lift them up, and feel it at a physical and spiritual level.” Would you like to take part in a future trip? Following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey, St. Stephen’s national outreach committee has been working with recovery leaders in Texas and Florida in the hope that a mission trip to help with rebuilding efforts will take place in one of these states in late 2018. We will communicate details as soon as they are available through the Spirit and the eSpirit. If you have questions, please contact Deb Lawrence, dlawrence@ ststephensRVA.org, or 804.288.2867. ✤

Increasing prosperity has not made people more friendly toward one another. They’re better off; but that newfound wealth has not resulted in a new sense of community. I get the impression that people are more preoccupied with themselves and have less time for one another than when they didn’t possess so much. Henri Nouwen, Letters to Marc about Jesus

St. Stephen's volunteers at work in West Virginia

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Benefit concert features acclaimed singer, songwriter Carrie Newcomer to perform at spring outreach fundraiser April 6 Carrie Newcomer is much more than a musician. She’s a poet, storyteller, snake-charmer, good neighbor, friend and lover, minister of the wide-eyed gospel of hope and grace. All this, and she comes with a voice that declares, 'Sit down here a minute and listen.' Who could ask for more? – Barbara Kingsolver In addition to our annual fundraisers in September, the outreach golf tournament and the Bluegrass Bash, this spring we’re presenting a concert by songwriter, recording artist and performer Carrie Newcomer to raise money for St. Stephen’s outreach ministries. Sponsorships and ticket sales will increase the amount of support we can provide to our outreach partners and projects, both here and around the world, over and above what we fund through pledges and the annual budget. This not-to-be missed concert will be held Friday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in the church and tickets are on sale now. Newcomer has produced 16 solo CDs and has received numerous awards for her music and related charitable activities. She has toured with Alison Krauss, and Nickel Creek recorded Newcomer’s song “I Should’ve Known Better” on their Grammywinning album “This Side.” She was named as one of the “50 most influential

folk musicians of the past 50 years” by Chicago’s WFMT, and Boston’s WBEZ listed her as one of the most influential folk artists of the last 25 years. Newcomer’s songwriting has impressed the likes of Billboard, USA Today and Rolling Stone, which wrote that she “asks all the right questions.” Dubbed a “prairie mystic” by the Boston Globe, Newcomer is acclaimed for her “deep, rich alto and penchant for exquisite melodies.” A contemplative Quaker, she cuts across secular and spiritual boundaries. We’re excited to welcome Carrie Newcomer to Richmond and St. Stephen’s and we know you will want to be present to hear her. Invite your friends to join you for this lovely evening concert and reception, while supporting St. Stephen’s outreach ministries. Sponsorship opportunities are available to provide important support to the concert and to the work of our outreach partners. Visit ststephensRVA.org/ newcomer to learn more and to reserve your tickets, or call 804.288.2867. ✤

Richmond mission trip and retreat offered for adults Last summer’s youth mission experience tailored for adults over a long weekend

The group will spend each night at Richmond Hill; daytime activities will include a windshield tour of the East End, visits to Peter Paul Development Center, Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School and Child Savers, and a walking tour of the Slave Trail. The trip will conclude with the Sunday morning worship service at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. This is a wonderful opportunity to get a first-hand view and understanding of St. Stephen’s local outreach focus and efforts in the East End. For more information, or to sign up, contact Deb Lawrence in the parish office, dlawrence@ ststephensRVA.org. ✤

East End ‘windshield tours’ offered this spring Students from Anna Julia Cooper School, an Episcopal middle school and one of our East End partners

St. Stephen’s youth, led by Michael Sweeney, director of family ministries, participated in a week-long mission-focused retreat last July. During the day, the group visited many of St. Stephen’s outreach partners in the East End and learned about the good work these agencies and schools are doing. At night, they slept at Richmond Hill (an ecumenical Christian retreat center located in Church Hill), where they also joined other guests and Richmond Hill residents for prayer and meals. When they heard about this local youth “trip,” many adults said, “I want to do that!” Here is your chance! An abridged version of the trip is being offered to adults from Thursday, April 19 to Sunday, April 22. The trip will be led by Michael Sweeney and outreach director Deb Lawrence.

We will depart from St. Stephen’s in a church van and take an educational trip through North Church Hill, the area where we focus most of our local outreach efforts. Tour highlights will include our major partners: Fairfield Court Elementary, Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School, Peter Paul Development Center as well as the site of the new East End grocery store and VCU Health and Wellness Center. Learn how the East End has evolved and its plans for the future. This is a wonderful opportunity to see who we work with, the ongoing needs of the community we support, and why are we so dedicated to this area of the city. Tours should take approximately 1.5 hours. Additional details and registration information will be available in the Spirit and the eSpirit.

Richard Rumble

The trip will be both retreat and mission, combining times of reflection and prayer with activity for the well-being of our community. Education will also play an important role, the purpose being to better understand our community. Do we really know our city – its history, its inhabitants, the challenges we face, and how those challenges relate to each other? Participants will discover an unfamiliar city right here in Richmond. As written in a recent Richmond Times-Dispatch article, we are two cities: RVA and Richmond, the one hip and flourishing and the other “mired in violence and decay.”

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

If you have never spent time in the East End of Richmond, you might not understand the challenges faced by those we serve through our outreach partners. Even volunteers who generously provide time at one of our partner institutions might not fully understand the conditions that affect students and families in that part of our city. St. Stephen’s offers “windshield tours” designed to help us learn more about our neighbors in the East End. Outreach staff will host two such tours in March and April.

Richmond Hill, where participants will sleep as well as have supper and pray with the community.

LENT/EASTER | SPRING 2018

If you have questions, please contact Jessica Smith, jsmith@ ststephensRVA.org or Deb Lawrence at dlawrence@ ststephensRVA.org. ✤

Briget Ganske

What is essential I recently re-read The Little Prince for the umpteenth time. It’s been a favorite story of mine since childhood, and it reveals something new each time I return to it. On this occasion, I was especially moved by something the fox says to the little prince as they are becoming friends: Look: you see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how By Michael Sweeney wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat . . . It’s a beautiful description of a sacrament, isn’t it? The outward and visible sign of the wheat will become for the fox a vessel of the little prince’s presence, a reminder of the inward and spiritual grace of their relationship. The fact that it is wheat becoming something more than wheat makes it almost inescapably suggestive of the Eucharist. In reflecting on that field of wheat, how it becomes spiritual food for the fox, I am reminded of my relationship with Bill and Nancy Knipe, my confirmation mentors when I was in eighth grade. They were like my church grandparents. I adored them, and hung on their every word. Bill spoke of the Eucharist with such affection, such reverence, almost as if it were a person, his most cherished friend. I carried that with me for many years, like a seed.

The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

When Bill passed away, 14 years later, I received communion at his funeral, and gently the seed I’d been carrying opened. It was as if Bill were there with me at the altar rail, and not Bill only, but Christ, too. Because Bill was there in Christ. And some part of me was in Bill. That’s how fond I was of him; he had “tamed” me, as the fox says.

This is how I came to know Jesus in the breaking of the bread. It was Bill’s presence in the Eucharist—Bill whom I’d known in flesh and blood—that enabled me to experience the presence of Christ. Years later, I would find beautiful words to describe this experience in one of our postcommunion prayers: “God of abundance, you have fed us with the bread of life and cup of salvation; you have united us with Christ and one another; and you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth.” Still, as lovely as those words are, Bill’s gift to me was not theological insight, but simple, powerful affection—his for me, mine for him, his for Christ. That is what helped me to see in a new way. It was very much like the secret the fox imparts to the little prince at the end of their time together: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” I offer my experience as you consider whether or not you might participate with your child or grandchild in the communion preparation course St. Stephen’s will offer this spring (see box). Know that you have something special to share simply by participating alongside him or her, by showing with your presence, and perhaps with your words, how much the Eucharist means to you. Even in the very invitation—in saying, “Michael, I’d love to take this communion preparation course with you”— you will be helping God to plant seeds whose fruit is beyond imagination. ✤

Communion preparation This spring, St. Stephen’s will offer a class for children ages 7 and up, and their parents, to prepare them for a deeper understanding and participation in Holy Communion. It is intended both for children who already receive communion, and those who will be preparing to receive for the first time. The class is based on a series of meditations from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd that are related to appreciating the gift of the Eucharist and its centrality to our life in Christ. Five one-hour sessions, attended by parent and child, culminate in a retreat. The Wednesday dates will be March 14 and 21, and April 4, 11, and 18 (early evening; time TBA), with the retreat on Saturday, April 21. There is no cost for this offering. Please register online at ststephensRVA.org/communionprep. If you have questions, please contact Michael Sweeney at msweeney@ststephensRVA.org. ✤

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Family ministry team comes together Andy Russell joined us in January; Becky McDaniel arrives in July

ith the departure of the Rev. Gene LeCouteur in October to become rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Middleburg, and Michael Sweeney’s plans to enter seminary in the fall, parish leaders have been considering how best to serve children, youth and their parents through our family ministries staff. Just before Christmas, two outstanding ministers—one ordained, one lay—accepted the call to serve at St. Stephen’s Church. The Rev. Becky McDaniel will join the staff as associate rector in July, and Andy Russell joined us in January as minister to children and youth, serving alongside SarahKeel Crews.

Becky will be a primary clergy leader in Palmer Hall and a pastoral presence in the lives of families. She will also oversee the family ministries team, with a special focus on our offerings for children and parents: Little Lambs, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and Many Parents, One Vine. Parents who met Becky when she visited in November described her as “forward thinking” and “a good listener” and felt that this mother of two related to the joys and challenges of parenting in a personal and compassionate way. Andy Russell grew up in Burke, Virginia, as a member of Church of the Good Shepherd. After graduation from the College of William & Mary in 2015, Andy spent a year in Tanzania with the Young Adult Service Corps, a ministry of the Episcopal Church which places young adults in intentional community, serving in locations around the world. In Tanzania, Andy worked with a program called Carpenter’s Kids, which provides school supplies to HIV/AIDS orphans living in the villages of the Diocese of Central Tanganyika. Returning to the States, Andy was placed by the Episcopal Service Corps in Atlanta, where he worked at St. Joseph’s Mercy Care, helping to find permanent housing for people struggling with homelessness.

Sarah Bartenstein

Becky is lower school chaplain at Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta, the largest Episcopal School in the United States. After her ordination in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, Becky served simultaneously as chaplain at Stuart Hall School and curate at Trinity Episcopal Church in Staunton. A University of Virginia graduate, she holds a master’s degree in education from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Divinity from the School of Theology at the University of the South (Sewanee). She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to St. Stephen’s clergy team, and to our work with children, youth, and their families. Her ministry is informed and enriched by her background as a yoga and mindfulness teacher, gifts she is eager to share with this community.

SK Crews, Andy Russell, Becky McDaniel and Michael Sweeney met in the Café @ St. Stephen’s in January.

him with youth groups on Wednesday afternoons, keeping “office hours” in the Café @ St. Stephen’s, and out in the community—supporting youth at athletic events, concerts, and theatrical productions. “We have been looking long and hard, across the United States, for the best possible people to work with our children, youth and parents,” said the Rev. Gary Jones, rector. “This area of our parish’s life is of highest importance to us, and Michael Sweeney has developed an exceptional program that we want to build upon. After talking with many fine candidates and reviewing even more resumes, several of us had a powerful eureka moment when we interviewed Becky McDaniel. Becky is wise beyond her years. She is passionate and joyful about caring for children; she is experienced in education and faith development; and most of all, she is deeply kind and spiritually sensitive.

After returning to Virginia, Andy served as a volunteer youth minister at Good Shepherd, mentoring a confirmation group and leading trips to Shrine Mont, where Sarah-Keel met him, prompting her to recommend him for his new role. Andy also brings his experience working with children and youth in Tanzania, where he volunteered as a teacher and tutor at Canon Andrea Mwaka School. He enjoys reading, playing tennis and Ultimate Frisbee, and watching the Washington Redskins break his heart.

“And when Andy Russell came to our attention, Becky joined others of us who interviewed him and affirmed that Andy was just the person we were looking for to team up with our exceptional Sarah-Keel Crews. Andy is a caring soul with remarkable depth who clearly has a calling to affirm young people in their life of faith. Sarah-Keel and Andy will offer the highest quality care and mentorship for our youth and children.”

Andy and Sarah-Keel are working together in our many programs for youth in grades 4-12. Andy’s primary role, like Sarah-Keel’s, is to develop and maintain meaningful, Christ-centered relationships with the youth and parents of this community. Look for

Gary added that in interviews with bishops, priests, and other references, “We heard over and over what we suspected from our interviews – these are two of the finest young church professionals out there.” ✤

Café offers new setting for youth

The spiritual lives of children In a visit to St. Stephen’s two years ago, psychologist Lisa Miller, author of The Spiritual Child, discussed the extensive research that she and others have done on the long-term effects on children and youth whose upbringing includes a strong spiritual component. From this research, it is clear that a religious foundation is protective against the behaviors and outcomes that most concern parents.

Sarah Bartenstein

On Saturday, February 24, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., the family ministry team will host a workshop led by Anna Hurdle to help you deepen your understanding of your child’s religious development, understand the work that happens in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and teach you how to nurture and support this growth at home. Anna is a Montessori teacher who trains adults all over the country to serve in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and her annual summer workshops here are extremely popular. Youth at St. Stephen’s have a new place to gather: the Café @ St. Stephen’s. Though the café is for everyone, the original impulse for this inviting space—and the catalyst for much of its support—was to provide a place where family ministry staff members could have informal interactions with youth, and a place where young people could meet one another after school or before a choir rehearsal, or spend quiet time studying. It’s also become the location for the Thursday evening Bible study for high school students (shown here). The café is open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekdays (unless the parish office is closed for a holiday or inclement weather). It’s open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

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

LENT/EASTER | SPRING 2018

The workshop, “The Spiritual Lives of Children,” will also be an opportunity to get to know new family ministry staff members, Andy Russell and the Rev. Becky McDaniel. There is no cost for St. Stephen’s parishioners. Childcare will be provided if requested. Space is limited, so please register online at ststephensRVA.org/children. ✤

Briget Ganske photos

Church is inconvenient

Many find that worship doesn’t fit their schedule

parishioner told me recently that her daughter’s family had found the perfect church in Dallas. “They don’t go often,” she said, “because the church live streams its services. They can watch it anytime. If the kids are playing in the family room or Mom or Dad are busy pulling brunch together, they can have worship on in the background. It’s really neat. Have you ever heard of this?” “Yes,” I told her, “I know all about live streaming.” My eyes must have reflected a lack of interest because the conversation moved on to other topics.

Those who regularly avoid church often harbor misperceptions about religion and see it as an antique way of life. Plenty of cultural Christians I know seem indifferent to God and are convinced that the church’s priorities are out of line. But in our world of customized living, where a mobile device can effortlessly order up my preferences and bring most everything to my doorstep, church is simply inconvenient. Church pulls me away from my self-designed life and requires that I take some initiative in another world that has nothing in common with “doing whatever I please.” By Peter W. Marty

Emily Dickinson opens one of her poems: Some keep the Sabbath going to Church— I keep it, staying at Home. If you haven’t noticed, there’s a lot of staying at home on Sundays in America these years. For the past couple of generations, researchers have noted that 40 to 45 percent of Americans claim regular weekly church attendance. These days, I’d judge the figure to be more realistically in the 10 percent range. Of the ten lepers healed by Jesus, only one found it worth his time to turn back and express thanks. That one may be the church.

We believe that we live in the ‘age of information.’ That there has been an information ‘explosion,’ an information ‘revolution.’ While in a certain narrow sense this is the case, in many important ways just the opposite is true. We also live at a moment of deep ignorance, when vital knowledge that humans have always possessed about who we are and where we live seems beyond our reach. An Unenlightenment. An age of missing information. Bill McKibben, The Age of Missing Information

I have decided that making Sabbath worship an integral part of one’s life is highly inconvenient. For those who stay away from communal worship because Sunday is the day to arrange personal leisure, take special care of oneself, or get the kids off to soccer, making time for church is just plain inconvenient.

Convenience often feels great, but it’s not an unalloyed good. If I exercise only when it’s convenient, or buy groceries only at the convenience store, or drink coffee only from paper cups, these choices do not make a good life. Inconveniences can hold their own deep value, especially when they ask us to experience a larger life than the one we typically design around our personal comfort. We Christians love to talk about Jesus, and with good reason. But it’s impossible to have Jesus Christ apart from the church. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s reading of the apostle Paul led him to say that we cannot know Christ apart from Christian community. As wonderful as it might be to have Christ apart from the hypocrisies and distractions of other people who believe, Christ is embedded in the church. Sounds foolish to say, but we are Christ’s body. That inconvenient claim, that we are joined to other body parts that don’t necessarily think or look like we do, can seem either ugly or beautiful. I find it beautiful. ✤ Peter W. Marty is publisher of The Christian Century and senior pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa. This column is reprinted from the January 3 edition of The Christian Century with permission from the publisher.

For those of us who make church a priority, Sabbath worship is equally inconvenient, though in a different way. We sing songs we didn’t pick, hear scriptures we didn’t choose, commit to endeavors for which we must sacrifice, and—here’s the worst— sit next to people who aren’t even our closest friends. SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Are you called to liturgical ministry?

By Penny A. Nash

Canterbury Cathedral choir to sing here The Choir of Canterbury Cathedral will give a concert at St. Stephen’s on Friday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. This renowned English choir of men and boys sings at daily services in the historic cathedral, providing music which enchants and delights thousands of visitors and pilgrims from all over the world, as well as the regular congregation. As the seat of the archbishop of Canterbury, the cathedral has a unique role in the life of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The choristers who travel are ages 9-13 (though younger boys sing with the choir in residence at the cathedral). They live in the ancient and beautiful Cathedral Choir House and attend St Edmund’s School, learning to perform music from the widest repertoire, medieval to modern. Other members of the choir—known as Lay Clerks—are professionally trained singers who also pursue another career outside the cathedral. Many are teachers of various kinds and some are in commerce or other fields. They sing seven services each week in the cathedral, and many have made arrangements with their employers to join this U.S. tour. Parishioners will provide housing for the members of the choir during their visit. If you are interested in hosting, please call the parish office at 804.288.2867. Plan now to attend this concert in the nave featuring one of the finest choirs in the world. Tickets are available in the parish office and ststephensRVA.org/concerts. ✤

Questions welcome

In one of our prayers, we say that we know Jesus as he is revealed in Scripture and in the breaking of bread (Collect for the Presence of Christ, Book of Common Prayer, page 124). The reading of Scripture and the distributing and receiving of Holy Communion, in addition to prayer, is the work of the people in our Sunday morning worship. Not only the ordained lead worship. Lay ministers such as lay readers (who read the lessons and/or the prayers) and chalice bearers (who administer the wine during Holy Communion) lead alongside the clergy.

This is the time of year when we recruit folks to consider these ministries. We imagine lay readers to be able to read aloud with clarity and a sense of purpose, and chalice bearers to be active members of the congregation who are drawn to the sacred task of sacramental service. Chalice bearers and lay readers serve for three-year terms, after which they are retired for at least a year in order to bring new people into the system and to encourage ministers to explore other areas of ministry. Would you be interested in exploring a ministry of either lay reading or chalice bearing? We can help you discern whether you are called to serve in one of these ministries. First of all, please let us know of your interest by contacting either Penny Nash or Steve McGehee. Then we will meet with you to discuss the nature of lay ministry and how it is practiced here at St. Stephen’s. If we mutually discern that you are called to either a ministry as lay reader or chalice bearer, you will be fully trained and will begin your service in June 2018. ✤

Living with dementia: two stories Tracey Lind is a newly retired Episcopal priest and city planner whose ministry has included work for social and environmental justice, interfaith relations, sustainable urban development, arts and culture, and progressive theology. She spoke at St. Stephen’s during our centennial year, and has stayed in touch with our rector through a colleagues group to which they belong. Over a year ago, however, Lind (pictured above, left) was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). She made the heartbreaking decision to leave her post as dean of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland and to continue her ministry through speaking and writing about the spirituality of dementia from the perspective of one who is experiencing the disease. Lind, a member of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) Think Tank and a board member for the Cleveland non-profit Judson, a continuing care retirement community, will return to St. Stephen’s this spring to talk about her journey at the Sunday Forum on April 15.

Briget Ganske

St. Stephen’s parishioner Keith McMullin (above, right) will speak the week before, on April 8, but from the perspective of a caregiver. His mother Mary suffered from Alzheimer’s dementia, and Keith—himself a healthcare executive—wrote a book about the experience, Missing Mary: A Crash Course in Alzheimers Dementia. Much of it is wrenching, but Keith’s story offers humor as well. Come to the Sunday Forum to hear his important insight into this disease and those who deal with it. ✤ Gary Jones leads an ‘instructed Eucharist’ as part of the Inquirers Class for adults and the confirmation class for youth.

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 don’t, you’ll find the class fascinating. The spring class meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. from April 4 until May 16. The Rev. Stephen McGehee conducts this class, which covers such things as Anglican traditions, liturgy, the Book of Common Prayer, sacraments, the creeds, and more. The final class session consists of an instructed Eucharist led by the rector. Episcopalians believe that dealing with our real questions is an important part of arriving at a real faith, and the class allows for your questions. All are welcome in this course on the basics of Christianity and the richness of the Anglican/Episcopal tradition. Sign up at Information Central. ✤ 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

LENT/EASTER | SPRING 2018

Sunday Forum speakers The Sunday Forum for this remainder of this program year promises excellent speakers. The forum meets in the Fellowship Hall at 10:10 a.m. No registration is needed. February 18 | Br. Luke Ditewig, Society of St. John the Evangelist (Lent I) February 25 | Gardner Campbell, “Paradise Lost,” part 1 of 3 (Lent II); see page 3 March 4 | Campbell, part 2 of 3 (Lent III) March 11 | Campbell, part 3 of 3 (Lent IV) March 18 | The Rev. Becca Stevens, Thistle Farms, “Love Heals” (Lent V) No Forum on Palm Sunday (3/25) or Easter Day (4/1) April 8 | Keith McMullin, Missing Mary: A Crash Course in Alzheimer’s Dementia April 15 | Tracey Lind, retired cathedral dean, speaking about living with dementia April 22 | The Rector April 29 | Michael Sweeney; recognition of graduating seniors May 6 | The Rector (final Forum of 2017-18 year) ✤

Two poets to visit this spring

ur poetry series continues this spring with visits by two Virginia poets. On Thursday, March 15, at 7 p.m., Molly McCully Brown will read from her acclaimed book, The Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded.

Her poems and essays have appeared or are forthcoming in Gulf Coast, Pleiades, Image, TriQuarterly Online, Kenyon Review, The Adroit Journal, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. Raised in rural Virginia, she holds degrees from Bard College at Simon’s Rock and Stanford University. Currently, she is a John and Renée Grisham Fellow at the University of Mississippi. Haunted by the voices of those committed to the notorious Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded in Amherst County, Virginia, epicenter of the American eugenics movement in the first half of the 20th century, this evocative debut marks the emergence of a poet of exceptional poise and compassion, who grew up in the shadow of the Colony itself. Poet Ada Limon praises the book, saying, “This is nothing less than a revelatory debut that reveals how to stitch something undeniably beautiful out of immense pain and solitude. Intelligent, intricate, fearless, and relentlessly acute, these poems do the good and complicated work of both shattering and singing.” Writer Beth Ann Fennelly says, “I am stunned by the power of this deeply imagined collection. Because the author herself is ‘spastic, palsied, and off-balance’ (she has cerebral palsy), she realizes that, had she been born fifty years earlier, she might have ended up in the infamous Virginia State Colony…”

Leadership changes at St. Stephen’s

An interview with Brown by Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air is linked on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/poets, as is a piece from the New York Times written by Brown herself. This year’s series will close on Thursday, April 12, at 7 p.m., with a reading by Nathaniel Perry. Perry is the author of Nine Acres (American Poetry Review, 2011), which won the 2011 APR/ Honickman First Book Prize. His poems and translations have appeared recently in American Poetry Review, Cincinnati Review, Gettysburg Reviews, Bat City Review, and elsewhere. He is the editor of the Hampden-Sydney Poetry Review and Associate Professor of English at Hampden-Sydney College. He lives with his family in rural southside Virginia. Nine Acres is composed of 52 poems, each one taking its name from a chapter title of horticulturalist M.G. Bain’s 1935 book on small-farm management, Five Acres and Independence. As one reviewer writes, “The poems in his debut collection consider what it means to be faithful—as husband, father, neighbor, and as steward of land, poultry, orchard, and garden…they confront the passions, tedium, graces, and sweat labor of such fidelities both thematically and structurally.” The poet Marie Howe praises Perry’s work, as well: “[T]his is a book that concerns itself with freedom and constraint, with what we used to call husbandry—care of the land, of animals, (of a marriage, of children). Nine Acres speaks of the responsibilities of love. … These poems restore and refresh— they taste of water and metal, arising from a spring close to the source.” ✤

Poet Laureate reads at St. Stephen’s

St. Stephen’s Church is blessed with outstanding lay leadership. At the annual meeting held Sunday, February 4, parishioners thanked six outgoing members of the vestry who completed their three-year terms, and elected six women and men to serve with the 12 continuing members. The new vestry members are: Mary Bacon Orran Brown Sr. Robert L. Dibble Mollie Mitchell Alston Williams Wesley Wright The following parishioners served from February 2015 until February 2018: John Barr JB Burtch, senior warden Mac Purrington Taylor Raquet Laurie Rogers, junior warden Beth Smith, assistant treasurer

A roster of the current vestry is published in each edition of Seasons of the Spirit and is available at ststephensRVA.org/vestry. ✤

“

Briget Ganske

Officers elected from among the current vestry are John Bates, senior warden; Calle Luke, junior warden; Mary Bacon, treasurer, and Braxton Hill, register.

On Thursday, January 25, about 250 people from throughout the community gathered in the nave to hear the 19th Poet Laureate of the United States give a reading of her work. Natasha Trethewey, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, read for about an hour and received a standing ovation from the appreciative audience. Afterwards, she signed copies of her books in St. Stephen’s Library. Ms. Trethewey is one of a distinguished group of poets who have visited the parish, including Mary Oliver and Jane Hirshfield.

Attention is a muscle. It must be exercised.”

CRAIG MOD // HOW I GOT MY ATTENTION BACK

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Farmers Market celebrates a decade of community and local, healthy food Market returns to the outdoors April 7

hen the Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s returns to its outdoor location this spring, it will begin its 10th year of operation. It has grown to nearly 40 vendors per week and attendance of over 1000 customers during peak season. Market manager Moriah Karn and new assistant manager Garner Stewart are not only excited to welcome back vendors who have become customer favorites, they have also begun recruiting exciting new farmers and producers. Though new in his role as assistant market manager, Garner’s face will be familiar to many at St. Stephen’s. Garner Stewart He and his wife are St. Stephen’s Preschool parents, and Garner was once a market vendor himself (you may have bought honey from him). He is not only passionate about local food, he understands how the market fits into the larger ministry of St. Stephen’s Church. He took up this new role when long-time assistant manager Kyle Dosier decided to conclude his tenure. Kyle was able to smooth the transition before he left in late December by showing Garner the ropes. There are many ways to stay informed about what’s happening at the market. Information is available at ststephensRVA.org/market; on Facebook and Instagram; and through a free weekly newsletter that includes a list of the coming Saturday’s participating vendors, information about what they intend to bring to market, occasional features about farms and food, and a different recipe and grace each week. You can sign up from the Web site, either from the market page or at ststephensRVA.org/email.

Sarah Bartenstein photos

At press time, the market is still indoors (in the Fellowship Hall), 9 a.m.-noon. Beginning April 7, it will move back to the parking lot and be held every Saturday, rain or shine, from 8 a.m. until noon. Though many vendors now accept debit and credit cards, a few require cash or checks. Most have plastic bags, but we encourage you to bring your own reusable bags (we even sell them with the market logo on them). Volunteers are crucial to the market’s success; please contact Moriah and Garner at farmersmarket@ststephensRVA.org; they’ll work with your schedule. The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s is a lively outdoor market from April through late November, rain or shine. Then it heads back indoors for winter. The outdoor season begins April 7 and will have customer favorites and some new vendors.

The Café @ St. Stephen’s is also open during market hours, so be sure to stop by for a cup of coffee or tea or an espresso drink to keep you fueled as you shop. ✤

CHRISTMAS 2017 AT ST. STEPHEN’S

December brought pageants, caroling, and hot drinks (and a warm space) in our new café. (1) The Children’s Christmas Pageant on December 16 marked the debut of Ezra, the infant son of staff member Allison Seay and her husband Josh Epley, in the role of Jesus. (2) Children, youth, parents and grandparents went Christmas caroling together. (3) Baristas took drink orders in the café. (4) Advent Sundays were especially busy in the Café. (5) The traditional Youth Christmas Pageant continued, though instead of its usual date of the Fourth Sunday in Advent, it took place a week early, since the Fourth Sunday in Advent fell on December 24 in 2017, making for a very full day and night. Well over 3,000 people attended afternoon and evening Christmas Eve services. (Photos 1, 4 and 5 by Briget Ganske; photo 2 by Sarah-Keel Crews; photo 3 by Sarah Bartenstein)

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

LENT/EASTER | SPRING 2018

Thank you to these individuals and families who have made their pledge for 2018: As of January 31, 2018: Anonymous • Chris + Valerie Abbott • Ben + Lucile Ackerly • Cassel + Pearl Adamson • Dave + Marion Addison • Ned Addison • John + Mary Frances Aiken • Susan Albert • Al Albiston • Tom + Elizabeth Allen • Janet Allen • Rachael Ambler • Nancy Ambler • Lang + Lisa Ambrose • Mary Anderson • Chris + Carroll Andrews • Jason + Kathryn Angus • Sal Anselmo • Tony Anthony • Fran Armstrong • Bill + Ellen Armstrong • Susan Armstrong • Carol Armstrong • John + Toni Ashworth • Carl + Nancy Atkins • Tappan + Camp August • Margaret Austin • Charley + Sally Ayers • Charles + Lois Ayers • Mason + Marie Ayers • Bob Aylor • Marc + Julia Ayscue • Glenna Bailey • John + Violet Bain • Bill + Mabel Baldwin • David + Gussie Bannard • Ben + Mary Barbot • Gene Barham • Angela Barksdale • Robert + Mary Elizabeth Barnes • John + Patsy Barr • Kevin + Karen Barry • Larry + Sarah Bartenstein • Brenda Bartges • George + Laura Baskerville • John + Bev Bates • Mac + Isabel Bates • Lee + Kate Batten • Beth Baylor • Kevin + Beth Beale • Caro Beebe • John Bennett + Joan Putney • George + Kay Best • Tim + Judy Bice • Rick + Mary Holly Bigelow • Cheryl Blackwell • Pat Blair • Chris + Kimberly Blair • Beth Blair • Jack + Sue Blair • Peter + Lynn Blankman • Eldridge + Erika Blanton • Doug + Lisa Blouch • Doug Blue • Roger + Anne Boeve • Lew + Anne Boggs • Chris + Caroline Boggs • Stephen + Sally Booth • Genie Borum • Debra Bosko • Skip Bottom + Susan Bell • Robert Bouck • Marty Bowles • Peter + Jakie Bowles • Gene + Cynthia Bowles • Jim Boyd • Scott + Becky Boyers • Martin + Ellen Boyle • J. Christian Bozorth • Margaret Bradley • Pat + Tricia Branch • Read + Jody Branch • Caroline Brandt • David + Nancy Breeding • Liz Brengel • Don Brennan + Brooke Davila • Amy Bridge • Lee + Allison Bridges • Barbara Brierre • Cordell + Ginny Briggs • Jeb + Ibbie Britton • Peter Broadbent • Allen + Sydney Broaddus • Kathy Brock • Joe + Leslie Brockman • Judy Brown • Bill + Suzanne Brown • Hill + Peggy Brown • Rod + Pat Brown • Glennie Brown • Kirk Brown • Orran + Ellen Brown • Paul + Gere Brown • Brian + Beth Brubaker • John + Joan Bruns • Pat Bryant • Mary Brydon • George + Carol Bryson • Michaux + Judy Buchanan • Robert + Ingrid Buell • Blissie Buford • Wads + Wendy Bugg • Paul + Betsy Bullock • Jeff + Kathleen Burden • John Burgess • William + Lynn Burgess • Mary Anne Burke • Archer Burke • John + Mimi Burke • Marshall Burke • Henry Burke • Mark + Anne Burnett • Barbara Burrows • Bob Burrus + Adrienne Hines • JB Burtch • Dianne Butler • Bob + Edie Cabaniss • Ed + Lauren Caldas • Gigi Calvert • Michael + Beverly Campbell • J.B. + Lois Campbell • Jerry + Kristi Canaan • Courtenay Cann • Brian Cann • Jack + Anne Cantile • Marygrace Cantilo • John + Lisa Caperton • Tom + Sandy Capps • Linda Carpenter • Judy Carpenter Hawthorne • Mark + Patty Carpenter • Trace Carson • Hugh + Marie Carter • Paula Carter • Cabell + Marion Chenault • Evan Chesterman • Bob + Anne Chewning • Tom + Sarah Chiffriller • Nathan + Dawn Childs • Polly Christian • John + Sandra Christian • Dixon + Kate Roy Christian • Billy + Lisa Claiborne • Cole + Macon Clarkson • Richard + Kay Clary • Steve + Joan Clement • Noel + Meg Clinard • Clark Cockrell • Anne Cockrell • Ted + Claire Cole • Ron + Stephanie Coleman • Bob + Jean Collins • Bobby + Barbara Cone • Liz Cone • Jinx Constine • Barbara Cook • Elliott + Gale Cooper • Patsy Cooper • Robert Copeland • Tommy + Claire Cottrell • Jim + Margie Couch • Tom + Carpie Coulbourn • Tom + Sterling Coulbourn • Clark + Amanda Coulbourn • Brian Couturier • Chris + Meredith Covert • Tom Cox + Penny Nash • Beese Craigie • Glen + Karen Crawford • Spot Crenshaw • Hatcher + Leslie Crenshaw • Beth Crews • Beth Crews • Rick + Shirley Crim • John + Mary Crowder • Todd Culbertson • Anne Gordon Curran • Martha Curry • Steven + Barbara Dalle Mura • Jane Daly • Teddy + Lucy Damgard • Christa Daniel • Ken + Ann Davis • Gordon + Virginia Davis • John + Cami Davis • Sam + Susan Davis • Kathryn Davis • Michael + Dianne Del Bueno • Kathy DeLoyht • Lou Dent • Brian Dent • Martha Dent • Sam Derieux • Sara Deringer • Bob + Clarice Dibble • Ken + Sherlyn Dibble • Paul + Judy Dickinson • Earl + Carol Dickinson • Robert Dilday • Preston + Blair Dillard • David + Shelley Dishner • Luther + Debbie Dixon • Jennifer Dockum • Carter Doswell • Bill + Leslie Douthat • Mimi Dozier • James + Catherine Driscoll • Harley + Laurie Duane • Dan + Paula Dukes • Keith + Susan Dull • John + Debbie Dunlap • Mary Catherine Dunn • Wayne + Judith Dunn • B.J. Durrill • Margaret Eckman • Dick + Nancy Page Edmunds • Gilmer Edmunds • Dottie Eichner • Jim + Lynne Einhaus • Larry + Rhonda Elliott • Bob Ellis + Aleta Richards • Ben + Nancy Emerson • Matthew + Morgan Engel • Dylan Erwin + Ashley Antognoni - Erwin • John + Bruce Evans • Tom + Mary Margaret Evans • Anna Evas • John + Jane Fain • Gail Fairbanks • Amanda Faircloth • Currie + Martha Anne Fairlamb• Ted & Ashley Farley • Mack + Mary Faulkner • Ted + Alison Fauls • Bobby + Betsy Fauntleroy • Wilda Ferguson • Wortie + Courtney Ferrell • Ben + Maureen Field • Randolph + Caren Fields • Chris + Michelle Finn • Karen Fisher • Herbert + Marian Fitzgerald • Kevin + Margaret Fitzgerald • Mary Fleming • Garland + Betsy Flippen • Alice Flowers • Jack + Cheryl Fockler • Vicki Ford • Mary Foster • Bruce Fountain • Jay + Anne Fox • Charlie + May Fox • Leigh + Justin Frackelton • Harriet Franklin • Gay Fraser • Marcia Frazier • Susan French • Peter + Nini Frey • Ann Fry • Larry + Betty Fuccella • Steve + Kirki Fuller • Roger + Lynne Fuller • Liz Galloway• Sam Galstan + Sharone Ward • Bill + Tibby Gardner • Rod + Betsy Gardner • Graham + Jennifer Gardner • Ruth Garrett • Bill + Carol Gay • John + Lora Gayle • Alexandra Geanious • Don + Celie Gehring • Lori Gettler • Randy + Debbie Gibbs • Vinny + Key Giles • Les + Dusty Gillenwater • L.H. Ginn • Holmes + Kim Ginn • Ken + Mae Givens • Doug + Karen Glasco • Steve + Sarah Glass • Stephen + Cheryl Goddard • Ann Goddard • Catherine Good • Read + Sunny Goode • Thomas + Missy Goode • Bill + Alice Goodwin • Matt + Kirsti Goodwin • Allen + Louanna Goolsby • Kim Gottwald • Mark Gottwald • Norruth Graham • Hatch + Rachael Grandy • Winston + Mary Gravely • Lawrence + Freddie Gray • Kevin + Mary-Stuart Gremer • Skippy Gronauer • Peter + Julie Grover • Richard + Katherine Haas • Ashby + Lori Hackney • Bruce + Sandra Hague • Nan Hall • Jane Hall • Phoebe Hall • Jerry + Brenda Ham • Dick + Bonny Hamrick • Doug Harbert • Anne Hardage • Kitty Hardt • Tom + Margo Hardy • Melinda Hardy • Eva Hardy • Marion + Sara Hargrove • Reno + Pat Harp • Beth Harris • Gib + Pam Harris • Hiter + Jil Harris • Julia Harris • Jerry + Sandra Hart • Pat Hartsock • Diann Hawks • Betty Hayter • Darrell Headrick + Bill Allen • Nancy Hein • Reed + Micki Henderson • Tucker + Jann Henley • Tiny Herron • Will + Jean Hershey • Bitsy Hester • Bob + Lolly Hetherington • Brack + Katja Hill • Bitsy Hillsman • Bob + Anne Hines • Mac + Joan Hines • Roy Hoagland • David + Lolly Hodge • James Hoffman • Nancy Hofheimer • Cam + Dixie Hoggan • Rick + Molly Hood • Bill + Mikal Hoofnagle • Patricia Hooten • Patrick Horne + Elizabeth Williams • Stuart + Linda Horsley • Cookie Horsley • Mary Horsley • Elsie Hovis • Maria Howard • Knox + Shirley Hubard • Happy + Kenzie Hubard • Gary + Joanne Hudson • Matt + Melisa Hudson • Marnie Huger • Robert + Betty Hull • Lisa Hummel • Betsy Hunroe • Eppa + Mary Hunton • Will + Suzi Hutchens • Molly Hyer • Ann Hyer • Claiborne + Michelle Irby • Dede Irwin • Lynn Ivey • Clay + Lynn Jacob • Jeffrey Jacobs • Sidney + Janet James • Donna Jarvis • Alma Jenkins • Hunter + Sheryl Jenkins • Martha Jenkins • David + Caroline Jennings • Shirley Joel • Frank + Sharon Johns • Jim + Molly Johnson • Margaret Johnson • Craig + Leigh Johnson • Lunsford + Marian Johnson • Charles + Patricia Johnson • Basil + Susan Jones • Bill + Carolyn Jones • Doug + Frances Jones • Dustin + Younga Jones • Gary + Cherry Jones • Marietta Jones • Skip Jones • Molly Jordan • Bill + Carol Kamm • Richard + Robyn Kay • Gordon + Gloria Keesee • Carroll Keiger • Mark + Helen Kemp • John + Carolyn Kendig • Anne Kenny • T + Greta Kidd • Dana King • Melissa King • Brent + Anna King • Roger + Louise Kirby • Barry + Marilyn Kirkpatrick • Karin Klenke • Jack + Barbara Kling • David + Jeannie Knight • Pret Kopecky • Mike + Allison Koschak • Mark + Emily Krudys • Cy + Molly Kump • David Kympton • Rodney + Sheri Lambert • Leitch + Clare Lancaster • Ed + Mary Lane • Ann Lane • Martin Lane • Jean Lane • Charlie Larus • Rick + Deb Lawrence • Lewis + Mary-Gill Lawson • Chris + Joan Layne • Preston Lee • Harry + Elizabeth Lee • Mary Lee • Betsy Lee • James + Linda Leigh • Rob + Pat Leitch • Allen + Patti Leonard • John + Sally Lester • Burke + Leigh Lewis • Patricia Lewis • Garlin Lewis • Catesby + Mary Lewis • Christopher Lindbloom + Nancy Powell • Liza Little • Mike + Jan Locher • Bobby + Barbara Jean Long • Steve + Georganne Long • Jane Longest • the Rev. Barry + Susan Loop • Katie Lowden • Kevin + Pamela Lowe • Fletcher Lowe • Charles + True Luck • Andy + Calle Luke • Pamela Lynch • Amanda Macaulay • Jerry Simonoff + Sharon Machrone • Kathleen Mackey • Sara Mackey • Rita MacNelly • Shane + Sarah Maley • Virginia Maloney • Michael + Kara Mann • Gail Markley • Justin + Megan Marriott • John + Hope Marshall • Dick + Penny Marshall • Emma Lou Martin • Douglas Martin • Anne Martin • Adam + Berkeley Martin • Ed + Tovia Martirosian • Morgan + Joan Massey • Barbara Massey • Robert + Margaret Matheson • Bev + Louise Mauck • Janet Mauck • Chris + Jean Mauck • Jack + Adrienne Maxwell • Adelia Mayer • Frank + Lisa Mayer • Hank + Sallie Mayer • Tim + Dabney McCoy • Tim + Christina McCoy • Carol McCoy • Gary + Brenda McDowell • Mac + Anne McElroy • Margaret McGehee + Anne Owens • Steve + Ruth McGehee • Sally McGill • Marty McIntosh • Rachel McKlveen • James + Marty McMullin • Jim + Alice Meadows • Mary Ellen Meadows • Bill + Pate Mears • Molly Meem • Andrew + Whitney Melton • Eric + Sue Melzig • Craig + Claudia Merritt • Craig + Claudia Merritt • Hank + Gayle Miller • Scott + Connie Miller • Mike + Benita Miller • Todd + Michelle Miller • Jack + Anne Miller • Scott + Heather Miller • B + Tina Millner • David + Susan Mills • Warren + Martha Ann Mills • Bill + Lorraine Mitchell • Richard + Mollie Mitchell • Charles Pfister + Molly Moncure • Bernard + Cynthia Monroe • Reilly + Julia Monroe • Joan Moody • Ann Moore • Jay + Martha Moore • Louise Moore • Mary Ellen Moore • Maggie Belle Moore • George + Anne Taylor Moorman • Ed Morrissett • Dennis + Jan Moseley • Leith Moss • Michael + Katherine Mueller • Dave + Amy Mulholland • Lee + Sarah Mumford • Lew Mundin • James + Karen Murphy • Don + Janet Murray • Don + Myra Nagel • Daniel + Wendy Naret • Ron + Joyce Nash • Andy + Margie Nea • Hank + Beth Neal • Dorrien Neild • Blair Nelsen • Jack + Katherine Nelson • Reingard Nethersole • Bill + Sue Newman • Jack + Fern Newsom • William Noe • Rob + Janie Norfleet • Maurice + Reid Nottingham • John + Jean Oakey • Jay + Cynthia Oakey • Susan Oakey • Wendy O’Brien • Jim + Nan O’Connell • Stewart + Donnan O’Keefe • Sylvia Oliver • Sylvia Oliver • Susan Olyha • Mim Oman • Jan Orgain • Marshall + Beth Orr • Jim + Karen Orville • Candace Osdene • Kristen O’Sullivan • Thierry Ott + Lisa Cuseo-Ott • Julian + Haley Ottley • Kathi Overbay • Duncan + Tia Owen • Evan + Margareth Owens • Ronald + Susan Gray Page • Ronald + Susan Gray Page • Doug Palais + Hazel Buys • Jacqueline Palmatier • Andrew + Jenny Palmer • JoAnne Palmore • Barbara Parker • Mo Parrish • O.H. + Sally Parrish • Thomas + Liz Parrish • Sarah Parrish • Will + Alison Parrish • Terri Parsons • Ruth Partlow • Peter + Ann Bray Pastore • Lane + Mary Ashburn Pearson • Robby + Elizabeth Peay • Ted + Anne Peck • Sarah Peterson • Carlos + Christina Petrus • Rick + Brooke Pettitt • Charles Pfister + Molly Moncure • John + Eddy Phillips • Ben + Kim Phillips • Jean Pidgeon • Cotes + Helen Pinckney • Paul + Mary Beth Poggi • Marilyn Pohlig • Anne Pole • Suzanne Pollard • Martha Pollard • Tom + Carter Pollard • Burt + Ginny Poole • Renny Poole • Bob + Molly Pope • Bob + Molly Pope • Patsy Porter • Bill + Liz Poston • Mark + Kathy Powell • Paul Powell • Gayle Presson • Ruth Prevette • Jim + Jan Price • Paul + Ruth Prideaux • David + Crystal Pritchard • Jean Proffitt • Bobby + Martha Proutt • Michael + Coco Provance • JoAnn Pulliam • John Purcell • Riker + Ginny Purcell • Mac + Dale Purrington • Rusty + Molly Rabb • Huda Rahal • Susan Ramsey • Malcolm + Livy Randolph • Malcolm + Emily Randolph • Sally Rankin • Jim + Donna Ransone • Christopher + Julie Ratchford • Monica Rawles • Benjamin + Susan Rawles • Pam Redd • Leigh Redford • Tom + Kaye Redford • Frank + Sue Reichel • Bagley + Kathleen Reid • Ann Reiss • Kay Remick • David + Susan Reynolds • Dick + Pat Rheutan • David + Betsy Richardson • Pat + Victoria Riendeau • Dick + Anne Riley • Peter + Maria Rippe • Richard Ritter • Tom + Pam Roberts • Chip + Michael Robertson • Penn + Laurie Rogers • Greg + Ellen Rogowski • Phil + Camilla Rohrbach • Donna Rominiecki • Earl + Sandy Roney • Hart + Genie Roper • Ruddy + Amy Rose • Billy + Claire Rose • Tim + Emily Rose • Eddie + Carole Ann Ross • Pres + Jane Rowe • Susanna Rowe • John Rowe • Art + Gayle Royals • Mack + Pat Ruffin • Ray + Jane Ruth • Bill Sachs + Austin Tucker • Jon Lee Salmon • David + Iva Samuels • David + Helen Sarrett • Robert Sass • Anne Satterfield • David + Janie Satterfield • Betsy Saunders • Brad + Elizabeth Scaggs • Thomas + Frances Scales • Ned + Frances Schaaf • Matthew + Katy Schaaf • Mary Ann Scherer • Jon + Bonnie Schmidt • Steve + Jorie Schmidt • James + Harriet Schnell • Jim + Bee Schnell • Ed + Stacia Schoeffler • Patricia Schultz • Cathy Sckinto • Strother + Evelina Scott • Mary Virginia Scott • Robert + Lena Scott • Alice Scott • Carter + Ann Scott • Tom Scott • Bobby + Cyndy Seal • Dick + Patty Sedgley • Luke + Meghan Semple • Stuart + Jane Settle • Claire Shaffner • Scott + Paige Shaheen • Rebecca Shaia • Dabney Shackelford • William + Lynneth Shands • Sallie Shepherd • John + Martha Sherman • Pen + Bette Shiflett • Bob + Anne Shotwell • David + Torrey Shuford • Alice Siegel • Mary Lucy Siewers • Ashley Silverburg • Carl + Robin Simms • Buddy Simpson • Chuck Bradshaw + Brandy Singleton • Harvard + Blair Smith • Hallie Smith • Jane Smith • Tom Smith • Tom + Beth Smith • Hilary Smith • Charles + Louise Smith • Matthew + Ferebee Smith • Jim Smith Parham • John + Carolyn Snow • Jim Snowa • Scotty + Karrie Southall • Richard + Stephanie Sowers • Brandon + Shelley Spalding • Carter + Jill Spalding • Kirk Sparrow • Elizabeth Spell • Bruce + Anna Spencer • Courtney Spencer • Mary Spencer • Vernon + Laura Spratley • Mary Stagg • Lissie Stagg • Charlie + Jeanne Stallings • Hal Starke • Betsy Stevenson • Jimmy + Macy Stikeleather • Kendalle Stock • Thomas + Carol Stokes • Billy + Mary Stone • Michael + Virginia Stone • Carolyn Street • Deborah Streicker • Strickland + PerkinsStrickland • Robert Strohm • Susanne Sturges • David + Sandy Suskind • Michael Sweeney + Briget Ganske • A.J. + Alice Szumski • Mayo Tabb • Bob + Kathy Tappen • Chip + Dee Dee Tarkenton • David + Carol Taylor • Annabelle Taylor • David + Teague • Peter Thacker + Sarah Moyar-Thacker • Steven Thacker • Jani Theogaraj • Jeff Thomas • Beth Thomas • John + Linda Thomas • Steve + Bobbie Thomas • Matt + Janet Thompson • Matt + Nancy Thompson • Will + Kate Thompson • Carter + Chase Thompson • Frederick + Leezie Thompson • Beth Thornton • Ginny Thornton • Wood + Kemper Thornton • Tim + Allison Thurber • Ed + Beth Thurmond • Richard + Alice Tilghman • Jeff + Nella Timmons • Chris + Deborah Timmons • George + Patricia Todd • Chip + Betsy Tompkins • Seldon + Donna Tompkins • Rogers + Josie Toms • Becky Trader • Guy + Helen Tripp • Ivan Trittipoe • Giles + Tracy Tucker • Meg Tucker • Rob + Anne Turnbull • Stephen + Allison Twente • Bill + Betsy Tyson • Granville + Peyton Valentine • Stukie + Mary Blair Valentine • Eric + Whitney Van Der Hyde • Nancy Vaughan • Bob Vaughan + Mary Jo Sisson-Vaughan • Greg Vining • Mac + Sarah Wade • Tom + Roszie Walker • Eileen Walker • Fleet + Elizabeth Wallace • Ray + Douglas Wallace • Gordon + Caroline Wallace • Gordon + Lizzie Wallace • Scott + Ashley Wallace • Pierce + Betsy Walmsley • Linda Walter • Cameron + Cathy Warner • Bill + Eleanor Washburn • Jim Watkinson • Rob + Marianne Watkinson • Lisa Watlington • Michael + Katie Watrous • William + Kim Way • Synthia Waymack • Gary + Martha Waynick • Gene + Katharine Webb • Susan Weis • Kathrin Weis • Travis + Shannon Weisleder • Gene + Bebe West • Rudolph West + Karen Gould • Robbie + Townsend Westermann • Jacqueline Westfall • Betsy White • Becky White • Wayne + Catherine Whitham • Katherine Whitney • Bill + Mary Kay Widhelm • Dick + Carol Wiegmann • Susan Wilkes • Dan + Jackie Wilkins • David + Laura Wilkinson • Nelson + Meade Williams • Pete + Elizabeth Williams • Ellen Williams • Bruce + Melissa Williams • Mark + Alston Williams • Jack + Betty Williams • Mary Ballou Williams • Colin + Cary Williams • Lou Anne Williamson • Bill + Janet Wilson • Steve + Laura Wilson • Dave + Suzanne Wilson • Susie Wiltshire • Brian Wingfield • David + Karen Wise • Ann Witt • Isabel Witt • Luke Witt • Bettie Wood • Ward + Kathy Wood • Andy + Cheryl Wood • Carol Woodward • Noell Woodward • Doug + Anne Woolley • Sue Wootton • Wesley + Elise Wright • Bill + Peggy Wright • John + Lindy Wyatt • Peter + Liz Wyeth • George + Jane Young • Philip + Margaret Young • Mitt + Peggy Younts • George Zehmer ✤

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Why pledge? We are deeply grateful to the 850 individuals and families have made a pledge for 2018 as of our printing date to support the many ministries of St. Stephen’s Church (see facing page). Pledges account for more than 90 percent of what we can do and be as a parish; we do not have a large endowment to support our work. Faith in God and in our parishioners literally runs our parish. By John Bates In trying to prepare a budget for 2018, St. Stephen’s leadership faces a conundrum. Can we continue to provide the many exquisite worship services and offerings that our parishioners and those in the community have grown to love, where they find hope and healing? Can we continue to be a “village green,” welcoming the larger community and showing a more gracious, gentler, nobler way of life that the world so desperately needs? Can we continue to support our partners in the city of Richmond and beyond through grants, in light of the fact that those revenues may or may not come in? Our history does not provide much comfort. In some years, we cover expenses; in others we fall short, occasionally significantly so.

This underscores the importance of pledging. Pledged funds provide a measure of confidence that the funds will be there to support our work. We can confidently open our doors and offer people from all walks of life healing, hope, food for bodies, and nourishment for souls. We are aware that the trend across the country is that fewer parishioners pledge than once did. So far at St. Stephen’s, that does not seem to be the case, although the number of pledges has been flat for some years now while our membership—bucking national trends—has grown comfortably. If you have given generously, but not made a pledge—a commitment, known to the vestry—please consider pledging so we can plan for the future with your generosity as part of that plan. For those who have not given, please remember what it takes to provide all that we offer within and beyond St. Stephen’s Church, and after reflecting on the bountiful goodness given to us, give back in an appropriate amount. God has given us many gifts at St. Stephen’s. There is so much that has been done; yet God has shown us how much more there is to do. It is important that each of us make a pledge, returning to God in proportion to what we have been given. We would love to get to 1000 pledges. Please join in. ✤ John Bates is a member of St. Stephen’s vestry. He served as parish treasurer in 2017; this year he is our senior warden.

The gift of food

Duke Divinity School professor to help us rethink our approach to this gift from God Humans are dependent on food. It is the basis for our survival, and it plays a major role in determining our health and well-being. We often plan our days around food, we center our family gatherings around food, and food plays a massive role in the economy of our world. Yet most people have lost a very important connection to this thing that has such a large impact on our daily lives. On Saturday, April 7, at 7 p.m., Real Local RVA and St. Stephen’s will host “The Gift of Food,” an event featuring Norman Wirzba from Duke University Divinity School, who will teach us to explore food in Wirzba a different way. Wirzba will discuss the importance of recognizing food as a gift to be treasured versus food as a commodity. He writes: “To receive food as a gift, and to share it with each other, opens up a new way of imagining a community’s economic life together and forms a tangible connection to the natural world.”

Norman Wirzba is a professor of theology, ecology, and agrarian studies at Duke Divinity School and the author of many books. He grew up on a farm in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and studied philosophy and religion at Yale University and Loyola University Chicago. While his inspirations stem from many sources, a friendship with Kentucky farmer, poet, and writer Wendell Berry has been one of lasting importance. Berry’s works continue to influence Wirzba’s studies today as he pursues research and teaching interests at the intersections of theology, philosophy, ecology, and agrarian and environmental studies. He is an engaging and thoughtful speaker who lectures frequently in Canada and the United States. We are thrilled to partner with Real Local RVA to bring this insightful speaker to Richmond to speak on this important topic. The cost per person is $20 for Real Local RVA Participants and Supporters (including St. Stephen’s parishioners) and $25 for general admission. A link to registration can be found at ststephensRVA.org/speakers. ✤

Briget Ganske photos

The evening will begin with a presentation by Wirzba followed by a Q&A session moderated by Real Local RVA’s co-chair Hunter Hopcroft. Audience questions are

welcome. Following the presentation and discussion, you are invited to remain for a book signing and light hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Copies of Wirzba’s book Food and Faith will be available for sale at the Bookshop @ St. Stephen’s prior to and during the event which takes place at St. Stephen’s.

The Sunday Community Supper (above, left) provides an open table for the entire community. The 2017-18 program year began with ‘Food and the Beloved Community’ (above, right) with Fred Bahnson and Heber Brown; Norman Wirzba’s visit will provide a fitting bookend this spring.

All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone. 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

LENT/EASTER | SPRING 2018

Blaise Pascal

Seasons of the Spirit Lent/Easter Spring 2018 Issue Number 27

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Presorted First Class Mail U.S. Postage

6000 Grove Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23226

PAID

ststephensRVA.org

Richmond, VA Permit # 320

Parish Staff

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 (288-6401) 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 Sean Dobb, Sexton Chris Edwards (cedwards), Director, St. Stephen’s Choir Melissa Hipes (mhipes), Finance Manager Chris Holman, Sexton The Rev. Gary D. Jones (gjones), Rector Moriah Karn (mkarn), Café Manager, Market Manager Greta Kidd (weddings), Wedding Coordinator Deborah Lawrence (dlawrence), Director of Outreach Betsy Lee (blee), Office Manager & Pastoral Care Assistant Becky Lehman (blehman), Assistant for Hospitality & Communication 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 Matthew Oltmann, Sexton Andy Russell (arussell), Minister to Children and Youth The Rev. William L. Sachs (bsachs), Priest Associate Allison Seay (aseay), Associate for Religion & the Arts Steven Simon (ssimon), Facilities Manager Michael Simpson (msimpson), 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 Michael E. Sweeney (msweeney), Director of Family Ministries 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: John Bates, Doug Buerlein, Briget Ganske, Gary D. Jones, Deb Lawrence, Peter Marty, Penny A. Nash, Jessica Smith, Michael Sweeney, Br. David Vryhof, SSJE

Needlepoint kneelers project ahead of schedule Volunteers needed for Good Shepherd Chapel project

In 2015 St. Stephen’s Church underwent a renovation as part of the celebration of our centennial. The project included a beautifully restored worship space and architectural features, enhancements to basic systems, and improved accessibility; the outreach component of the campaign is in development. The restoration of the church included replacement of the pews in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit with more flexible seating in the form of traditional cathedral chairs featuring cloth-covered kneeling cushions. During the renovation, parishioner John Phillips shared a vision for the formation of a needlepoint guild to stitch covers for the kneelers using symbols and icons reflecting the images already found in the chapel. By By Robyn Kay the time the church building re-opened for worship in December 2015, the guild had been formed, and plans were underway for the design and stitching of the canvases. With that project completed—thanks to the generosity of those who donated the kneelers, and the loving skill of talented stitchers—the needlepoint guild is now focused on its next project: the kneelers in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. Of the 60 canvasses that make up this project, all but eight have now been donated. Of those give, four are already completely stitched and one is at our finisher, DeVaris in Alexandria. Initially, the guild estimated that it would take five years to complete the Good Shepherd project, but they now believe the kneelers could be completed much sooner. Depending on the availability of our finisher, the project could be ready in half that time. If you are interested in stitching one of the kneelers, or you would like to learn to needlepoint, the guild is eager to help you. A group meets each Friday morning at 9 to stitch, chat, and learn. Expert stitchers are happy to teach anyone during those group times, and even to provide private sessions if necessary.

A fully-stitched canvas placed on top of a kneeler in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd (though not installed); below, a beehive and a holly sprig on other finished canvases. All three of these pieces will be blocked and installed on kneelers in the chapel.

We are so grateful for the generosity of those who have given funds for the kneelers. Since many donors are not themselves stitchers, the guild recruits “ghost stitchers” to complete these canvasses, creating a large demand for volunteers. The canvasses are large and require skill and patience; we have test kits for any who have not already worked on a St. Stephen’s kneeler. The guild has “discovered” some folks with skills they didn’t know they had, but even if your abilities (or your available time) are not up to completing one of the kneelers, you are welcome at Friday morning sessions to work on other projects, get coaching, and enjoy fellowship. ✤