A tenure of consequence

There are many words that can describe the time that the Rev. Gary Jones led St. Stephen’s Church as our rector, but none is more apt than “consequential.” As our vicar notes in his reflection in this issue, the past 16 years have been transformational. It can be easy to overlook or forget how far we’ve come By Sarah Bartenstein during this period. Here are a few of the things that have become a part of the fabric of our life as a parish, and which will continue to be. Renowned writers, teachers, poets, civic and religious leaders, experts, and others have spoken to standing-room-only audiences in the church and the Fellowship Hall, during events that have attracted people from throughout the community. Speakers have included poet Mary Oliver; U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Tretheway; poet Jane Hirshfield; writer Anne Lamott; priest, professor and writer Barbara Brown Taylor; brothers from the Society of St. John the Evangelist; historian and commentator Jon Meacham; teacher, poet, and authority on Celtic spirituality John Philip Newell; pastor, writer, and podcaster Rob Bell; priest and entrepreneur Becca Stevens; Harvard professor and author Harvey Cox; writer Pico Iyer; and many, many others.

The thing for which we may have become known most widely is the Celtic service, held at 5:30 p.m. each Sunday, and that’s probably because of two things. One is the profound effect this service has on the people who attend it. The other is the wide net it has cast. This service has attracted people from all over the city: St. Stephen’s parishioners, clergy and people from other churches and religious traditions, people of no religious tradition, people who had been estranged from the church. The service has become so appreciated and so well-known that clergy and church leaders from around the country have visited St. Stephen’s to attend the service. Faith communities from around the world have requested information about how to begin or adapt a similar service in their own settings. At last count, the parish staff had fielded requests from 170 churches, cathedrals and chapels in 40 states, and 26 from 12 countries outside the United States. Many are Episcopal or Anglican communities, but others are not. Emmaus groups have also become integral to our life. Groups of women and men meet for 10 weeks at a time to consider “How is it with my soul?” and to support one another, read and reflect on Scripture together, and engage in acts of service together. In fact, during the pandemic, one of the most frequent questions the staff received was, “When can my Emmaus group come back into the parish house?”

An already-robust outreach ministry has expanded dramatically to include a free “grocery store” for those who need food assistance, overseas mission trips in new locations, more “hands-on” engagement with our partners in the East End, youth involvement in outreach, onsite assistance in communities that have been affected by natural disasters … the list of consequential ministries Gary inspired goes on.

Its influence extends beyond the Celtic service itself. Perhaps you prefer the traditional services from the Book of Common Prayer, which we offer every Sunday morning (Holy Eucharist: Rite One and Holy Eucharist: Rite Two), as well as those we offer on weekdays from the Daily Office. If you attend any of these services, you’ve experienced the reverence, the silences, the cadences and rhythms that are found in the Celtic service—characteristics that make Prayer Book services that much more beautiful and holy.

St. Stephen’s has become known as a place to learn from others. We’ve become known for the thriving farmers market we established 12 years ago—a favorite not only with customers but among the farmers themselves.

We began a café to serve our youth and other parishioners, as well as the larger community. It became a lifeline for those feeling isolated during the pandemic, who visited with friends at outdoor tables in all kinds of weather.

We established the Virginia Girls Choir, a community-wide choir to sing in church and well beyond it. These talented girls continued

also became the leaders for a new service, choral Evensong, on Wednesdays before our mid-week supper.

During our centennial year, we offered a weekly sung Compline service on Sundays evenings—and it was so popular (in particular with college students and young adults), we kept it after the centennial was over.

Also as part of our centennial, we held a capital campaign to renovate aging systems and our nave, to be good stewards for future generations, and founded a new initiative with the city, with St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and other partners, to help adults in the East End train for and establish family-sustaining careers, in a comprehensive effort to combat poverty, ReWork Richmond.

We established the Legacy Society to encourage planned giving and increased the value of St. Stephen’s Endowment

We established a cherished relationship with the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, taking groups to the monastery for silent retreats, and bringing the monks to St. Stephen’s to speak, preach, and lead retreats here

Through Gary, we came to know two missionaries, Heidi Schmidt and Monica Vega, whose call is to live among the poorest people on earth. We provide them prayer and financial support and consider this their “home parish.”

We launched several successful events to raise additional money for outreach while offering fun and fellowship for the entire community, including the Bluegrass Bash, a fall golf tournament, and “Angels, Art and a Cappella,” a silent art auction, concert, and party.

Of necessity, we quickly expanded our video and livestreaming capacity during the pandemic—and committed to maintaining it even after the pandemic, to reach our own parishioners who are ill, shut in, or traveling, as well as those who live beyond Richmond.

Year after year, we’ve prepared large numbers for Confirmation. Our youth Confirmation program is robust and meaningful, and each time we receive a visit from one of our bishops, 30 or more youth step forward to receive the laying on of hands. Our inquirers classes for adults are in such demand that we offer them three times a year—and many who attend these courses also choose to be confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church.

Perhaps most remarkable of all, during a period when mainline churches are losing members, and struggling to grow, we’ve added more than 1,000 members during Gary’s tenure—faithful, involved, committed, generous members—who make these ministries possible. It has been a transformational, consequential time.

Video honors Gary Jones’ ministry and looks to the future

Soon after Gary Jones retired as rector of St. Stephen’s Church, staff videographer Dillon Gwaltney and his colleagues produced a video that not only serves as a tribute to Gary’s 16-year ministry here, but also as an encapsulation of things that have characterized St. Stephen’s Church and contributed to its continuing growth and vitality.

In addition to current parishioners, parish leaders, and staff, the video includes comments by former members of our staff, church leaders from beyond St. Stephen’s, and people who have come to know the parish through visits to speak and teach. The Rev. Weezie Blanchard, who served on the staff before her ordination and later returned as a priest, talked about all she had learned from working with Gary. Weezie is now the rector of Church of the Ascension in Denver. Michael Simpson, who was an integral part of our music staff for many years, expressed appreciation for Gary’s vision for the church, and his ability to implement that vision. Writer Pico Iyer, Br. Curtis Almquist of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, and writer and teacher John Philip Newell, an authority on Celtic spirituality—all of whom have spoken or led retreats here—participated. Church leaders who have come to know Gary through a colleagues group spoke admiringly of Gary’s gifts and of the ways St. Stephen’s serves as an example to the broader church: the Rev. Brenda Husson, rector of St. James Episcopal Church in New York City; the Very Rev. Kate Moorehead, dean of St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville, Florida; and the Very Rev. Barkley Thompson, dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston. The video can be viewed at ststephensRVA.org/videos. ✤

Pages 6, 7, left to right. Gary with Chris Holman, family, and colleagues following Chris’ baptism. Gary and his wife Cherry visiting Iona. Gary with Gene LeCouteur at Gene’s ordination. Relishing his role as MC at the Bluegrass Bash. With the Virginia Girls Choir and former director Kerry Court. Getting ready to serve at the Sunday Community Supper. With missionary Heidi Schmidt, Cherry, Janet Allen, and missionary Monica Vega. With parish staff at Emery House, the Society of St. John the Evangelist’s rural location: Sarah Bartenstein, David Anderson, Mary Frances Siersema, Janet Allen, Abbott Bailey, and Mary Anne Akin. Page 8, left to right: With present and former St. Stephen’s clergy celebrating our centennial: David Anderson, Thom Blair, David Knight, Bill Sachs, Gordon Peerman, Randy Hollerith, Claudia Merritt, Melissa Hollerith, Tom Smith, and Weezie Blanchard. Gary’s final Sunday as St. Stephen’s rector. The Celtic service.