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
A D V E N T /C H R I S T MA S /E P IP H A N Y | WIN T E R 2 0 2 0
We are not alone: luminaria lined the sidewalks and filled the Memorial Garden at St. Stephen’s Church for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.
Inside: Reflections on Mary I Can we meet in person? I Offerings for Advent and Christmas I Our new outreach director
SHIELD the joyous Gail Godwin’s beautiful novel, Evensong, recalls three eventful weeks during the season of Advent in the life of a young Episcopal priest named Margaret. An insightful seeker who muses humbly about spiritual matters, Margaret is also a thoughtful observer of relationships who is in touch with her own humanity. It’s an older novel that could have been written for our stressed and anxious time.
In another scene, Margaret is preparing for the 8:00 Sunday service, lighting the candles, unfolding linens, and setting out the chalice and paten, while she ponders:
By Gary D. Jones
In one passage, Margaret remembers praying with her Book of Common Prayer on the night before her wedding. She prayed a beloved collect from Evening Prayer over and over until she knew it by heart: Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous, and all for your love’s sake. Amen. It’s the final petition, “shield the joyous,” that arrests Margaret. What else to do but pray for those who are on the verge of realizing a cherished hope—the couple on the night before their wedding, the child running on sure feet to her mother’s open arms—because “the future arches over us like a giant question mark.” The uncertainty and fragility of our lives makes those moments of anticipating joy especially precious and tender—what else can we do but pray for each other this way, appealing to a love and mercy beyond time, a love we cannot imagine. Shield the joyous—is there a holier petition? The novel is full of such prayerful ponderings that are especially timely, and it all takes place in Advent, the season in which we seek to look deeper than “the rumple of dailiness,” in Godwin’s words, to enter a place of timelessness, to wait on the inner life and the coming of Christ. 2
How do you prepare for the awaited, the hoped for? We all know how you do that. You clean the house, get rid of the rubbish, box up the excess and the superfluous, the things that aren’t really you anymore, and take them to the dump or the rummage sale. That’s the repentance part of preparation. Then you get out your best serving dishes and iron the tablecloth and napkins and put out new candles…and you clean yourself up and, if you’ve still got a bit of time left over, you sit down and compose yourself in joy and thanksgiving for the imminent embrace. “But how do we prepare for the unknown, the unannounced, the thing we cannot even imagine yet?” Margaret goes on. The unknown, of course, is very much part of what we anticipate in Advent—the unknown that frequently takes things away from us, that makes off with things we hold dear, or that turns our lives completely inside out. Margaret ponders how we tend to prepare for the unknown by buying insurance policies and smoke detectors, and if we’re wealthy, we hire security guards. But it’s Advent, Margaret reflects: … we’re talking about the inner life here, about God’s domain, as Jesus called it; and in inner-world terms, as people drawn to the light, we go about preparing for the hoped for and the unforeseen in exactly the same way. You clean your house and make yourself ready, you light your candles, you say, “Come, Lord, come,” and then you compose yourself and wait for the knock. In this historic season of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, a time of pandemic, pervasive unrest, and so much that is unpredictable, it is understandable that stress and anxiety are sometimes obliterating our soulful composure. It is a struggle, but we know the call of Advent: to wait quietly for one who is knocking on the door of our hearts, the one inviting us to open SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
to a deeper life, a life that is characterized by patience, kindness, trust, peace, and forgiveness … come what may. In a tense and uncertain time such as ours, impatience can get the best of us, and we become insistent on our own ways. We can become more susceptible to the emotions of the crowd and passions of the moment, and we can be more prone to quick fixes and snap judgments that often make matters worse. So, Advent comes just in time this year—it is the season to clean our own spiritual house, make ourselves ready, light our candles, and say, “Come, Lord, come,” … and then quietly compose ourselves and wait for the knock in a posture of trust. Years ago, Terry Gross interviewed Gail Godwin on NPR’s “Fresh Air” about this spiritually searching novel. At the end of an otherwise very appreciative interview, Terry commented that Evensong seemed a bit old-fashioned. “The main character appears to be cut off from so much of contemporary culture,” Terry said. “Margaret seems so removed from what defines contemporary daily life: the television shows and popular music, for example. There’s no slang, and the irony and tragedy that define contemporary society are missing.”
A D V E N T /C H R I S T MA S /E P I P H A N Y | W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 Issue Number 37
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Gail Godwin gently responded, “I think I would say that there is more of an air of timelessness about Margaret. It’s not that she’s old-fashioned. Margaret watches the news, for example, but she ponders it all from another point of view, how it all looks from above. So much of timeliness is fad,” Godwin said. “When you don’t have time to think, you tend to pick up whatever society is offering at the time.”
Reflections on Mary
Clearly, this is not a time to pick up whatever society is offering. Instead, this is first of all a time to ask the Lord to watch over others: those who work or watch or weep—to tend the sick, the weary, the dying, the suffering…and perhaps especially to shield the joyous, when so much is fragile and uncertain. Then, having done this, may we clean our own house, light our candles, compose ourselves, and then wait quietly for the knock within.
Listening to God with children
“What else can we do but appeal for mercy and protection to a love beyond clocks and calendars and mortal frailties,” Margaret ponders. Dear Lord, we pray in love for each other, shield the joyous. It is a love beyond time and beyond our imagination. And yet, the experience of the ages is that when we compose ourselves in prayerful quiet and appeal to this unimaginable love, there are times when we could swear that something is emerging in us. And then we may find, perhaps only now and then, and only in part, that we are actually practicing the love that we previously could not imagine. The divine becomes flesh in us. ✤ Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown. CHARLES WESLEY, HYMN 657
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Webinars, groups and more Can we meet in person? Advent and Christmas at St. Stephen’s Holy Baptism during a pandemic Confirmation is an invitation A new series for parents Our missionaries in Argentina contend with the pandemic We have a new outreach director! The many dimensions of our food ministry The café finds new ways to serve our ‘village’ An Epiphany reflection Art, music, and the beauty of holiness
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Seasons of the Spirit Sarah Bartenstein, editor; Steven Longstaff, designer Contributors: Janet Allen, Cate Anthony, Sarah Der, Chris Edwards, Gary Jones, Jay Paul, Heidi Schmidt, Allison Seay, Will Stanley, Betsy Tyson
On the cover We are not alone: luminaria lined the sidewalks and filled the Memorial Garden at St. Stephen’s Church for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day in November. At a time when people are experiencing such pain and loneliness, unable to be with loved ones, these beautiful lights reminded passersby of all those “whom we love but see no longer.” Throughout the night, people pulled over on Grove Avenue and walked the church grounds, remembering with gratitude family members and friends who have now entered the larger life, but who still support and care for us in the Communion of Saints. Our deceased loved ones bring us needed messages in dark times: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of a great joy.” Photo by Jay Paul 3
I know it is
Being and becoming Mary
Editor’s note: each Monday during the three “covenant That moment in the Christian story when the angel periods” for Emmaus Groups at St. Stephen’s Church (fall, Gabriel visits Mary to tell her she will conceive and winter, and spring), Allison Seay provides reflections on mother the Son of God is one of the most profound a poem, sent to subscribers via email, under the banner of all. Annunciation means announcement and this “Wellspring: Poetry for the Journey.” These free poetry is what it is: there’s going to be a baby, and it’s going guides written by Allison, our associate for religion and to change everything. the arts, are available to all. They’re also published on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/wellspring. This reflection By Allison Seay Advent’s story about Mary’s pregnancy parallels a more has particular resonance for Advent, and we are publishing it metaphoric pregnancy in which all of us are invited to in Seasons of the Spirit to give you a taste of what Wellspring offers imagine that we too carry within us the promise of God. We are each week. To sign up for these emails, just go to the Wellspring page invited to think about what has been given to us to bear, what of our Web site. we are bringing to life, what it means that everything is changing. We are invited, impossibly, to imagine what we cannot imagine.
Annunciation Even if I don’t see it again—nor ever feel it I know it is—and that if once it hailed me it ever does— And so it is myself I want to turn in that direction not as towards a place, but it was a tilting within myself, as one turns a mirror to flash the light to where it isn’t—I was blinded like that—and swam in what shone at me only able to endure it by being no one and so specifically myself I thought I’d die from being loved like that. Marie Howe
Mary’s baby is our own hope, is our own great thing still to come. I believe that the power of that moment for her is one we share and share absolutely, for not only is God coming to us incarnate, as God comes to Mary, but we are co-hearers with her, year after year, of Gabriel’s announcement: something is happening which we cannot yet see. It happened once, is happening again, is happening forever. Of course, one does not need to be Mary to know about a lifechanging experience. One need not be a mother, nor a woman, to know about birth. And one certainly need not have seen Gabriel to have been “blinded like that” by divine presence. What I love about Marie Howe’s poem, written in the voice of the Holy Mother, is the way it invites us to consider Mary’s interior, hushed, perhaps universal response to the news. Because she alone is the one to have the experience of Gabriel—she who is “no one” (that is, otherwise ordinary) and she who is exceptional (“so specifically myself”)—it is she who must witness for all, though language must surely have failed to fully express what had happened. Who among us has had a flash of knowing that way, a fleeting certainty of the reality of God, a dream, a momentary sensation that assured us Yes! it’s all true. And who among us, though it may never happen again, and though we cannot fully explain it, does indeed “know it is”? The collection in which this poem appears is Howe’s The Kingdom of Ordinary Time, from a section within it titled “Poems from the Life of Mary.” All are written in the voice of the Virgin and from the “I,” balancing reverence and homage with imagination and intimacy. The poet invites us to (re) consider Mary while conceptualizing our own Mary-ness, our own identities as mothers of God. We more than resemble one another—Mary is me, is you, is all of us—and if we are being and becoming Mary, then so we are each also holding within us Christ’s very being.
The Annunciation by Henry Owassa Tanner
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The Song of Mary It is true always, and certainly now: everything is changing. I prefer to think that everything is becoming, turning “not as toward a place” but instead “tilting within.” The poem has me wondering if perhaps it is not this simple: my true identity is not changing, but my understanding of myself is changing. I, beloved as Mary, am learning to see Mary in the mirror, am learning to see Mary in my neighbor, am learning to see Mary everywhere I look so long as I turn in the direction of love. If am “being loved like that,” then so are you. And you, and you, and you.
The church has portrayed the mother of Jesus as meek and mild, but the Magnificat tells a fuller story
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While I am sure that we have all— particularly in this past year—had a moment of stunned bewilderment or been sent reeling by life-changing news and with it a recognition that the world is forever changed, I do not presume to think all have had blinding, ecstatic moments of the certainty of God. In fact, I know many have not. Therefore, such hope! What promise there is, what hope, that the holy moment is coming soon. What hope that your Mary-ness will be made certain to you. I pray you keep awake for it, for the light that shines for you, for the voice that hails you, for the angel sure to appear though you know not when. ✤ ABOUT THE POET Marie Howe currently serves on the writing faculties at Sarah Lawrence College, New York University, and Columbia University. She is the author of several collections of poetry and co-editor of the essay anthology In the Company of My Solitude: American Writing from the AIDS Pandemic. She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Academy of American Poets and she served as Poet Laureate of New York State from 2012 to 2014.
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didn’t grow up praying to Mary, the mother of Jesus. In my home church, such things were looked on with bewilderment and (if I am honest) a bit of disdain for being “too Catholic.” It wasn’t until I found myself in college in Montreal, a city with deep Roman Catholic historicity, that the figure of the Virgin Mary, as she is often called, became more familiar and complex in my mind. By Cate Anthony For many years, the church has portrayed Mary as submissive, and has presented this meek version of her as the paradigm for female life in this world. In the Gospel story about Mary’s conversation with the archangel Gabriel, we hear of Mary’s “yes” to God’s intention to make her the theotokos or “God-bearer.” From this, the church has intimated (not subtly) that women ought to follow Mary’s example, turning their whole lives over to God’s community on Earth—the church.
This reading of Mary misses the mark—most importantly because it twists the fierce and passionate occupation of motherhood into something sentimental and docile. More than that, it risks interpreting that docility as a sign that those who are perceived to be “weak” owe obedience to more powerful humans. This, my friends, is simply not what Mary was about when she said “yes” to the Lord. Rather, Mary’s “yes” was revolutionary for the ways that it reinterprets obedience as a truly radical act. In our modern context, obedience remains countercultural. We prioritize the Self above much else: self-improvement, self-esteem, self-care. To be clear, this focus on the self is a good and worthwhile endeavor—so long as it does not overshadow to Sculpture of Mary and Elizabeth at Church whom we truly belong as people of the Christian of the Visitation in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem faith. Mary’s “yes” reminds us that obedience to God is actually a blessing, a proclamation of the greatness of God and all that God does and might do with us. Of course, there is a shadow side to this kind of holy self-offering. Mary’s own story illustrates that the blessings we receive from God in this life are not always purely joyful or easy. In saying “yes” to God, Mary says yes to deep heartache (as she will one day see her beloved son on the hard wood of the cross). But, as she sings in the Magnificat, her beautiful proclamation of joy at God’s invitation to bear Jesus, the ultimate end of the story into which God invites Mary is a radical re-righting of the human world. The mighty shall be struck down as the lowly are lifted up, generations granted mercy and the hungry filled, the Chosen of God saved and brought forward into the full light of God’s love. This Advent, Mary’s song of praise is an invitation to us, to renew our own fidelity and posture of obedience toward God. This practice might chafe a bit, when following Christ leads us into unexpected or uncomfortable lands. And yet: we can trust that even in unknown lands, God is doing great things for us, the Holy making us holy, too. ✤ ADVENT/CHRISTMAS/EPIPHANY | WINTER 2020
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WEBINARS, GROUPS AND MORE S TAY I N G C O N N E C T E D T H R O U G H S T U D Y, P R AY E R , R E F L E C T I O N
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hile we have not been able to hold Emmaus Groups, the Sunday Forum, community speakers series and other opportunities for learning and engagement as we once did, St. Stephen’s Church continues to find creative ways to provide excellent offerings for adults who wish to study, reflect, pray, and connect with others via Zoom and on-demand videos.
training in facilitating small groups, and the core of the gatherings is attentiveness to the spiritual growth of participants and the experience of authentic community. The groups meet for 10-week “covenant periods,” one each in the fall, winter, and spring. Participants usually join a group at the beginning of a covenant period, and many will continue with the same group indefinitely.
The Rev. Gary Jones continues to offer his Wednesday evening “Contemplative Chapel” at 6:30 p.m. These one-hour gatherings have 50 to 100 people signing on each week to engage in contemplative practice together. Jesus advised about prayer, “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door, and God who sees you in secret will reward you.” Many who participate in our Wednesday night contemplative chapel find a surprising sense of intimacy with God and each other in the gathering, even though most of the time is spent in silence, and some choose, at the end of a long day, to “arrive in the chapel” with their video off. Those who participate are in a sense, holding this sacred time for each other, providing a reliable time each week when a group of people devote themselves to the practice of “letting go” or “surrendering” themselves to God in silence. This session takes place on Zoom; to register, visit ststephensRVA.org/contemplativechapel.
If you are not in an Emmaus Group and would like to be (or you’d like to discuss it), please be in touch with Allison Seay or the Rev. Cate Anthony, or visit ststephensRVA.org/emmaus.
The Winter Covenant Period for Emmaus Groups begins January 4. These groups consist of eight to 10 parishioners who meet weekly for 90 minutes for the purpose of tending to their spiritual lives and growing in Christian community. The groups are centers of prayer, hospitality, and welcome–small church communities within the larger parish church. Each group has one or two leaders who have received 6
At this important moment in our history, we recognize the need for more thorough understanding and action regarding the systemic racism that has plagued our country. Late last summer, more than 70 parishioners began to participate in a series called “Sacred Ground: A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race and Faith.” This series provides trusting and respectful spaces for loving dialogue, and was created especially for the Episcopal Church. It includes two core books: Waking Up White, by Debby Irving, and Jesus and the Disinherited, by Howard Thurman, along with documentary films and short videos. Those who participated in this series—which is just concluding for the first group of participants—found it a very helpful experience. A new set of small groups is forming to begin in mid-January. For more information, contact the Rev. Cate Anthony or visit our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/sacredground. The Tuesday Bible Study will continue in the new year, convening via Zoom at noon. No registration is needed for this group, led by Cate Anthony and other St. Stephen’s clergy.
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CAN WE MEET IN PERSON? All Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Virginia are prohibited from holding in-person worship indoors at this time. With that in mind, and with cold and inclement weather arriving, our staff have worked with our bishop to allow St. Stephen’s to pilot a way for parishioners to enter our beautiful church, not for full worship services, but for brief times of personal prayer and devotion, and to receive Holy Communion. This offering has proven enormously popular, offering much-needed spiritual refreshment for our parishioners. Our musicians, our sacred architecture, our gracious volunteers, and our devoted staff all contribute to a most holy, in-person experience each Sunday from noon to 2:00, and beginning soon, we’ll open from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. as well. Our plan is to expand this opening of our worship space to weekdays, when conditions allow, and eventually to permit small groups to reserve large, indoor spaces in our parish house so that they can meet in person (masked, of course). We have been approved by the bishop to continue piloting such offerings for our parishioners, with the understanding that other parishes can learn from our experience and perhaps allow them to do the same in the future. Please know that our plans are tied to local trends in COVID-19 infection rates. Only small numbers are allowed into our large worship space at any one time. Please register at ststephensRVA.org/onlineworship.
The Thursday webinar series which began in the fall with Dr. James Hollis, a Jungian analyst, and continued with Professor Kayleen Asbo, and author Pico Iyer, has been enthusiastically received. People from around the world registered for these online offerings, and Gary Jones received regular communications from people who found them tremendously helpful. Each session took place on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. The one-hour sessions were recorded for later on-demand viewing. Registration for upcoming Thursday webinars is at ststephensRVA.org/ Thursdays. All are free. These include the following: Dr. Gardner Campbell will present December 3, 10, and 17 at 7 p.m. on John Milton’s “Nativity Ode.” Dr. Campbell, who teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University, is one of our most popular speakers. Coming in January is the Rev. Andrew McGowan, dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. On January 7, 14, and 21, Dean McGowan will present a series about the Book of Common Prayer and sacraments. This series, along with subsequent presentations throughout Epiphany, will serve as an Inquirers Class for adults interested in being baptized, confirmed, or received in the Episcopal Church. All offerings except the Tuesday Bible Study, require registration. Visit our Web site at the addresses provided with individual descriptions. ✤ SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
Advent and Christmas at St. Stephen’s As the pandemic continues, we’ve entered the time of year when public health experts cautioned that COVID-19 infections would likely surge again. Each week seems to bring new, often disheartening, information, along with additional changes to our lives and our routines as we seek to keep ourselves, our families, and our communities safe and healthy. Parish staff and volunteers have been hard at work making plans for Advent and Christmas; we do so knowing things can change after this edition of Seasons of the Spirit reaches you. Remember to read the eSpirit each week and visit our Web site for the most up-to-date information. In November, we began livestreaming a traditional service of Holy Eucharist from the Book of Common Prayer on Sunday mornings at 9:00, replacing the worship videos we had been producing. The livestream has been followed by a time in the church (noon-2:00 p.m.) when parishioners may come in to spend a few moments in prayer, and receive Communion (bread only), before departing. Beginning on the first Sunday of Advent, we will add a second session for receiving Communion, this one in the evening, with the church lit by candles as it is for the Celtic service, and with stands of votive candles for you to light. This will be offered from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Music will also be reminiscent of the Celtic service. We hope this will provide a healing experience for all, and especially for those who miss this cherished service. (Please note that we will not be holding a service indoors; those who watch the livestreamed or on-demand video of the Sunday morning service will simply have the option of coming to the church to receive Communion in the evening.) While we cannot hold the annual interfaith Holiday Memorial Service as we’ve done in the past, we are setting aside Monday, December 14, 6:00-8:00 p.m. as a time for anyone who has experienced the loss of a child to come to the church to light a luminaria in memory of their child. Luminarias will be provided; each family can simply come and light one on the grounds, perhaps saying a prayer for their child or saying his or her name aloud. The rain date will be the next evening, Tuesday, December 15. This is open to the entire community. For Christmas Eve, we will offer two recorded services of Holy Eucharist: one that will be similar to the “family service” or “children’s service” traditionally offered at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve; and another which will be like the late night service for which Anglicans are known. We will offer distribution of Communion (bread only) in the church at three times on Christmas Eve, 2:00-4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. The church will be decorated for Christmas and seasonal music—some live, some recorded—will be offered. These are not the only offerings and observances for Advent and Christmas. Additional information will be available on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/advent-christmas. ✤
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Holy Baptism has been taking place in the Garden of the Holy Spirit, where the Hodge family gathered on November 1 for the Baptism of Elliott, their youngest child.
The new life of grace Holy Baptism at St. Stephen’s during a time of pandemic By Allison Seay Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the forgiveness of sin and have raised them to the new life of grace. Sustain them O Lord in your Holy Spirit. Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen. A PRAYER FROM THE SERVICE OF HOLY BAPTISM
Holy Baptism and Confirmation are each once-in-a lifetime sacraments. They are solemn and joyful at once, both serious and celebratory, for the vows we make at Baptism are the vows of our whole Christian identity, the vows of a lifetime. To be baptized with water and then sealed with the Holy Spirit, marked as Christ’s own forever, is a permanent—that is, indelible and eternal and un-returnable—gift. The gift of new life. This is why we say, at every Baptism, that it is our deep honor and privilege to welcome and witness any person desiring this sacrament.
that this is the voice for you, too. This is the voice for each of us, that voice of God which says, You are my Beloved. So as the Spirit descended on Jesus, the Spirit descends on the baptized, and remains there forever. Should you wish to learn more about the sacrament of Baptism or to inquire about scheduling, please be in touch with Allison Seay, aseay@ststephensRVA.org, or any member of St. Stephen’s clergy. ✤
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Jay Paul photos
During the pandemic we have been overjoyed to offer small, outdoor services of Baptism in the Garden of the Holy Spirit (our memorial garden) at our beautiful fountain. While these services are limited to 10 guests or fewer, they are as profound as ever. The liturgy includes a reading from the Gospel in which we hear that when Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan and came up out of the water, the heavens opened and a voice said, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” We believe SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
The truest self BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, AND THE ROYAL IDENTITY
may find too beautiful to believe: we are, each of us, beloved children of God.
By Allison Seay At Baptism the church says publicly, ‘This person is royalty; baptize her.’ WILLIAM WILLIMON
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onfirmation preparation for young people has begun at St. Stephen’s and 35 teenagers have signed a declaration of commitment to engage in a year-long discernment about their faith and Christian calling. Their requirements include attendance at several presentations throughout the academic year that address topics relevant to the Episcopal Church and to their baptismal vows in order that they may make a mature and public affirmation of their faith whenever it is safe to celebrate their decision in person.
Jay Paul photos
Because Baptism has everything to do with Confirmation, and because the sacrament of Holy Baptism is something we are currently able to offer on campus at St. Stephen’s (see facing page), that topic was a fitting first presentation for our confirmands and many of their parents. In a pre-recorded video they watched before our virtual gathering, I spoke some about the holy mystery of Baptism, this sacrament instituted by Jesus, but I also spoke more generally that which I needed to hear when I was a teenager, and need to hear even now: that in a world which favors quickness, certainty and efficiency, one must take great care to protect and honor mystery. I am increasingly aware that for more and more of us, there is less and less we consider holy. It is almost always true that—not only for confirmands in high school but for most of us throughout life—the voices of the world are cacophonous, false, and contrary and it is easy to confuse our own true voice with that of a hundred competing sounds. Very rarely does one hear in the noise of the world regular reminders that we are, in fact, divine beings. Very rarely does a job application, or a final exam, or a college essay prompt seek to affirm the nature of our indwelling royalty. And very rarely do we feel safe or sure enough to celebrate our deepest, truest identity—as bearers of God’s own image and likeness. Far simpler, I suppose, to fortify whichever identity we think the world wants and likes the most than to nurture a truth many 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
How I wish a year of Confirmation preparation could quickly and matter-of-factly sort all of this out! It is exactly why we need each other, and why Confirmation at St. Stephen’s seeks to engage the whole parish family in the lifelong project of recollecting and honoring the truest identity we share. Confirmation is not about offering easy answers nor is it about instruction; the role of Christian family is not to pretend that the world is other than what it is—demanding, stressful, chaotic. Instead, one role of the church—and one goal of Confirmation preparation, specifically—is, I think, to gently hold one another accountable to that deepest truth, lovingly asking each other, “Do you know who you really are? Do you remember? Do you remember whose you are and in whose likeness you are made and from whom you can never be separated? Do you know that you are royalty? Do you remember that you are divine?” Confirmation is the invitation to strengthen and celebrate the gift one has already been given in Baptism, an invitation to remember one’s Belovedness, to shift the gaze, tune out some noise and tune in to something eternal and true, something counter to what the world so often shouts and peddles. Here, you see, there is nothing to sell: we have already been given everything we need. Confirmation is an invitation to say, Yes, Amen, I am of God, I have what I need and to say it while honoring doubt and questions and all manner of mystery, to say it in spite of the sound and fury that often surrounds us. It is a radical, mysterious, holy responsibility. A radical, mysterious, holy Amen. All of us at St. Stephen’s Church honor our young people as well as their parents and mentors for their faithful commitment and witness. Indeed, you are royalty. And we love you very much. ✤ Allison Seay , associate for religion and the arts, coordinates our youth Confirmation program and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS/EPIPHANY | WINTER 2020
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Small groups transition to seminar series for parents
Jay Paul
Parenting with Resilience I Part two
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n the early fall of 2020, St. Stephen’s Church Sessions will provide parenting strategies relating to launched “Parenting with Resilience,” a twothese themes for participants to integrate into their part initiative for parents. The project seeks to family life. They will also discuss definitions of provide our parents with a space for the healthy mental health and wellness and how they pertain to exploration of their challenges and concerns, parenting during the covid-19 pandemic. Sessions followed by a series of educational offerings to will occur LIVE via Zoom webinar and provide respond directly and constructively to these realities. ample space for questions and answers. Sessions Over these months, a number of small groups have will also be archived for on-demand viewing. Like all By Will Stanley met, with another launching over November and Zoom webinars, registration is required and can be December. Meredith Southwell, LCSW, from the found at ststephensRVA.org/parents. Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, and I co-led each group. These have provided spaces for solidarity and support, giving those of us TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020 I 6:30 P.M. on the parish staff a window into the particular challenges parents 10 Tips for Parenting during the Pandemic face in this time of pandemic. And they have been well-received by Meredith Southwell, LCSW participants. Allen and Ginny Jamerson reflected: Meredith Southwell is excited to begin this series with “10 Tips We were so grateful for Will Stanley and Meredith Southwell for Parenting during the Pandemic.” Meredith is a licensed organizing the Parenting with Resilience small group; in a year clinical social worker with seven years’ experience providing that has featured many more downs than ups and such isolation, therapy to children, adolescents, and families. She has additional this course provided a booster shot of faith and community. training in spiritually integrated psychotherapy. She joined the Our family was definitely enriched by this brief but powerful staff at the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in 2018. Meredith community and we sincerely hope that other families will get to is also a parent during this pandemic and is excited to present share this enriching experience as well. on a topic of both professional and personal relevance. Now it is time for “part two.” It will come as no surprise that the complex challenges of parenting during this time of pandemic are top of the list for our folks. Therefore, beginning Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m., Parenting with Resilience will launch a new monthly series to respond to these and other realities named by our parents.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 I 6:30 P.M.
Top Parenting Ways to ‘Ruin’ Your Child Vanessa Ellison, LCSW, Therapist, Richmond Therapy Center In this presentation, Vanessa Ellison will draw upon the work of Israel Galindo, author of 10 Best Parenting Ways to Ruin Your Child and its sequel 10 Best Parenting Ways to Ruin Your
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Jay Paul
Teenager. These books playfully encourage parenting out of principles, values, and rules more than emotional reactivity by looking at what parents should not do. These can be helpful in everyday life—and especially during times when we find ourselves having to adapt quickly to working, teaching, and parenting from home. Vanessa Ellison, MSW, MDiv, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works as a Bowen Theory Psychotherapist and Coach at Richmond Therapy Center. She serves on the faculty for Leadership in Ministry through Columbia Theological Seminary, and guests lectures and teaches in various venues. She has clinical experience providing individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy and community-based services, and she has ministerial experience serving local congregations, local missional settings, and non-profit organizations. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021 I 6:30 P.M..
Your Child in Pandemic & the Mental Health Challenges They Face Anne Tolley Jones, School Counselor, St. Matthew’s Parish School, Pacific Palisades, California In this presentation, Anne Tolley Jones will look at the challenges of parenting in this time of pandemic through the lens of the mental health of children and young people today, naming the ways in which parents can do the tough work of identifying when and if further clinical support might be needed. Navigating these questions in a time of pandemic is a unique challenge, but this presentation will seek to provide parents with practical support. Ann is a professional school counselor working at St. Matthew’s Parish School in Pacific Palisades, California. She was born and raised in Virginia and attended the University of Virginia where she studied religion and anthropology. She received her master’s degree in education from James Madison University with a concentration in school counseling through the graduate psychology department and has been serving as a school counselor for six years. ✤ The Rev. Will Stanley is vicar of St. Stephen’s Church. SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
Listening to God with children
Discussion group helps shape an Advent offering for children and families A small, passionate group of St. Stephen’s parishioners met for eight weeks in late summer and fall to discuss Gianna Gobbi’s Listening to God with Children: The Montessori Method Applied to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. To begin our book discussion, our attention was directed to a prayer or “invitation” that Maria Montessori offered to her teachers: Help us, O God, to enter into the secret of childhood, so that we may know, love, and serve the child in accordance with the laws of thy justice and following thy holy will. We also hear in Matthew’s By Betsy Tyson Gospel that Christ calls us to be like the child: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Christ is calling us into the secret of childhood. As adults, we can become less curious and forget how to wonder, instead remaining fixed on the challenges before us. The child has a rich and vivid imagination, enabling him or her to wonder and marvel. I think this is what Christ was saying—that unless we can be like the child and open ourselves to the mysteries of God and wonder about them, we will miss all the kingdom of God has for us. Richard Rohr writes, “Wonder is our birthright. It comes easily in childhood—the feeling of watching dust motes dancing in sunlight, or climbing a tree to touch the sky, or falling asleep thinking about where the universe ends. [If and when we can] develop our capacity to wonder, we start to wonder about the people in our lives, too—their thoughts and experiences, their pain and joy, their wants and needs. We begin to sense that they are to themselves as vast and complex as we are to ourselves, their inner world as infinite as our own. In other words, we are seeing them as our equal. We are gaining information about how to love them. Wonder is the wellspring for love . . .” Wonder plays a key role in spiritual growth in children. As a first-grade teacher for many years, I often took my students on “Wondering Walks” during which they were invited to record what they observed in their journals and how they were moved. Some boys lay in the grass, gazing up to the sky as they pondered the shapes of the clouds. Others investigated the smallest creatures found on bushes or marveled at the vibrant color of fall leaves. This led to many “aha moments” for the boys as they tapped into their spirits. In the atrium (the specially prepared space for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) the work of the catechist, the adult companion, is to nurture a relationship the child already has with God. The catechist offers presentations and poses open-ended questions to ponder, allowing the child to draw deeper into that relationship. As we enter the season of Advent, a time of expectation and anticipation of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, we can continue to wonder as we wait. Advent offers us a time to slow down, to ponder, to wonder in the coming birth of Christ. Let Advent be a time to listen and wonder with your family. In keeping with the principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we will provide a short worship video each Sunday in Advent for families. Each Sunday we will light the Advent wreath (you can light yours at home), listen to the Gospel, wonder about God’s Word, and pray. May this season of Advent be an invitation to do as you would when entering the room of a newborn child—quietly adoring the wonder. These videos will be available on our Web site at ststephensRVA.org/onlineworship, and in emails sent to subscribers to the eSpirit and the family ministry e-newsletter. ✤ Betsy Tyson, the chaplain to Palmer Hall at St. Stephen’s, works with young children and middle school students and their families.
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Heidi Schmidt
In Libertador General San Martin, workers prepare bags of food for the daily distribution.
‘The communion of now’
Our missionaries in Argentina continue to be present for the poorest of the poor, now struggling with the effects of a pandemic
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As the people of St. Stephen’s Church deal with the effects of the pandemic and the limitations on our activities, we know—as difficult as this is—that most of us are sheltered from the more dire conditions that affect many throughout the world. Our missionaries in Argentina, Heidi Schmidt and Monica Vega, are seeing these conditions firsthand.
sheep’… workers in the communities have been in contact with the families we work with via WhatsApp, or pass by the outside of the homes, and the families in most need we have been able to help with food parcels. We assist with personal hygiene kits for homes, like hand soaps, bleach, alcohol, cleaning materials, things you would buy last if you want to eat.”
Many people in the desperately poor communities where Heidi and Monica work had previously eked out their living by selling in the markets and working odd jobs—opportunities no longer available to them as they struggle to put food on their tables. Heidi reports, “People are quite creative and many have found ways to sell from their homes, on the streets, any way they can, doing whatever they can, to earn a little money. But with the time stretching on, people are struggling more.”
If someone in the household has covid-19, the family is even more isolated. Heidi and Monica’s project offers emergency food assistance and hygiene supplies for these families, as well. They provide the services of a psychologist who conducts visits via WhatsApp calls. This is an important resource, Heidi says, “as many are experiencing increasing depression, abuse, anxiety and other mental health issues.”
Heidi and Monica had been providing therapeutic group activities for those suffering from addiction but those have all been suspended. So, says, Heidi “We have put a focus on the command to ‘feed my
They have been able to provide emergency food parcels to isolated mountain communities, which include many indigenous families, and assist two busy soup kitchens by providing supplies.
Heidi says, “Feed my sheep, Jesus said. Not a small task. People are hungry— now. So this is what we can do—now.” She notes, “The other important ministry is of presence—checking in on people, calling, messaging, passing a home and just checking in on folks, to remind them how much they matter, to look people in the eye, and connect. This has been such an important kindness, to be present in such difficult, stressful, uncertain times. To let them know they are not alone, that they are loved, remembered. These simplest of gestures seem to be so important. A smile, a glance, listening, presence, connecting, laughing.” Heidi calls this “the communion of now. The bread shared. The connections made. Communion. We are in this together, somehow. We all matter. Reminding each other is so important. And so that is what we are focusing on these days.” It is our privilege to support Heidi and Monica and the people they serve, with our prayers and our gifts. ✤ SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
Ron Brown begins as outreach director December 1
I Heidi Schmidt
n mid-November, the Rev. Gary Jones announced that Ronald L. Brown had accepted his call to serve as the new outreach director for the parish. Ron’s first day at St. Stephen’s will be December 1. This welcome news was the result of an extensive search by a committee composed of parishioners, vestry members, and staff. Ron has extensive experience in community outreach. Since 2014, he has worked for Pathways, a not-for-profit organization in Petersburg focused on community revitalization. Formerly named Petersburg Urban Ministries, Pathways provides assistance to underserved communities in such areas as education, employment, financial literacy, and health. Prior to that work, he was a neighborhood outreach director for Virginia Commonwealth University. He is accustomed to working with diverse groups of people, and managing volunteers. Ron has a bachelor’s degree from St. Paul’s College and received his master’s degree in urban and regional planning, magna cum laude, from VCU.
ministries, as a partner with entities such as as Fairfield Court Elementary School and Peter Paul, and two we helped found, Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School and Rework Richmond. Gary appointed a search committee earlier this fall to find outstanding candidates for this crucial position, and after an extensive search, the committee presented him several excellent finalists. The committee, chaired by Thomas Goode, included Alice Goodwin and Jim Johnson, both active outreach volunteers; vestry wardens Allison Koschak and Lynn Ivey; and staff members Sarah Bartenstein and the Rev. Will Stanley. Parishioner Sam Davis served as a consultant to the committee. Deep thanks go to Erin Townsend for her service during the interim period. Erin made sure that our food ministry, so much in demand during the pandemic, continued to run smoothly during a transitional time. We are grateful for the fine work Erin did for us, with such grace, commitment, and good humor.
Anna Jones, who serves so ably as our farmers market manager, ‘The praise for Ron Brown from our “The praise for Ron Brown from is now coordinating our food our diverse search committee diverse search committee was unanimous. distribution, working with was unanimous,” said Gary. our amazing volunteers in the No one had a doubt about the depth of “No one had a doubt about the pantry and the fruit ministry. depth of Ron’s vast experience; Anna is familiar with this part Ron’s vast experience; his commitment his commitment to listening, of our food ministry through its to listening, networking, and healthy networking, and healthy connection to the market–many partnerships; or his compelling partnerships; or his compelling market vendors provide fresh combination of personal warmth food for those we serve–and she combination of personal warmth and and effective communication previously worked for Shalom effective communication skills.’ skills. And when I met Ron in Farms, a ministry that grows GARY JONES person, I instantly realized that and distributes fresh food he would be universally loved to those suffering from food and embraced by the people of St. Stephen’s, and that these insecurity. Anna is excited about adding this dimension of our feelings would be mutual.” comprehensive food ministry to her work. Gary noted, “Like staff before him, Ron will generate enthusiasm among our fantastic volunteers, and I know he will be respected by our many outreach partners. I don’t think it’s possible to spend a little time with Ron and not be excited about the future of outreach ministries at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.” Ron also expressed his excitement to begin the work, saying, “I am looking forward to meeting each of you personally as time allows,” and saying he views this as more than a job: it is, he says, an opportunity to serve and to build bridges. “I am passionate about building lasting relationships,” Ron said. This approach fits perfectly with the way St. Stephen’s has engaged in outreach 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
During the interim period when we were searching for just the right person to fill this vital role, we were also coming to terms with what it means to reach out to the community in a time of pandemic. It’s true that in a sense, the future of these efforts is murky. We don’t yet know when we’ll be able to return to many of the activities—locally, nationally, and internationally—that we had pursued before. At the same time, we know that the needs have only increased during this time of fear, job loss, and economic uncertainty. This is all the more reason that we are blessed to have someone of Ron’s abilities leading outreach for St. Stephen’s Church, and helping us navigate where God is calling us. ✤
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St. Stephen’s comprehensive food ministry has many facets
By Cate Anthony The Bible talks about food. A lot. Agriculture and care of the land are two primary themes of the Hebrew Bible. In the New Testament, Jesus uses imagery of food and agriculture over and over again in his parables and explanations of God’s action in the world. We often think of the kingdom of God as a heavenly banquet, and Jesus himself ties the very act of eating bread and wine to such a divine meal. These scriptural references to food form the basis for much of our prayer life: in the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to “give us this day our daily bread” and in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist we gather together for a meal. Food also plays a significant role in the church’s mission in the world, both in theology and practice. The Gospel directs us to feed Jesus’ flock—to care for those who need tending in this world. Theologically, we understand that this is a call for the church to extend beyond its four walls and into the community, as a beacon of care, resource, and hope. At St. Stephen’s, we practice this kind of mission throughout our ministries—and particularly with food! Through our outreach programs, we provide food for about 80 people and their families each week. The food pantry also assists Virginia Supportive Housing by weekly deliveries of 65 to 80 bags of food to folks in need in the Richmond community. St. Stephen’s fruit ministry volunteers pack between 115 and 143 bags of fresh fruit for delivery each week. And our kitchen ministry and and farmers market provide prepared food and fresh produce to people in need. We are answering Jesus’ command to “feed my sheep.” We also knit eating together into the life of the St. Stephen’s community, through both the weekly Wednesday and Sunday night dinners which take place during non-pandemic seasons of the church, as well as the Café at St. Stephen’s. In each of 14
these settings, our actions mirror Jesus’ gatherings with his own community. Our Lord loved a dinner party: he ate with his friends, and also with sinners and tax collectors and even the Pharisees. In all of these contexts, relationship and faith-building conversation took place around the dinner table, helping to bolster and strengthen communal life. During non-pandemic times, our dinners—and during the pandemic, outdoor, safely distanced Café lunches—do much the same, allowing space for us to gather with friends, as well as to break bread with those we may not otherwise encounter in the daily course of life. In all cases, St. Stephen’s feasts together—not only on good food, but on the grace of God and love of one another. In these different settings, food—like a full and thriving relationship with God—nourishes. Food makes us strong, gives us energy to do our daily work, draws us closer to our heritage, and offers a common ground from which to talk about faith and life. The prophet Isaiah exhorts all those who love God to “Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” Food is good, period—and it is even better when sharing food is practiced in faith, because this food is the kind that enriches not only our bodies, but also our souls. We continue to seek new ways to incorporate food into the ministries and fellowship of St. Stephen’s, and welcome any ideas you might have. Once it’s safe to gather, I can’t wait to be at a dinner table with you all! ✤ The Rev. Cate Anthony is an associate priest at St. Stephen’s, and a talented chef who—had she not pursued ordination—would have gone to culinary school. Her arrival at St. Stephen’s came during our pandemic “lockdown,” so she has yet to experience the Sunday Community Supper, Wonderful Wednesdays, or any of the other communal meals we usually enjoy. SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
Sarah Der
Feeding one another
Jay Paul
Sarah Der
Café @ St. Stephen’s adapts to continue serving our ‘village’
In good weather, outdoor seating; in all weather, curbside service and new take-home suppers
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he Café @ St. Stephen’s has continued to be a central part of our “village green,” welcoming all to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, a made-toorder espresso drink, a delicious breakfast or lunch, and now, take-out suppers.
Since it became permissible—and safe—to do so, our café has been offering outdoor tables and seating. This option has been a huge hit, allowing people to see friends they’d been missing during the earlier days of the pandemic. As the weather becomes less hospitable to outdoor coffee and dining, we’ll continue to offer online and phone ordering for curbside pick-up. The online ordering site has been refreshed and reorganized for easier navigation. Have a look at cafeatststephens.org. You can place your order there and pay online, or call in your order to 804.288.3318. 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
After a long, hot summer, during which the café was open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for drinks, breakfast, lunch, and snacks, the hours expanded to include a twohour after-school period when students, parents, and teachers could order coffee, tea, espresso drinks, and grab-and-go snacks from 2 to 4 p.m. In November, the offerings expanded further. The café began opening on Saturdays so that vendors, volunteers, staff, and patrons of our farmers market could order coffee and other drinks, as well as grab-and-go breakfast foods. Saturday hours are 7 a.m.-noon. Also in November, the café began selling take-out suppers for two, offering different entrees, soups and salads each week. Orders are placed online or by phone (no later than 1 p.m.) for pick-up
between 2 and 5 p.m. With shorter days, inclement weather, and unpredictable schedules affecting us all, our hope is that this will be a welcome convenience. Stan Barnett, director of kitchen ministries, and Tabitha Venditti, café manager, have been making healthy, warming soups— but those are not only for café customers, but also for those who use our food pantry to help feed their families. Remember that when you and your friends and colleagues support our café, you’re supporting our food ministry. In October, the café welcomed Phin Generelly to the staff. Phin is a true café artist who will be familiar to Rostov’s customers, where he was not only a barista but the teacher of choice for new employees there. After a time outside café work, he’s returned, and we’re thrilled he’s joined our team as head barista. ✤
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Food pantry ministry On November 10, the Washington Post published an interview with Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, chief executive of Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger organization in the country, with a network of 200 food banks, 60,000 food pantries and meals programs, and 2 million volunteers. Reporter KK Ottesen asked her about the effect of the pandemic on food insecurity in the United States. “What we’ve seen since covid-19 has been a precipitous increase in need,” Babineaux-Fontenot said. “Very early on, we started noticing that there were new faces showing up in need of food. Forty percent of the people turning to us for help had never before turned to the charitable food system for help. We’re estimating that, over the course of the pandemic, those numbers are going to go from roughly 35 million to somewhere closer to 50 million.” The trends at St. Stephen’s pantry are similar: we see a continual increase in the need for food support, including for those who tell us they’ve never used a pantry in the past to feed their families. Your continuing donations of canned and boxed food, along with fresh food donated by market vendors and freshly-prepared soups from our café kitchen help us meet the needs, though each week we need to supplement these supplies with food from FeedMore (the central Virginia food bank), and purchased groceries from Lidl. And by the end of the day each Monday, the shelves in our pantry are once again empty. Your consistency and your concern for others continue to be crucial to our ability to restock in time for the next weekly distribution. Fruit ministry volunteers continue their important work of bagging and delivering fresh fruit to residents of East End federal housing communities. While our volunteers are not able to visit with people in the same way they did before the pandemic, they know that these deliveries are, in many cases, the only fresh fruit the recipients have all week. Your donations of apples, oranges and bananas make this ministry possible. All of the food you bring to church for this ministry can be placed in the grocery cart positioned outside the parish house (off the Somerset Avenue parking lot). If you have questions, please be in touch with Anna Jones, ajones@ststephensRVA.org. ✤
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Sarah Bartenstein
addresses urgent needs
Farmers market continues through the winter We’ll gather outdoors this year to lower health risks The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s is a year-round market. While the line-up of vendors changes a bit during the winter months, the market does go on, providing a way for farmers and other producers to continue to sell their products, and for customers to continue to enjoy fresh, local produce, eggs, meat, and more. The market typically moves into the Fellowship Hall for the winter, but this year’s market will continue to be outside to keep customers and vendors as safe as possible. You’ll have the choice of shopping as you usually do, or pre-ordering, picking up orders, and quickly getting back in your car where it’s warm. Either way, we invite you to bundle up and try something new with us this winter. You can enjoy a hot beverage from our café while you shop! Please note that while the market does operate rain or shine, there may be days when snow or ice make conditions unsafe. If this is the case, the market will be cancelled for the day. If it’s snowing or icy on market day, visit our Web site (ststephensRVA.org/market) or the market’s Facebook page for updates. An up-to-date list of vendors and what they’ll offer, as well as information and links for contacting them directly, will be available on the same page of our Web site Wednesday afternoon of each week. We’ll place special emphasis on craft vendors in December, so that you can shop for local, handmade gifts for family and friends. Please remember to observe all health and safety practices in effect at the market, such as wearing a mask at all times, and entering and exiting only where indicated by signage. ✤ SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
Signs of life
During tough times, the people of St. Stephen’s have looked toward the light And yet, through a particularly rancorous political season, a worldwide pandemic, and resulting economic suffering, St. Stephen’s Church continues to exhibit vitality. While we forego many of the practices, traditions and routines that we cherish in order By Sarah Bartenstein to keep our community safe, we’ve also found new ways to remain connected to one another and reach out to our community. And remarkably, we have continued to receive many new parishioners who have transferred into this church— during a pandemic. For some, their only experience of St. Stephen’s worship has been the virtual kind, video and livestreaming. And yet there’s something happening here that they want to be part of. In fact, a recent parish register report shows that from January through mid-November, 44 children and adults were baptized here. There have been eight marriages. Thirty-seven people have transferred their memberships to St. Stephen’s. Four members have transferred to parishes outside our diocese, while three households have found new church homes in the area.
The Rev. Gary Jones leads an outdoor worship service for All Saints’ Day.
While we know that some in our parish have been affected by job loss and other economic fallout from the pandemic, and thus not able to provide financial support as they would wish, others have stepped forward to increase their giving. Those in a position to give as they have in the past, or even to give more, sense that their support is especially needed. We step in to help where we can.
Emmaus groups—groups of 10 or so parishioners who gather weekly to reflect on the Gospel and on the health of their souls— have found ways to meet, whether in an online meeting platform, or seated outdoors, safely distanced from one another. Others have taken part in a Tuesday Bible study offered by the Rev. Cate Anthony and other St. Stephen’s clergy on Zoom.
During this period when so many children and youth are missing activities they’d been looking forward to, in school, sports, church, and other areas—while being “Zoomed out” by virtual gatherings—35 young people have committed to preparing for Confirmation in the Episcopal Church. Teenagers who do not even know when it will be possible for them to participate in the rite of Confirmation with their families, their congregation, and their bishop have nonetheless signed on to prepare for it together, whenever it may happen. (See related article on page 9.)
The Daughters of the King, an order for women who commit to pray for all who have requested it, pray where they are. Parishioners subscribe to our prayer list so they can continue to pray for their fellow parishioners and others who have asked to be included in these intentions.
Volunteers continue to show up on Mondays to prepare bags of groceries for those in need in our community—a number that continues to grow—and offer a warm welcome along with the food. Farmers market volunteers work with staff to welcome people to our Saturday market to buy fresh, local food, a safe alternative to shopping in a crowded grocery store, while supporting local farms and small businesses during a tough economic time. Those vendors give back, as well, by donating food to our food pantry.
Our café has provided curbside service as well as outdoor seating that allowed people to reconnect with one another after a season of lockdown. Now they’re offering take-out suppers (page 15).
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Jay Paul
Sarah Bartenstein
It’s been a rough year.
Others pray in Gary Jones’ Wednesday evening “Contemplative Chapel,” joining anywhere from 50 to as many as 100 others for lectio divina and centering prayer on Zoom.
Worship videos, produced every week from mid-March until early November, not only provided a way to worship each Sunday,
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Signs, continued on page 19 17
A new path The journey of the Magi By Cate Anthony
I offer this narrative retelling of the story of the Wise Men from the perspective of one of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) as an Epiphany meditation. The season of Epiphany not only signifies the calling of the chosen few, like the Wise Men, but it also is an invitation to anyone and everyone around the world to follow Christ. As you read it, you might imagine yourself as one of the Magi, compelled by a star to leave home behind to seek out the promise of God. What in your life tells you of such hope that you are compelled to journey (literally and spiritually) to find Jesus? It all started because of that star, you know, that star that got stuck and just would not move. That star seemed so out of place, so unusual, an unanticipated, indefinable beacon that seemed to speak hope and potentiality and the Great Perhaps out into the world, the truth of the Prophet made manifest among us men. We hung so many maybes on that star—maybe this, this was finally it: the sign of the One, come to lead us home. And so we started out of the East, walking out of our lives toward an end we could not even contemplate. They said it was an audacious thing, daring to believe that under the star we would find something bigger than even our revered wisdom could think up. We journeyed so long, the three of us ragged companions strung together only by hope. On the days when the journeying seemed futile, the star hung high and bright in the sky, beckoning us on and on and on. When we finally made it to Jerusalem, star-dazzled and fatigued, we gained entry to the court of Herod and asked him where to find the One the star foretold: the ruler of Israel, the great Shepherd of the people of God. The king didn’t know a thing, and in fact seemed 18
quite concerned. He bade us to continue until we found this new King of the Jews, and told us to come back to share the ruler’s location so that Herod, too, might meet the One so Divine. And so we continued on, the star dancing in front of us, our own wondering buoyed by its twinkle and sparkle and shine. And finally, just when it seemed like we’d follow the star until the end of our days: it stopped. I’ve never felt so relieved—I tell you, we cried with exceeding joy when that darn ball of gas finally stopped leading us on. At first, it seemed like the star had stopped too soon—we were in front of a stable of all things, ramshackle and run down! But since we’d come so far, we ventured in and when we saw that tiny child in the lap of his mother (so heartachingly young and holy herself), I tell you: this incongruous, wrinkly, sleeping little one was the one foretold generations before, the one for whom we’d been waiting, the fulfillment of all our hopes. The glory of the star shone bright within that tiny child, divinity vesseled beyond our wisdom’s wildest conjurings. We cried and laughed and praised and gave glory to God above, and offered some gifts to the new family. When the time came we turned back toward home. The night before we set out to journey once again, we each dreamed the same voice of God above warning us not to return to Herod, whose desire to find this child lay rooted in fear and anger and a thirst for power. In the end we stepped East along a different route than traveled before—a new journey for souls newly transformed by seeing God made manifest right before our eyes. I still see the star, you know, when I close my eyes: star of wonder and promise and God among us. I’m so glad we followed that star. ✤ SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
Signs, continued from page 17 but also featured parishioners reading lessons and leading prayers, helping us feel connected and in some cases, finally put a name with a face. Daily Morning Prayer has been livestreamed from the Chapel of the Holy Spirit each weekday at 8:10 a.m. and the number of people who “attend” this service has grown as a result. On November 1, All Saints’ Day, we offered an in-person, outdoor service especially for those who’d experienced the loss of a loved one since last November 1. The next Sunday we began live streaming the Holy Eucharist, something that many of our members had missed, combining this offering with the opportunity to come to church and receive Holy Communion using careful preparation and precautions. In addition to the Contemplative Chapel offered by the rector and the Tuesday Bible study led by Cate Anthony, hundreds of people have participated in webinars on Thursday evenings in several series led by thought leaders in a variety of fields. Participants logged on from around the world, and hundreds more watched video recordings of these presentations after the fact. May Fair House volunteers have worked tirelessly to make it possible for the community to continue to purchase casseroles and merchandise safely, so that the shop will still be able to award grants to organizations that support women and children. Staff have worked with these devoted volunteers to create a new online shopping platform for safer shopping. The Flower Guild has continued to lovingly arrange beautiful flowers for the altar, even when they can be seen only on a computer screen during virtual services. The Needlepoint Guild proceeds with stitching unique canvasses which will eventually cover the kneelers in the nave. These and other events, offerings, and activities have helped us to remain connected and supported, and to have our souls nourished during these months in the desert. We will continue to seek ways to improve on what we’re doing, and to imagine new ways to reach out to one another. ✤ 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
An extraordinary year Thank you to all who have supported our ministries
110 YEARS OF MINISTRY:
S T. S T E P H E N ’ S C H U RC H , N OW M O R E T H A N E V E R .
T
hank you to all who have already made a pledge of support to the 2021 Annual Giving Campaign. The vestry, clergy and staff want you to know that your generosity matters.
Now more than ever, all of us need reminders of God’s love and presence. At St. Stephen’s we are finding innovative ways to reach out to “strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak, help the suffering,” and to encourage the faithful in every way possible, especially the homebound and vulnerable. Our dedicated team is especially focused on the poor who could easily be overlooked in such a stressful time—our food ministry, for example, has become an important emergency resource for the city of Richmond. It would not be possible to carry out the mission and ministry of St. Stephen’s Church without you. People who are able to do so are attempting to make up for those who now have no choice but to cut back. So every pledge, great or small, is important and is needed. You may make your pledge by: • Completing your pledge card and mailing it in the envelope included in your packet; • Pledging online at ststephensrva.org/pledge; • Completing your pledge card and dropping it into the special receptacle at the door to the parish house off the Somerset parking lot; • Contacting Christi McFadden at cmcfadden@ststephensrva.org to set up a one-time or recurring credit card payment indicating that it is your 2021 pledge. Your vestry, clergy and staff thank you for your ongoing support of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. ✤
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS/EPIPHANY | WINTER 2020
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SPIRIT
Presorted First Class Mail U.S. Postage PA I D Richmond, VA Permit No. 320
A DV ENT/CHRIS TMAS / EP I PHANY | W I NTER 2020 Issue Number 37
ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 6000 Grove Avenue l Richmond, Virginia 23226 ststephensRVA.org
Parish Staff To reach a staff member, call 804.288.2867 or send an email using the initial and name provided in parentheses, with @ststephensRVA.org. Janet S. Allen (jallen), Associate for Membership & Development The Rev. Cate Anthony (canthony), Associate Priest Stan Barnett (sbarnett), Director of Kitchen Ministries Liz Bartenstein (lbartenstein), Hospitality Sarah R. Bartenstein (sbartenstein), Director of Communication Larry Bidwell, Sexton Ron Brown (rbrown), Director of Outreach Chris Edwards (cedwards), Director, St. Stephen’s Choir Dillon Gwaltney (dgwaltney), Communications Associate/Video Producer Melissa Hipes (mhipes), Finance Chris Holman, Sexton Anna F. Jones, (ajones), Farmers Market Manager The Rev. Gary D. Jones (gjones), Rector The Rev. David Knight (dknight), Assistant for Pastoral Care Betsy Lee (blee), Parish Administrator Becky Lehman (blehman), Hospitality & Communication Assistant Christi McFadden (cmcfadden), Finance The Rev. Claudia W. Merritt (cmerritt), Associate Priest Allison Seay (aseay), Associate for Religion & the Arts The Rev. William S. Stanley (wstanley), Vicar Brent te Velde (btevelde), Director of Music Betsy Tyson (btyson), Chaplain to Palmer Hall Tabitha Venditti, Café Manager Greg Vick (gvick), Organist Tyronn Wilkins, Sexton The Café @ St. Stephen’s 804.288.3318 Phin Generelly, head barista Claire Hackley, barista Annie Ward Love, barista Brianna Maurice, barista Bou Zintseme, barista Our missionaries in Argentina Heidi Schmidt, Monica Vega
The beauty of holiness Arts series reminds us of God’s presence Much of 2020 has been fraught with a palpable level of uncertainty and anxiety. In such times, when it is easy to lose sight of the good and the holy, it feels more important than ever to seek out reminders of the beauty of creation and God’s never-failing love and care for us. By Chris Edwards
To facilitate that remembering, as part of St. Stephen’s ‘Seven Whole Days’ rhythm of parish life, we have devoted one day each week to exploring the divine through artistic expression in a new video series called “Art, Music, and the Beauty of Holiness.” These offerings debut on Fridays, and the form varies from week to week. Each is intended to be an invitation, an opportunity to pause for a few minutes to connect with some much-needed beauty in the world: an exquisite piece of music, a stunning work of visual art, a powerful icon, or a poem that expresses truth in a particularly transcendent way. The first month of the series is representative of the variety of offerings we are preparing. We have heard St. Stephen’s Virtual Choir sing John Tavener’s setting of The Lord’s Prayer, listened to a trio of musicians perform J.S. Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, heard a century-old poem by Siegfried Sassoon that still rings true today, and begun learning how to engage with icons. We hope that spending some time with these beautiful artistic expressions each week will provide nourishment for your soul and remind you—explicitly or implicitly—of God’s real presence among us. As one parishioner noted upon seeing the video of three masked musicians standing at the foot of the chancel steps playing Bach, it “seemed to proclaim that in the midst of these trying times, nothing can ultimately diminish the beauty and power of what is beautiful, what is holy, what is decent, what is good, what is life giving and what gives hope.” ✤
