Seasons of the Spirit, Winter 2022: Advent, Christmas Epiphany

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INSIDE:

GRATITUDE AND EXPECTATION A new cross for the Garden of the Holy Spirit Music to brighten winter evenings EPIPHANY LESSONS AND CAROLS SERVICE How firm a foundation: the Palmer Hall service

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Sarah Bartenstein

A TIME OF GRATITUDE AND EXPECTATION

A note of thanks from the rector

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y parents raised me right: they taught me the importance of a thoughtfully written thank you note.

Unfortunately, they could not have foreseen that I would become the rector of a 4,000-plus-member church, and I now find myself woefully behind. I By the Rev. John Rohrs will catch up as best I can, but in the meantime, I want to use this space to offer a broader word of gratitude.

Thank you for such a warm welcome to St. Stephen’s. My wife, Andie, and our children, Anna, Tom, and Will, share in thanksgiving for the flowers and munchies, handshakes and smiles, lunch invitations and cards in the mail. In the midst of a whirlwind move and a busy launch, you have helped us to feel at home. Getting settled in a new house, new city, new schools, and a new church all takes time, of course, and thanks to you we feel 2

ourselves getting more rooted with each week that goes by.

One Sunday recently, I had the privilege of celebrating the Holy Eucharist in Palmer Hall. There was a huge crowd of children and parents that day; it was wild and wonderful and an ideal setting for children to experience church in a way that invites their full participation in body, mind, voice, and spirit. I went from there to the 11:15 service, full of traditional ritual and stained glass and soaring choral music. It was a stark contrast, and just as beautiful in its own way. Later that afternoon, I came back for the Celtic service, where I shared a reflection. For the third time that day, it was as different as could be—quiet and contemplative, with non-traditional prayers and gentle music.

What a gift to have all this in one place, so many different entry points to come into God’s presence and to connect with the life of this church. I feel very fortunate to be here.

I also want to share a word about the staff. We are blessed with a remarkably dedicated and talented staff at St. Stephen’s, and SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

it is my joy to get to know them as I work with them. By the time this issue arrives, we will have bid a grateful farewell to the Rev. Claudia Merritt, as she retires after many years of faithful ministry. We also will have welcomed Fred Staley as our executive director of church operations. I hope a few other new faces will join us in the new year as we continue to grow in support of our shared ministry.

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For now, though, we turn our attention to Advent, a season of expectation. Advent is my favorite season of the liturgical year, and I look forward to sharing with you in the cherished traditions and holy days that lie ahead. Blessings and peace to each of you! ✤

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Dillon Gwaltney

Sarah Bartenstein

19 The Rev. John Rohrs began serving as rector of St. Stephen’s in September. Just weeks later, he was at our annual outreach golf tournament along with Anna Jones, Nancy Thompson, the Rev. Cate Anthony, and Carrie Marshall.

(Facing page) John gets to know parishioners in the Cafe @ St. Stephen’s, during one of several small ‘meet and greet’ gatherings offered beginning in the fall.

Thank you for such a warm welcome to St. Stephen’s. My wife, Andie, and our children, Anna, Tom, and Will, share in thanksgiving for the flowers and munchies, handshakes and smiles, lunch invitations and cards in the mail.

In the midst of a whirlwind move and a busy launch, you have helped us to feel at home. Getting settled takes time, of course, and thanks to you, we feel ourselves getting more rooted with each week that goes by.

A cross for the memorial garden Winter concerts and Epiphany Lessons and Carols Advent, Christmas, Epiphany schedules and events Christkindlmarkets: holiday cheer and local artisans Palmer Hall lays an important foundation Being seen: youth ministry’s calling ReWork continues to nurture success Christmas shop offers joy–and choices–to Fairfield families Call-out culture’s shadow side The Celtic service: an appreciation Raising funds while having fun Meet Fred Staley Claudia Merritt leaves a lasting legacy

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Seasons of the Spirit Sarah Bartenstein, editor Steven Longstaff, art director Contributors: Cate Anthony, Briget Ganske, Dillon Gwaltney, John Jenkins, Deb Lawrence, Caroline Moses, Jay Paul, John Rohrs, Will Stanley, Beth Stoddard, Brent te Velde, Ethan White Copyright © 2022, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia Requests to reprint material from Seasons of the Spirit should be addressed to Sarah Bartenstein at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23226, or sbartenstein@ststephensRVA.org.

On the cover

Alexandra Byrum and her son light votive candles in the church in Advent 2021.

Photo by Jay Paul , inviting all to our community; a St. Stephen’s Church is a Village Green New Abbey , grounding people in wisdom and practices that nurture the soul; and a Healing Community , serving others as the hands, feet, and eyes of Christ in the world .

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A group in Argentina gathered with our missionaries

…In the end, we all just want to take seriously what Jesus took seriously… so we stand at the margins with the widow, orphaned and the stranger because these are the folks God thinks know what it’s like to have been cut off…and because they’ve suffered in exactly this way, God thinks that these precisely are By the Rev. William S. Stanley the folks who happen to be our trustworthy guides to lead the rest of us to the kinship of God, to a community of affection.

We go to the margins to create a community of kinship such that God might recognize it…a community of beloved belonging where nobody is left out, where we imagine a circle of compassion and then imagine nobody standing outside that circle…we dismantle the barriers that exclude, because that’s God’s dream come true: ‘that you may be one.’ FR. GREG BOYLE I think it’s a shame that the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany time is so short. These three seasons contain the richest imagery and only get about 10 weeks. At 5 to 6 months, the season after Pentecost—known also as “ordinary time”—often lives up to its name and can seem to go on forever, at that!

We come to this triptych-like period of the liturgical year in a time of renewal for St. Stephen’s Church. We are settling into this new season with fresh eyes and deeper hearts, grateful to God for all the blessings of this life and ready for that which is to come. The favorite phrase of my favorite (pretend) President Josiah Bartlet from the classic TV series The West Wing comes to mind: “What’s next?”

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Over the next weeks we will gather to prepare, to celebrate, and to follow. In Advent we prepare as we wait in expectation for the coming of the Christ child in the manger, as well as Jesus’ second coming “in the fullness of time” when heaven and earth will be married together again. In the Christmas season we celebrate as we receive this child and reflect on the promise that in the Incarnation, God now knows us in our flesh and bones.

And in the season of Epiphany, we see and we follow this star in the East with wisdom and excitement for the manifestation of this Love throughout the world.

The italicized text is my transcription of a portion of a talk given by the Jesuit priest and modern-day saint, Fr. Greg Boyle. He leads an organization called Homeboy Industries (homeboyindustries.org) that works with rival gang members in the poorest parts of Los Angeles. He came to Richmond on All Saints’ Day to speak at our partner institution, Anna Julia Cooper School in the East End. His words still resonate with me. They are a clarion call for anyone who seeks to follow this Christ child in his way of love. I do not know what is next for us, be it the renewal of longstanding ministries, the creation of new ones, or some wonderful combination of the two. Only God knows. Yet whatever it is—both within and outside our walls—I hope it looks something like Fr. Boyle’s words and involves building “a community of beloved belonging where nobody is left out, where we imagine a circle of compassion and then imagine nobody standing outside that circle.”

Sounds like the miracle of Advent/Christmas/Epiphany to me! ✤ The Rev. Will Stanley is vicar of St. Stephen’s Church.

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Heidi Schmidt

A community of beloved belonging

This Memorial Cross is given to the Glory of God and in Thanksgiving for our Beloved Parents and Grandparents Richard Coles Edmunds, Jr. Nancy Page Hall Edmunds

Dillon Gwaltney

Dedication for the new cross

Sculpted cross now graces the memorial garden A gift from the family of Dick Edmunds I am the vine, you are the branches.

Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. JOHN 15:5 Richard Coles Edmunds Jr.— better known as Dick—was a faithful and active member of St. Stephen’s Church for more than

By Sarah Bartenstein 60 years. He served on the vestry, as Sunday school superintendent, and in outreach ministries, among other contributions.

Late in life, he helped deliver Backpack Snacks to East End students.

Dick died December 19, 2020, but his memorial service was delayed when some family members contracted Covid-19. At Easter 2021, his ashes were interred in the Garden of the Holy Spirit.

At the time of his memorial service, his family noticed that the memorial garden–while graced with lovely trees and shrubs, and a beautiful fountain added during the garden’s expansion several years ago–had no cross. The Edmunds family asked if they could make a gift of one.

After consultation with St. Stephen’s vestry, the buildings and grounds committee worked with an awardwinning sculptor, Maurice Beane, who works with steel, glass and marble to create architecturally inspired work for residential and commercial clients.

His pieces are in many private and corporate art collections, including Markel Insurance Company, the Sydney and Frances Lewis collection, VCUMCV Hospital, and has been featured in national magazines such as House Beautiful and Metropolitan Home.

This award-winning artist, a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate, was known to several parishioners.

As the garden’s fountain uses a verse from the Gospel of John–“The water that I will give them will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life”–vestry member Martha Sherman suggested incorporating a vine with the cross, recalling John 5:15, “I am the vine, you are the branches,” a fitting image for a garden.

The Edmunds family is delighted that the design and materials complement the stone walls and reference the Celtic tradition that has been an important part of St. Stephen’s worship for many years. As Nancy Page Edmunds says, “It looks like it’s been there from the beginning.”

The Garden of the Holy Spirit is a cherished space at St. Stephen’s Church. It is the final resting place for many of the saints who have gone before us, as well as a tranquil spot for sitting in silence, meditation, or prayer. Many thanks to the Edmunds family for their generous and fitting addition to this holy place.

Sculptor Maurice Beane

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MUSIC

TO BRIGHTEN WINTER EVENINGS

Winter Solstice concert, Epiphany Lessons and Carols, and February Masterworks concert are on tap

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everal opportunities to hear beautiful music made by our choirs and instrumentalists are coming this winter at St. Stephen’s.

The Winter Solstice Concert has become a wonderful tradition at St. Stephen’s Church, and this year, it

By Brent te Velde will be held on the actual Solstice, Wednesday, December 21, at 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary, our Compline choir, will again offer this opportunity to pause during the busy holiday season and enjoy classic and modern a cappella music. The program will offer reflections on the themes of waning darkness and night, increasing light and day, and our preparation for the Nativity in our hearts and lives. Composers will include Eleanor Daley, Jake Runestad, Toby Hession, Kim André Arnesen, Dan Forrest, Annabel Rooney, Gabriel Jackson, Kerensa Briggs, and Peter Hallock. Sanctuary will also be joined by cellist Peter Greydanus and harpist Anastasia Jellison, performing both with the choir and on their own as a duo.

We look forward to beginning 2023 with a celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, at 6:00 p.m., with Epiphany Lessons and Carols, a service similar to Christmas Lessons and Carols, made famous by King’s College, Cambridge. This service especially celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the son of God, and the sharing of the light of Christ throughout the world. This will be reflected by the lighting of candles and through choral music by Eric Whitacre, Kathleen Allen, Alison

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Willis, Philip Stopford, and Jonathan Dove. We plan to follow the service with a parish supper and chili cook-off! We’d love to have your enter your chili in the cook-off, but even if you don’t, we hope you will still come to the service and stay for supper. Details will be communicated in the Spirit and the eSpirit, our weekly newsletters, and at ststephensRVA.org/ epiphany.

This year our annual Masterworks Concert—to take place February 16, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.—will feature 20th century masterpieces. The program will begin with the only piece that American composer Charles Ives—known for revising his music throughout his life—was said to have been fully satisfied with: his setting of Psalm 90 for choir and organ. Ives vividly and powerfully explores the psalm’s text, using the capabilities of the choir and organ to their fullest extent. Sanctuary, our Compline choir, will sing, and Diana Chou will play the organ.

A piece by Benjamin Britten will follow, Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac. Britten, a friend of the American composter Aaron Copland, spent time traveling in the United States. This is the second of five canticles that Britten wrote at various points in his life, and three of them were dedicated as memorials. The text for the second canticle sets the text of the Abraham and Isaac story as told in the Chester Mystery Plays, and displays Britten’s operatic genius through the intimacy of the chamber trio of piano, countertenor, and tenor. Guest artists for this piece are artists John Bitsas, countertenor, Nathan Bick, tenor, and Ingrid Keller, pianist. Ingrid plays often at our Celtic service.

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

The program will close with Morten Lauridsen’s Lux aeterna, a requiem written and dedicated to his mother in the year that she died. Its five movements are based on various references to light in sacred Latin texts: perpetual light, light risen in the darkness, Redeemer-born light from light, light of the Holy Spirit, light of hearts, most blessed light, eternal light. Carol Talbeck described these as “all supporting an earthbound spirit seeking not only mercy, understanding, and consolation, but also renewal…in expressing a human journey to reclaim intimacy with the inner life, Lauridsen seamlessly integrates the musical essence of ancient modes, Renaissance polyphony, Romanticism, and modern dissonance. This timelessness can bring home to the listener the recognition of his or her own mortal journey.” St. Stephen’s Choir will perform this piece with a chamber orchestra, , Brent te Velde is director of music for St. Stephen’s Church.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

Additional details and tickets at ststephensRVA.org/concerts Wednesday, December 21, at 7 p.m.

Music for the Winter Solstice Tickets: $20; $10 for students*

Advent meditations offered by email Are you receiving daily Advent mediations from St. Stephen’s Church? Since 2007, parishioners and staff of St. Stephen’s Church have written reflections which are emailed to subscribers (free) each day during Advent. Subscribers tell us that these emails are a welcome way to begin each day of this season of expectation and joy. If you do not already receive them, you can sign up from our website, ststephensRVA. org/email. Select the link for Advent meditations. Or text STSTEPHENSRVA to 22828 and follow the prompts.

Betsy Tyson returns to the classroom

Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

Annual Masterworks Concert Choral works by Charles Ives, Benjamin Britten, and Morten Lauridsen, featuring Sanctuary, St. Stephen’s Choir, Diana Chou on organ, a chamber orchestra and guest soloists.

Tickets: $25; $10 for students*

Sarah Bartenstein

*Proceeds will help support a joint choir pilgrimage with River Road Church in 2024

St. Stephen’s rector is consulting with parents and others about future staffing in family ministry

Sarah Bartenstein

Friday, January 6, 2023 at 6 p.m.

The Feast of the Epiphany Epiphany Lessons and Carols service in the church Followed by supper with a chili cook-off No tickets or reservations required for the service (a sign-up will be available for supper)

Betsy Tyson at her farewell reception with parishioners Bev Guy and JoAnn Pulliam.

In August, Betsy Tyson, chaplain to Palmer Hall since 2019, left to return to the classroom. We miss Betsy but wish her well in her ministry at St. Michael’s School in Bon Air. The parish honored Betsy at a reception where we were able to thank her publicly for her imaginative and faithful work in Palmer Hall, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Vacation Bible School, and many other expressions of our ministry to children and their families. This was Betsy’s third time on our staff, and we are grateful for all her gifts to St. Stephen’s Church.

Since Betsy’s departure from the staff (she is still an active parishioner!), the Rev. John Rohrs has been consulting with parents and other parishioners and parish leaders to ensure that these ministries continue to thrive, and to consider what staffing model will best support them. We will keep you informed through the Spirit, the eSpirit, the family ministry newsletter, and through inperson conversations and announcements.

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Advent, Christmas and Epiphany at St. Stephen’s Church Worship, livestreams, holiday schedule and more

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ven as we were able to welcome people back to in-person worship last Christmas, we were still limiting attendance and thus required advance signups for our services. While COVID is still with us, public health experts say that it has entered an endemic phase, and vaccines and boosters are widely available. We are grateful that 2022 will look more like the pre-pandemic Advent, Christmas and Epiphany we remember.

11:00 p.m., Traditional Christ Mass (Holy Eucharist: Rite One) with St. Stephen’s Choir and instrumentalists

Please note, however, that since Christmas Eve 2022 will fall on a Saturday and Christmas Day and Christmas I will be Sundays, that will affect our service schedule for those two Sundays.

All Christmas Eve services take place in the main church, and a halfhour of special music precedes each service (2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.). Overflow seating will be available.

During services with an asterisk (*) child care will be available for ages 4 and younger.

All Christmas Eve services will be livestreamed: ststephensRVA.org/christmas

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20: LIVE NATIVITY

5:00-6:00 p.m. on the grounds SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24: CHRISTMAS EVE

Farmers market, 9 a.m.-noon, outdoors 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.: Two identical “family services”—one at 3:00 p.m., the other at 5:00 p.m.—with Holy Eucharist: Rite Two. While these services are alike, we offer both to accommodate the large number of people who attend.)

8:00 p.m., Celtic Christmas with choir and instrumentalists

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18: ADVENT IV

8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One 9:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two (one service in the main church, one in Palmer Hall)* No Forum or formation 11:15 a.m., Morning Prayer and Youth Pageant* 5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion* 6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper 8:00 p.m., Sung Compline

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SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25: CHRISTMAS DAY

10:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two with Christmas carols SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2023: CHRISTMAS I

8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One 10:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two* 5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion* THE FOLLOWING WILL NOT TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 25 OR JANUARY 1 • Palmer Hall service • Formation (Forum, Many Parents One Vine, Catechesis of the

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6: THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY

Good Shepherd, youth Bible study) • Sunday Community Supper • Sung Compline

6:00 p.m., Epiphany Lessons and Carols followed by supper (see page 6)

All will resume on Sunday, January 8.

The parish office and the café will close at noon on December 23, and will be closed December 26 and 27, and January 2; there will be no Morning Prayer on those days.

HOLIDAY HOURS AND CLOSINGS

May Fair House will close for Christmas at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 23, and re-open Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s will take place on Saturday, December 24, in the parking lot, from 9 a.m. until noon. The market will NOT be open on Saturday, December 31.

The Café @ St. Stephen’s will be closed the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Consult the Spirit, the eSpirit, or ststephensRVA.org/ christmas for the latest information and links to bulletins and livestreams. ✤

Christkindlmarkets return Holiday markets feature local artisans and craft vendors The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s will host two Christkindlmarkets for holiday shopping and cheer. We did this for the first time last year, and the two markets were a tremendous hit. Not only do they provide a pleasant way to shop for the holidays, but they offer an important outlet for local artists.

Sarah Bartenstein

Inspired by the Christmas markets in German town squares, these holiday craft markets feature familiar artisans from our weekly farmers market, as well as craft vendors from the wider community. You can expect a variety of jewelry, pottery, fine art, fiber arts, and more. The markets will be in the parking lot, so bundle up and come sip some cider and enjoy holiday shopping with your friends and family.

NOVEMBER 30 AND DECEMBER 7, 4:30-6:30 P.M.

The first Christkindlemarkets in 2021 were a big hit.

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A loving introduction, a solid foundation The Sunday service in Palmer Hall In late summer, I transitioned into leadership of our many children’s ministries here at St. Stephen’s Church.

Each of these offerings—Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, our new baby blessings, Holy Baptism, and more—are a joy to shepherd, and none more so than the 9:00 a.m. service of Holy Eucharist which takes place in Palmer Hall Chapel— St. Stephen’s first church building—each Sunday (we often refer to this service as “Palmer Hall,” to distinguish it from the parallel worship taking place in the church).

By the Rev. Cate Anthony

Marshall Burke, a parent of a child who once participated in Palmer Hall worship, shares: I recently heard Swin Cash’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech. She was talking about her life and giving advice to young athletes and said: “You’re never chasing perfection. You’re learning how to form great habits.” I realized then that we can apply that quote to what we do, or hope to do, as parents. We are not, or hope to not be, pushing our children to achieve perfection. Rather, we are, or hope to be, helping them to learn to form great habits.

The best place at St. Stephen’s to help young children learn to form great habits is Palmer Hall.

Although my youngest child “graduated” from Palmer Hall pre-COVID, I often felt sorry for parents of young children who were missing out on such a treasure during the COVID shutdown. In addition to serving as a non-intimidating introduction to the church for many children and parents of

young children, and as a reconnection to the church for people returning with their young children, Palmer Hall provides opportunities for parents to help their children learn to form great habits beyond the habit of attending church on a regular basis. All of the ushers, acolytes and choir members are children. The children serving in these roles are learning to serve (in front of a sea of faces) before they are old enough to be self-conscious, or old enough to choose not to serve. Their service in Palmer Hall is a foundation. When they “graduate” from Palmer Hall, it is natural for them to continue to serve in similar roles in “big” church and to then carry forth the habit of serving into their communities throughout their lives.

In Palmer Hall, our greatest habit is wonder. Come join us one Sunday, and discover a whole new way of seeing things for yourself.

Sarah Bartenstein

Palmer Hall is so many things: a riot, joyful, evolving, the best part of my week. It isn’t what some churches call “children’s church.” While it is particularly suited for the youngest in our community, it welcomes people of all ages, including parents and grandparents. (Some adults who do not have young children enjoy this service!) The scripture, prayers, and music of Palmer Hall are all informed directly by the principles of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which recognizes that children are already in touch with God in their deepest being and teaches children (and adults!) how to wonder at this world. In Palmer Hall, we practice

wondering together, and I have learned something new about this act from the children who attend the service: that wonder is deeply connected to awe and curiosity and courage.

All St. Stephen’s clergy celebrate in Palmer Hall, as in the main church, though the Rev. Cate Anthony has primary responsibility for this community within a community. Here, the Rev. John Rohrs, rector, serves Communion with Cate.

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SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Being seen Our calling in youth ministry

When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ LUKE 7:13

This is where the church finds its place. Our call is to walk alongside young people, not as teachers, coaches, or parents, but as followers of Christ who see and acknowledge youth for their whole personhood. When we challenge ourselves to look at one another without presupposition or expectation, compassion will rise to the surface. If we put aside our own assumptions and anxieties about young people, we’ll find that they share many of the same sentiments adults do. In my time so far at St. Stephen’s Church, I’ve heard youth express a wide range of reservations about their place in the church. Some fear that hard questions about our beliefs are not truly welcome, while others share a sentiment that “church is just boring.” Our job is not to forcefully change anyone’s mind, but rather to offer a space where youth can be seen and heard exactly as they are. We are here to help them recover and reclaim their own unique sense of place in the body of Christ.

This fall, we’ve begun a new approach to youth formation at St. Stephen’s. Our youth group gatherings now take place on Sunday evenings to reduce the time constraints posed by Sunday morning’s schedule. As participants enter the door, the first thing they do is drop their mobile phones into a bucket. This marks an entry into a time outside of time; a short break from the world of notifications that constantly divide our attention.

After serving themselves from a buffet of hearty and healthy food, everyone finds a place at one of several long banquet tables. Time is built in to allow for extra conversation, and opportunities for second (or third) helpings.

Ethan White

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study exploring the longer-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people’s mental health. More than one in three high school students reported “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness,” a

By Ethan White 40 percent increase from 2009.* The natural response to these alarming numbers is to point fingers at single issues such as social media, quarantine isolation, and familial anxiety. Alternatively, it’s a common mistake to chalk it all up to hormones or adolescent self-pity.

No matter how complex the issues at play, there is no doubt that teenagers are riddled with constant expectations. Standardized tests, athletic events, the college admissions process (and the assumption that college is the path for all), social pressures: there are few spaces in life where teenagers are free from demands.

Young people gathered in the courtyard during a recent youth event.

Full group activities, games, and worship are balanced with time spent in three different small groups based on grade level.

Following the Episcopal Church’s Journey to Adulthood model, these groups prioritize relational ministry and support young people as they discern God’s call in their lives. Dedicated adult leaders journey alongside youth as consistent and nurturing presences. Our church’s rich body of Scripture and spiritual practices illuminate all our activities and discussions.

Above all else, we strive for youth to feel seen, heard, and honored. When Jesus truly “saw” the widow at Nain in Luke’s gospel, he felt compassion for her situation, and she experienced a great miracle. If the young people in our midst are truly seen, they can shape our common life in miraculous ways.

All in grades six through 12 are invited to attend our youth group gatherings on the first and third Sundays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. For more information and sign-ups, please visit ststephensrva.org/youth. *https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/index.htm Ethan White is assistant for family ministry at St. Stephen’s Church.

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ReWork member forges new path in health field Workforce development program helps members on the road to family-sustaining careers

ReWork Richmond, the partnership among St. Stephen’s Church, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Church Hill, the City of Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building, and Challenge Discovery Projects, continues to match program participants—called members—with employers in the Richmond area.

By Deb Lawrence

The mission of this workforce development program is to empower underemployed adults living in Richmond’s East End by helping them obtain the skills and support needed to qualify for, and ultimately gain, thriving living wage careers.

Born of the capital campaign that St. Stephen’s conducted as part of its centennial observance, the organization takes a unique, comprehensive approach to employment. ReWork provides support and job sourcing to create lasting career opportunities, as opposed to entry-level jobs. The program is structured to provide an array of personal support and employment referral services tailored to meet the individual goals of each ReWork member.

With financial support from St. Stephen’s, and many invested community partners and individuals, ReWork Richmond is making a difference in the lives of East End adults and families.

Members are excited to be a part of ReWork and their progress is visible as they are placed in new employment or enrolled in classes in order to reach their goals. Interest in ReWork is increasing dramatically, and we are enrolling new members each month.

MEMBER FINDS ROLE IN HEALTH FIELD

One such member is Sheila P. who was recommended to ReWork by one of our partners, Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building. When Sheila came to ReWork she was seeking long-term employment in substance abuse counseling. Sheila had not been able to put her skills and training together to create a sustaining career for herself, and she was moving from job to job, living below the poverty line. The ReWork team has been able to help Sheila explore appropriate employment opportunities that will provide her with upward mobility. As a result of her work, Sheila is now employed with the Virginia Department of Health in a position that includes full benefits and room for growth. Sheila reports that she has never been so happy, knowing that her future is bright.

TRANSPORTATION IS ESSENTIAL TO EMPLOYMENT

Reliable transportation is a major necessity for being successfully employed. ReWork’s “Wheels for Work” initiative helps members secure affordable transportation to travel safely to their 12

Sheila P. with Ferdie Baruch of the ReWork staff.

work. Donated vehicles make a profound difference to many of our members, supporting their rise out of poverty.

If you have a vehicle you no longer need, please consider donating it to ReWork. We’ll make it easy by helping you determine the vehicle’s value and take care of all the paperwork.

All donations are fully tax-deductible. Contact Mark Murphy, markmurphydmm@gmail.com or 203.249.2164.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP

We also seek committed volunteers to provide career and financial coaching, to assist with resume writing and interview skills, or to connect us to potential employer partners. To explore how your generosity and skills can help, contact me at deb.lawrence@reworkrichmond.org or 804.869.3704.

Parishioner Deb Lawrence is executive director of ReWork and the former director of outreach for St. Stephen’s Church.

As a result of her work, Sheila is now employed with the Virginia Department of Health in a position that includes full benefits and room for growth. Sheila reports that she has never been so happy, knowing that her future is bright.

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Christmas shop invites your participation Parishioners provide books, toys, games, and more for Fairfield families For many years, St. Stephen’s offered an “Angel Tree” for East End families much like the holiday offerings of many churches and secular organizations. But in 2019, we reimagined this ministry as a Christmas shop. While parishioners formerly purchased Christmas gifts for a specific youngster, we began instead to ask for donations of toys, games, and other items to stock a Christmas shop where Fairfield students’ parents or grandparents could select gifts for their own children. Fairfield families were so enthusiastic about this new tradition that we have continued it every year, even during the pandemic.

Instead of receiving a bag of gifts chosen for them by parishioners, children receive gifts selected by the people who know them best, based on their individual needs and interests.

This approach offers a measure of dignity to the family in need, empowers them to make their own decisions, and allows us to serve them more effectively. The store is set up for one day at Fairfield Court Elementary School–December 13 this year–when parents come in to shop.

In addition to being able to select gifts that they know their children will use and enjoy, shoppers are also able to wrap the gifts themselves.

You are invited to purchase items to stock the Christmas store. You may also volunteer to sort or transport items, help arrange them in the shop, and assist shoppers on the day the shop is open. Deadlines, sign-up and other details are at ststephensRVA.org/christmas-shop.

Financial information coming your way in December and January As we begin the season of Advent and a new church year, I want to introduce myself and let you know what to expect from the church finance office in the coming weeks.

My work at St. Stephen’s Church includes processing your donations, including payments on your pledge

By Caroline Moses and special gifts, a process that typically picks up toward the end of the calendar year. I send regular communication to each individual or household so that you know what you have given, and what the balance is on your annual pledge.

We mail quarterly statements in April, July, October, and December, with the fourth quarter statement going out midDecember. Annual statements for 2022 will go out in midJanuary 2023. In addition to reviewing the total given, please review your statement to ensure that all funds were applied correctly. Statements include all donations given to date, as well as any pledge balances.

If you have elected to receive this information electronically, you’ll receive an email from me rather than mailed statements.

When making your final gift for 2022, please be mindful that donations should be received by the church no later than January 5, 2023 if you wish to have them included with your 2022 donations. Donations are easy to make online with a credit/debit card or by setting up payments through your financial institution. Setting up recurring payments is also an easy and convenient way to make regular donations towards your annual contribution. Our website has additional detailed information for giving, found under the “Give” tab on the home page. If you have any questions about your giving or pledge balance, please contact me anytime at cmoses@ ststephensRVA.org, or call the church office at 804.288.2867.

Thank you for your continued support of St. Stephen’s and the many ministries and communities that benefit from your generosity. I am excited to be a part of the St. Stephen’s community, and enjoy working with each of you to further the mission of this church. ✤ Caroline Moses is accounts manager for St. Stephen’s Church.

Parishioners purchase toys, games, books, dolls, and stuffed animals for different age groups, which are then organized by St. Stephen’s volunteers at Fairfield Elementary School. Parents and grandparents select the items that are appropriate for their children. Wrapping supplies are available, as well.

GOOD TO KNOW Would you like to change the way you receive information about your gifts to St. Stephen’s Church? Some parishioners do not want quarterly statements; some may be receiving them by postal mail and wish to change them to email. To ask us to tailor your reports in a new way, visit ststephensRVA.org.giftreports.

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Call-out Culture’s Shadow Side In the midst of ‘cancel culture,’ can the church be a beacon of hope?

By the Rev. Cate Anthony

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he culture of irredeemability in the United States, begotten of the desire for progress and justice in American society, pervades relationality at local and national levels and undermines the very progress that it claims to champion. This culture threatens to destroy our society’s ability to share one Earth and to create healthy, cooperative, just systems of relationship. The culture of irredeemability is the shadow side of the very methods used to seek systemic justice, and in particular, it is the shadow side of 21st-century America’s “call-out culture.”

What, exactly, is “call-out culture”? Broadly, it’s a colloquialism for the practice of public accountability (usually on social media) that aims to hold individuals and groups responsible for their actions by calling attention to behavior that is perceived to be problematic, like sexism, racism or homophobia. Additionally, the practice of “callingout” has grown in popularity concurrent with the contemporary era in which marginalized and minority groups acquire ever-increasing access to platforms which amplify their voices over and against those who traditionally hold power.

In this context, calling out “is an act of withdrawing from someone whose expression—whether political, artistic or otherwise—was once welcome or at least tolerated, but no longer is.” At its best, this practice has the potential to reclaim and redistribute power in systems previously unbalanced. In this way, call-out culture is a kind of “cultural boycott” which refuses to amplify voices of racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, ableism and more.[Jonah Engel Bromwich, “The Age of Celebrity is Being Canceled,” The New York Times, July 1, 2018] This practice is central to the revelation of a more just, safe, equitable world – in theory, it assumes first and foremost the redeemability of what was previously distorted. Where, then, has it gone wrong?

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

The precise marriage of call-out culture to modern forms of social media marked a particular turning point in the evolution of the culture of irredeemability. Social media, to be celebrated for the ways it transcends boundaries of all forms to enable connection previously impossible, also risks a kind of dehumanization of those with whom we interact on such platforms. Rather than calling 14

out in order to improve relationship and society, call-out culture transforms into cancel culture. Intention transforms, too: rather than boycott voices of oppression, cancel culture seeks to cut out real people whose ideologies or identities are not popular in public regard.

We cancel human beings as though they are magazine subscriptions.

As our technological lives become ever more intertwined with our actual lives, this “cancel culture” has morphed into an acceptable default way of relating to one another. Rather than assume the redeemability of broken systems, we now assume that what is broken, or conservative, or flawed, or harmful is best dealt with by excising from community and relationship altogether. This is the crisis of irredeemability.

JESUS AND IRREDEEMABILITY

As a follower of Christ – and, more basically, as a living, breathing, hopeful human being – I am terrified by this crisis. Moreover, I stand in wonder at the discovery of the attitude of irredeemability inside of me. How often have I thought to cut off relationship from someone with whom I do not agree? How insidiously the desire to “other” voices of disagreement has crept its way into my heart!

Cancel culture, the crisis of irredeemability: these are not the Good News of Jesus Christ. As Christians we know that Jesus gave himself on the cross in order to ameliorate our sins and to rescue us from the evil of this present age. Moreover, we know that Jesus’ death and resurrection mark the salvation and redemption of all humankind from the fallen nature of creaturely sinfulness. Jesus “is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.”

[Hebrews 9:15] If I am truly a Christian, the question of Jesus’ redemption-for-all is not a question at all. It is the unshakeable foundation for how I view the whole world, the society in which I live and my neighbors. It is the heart with which I must greet those who hurt me, those who stand opposed to me, those toward whom it would be exponentially easier to harden my heart.

How, then, have I come to discover within myself a heart hardened against those who hurt me or who cannot get onboard with my

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The truth of Jesus’ redemption of all through his death on the cross, and what this redemption means for the redeemability of humanity, is the lifeblood of what it means to be Christian. As I survey the socio-cultural landscape around me (and frankly, as I try just to be a moderately okay person in the world!), I worry that we’ve forgotten this lifeblood, that we’ve let it drain out of our bodies and dry on the ground. We’ve become accustomed to polarized communities, allowing ourselves to cast out from our lives those with whom we disagree.

THE CHURCH AS A COUNTERCULTURAL BEACON OF HOPE

In the face of these questions and realities, what might it look like for the Church to stand as a countercultural beacon of hope, reminding the world around us of the miracle of our redemption?

How might we think about this miracle theologically, pastorally and ritually? In particular, how might we enact these beliefs on a really concrete, at-home, vulnerable level? When we are hurt by someone in our immediate community, how might we welcome them home instead of casting them out? And – where do we hold the line?

What harms are too great for redemption to happen through our own work, requiring instead time and the immutable grace of God? I don’t have answers for all of these questions yet, but I am working on them each day in my life and in my ministry as a priest at St. Stephen’s, Richmond. Through my Episcopal Church Foundation fellowship, I am crafting a program aimed at helping my community practice how to reckon with one another – how to do the work of feeling, repenting, praying, forgiving. Bit by bit, we learn how to hold our boundaries so that we can find health together, and how also to ensure that those boundaries are porous enough to let new life come through.

I believe there is something universal in our common call to community and our common bond of Christ’s love. Polarization, Othering, casting-out: these behaviors harm us all and exacerbate every other form of injustice and oppression. And so I pray that together we will call one another home, even (especially!) when we fall short, and that this will beget a mutual kind of imagining and remembering about our redemption – an imagining to re-shape the world. ✤ The Rev. Cate Anthony is an associate priest at St. Stephen’s Church.

During her time in seminary at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, Cate’s academic and pastoral work focused on ministry to people and communities in the midst of trauma and conflict. This article, published in ECF Vital Practices’ online publication “Vestry Papers,” is excerpted from Cate’s thesis which she wrote while at Yale, and which was the genesis of her current ECF work.

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

I’m going to church Someone who ‘does church’ for a living finds something new and life-giving at the Celtic service

John Jenkins

worldview? Of course, some of this action is based on a desire to stand in solidarity with those who suffer among us. This stand necessitates a boundary against the perpetrating Other, a moral imperative if we are to lead one another to a more just way of being community (oppression should be stood against, always, every time). And yet too often we stop in our stance against the Other, holding the boundary and marking the Other as permanently outof-touch.

I want to tell you about some new developments in my life. I’ve been going to church.

Odd statement, for one whose vocational life has been centered on church for over two decades now. I do church for a living.

But that’s the thing; I do church for a

By Beth Stoddard living. And one of the primary gifts from my sabbatical time earlier this year was the bestowal of clarity when it comes to what I do and where I do it on Sundays (Sunday being the normal day of worship in American Christianity). Because while I’ve been present at church, I haven’t necessarily been reaping the benefits of being in church.

The difference matters.

For several years now, I’ve been pulled to a deeper discovery of spiritual practices. What are they? Why do they matter? Where can I do these things?

I’ve read and listened and read and tried to learn about All The Things. Aaron Niequist’s podcast called The Eternal Current – wonderfully illuminating. Rich Villodas wrote a great book called The Deeply Formed Life. Richard Foster’s work is seminal; Still Running by Vanessa Zuisei Goddard. Ruth Haley Barton and Richard Rohr and The Ignatian Book of Days and Jan Johnson’s Meeting God in Scripture…

SO. MUCH. INFORMATION. I’ve loaded up my brain, but recently I had the gift of time to begin to put some spiritual practices into… well, practice. The gift of a six-week sabbatical from my regular work offered the most precious commodity of all: TIME. I determined to use it well.

I chose to spend my Sabbatical Sundays in environments very different than my regular tradition and expression of Christian faith. Every morning that I was in town, I went to a small country church in a nearby county. I sat in a pew as someone seeking an experience with God – just like everybody around me. It was transformative to attend church with that perspective; I was able to focus my attention and my affection in deeply meaningful ways,

continued on page 16 15

But I was drawn back, repeatedly; and I’d made a commitment to spend all six weeks in these settings, so I kept going, trusting that the process would work on me.

I’m going to church, continued from page 15

It did.

It continues to do so.

And therein is the key to the spiritual practice I’m learning to exercise.

Jay Paul

Submission, for one; learning not to be in charge, and to be okay with that. Submitting to ways of doing church that are not my church’s style – and recognizing the compelling invitation of the Spirit to so many people, in so many ways.

through the music, the teaching, and – most impactful – the heartfelt engagement of the people around me. There was something deeply resonant, profound, and true in the gathering itself. Worship is a spiritual practice, and I realized that while I can authentically engage in a worship experience when I am serving as a musician or a minister on a Sunday morning, the fact that my service comes with a layer of responsibility creates a certain tension. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I began to appreciate the difference between bringing an empty, vulnerable self to submit to the leadership of others, and showing up being “me” at “my church.”

A friend went with me last week; as we travelled home, she turned to me and said, I don’t know when I’m ever just silent. I never just sit in silence.

She paused for a moment.

That was beautiful.

It is, indeed, beautiful. And I have discovered that my soul needs what this church service provides – not because it’s better or more comfortable or because I like the minister or because it’s my preference…but because it offers me an opportunity to practice worship.

The difference matters.

And silence.

Further reflection has really shaped my understanding of the weekly ministry I do, now that I’m back in the normal routine of my work life; those Sunday mornings revealed a leveling of some sort, a personal insight that’s caused me to see people differently. It’s suffused with kindness and love, so I’m accepting it as a good thing.

And communion.

Sunday evenings, I drove into the city to sit in a chapel graced with candlelight, infused with silence. The Celtic service at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is unique, with an eight-page printed program, classical music (played by exquisitely gifted musicians), Celebrants and Reflectors and Kyries and Deacons, and multiple opportunities for silence.

Again; in a setting where our normal joy-infused gatherings are filled with energy and enthusiasm and lots of big sound, this approach was very different. It was unnerving, at first; I didn’t understand everything that was happening. I wasn’t sure of the routine.

It is, indeed, beautiful. And I have discovered that my soul needs what this church service provides – not because it’s better or more comfortable or because I like the minister or because it’s my preference… but because it offers me an opportunity to practice worship.

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Silence, for another. Several times in the course of the Celtic service, the program actually reads, A period of silence is kept…Silence is observed after the reading…Two minutes of silence follow.

In this season of my life, I need these things in order to do the things God has called me to do; to serve my church, the one that ordained me and surrounds me with life-giving community and friends, the one that allows me into the sacred spaces of life and death and joy and sorrow and everything in between.

Mostly, though, I need these things because I long to be transformed into the image of Jesus. Going to church – even working at a church – is not the same thing as transformation. They are not mutually exclusive, but they’re not necessarily the same thing.

The difference matters.

I choose to put spiritual practices into place to be changed. In this season of my life, I’ve found what works. I go to my church on Sunday mornings, where I practice my vocation; I go to church Sunday evenings, where I’m part of a gathering of silence-seekers responding to the invitation printed in the program: …So, come, you who have much faith and you who have little, you who have been here often and you who have not been here long, you who have tried to follow and you who have failed. Come, because it is the Lord who invites you. It is his will that those who want him should meet him here.

I’m going to church.

Beth Stoddard is a worship leader, pastor and spiritual director at Passion Community Church in Powhatan. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother. This blog post is reprinted with her permission.

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Fall events offer outdoor fun while raising funds for outreach The Bash and the golf tournament celebrated a return to being together

Photos: Dillon Gwaltney

About 500 people attended, and the event raised nearly $4,000 in funding for outreach ministries, to supplement the amount budgeted from annual gifts from the parish.

Bart Chucker at The Bash (top). There was a big turnout (bottom photo) and great weather.

After an absence during the pandemic, the Bash (a successor to the Bluegrass Bash) resumed on a picture-perfect September evening and not only brought people together on our campus, but turned out to be the perfect opportunity for people to meet our new rector, the Rev. John Rohrs, his wife, the Rev. Andie Rohrs, and their daughter Anna.

Thank you to all who attended and who invited colleagues, friends and neighbors.

Special thanks to the more than 50 people who volunteered, including those who manned the entrances, sold tickets for beverages and served them, and set up and broke down the event—which was followed less than 12 hours later by the farmers market! The wonderful coordinator for the Bash was Carrie Marshall.

TOURNAMENT SPONSORS

Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, LLC CSC Leasing Co. RECEPTION SPONSOR

James River Air Conditioning Co. TURN HOUSE SPONSOR

Doss, Walmsley, Walker & Hayes, Inc. RINGER SPONSORS

Hackney Real Estate Partners Elizabeth & Tom Allen Keith & Susan Dull HOLE SPONSORS

The event was in many ways just like the Bluegrass Bash, held for several years at St. Stephen’s, but this year the entertainment was provided by the Bart Chucker Band which played all kinds of music, from Prince to Johnny Cash.

A variety of food trucks, kids activities (including a moon bounce), and the opportunity to regather with so many folks who had not seen one another in a long time, made for a fun-filled occasion.

Thank you to these sponsors:

The vicar at the golf tournament

A few weeks later, another outreach fundraiser—this one organized by Nancy Thompson—brought people to Belmont Golf Course for the annual St. Stephen’s golf tournament. Fifteen foursomes—60 players—played 12 holes of golf at the refurbished golf course, a new venue for our event. Fourteen volunteers joined Nancy at the event, which included an optional putting contest and a reception after the tournament. Entry fees and generous sponsors brought the total raised for outreach to nearly $15,000!

St. Stephen’s Outreach Committee Thomas & Missy Goode Cauthorne Paper Company, Mark &Alston Williams In appreciation for the work of Communities in Schools of Richmond In loving memory of Megan Elizabeth Dibble by Ken & Sherlyn Dibble Cathy & Cameron Warner Mabel Baldwin RTW Media Audio Visual Solutions Judith Kidd Scott & Becky Boyers Anne Taylor Moorman 3Chopt Investment Partners Bubba Lawson The Rohrs Family GIFT CARD DONORS

Ellwood Thompson’s Yellow Umbrella The Continental Beecroft & Bull

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Fred Staley joins staff as director of operations Tennessee native served in a similar role at Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach

By Sarah Bartenstein

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Fred graduated cum laude from King College in Bristol, Tennessee, and holds an MBA from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.

During the interim period at St. Stephen’s when we were between rectors, parish leaders identified a need for a director of operations to manage financial, facilities, administrative, and human resource matters, while the vicar manages programmatic, sacramental, and pastoral areas of our parish life, at the direction of the rector. While Mike Koschak ably filled the role on an interim basis, a search began, culminating in the call of Fred Staley by our rector, John Rohrs.

Fred says, “I never expected to leave Bethesda-by-the-Sea but God’s call for me to come to St. Stephen’s was strong and clear. I am excited to get to know St. Stephen’s, the place, and especially the people. I look forward to working with the parish as we achieve the vision of the future under the leadership of John Rohrs.”

n early November, Fred E. Staley Jr. arrived at St. Stephen’s to serve as executive director of church operations. Fred had served in a similar role for the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, since 2013.

“We are thrilled to welcome Fred to the staff,” said John. “His management expertise, experience in the Episcopal Church, and gentle, steady demeanor will be a real gift to the life of St. Stephen’s. Everyone who met him was excited about the possibility of Fred joining us and helping usher in a new era of vitality and collaborative ministry.”

As associate for administration at Bethesda-by-the-Sea, Fred functioned as chief operating officer for a parish whose budget is comparable to St. Stephen’s. He managed 20 full-time and eight part-time staff, as well as volunteers, and has overseen maintenance of the physical plant. Bethesda-by-the-Sea also has one of the nation’s leading retail thrift shops with more than $1 million in annual sales.

His previous experience includes serving as business manager for a Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee, and administrative and financial management positions in secular settings, including his family’s business, Staley Marble & Granite in Knoxville.

He is active in several church-related professional networks, including the Episcopal Parish Network (formerly the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes), to which St. Stephen’s belongs.

Fred serves on their board and is assistant treasurer.

Fred’s wife, Debbie, works from home as a health and life insurance agent, a freelance editor, a writing coach, and is herself an award-winning author. Fred and Debbie have one son, Ethan, who lives with his wife Shelby in Nashville. Fred and Debbie are also parents to two precious dachshunds, Buster and Phillie, who was named for Fred’s beloved Philadelphia Phillies, who made it to the World Series this year!

The Rev. Canon James Harlan served as rector of Bethesdaby-the-Sea before being called to serve on the bishop’s staff in the Diocese of Southern Virginia. He says, “Fred Staley brings to his work an uncommon combination of extensive business experience, thorough knowledge of church accounting and financial standards, a wise and caring touch in personnel matters, a pastoral heart, and a love of Jesus.”

Canon Harlan notes, “Even though he didn’t grow up Episcopalian, his appreciation of our tradition enables him to help other church leaders see the challenges and opportunities in our distinctive mission. Fred understands his work in church administration as much as a calling from God as any ordained person sees their work. He can integrate pastoral, theological, and administrative perspectives to enable the most effective planning and implementation of ministries.

“I believe all our clergy and other staff were better able to carry out their ministries with Fred’s sharing in leadership, and I was and still am a better priest and Christian for his collegiality and friendship. I’m excited that St. Stephen’s gets to benefit from Fred’s ministry in this new season of leadership.” ✤ Sarah Bartenstein is director of communications for St. Stephen’s Church and the editor of Seasons of the Spirit.

‘I am excited to get to know St. Stephen’s, the place, and especially the people. I look forward to working with the parish as we achieve the vision of the future under the leadership of John Rohrs.’ –FRED STALEY 18

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Rev. Gary Jones was called as rector. Gary asked her to return during his tenure— twice! Claudia, one of the first women ordained priest in the Episcopal Church, has led several parishes in this diocese and the dioceses of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

Claudia Merritt retires from St. Stephen’s

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f the Rev. Claudia Merritt offered a class at St. Stephen’s—whether an introduction to the spiritual practice of fasting, a deep dive into the work of Amy-Jill Levine, or a Bible study—you knew to register quickly, because it was sure to fill up.

Claudia’s ability as a teacher was known and appreciated, but it was only one of her many contributions to the life of this parish. She helped establish our chapter of the Daughters of the King, a group of women whose calling is intercessory prayer; she worked closely with our healing prayer and anointing ministry; she was known for her pastoral gifts, as well as her work with parishioners making pastoral visits; she was a careful liturgical planner with an eye for detail; and she was deeply engaged in welcoming

Briget Ganske

A lasting impact

Claudia and Craig were honored at a reception following the 11:15 a.m. service on Sunday, October 23; Claudia was the celebrant at the 9, 11:15 and 5:30 p.m. services.

newcomers. Claudia and her husband Craig—a faithful and active St. Stephen’s parishioner—are warm and generous hosts.

In early October, Claudia told the Rev. John Rohrs that the time had come for her to retire from her work here. While John tried to dissuade her, Claudia was clear that her mind was made up. She and Craig plan to move to Philadelphia in the new year, where Craig will continue his law practice, traveling to Richmond as well as working remotely from their new home.

No doubt the Diocese of Pennsylvania will want someone of Claudia’s wisdom, experience and skills for supply and interim work.

Claudia first served at St. Stephen’s during our last interim period, before the

In a message to the parish, John wrote, “I know that many of you have deep relationships with Claudia, and that she has traveled some of life’s milestones with you. The impact that she has made here will endure.” He enlarged on this during the reception, remarking on the numerous conversations he’d had with parishioners who had experienced moments of joy and sorrow with Claudia: “I know they carry those with them,” he said, “and you carry them with you.”

Claudia responded, “I am touched by your warmth and your love. I am a different person, I am a better person and a better priest, because of each and every one of you. St. Stephen’s has been a source of life and joy for me and I will always hold that...

This is a bittersweet moment…but it’s absolutely the right time to do this. This church is on the cusp of something new and wonderful. The spirit is blowing through and will guide you and John Rohrs and all the people here. Thank you.” ✤

Thank you, Mike Koschak From February to October, long-time parishioner Mike Koschak served as interim executive director of church operations.

Mike has extensive finance and management experience, including serving in a similar role in two other large Episcopal churches in the Richmond area. Mike, who holds an MBA, also spent many years in financial planning and budgeting at two law firms, McGuire Woods and Hunton & Williams.

His appointment came as parish leaders sought someone to help navigate financial and human resource issues that needed

SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

attention following the departures of several key staff members.

He quickly went to work not only in these areas, but made important hires in the administrative arena: Caroline Moses, Michelle Carter, and Kitty Ball. Mike’s expertise and commitment were great gifts during the transition.

In addition to his financial and human resource expertise, Mike introduced new kinds of office fun and brought a popular companion to the office, his dog Annie.

We’ll continue to see Mike since he’s a dedicated parishioner, but we want to thank him for his work, and for postponing a longdesired retirement. ✤

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SPIRIT

Presorted First Class Mail U.S. Postage PA I D Richmond, VA Permit No. 320

A DV EN T/ CHRIST MAS/EPI PHANY | W I NTER 2022 I s s u e N u m b e r 45 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 @ststephensRVA.org.

The Rev. Cate Anthony (canthony), Associate Priest Kitty Ball (kball), Administrative Assistant Sarah R. Bartenstein (sbartenstein), Director of Communication Larry Bidwell (lbidwell), Facilities Manager Michelle Carter (mcarter), Ministry Coordinator Omar Catedral (ocatedral), Sexton Diana Chou (dchou), Associate Director of Music Chris Edwards (cedwards), Director, St. Stephen’s Choir Mary Feldman (mfeldman), Executive Assistant to the Rector and Vicar Dillon Gwaltney (dgwaltney), Communications Associate/Video Producer Claire Hackley (chackley), Church Supper Coordinator Chris Holman (cholman), Sexton Jack Hotchkiss (jhotchkiss), Sexton The Rev. John Jenkins (jjenkins), Associate Priest Anna F. Jones, (ajones), Farmers Market Manager; Assistant Director of Outreach Wondell Kareem (wkareem), Sexton Caroline Moses (cmoses), Accounting Manager The Rev. John Rohrs (jrohrs), Rector The Rev. William L. Sachs (bsachs) Priest Associate Fred Staley (fstaley), Executive Director of Church Operations The Rev. William S. Stanley (wstanley), Vicar Brent te Velde (btevelde), Director of Music Ethan B. White (ewhite), Assistant for Family Ministry Our Missionaries Heidi Schmidt Monica Vega

Vestry Serving until 2/2023

Bill Armstrong Alison Fauls Barbara Massey, register Benita Miller Blair Nelsen Jim Price

Serving until 2/2024 Richard Hamrick, senior warden David Hodge Anne McElroy Penn Rogers, treasurer Martha Sherman Nancy Thompson

Serving until 2/2025 Steven Dalle Mura Jeff Johnson Andy Luke, junior warden Brenda McDowell Anne Pinion Whitney Van Der Hyde

Grateful hearts. Open hands.

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hank you to all who have made a financial commitment to support the ministries of St. Stephen’s Church in 2023.

We launched our annual giving campaign in October with a participation goal: we sought to have 825 individuals or households making a pledge. Why a participation goal? Because every pledge matters. Whether you’re able to give a little or a lot, your engagement and support are crucial to the continuing vitality of this wonderful community of faith. And a healthy showing for 2023 not only means healthy ministries now, but a strong foundation for this church’s future.

This year’s annual giving effort, co-chaired by John Crowder and Whitney Van Der Hyde, has focused on gratitude. There is much to be grateful for, including a new season of life for St. Stephen’s Church, with a return to so many of our beloved pre-pandemic traditions and practices, and the arrival of our wonderful new rector and his family. Grateful hearts can lead us to open our hands to others.

Have you seen the stories told by your fellow parishioners about why they are grateful for St. Stephen’s Church, and why they’re committed to keeping it strong? This series is available at ststephensRVA.org/giving-videos.

If you have not made a pledge for our mission and ministry for 2023, it’s not too late. Choose any of the following methods: • Use the pledge card and reply envelope mailed to you in midOctober or pick one up at Information Central (the large table outside the parish office) • Return your pledge card by U.S. Mail or bring it to church, where you can drop it into a black box at Information Central.

• Visit ststephensRVA.org/pledge-form.

Questions about your pledge? Contact Caroline Moses in the parish office, cmoses@ststephensRVA.org or 804.288.2867. ✤