What is a bishop? - St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

seasons of
the
Many prominent scholars have written about the
decline of mainline churches that began 50 years
ago and that continues to this day. At St. Stephen’s
Church, we have had the privilege of hearing several of these
scholars in person, including Phyllis Tickle, Harvey Cox,
and Diana Butler Bass. Each has pointed out that the 50year
decline in mainline churches, and in institutional forms
of religion in general, has been accompanied by spiritual
resurgence outside the church.
SPIRIT
SAINT STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
PENTECOST 1 | SUMMER 2012
Where is the Spirit? Photo
“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know
where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Phyllis Tickle speaks about the “Great Emergence” that we are living through, a
time of upheaval every bit as momentous as the Great Reformation of the 16th
century; Harvey Cox says we have entered “the Age of the Spirit” which is more
akin to ancient, pre-creedal Christianity in all its vitality and variety; and Diana
Butler Bass says we are experiencing a “Spiritual Awakening,” it’s just that the Spirit
is overflowing the traditional boundaries of institutional religion and bringing about
awakening in some surprising places. Toward the end of her most recent book,
Christianity After Religion, Diana marvels at the sense of spiritual community she
experiences every week at her local farmers market.
In other words, it’s not that people have become less interested in spiritual or religious
matters. If anything, people are more engaged than ever with religion and spirituality.
But more and more, people are not finding their spiritual sustenance in traditional
churches or other religious institutions. This of course leads many churches to worry
about how they are going to maintain their expensive buildings and overhead, if
people are finding spiritual support elsewhere. Needless to say, this concern about
institutional maintenance only confirms many people’s suspicions that churches are
the last place one should go for spiritual nurture or awakening. All the churches care
about, after all, is self-preservation and money. So the popular thinking goes.
Interestingly, St. Stephen’s Church has experienced much of its renewal and vitality
on the margins of its life – in the Sunday evening services, in the Farmers Market,
in events like a Community Thanksgiving Meal where the special guests are clients
of the church’s Food Pantry, in overflowing crowds coming to hear people like Mary
Oliver or John Philip Newell, and in growing numbers of people learning about
meditation or committing themselves to spiritual disciplines in small groups. And
perhaps most of all, I sense our spiritual vitality flowing powerfully from a resurgence
in our ministries of hospitality, as parishioners rally to welcome and greet strangers
at large funeral services and weekend events, letting visitors know that this church is
here for them, that everyone belongs equally to God and thus equally to this church.
But what about the more traditional services of the church? Increasingly, we are
seeing people make their way to more traditional forms of worship, and there’s no
– John 3:8
telling whether or not they’ll find a home there. It’s as if some people are finding
their way through the back door where the Farmers Market or the Celtic service
happens, and they eventually wander through the kitchen, with its ministries
of hospitality, to the den, where folks are studying the Bible or learning about
mindfulness meditation, and eventually to the more formal living room, where more
majestic forms of worship and reverence seem to take place.
Religious people in Jesus’ day had a hard time with our Lord’s tendency to find the
Spirit at work outside traditional religious institutions, often in some of the least
likely people and gatherings of his day. Some might argue that something similar is
going on today, as the Spirit overflows the boundaries of traditional religion. And
rather than becoming defensive about loss of membership, some church leaders are
intrigued and even excited about fresh animations of the Spirit, and they are looking
for ways to welcome such new life in the church.
If you are interested in reading a hopeful account of the spiritual awakening going
on in our day and pondering what this might mean for the future of the church,
I encourage you to read Diana’s book, which is available from our bookshop next
to the parish offices. I’m thinking of this as a kind of “summer reading book” for
interested parishioners, and I look forward to discussing it in the fall. I think you
will agree that Diana describes a renewal and awakening that we are already seeing at
work in and around our thriving parish. What a privilege it is to experience it with
all of you.
this issue:
Votive candles at Compline
– Gary D. Jones, Rector
A rule of life 2
Young pilgrims on a path 3
Summer at St. Stephen’s 4
Fellowship and flowers 5
Many hands make light work 6
Preparing for a new century 7
A ‘growing’ ministry 8
by Sarah Bartenstein

2
Photo courtesy of SSJE
Photo courtesy of SSJE
Photo by Sarah Bartenstein
Living intentionally
What is a ‘rule of life,’ and what does it have to do with you?
Both the Rule of Life and
the workbook are available
in St. Stephen’s bookstore.
Top to bottom: ■ The refectory and an exterior shot from the Society
of St. John the Evangelist’s monastery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
■ St. Stephen’s regularly takes groups of women and men to SSJE for
weekend retreats, and the monks come to St. Stephen’s to lead retreats
here. ■ A spring 2012 retreat in Cambridge included Sandy Roney,
Lacey Tadlock, Weezie Blanchard, Abigail Whorley, Alice Meadows and
Josie Howren. ■ David Vryhof speaks to a group at St. Stephen’s.
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘rule’? For many of us,
the word has negative connotations. We are likely to think of rules as
boundaries that forbid us from doing something. But a rule of life is
something else. Rather than being a set of laws that forbid us to do certain
things, a rule of life is a set of guidelines that support and enable us to do the things we
want and need to do.
The word ‘rule’ used in this sense comes from the Latin word regula, which suggests not
so much a code of legislation (lex or ‘law’) but a means of regularizing and regulating our
lives that can help us focus our time and attention on the things that are most important to
us. A rule of life expresses choices we have made about our values and priorities and about
how we want to use our time, energy and resources. Its importance is that it helps us to live
more intentionally, by bringing order and discipline to our daily existence.
Monastic rules of life originated in the deserts of Egypt in the 3rd and 4th centuries as
desert hermits began to live in proximity to one another in order to share food and other
resources and to offer one another support in living the ascetical life. Although St. Anthony
the Great (251-356) is generally recognized as the father of Christian Monasticism,
St. Pachomius (292-346) is regarded as the founder of cenobitic monasticism; that is,
monastic life lived in community with others. Pachomius was converted and baptized in
the year 314 and established his first monastery in the Egyptian desert between 318 and
323. By the time of his death he had established nine monasteries, some with over 100
members. When these desert dwellers began to live together in communities, they found
that they needed some way to regularize and regulate their common life. Rules of life were
developed that laid out the community’s values and standards and gave direction and
purpose to its life.
In the Introduction of the Rule of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, we suggest four
purposes for a monastic rule of life: A rule (1) sustains the identity of the community
by mandating rhythms of worship, spiritual discipline, prayer and rest, work and
ministry; (2) sets the patterns by which authority is distributed and where accountability
is expected; (3) delineates the bounds of the community and describes the process of
initiation; and (4) connects the ideals of the particular community or order with the
gospel and the Christian mystery.
Several ancient monastic rules are still in use today. The Rule of Saint Basil (4th century)
is the most widely-used rule in the Eastern Churches. Rather than being a rule in the
standard sense, it is a collection of St. Basil’s responses to questions about the ascetical
life. The Rule of Saint Benedict (6th century) has been the most widely-used rule in the
Western Church since the 8th century. It is a book of precepts written by St. Benedict of
Nursia for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot.
Modern-day communities that choose to follow an ancient rule do so because of the
time-tested wisdom these rules contain. St. Benedict’s rule, for example, is known for
its moderation and balance and has proved to be a helpful guide for countless monastic
communities for nearly 1500 years. It contains instruction on aspects of monastic life such
as how to say the Divine Office, how sick brethren should be cared for, how silence is to
be observed, what kind of man the abbot ought to be, how a monk can grow in humility,
and so on. It recommends a balance in work and study and prayer. Many people today
are rediscovering the importance of finding a balance in their lives between work and
play, between time spent in groups and time spent alone, etc. The chief disadvantage of
an ancient rule is that as times change, certain parts of it become outdated. The rule then
needs to be re-interpreted by each generation and by each community that adopts it.
The Rule of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist is a modern rule, written specifically
by and for our community in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During these years we
undertook a lengthy process which involved thinking, praying and talking together about
all aspects of our common life. Drafts were written and tested, reviewed and modified.
In the end we produced a rule of 49 chapters, which is for us both descriptive of how we
live and prescriptive when we fall short of our ideals. It is our practice to read and discuss
together one chapter each day. Many other individuals and groups have found it profitable
to read and study our Rule, in order to adapt its principles to their own lives.
Both ancient and modern rules can provide guidance for living well in our contemporary
world. But a growing number of people are finding it helpful to design their own personal
rule of life, in which they set out their values and priorities, and describe the spiritual
disciplines they will take on in order to live a life that reflects their values. For those
interested in designing their own rule, SSJE offers a workbook to guide your thinking.
A rule must be realistic. Its expectations should not be so high that we are consistently
failing to realize them, nor should they be so low that they require little or no discipline
or effort on our part to keep them. The rule should challenge and stretch us, but not
overwhelm us. Its chief importance is to support us in living the new life we have been
given in Christ. If it accomplishes that, it can be an instrument of divine grace in our lives.
–David Vryhof, SSJE
This article was originally published in the Summer 2011 issue of Cowley, the quarterly
magazine of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, and is reprinted here with permission.
More information about SSJE is available at www.ssje.org.
SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
Photos by Stacia Schoeffler, Sarah Bartenstein

Photos by Stacia Schoeffler, Sarah Bartenstein
Photo by Whitney Bender
Bishop Johnston confirms 78 in the Episcopal Church
Bishop Johnston, Weezie Blanchard and Leigh Preston are shown with youth and adults presented for confirmation at the 9 a.m. service (left) and the 11:15 a.m. service (right).
On Sunday, May 13, the Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston, the Bishop of
Virginia, visited St. Stephen’s for our annual bishop’s visit. During the
9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services, Bishop Johnston confirmed, received
and reaffirmed 78 youth and adults. Confirmation is a mature commitment to
Christ and an affirmation of the promises which may have been made by one’s
parents and godparents when one is an infant or a child.
Our youth are prepared for confirmation through the Sunday morning, youth
group and weekend components of the Journey to Adulthood program. Adults
take part in a seven-week Inquirers Class led by St. Stephen’s clergy.
The candidates had an opportunity to spend informal time with Bishop
Johnston the evening before the services: the bishop had dinner with youth
confirmands, and adult candidates joined them afterwards for dessert.
We have a new bishop-elect!
On Saturday, April 21, clergy and lay representatives
of each of the parishes in the Diocese of Virginia,
including St. Stephen’s, gathered at St. George’s Church
in Fredericksburg to select a new bishop who will work
with the Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston, our diocesan (head)
bishop. This election came after a lengthy process of
deliberation during which six men and women were
nominated for the office of suffragan bishop, a kind of
assisting bishop.
Delegates chose the Rev. Canon Susan Goff, 58, who is known to many at St.
Stephen’s, since she and her husband, the Rev. Tom Holliday, regularly attend
the Celtic service and other offerings here. Canon Goff also recently led, with
the Rev. Weezie Blanchard, a retreat for our vestry.
The bishop-elect has extensive experience in parish and school settings,
including at St. Catherine’s School. Most recently, she has served Bishop
Johnston as “canon to the ordinary,” his chief clergy assistant. She is the first
woman elected to serve as a bishop in the Diocese of Virginia.
In many parts of the Anglican Communion, bishops are appointed, but in
the American church, we elect bishops through a democratic process which
includes receiving the consent of the entire Episcopal Church before the person
elected is ordained as a bishop. This recognizes that we are in relationship to one
another, and that while a bishop may be elected to serve in a particular diocese,
she or he is a bishop for the whole church. Canon Goff’s ordination as a bishop
is scheduled for Saturday, July 28, at St. Paul’s Church in Richmond.
Our spiritual formation program for youth in grades 6-12 includes
a special experience that will take place this summer for eight of our
9th and 10th graders, a spiritual pilgrimage that is a life-changing
journey for them and their adult chaperones.
The pilgrimage takes place every other summer, and this will be the third
such pilgrimage for St. Stephen’s youth since the program began. In
2008, the first group to go on a pilgrimage from St. Stephen’s traveled
to Italy to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare. Their leaders
were Sarah Morris (then our youth director), parishioner Riker Purcell,
and Bill Campbell and Whitney Bender (our youth interns at that time).
In 2010, Whitney – who had become youth director – was joined by
associate for Christian formation and education Gene LeCouteur to lead
a group to Ireland to follow the paths of St. Patrick and St. Kevin.
This year, our 9th and 10th graders have chosen Italy, and will be
led by Gene and parishioner Ruthie Burke as they study and visit
places that were important in the lives of St. Francis and St. Benedict.
They will lead daily worship, keep an account of their experiences
on a blog, and will stay for part of their trip at the Monastery of St.
Scholastica (named for St. Benedict’s sister), in the shadow of the
Monastery of St. Benedict. Their itinerary includes visits to Rome,
Assisi, Greccio, and other locations.
Both of the saints that our youth have been studying were founders
of monastic communities. St. Benedict, in particular, is known for
What is a bishop? Bishops as we know them in the Episcopal Church
emerged in New Testament times. They were called by the title “episkopos,” a Greek
word that means “overseer.” The Anglican Communion today teaches that we can
trace a direct line from these earliest overseers of the Church to today’s bishops. The
original overseers in the church were the Apostles chosen by Jesus, whom he called to
follow him, to whom he taught his message, and whom he prepared for leadership.
As we know, the earliest followers
of Jesus were his fellow Jews. But as
the Gospel message quickly began
to touch more and more lives,
especially through the ministry of
St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles,
people from a variety of backgrounds
and expanding geographical areas
became attracted to the new faith.
This growth not only added organizational problems and theological complexity, it
also expanded the responsibilities of the Christian community and created a need for
more leadership. Persons deemed worthy of leadership positions were chosen to assist
the Apostles and their successors in passing on the faith to new generations. By the
2nd century, however, fewer women were being ordained to positions of leadership in
the Church. That exclusion lasted in the Episcopal Church until the late 20th century,
but women are now welcomed to all orders of the clergy in our church, including the
office of bishop.
This description was provided by the education subcommittee of the Bishop Suffragan Nominating
Committee. This subcommittee created a series on the role of bishops, available on the diocesan Web
site at http://www.thediocese.net/BishopSuffraganSearchProcess/.
Our bookstore carries several
books on the Episcopal Church
and what it means to be an
Episcopalian:
Did you know that a mitre—the
hat worn by some bishops during
worship—is meant to symbolize
the tongues of fire at Pentecost
(Acts 2:3)?
The Book of Common Prayer is also a rich resource, both in the
Catechism (page 845), the Historical Documents (page 863),
and in the introductions to the Sacraments (Holy Baptism,
page 299, Holy Eucharist, page 323) and pastoral
offices such as Confirmation, Marriage and Burial.
Young pilgrims to walk in the paths of Benedict and Francis
St. Stephen’s youth on
pilgrimage in Ireland, 2010.
Photo by Sarah Bartenstein
• A People Called Episcopalians by John Westerhoff
• Those Episkopols by Dennis Maynard
• The Episcopal Handbook
• A Dictionary for Episcopalians by John N. Wall
his “rule,” from which many other monastic communities developed
their own rule of life. (You can read about “rule of life” on page 2.)
St. Benedict is, appropriately, the patron saint of students.
St. Francis is well known as the patron saint of animals, the environment
and as one of the two patrons of Italy (with Catherine of Siena). It is
customary for Episcopal churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals
on or near his feast day of October 4, as we do here at St. Stephen’s. St.
Francis is also remembered for having been brought up in privileged
circumstances before renouncing his wealth to begin a religious order.
Our group of pilgrims includes Colby Bedell, John Davis, Caroline
Jones, Hannah Krudys, Brice Martin, William Mayer, Hallie
Reichel and Catherine Simpson. These young people have faithfully
participated in Sunday morning, evening and weekend-long events
in preparation for the pilgrimage, and all have taken part in various
fundraisers to defray the costs of the trip.
Please hold these young people and their adult guides in your prayers
as they embark on their pilgrimage, June 22-July 1.
We will post photos and accounts of their experiences in a future
edition of Seasons of the Spirit. To visit the pilgrimage blog during
their trip, go to our Web site, saintstephensrichmond.net/youth,
where there will be a link to the blog.
SAINT STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH PENTECOST 1 | SUmmER 2012 3

4
Summer at St. Stephen’s
Summer ushers in a more leisurely pace of life for some people, but that doesn’t mean that the church closes up shop.
Summer may be the perfect time for you to try a group or a class, read a new book, or adopt a new spiritual practice, such
as attending Morning Prayer regularly. Here are some of the things you can expect at St. Stephen’s this summer:
Summer Worship Schedule
From June 3 through September 2, the Sunday schedule is as follows:
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite Two (child care available)
5:30 p.m. Celtic Evensong and Communion
8 p.m. Compline
There is no Sunday school or Rector’s Forum in June, July or August.
Weekday mornings: 8:10 a.m., Morning Prayer and Communion in Holy
Spirit Chapel; coffee and fellowship following (year-round; when the office is
closed for a holiday, there is no Morning Prayer).
Wednesdays: Evening Prayer through June 27, 5:30 p.m. in the church.
Saturdays: Centering Prayer is held the second Saturday of the month, yearround.
Classes, Groups, Workshops
Contemplative Prayer | Year-round offering; no registration or experience needed
Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m. in the Lounge; led by Henry Burke and Millie Cain
“Silence is God’s first language. Words are a poor translation.” –Father Thomas Keating
We gather to sit together in silence. We have a short walking meditation and then
a contemplative dialogue. We close with silence.
Thursday Bible Study | No registration needed
Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in the Vestry Room
This weekly group, open to all, focuses on specific books of the Bible, and is led by
members of the parish staff. This summer the class will continue its study of the
Book of Revelation with Weezie Blanchard before beginning a new unit.
Icon Writing Workshop | August 5-10
This workshop was offered for the first time at St. Stephen’s last August, and
was a tremendous hit. Instructor Suzanne Schleck will return to guide students
in “writing” these religious works of art using the traditional materials of egg
tempera and gold leaf on wooden panels. The cost is $340 (includes all materials),
of which $100 is due by July 13. Some scholarship assistance is available; please
contact Gene LeCouteur or Janet Allen in the parish office. You may register at
saintstephensrichmond.net/icon, or simply stop by the parish office to sign up.
Read more about this offering on page 5.
Yoga
This class will continue this summer, Tuesdays, 6-7:15 p.m. New students are
always welcome. No registration is required.
Room 18 ($10 suggested donation per session)
What Would Jesus Brew? | Saturday, June 30, 1 p.m.
With Vince Dongarra
No cost for class; you will purchase your own supplies. Limited to 12 participants.
What would Jesus brew? We don’t know, but we do know that people have been
enjoying beer for 8,000 years, and learning how to make it this summer will be a
great opportunity for fellowship. We’ll have a demo on how to brew a proper pint
of beer, then try it at home using supplies from a local homebrew shop. Look for
the sign-up sheet at Information Central.
For Children
Vacation Bible School | July 16-20, 9 a.m.-noon
Take Me to the Water: God’s Love Flows
Registration remains open until July 1 (or until the maximum is reached).
With Take Me to the Water, kids will dive into stories from the Bible that use
water to show God’s gift of life and blessing. They will explore the use of water in
Bible times, as well as water issues around the world today. As they participate in
lively worship, music, Bible memory and creative response activities, children will
understand that God is the source of life. Just as God provided life-giving water in
these stories, God continues to be the source of life and sustenance for us today. This
curriculum is a wonderful companion to St. Stephen’s outreach ministries, and a
team of St. Stephen’s high school students will be using the same curriculum during
the same week to offer a Vacation Bible School in Azua, Dominican Republic.
Additional details about Vacation Bible School, and registration, are on our Web
site at saintstephensrichmond.net/vbs.
For Youth
Our youth will take part in several outreach and volunteer activities this summer,
including a trip to Azua, Dominican Republic to lead Vacation Bible School and
basketball camp, and a youth mission trip to New Orleans, August 5-11.
From June 22 until July 1, there will be a youth pilgrimage to Italy for a group
of 9th and 10th graders who have been preparing for two years for this spiritual
journey.
Outings for youth in grades 6-12 are also planned. Make sure you are on the email
distribution list for our youth e-news to get the latest information on these local
day trips. (Contact Matt Johnson in the parish office.)
Parish and Community Events
Wonderful Wednesdays | through June 27
Our Wednesday parish suppers have become such an integral part of our
community’s life, we will continue them through the first part of summer—the
last Wednesday in June, 5:45-6:30 p.m. Suppers are informal and are for all ages.
Give yourself a night off from cooking and washing dishes! ($7 adults; $3 ages 11
and under; $20 family maximum)
Drum Circle | June 15, July 20, August 17, 8 p.m.
This come-when-you-can, no-experience-needed gathering on the third Friday of
each month continues during the summer. If you have a drum, please bring it; if
not, use one of ours. There is no charge, though we like to take a freewill offering for
Cory Blake, our leader. We will also offer drum circles during the Saturday Farmers
Market from time to time this summer. Questions? Contact Dan Moriarty.
Holy Baptism
Saturday Baptism services are offered several times each year; the next service will
take place Saturday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. Please contact Gene LeCouteur in the
parish office if you would like to be baptized or have your child baptized.
3rd Annual Bluegrass Bash | Saturday, June 17, 2012
This year, we’ll have
THREE great bands
for this fun-filled
afternoon and evening:
The Demolition String
Band, Rattlesnake
Creek, and the No
Head Bottom Blues
Band. Food will be
available for purchase,
as well. This is an allages
event. Additional
details will be available
on our Web site, in the
weekly Spirit and the Demolition String Band
eSpirit.
Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s | Saturdays, 8 a.m. - Noon.
In keeping with our commitment to environmental stewardship, St. Stephen’s
Church hosts a Farmers Market every Saturday, May through October, from 8
a.m. until noon. Locally produced seasonal vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs, poultry,
beef, pork, pasta and other foods are available. In addition, the market features
local artisans, locally roasted coffee, and much more.
Volunteers are crucial to the Market’s success; if you can help with the Farmers
Market, please contact Mary Frances Siersema in the parish office.
Summer Reading
During the 2012-2013 program year, our parish will enjoy visits from several
published authors including Martin Laird (in Advent), author of Into the Silent
Land and A Sunlit Absence. We will carry books by these speakers in our bookstore.
We are also carrying Diana Butler Bass’s new book, Christianity After Religion. For
more on our bookstore, see page 7.
Continued on page 5
SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT

Photos by Sarah Bartenstein
Scenes from last summer’s math camp
Volunteer
St. Stephen’s is a thriving community with many ministries, and volunteers are
indispensable. Volunteers are needed throughout the summer in a number of
different capacities, including our food ministry, with local outreach programs,
and with our youth ministries.
One annual summer outreach opportunity is our Math Camp, Monday, July
30 – Friday, August 3, 9 a.m. – noon. Each year, St. Stephen’s hosts a math
camp for students in grades 2 through 5 who come to us through the Peter Paul
Development Center, our long-time partner in the East End. You can help with
breakfasts and snacks. Please contact Deb Lawrence in the parish office to discuss
this and other volunteer opportunities.
New flower guild offers beauty and
fellowship
For many years, the tradition in Episcopal churches has been that an altar guild
oversees not only the preparation of the sanctuary and the nave for worship (setting
up the elements for Communion, changing altar hangings according to the season
of the church year, laundering the linens used for Communion and so forth), but
also the procurement and arrangement of flowers for the altar and other parts of
the worship space. In cathedrals, however, there is often a flower guild that takes
responsibility for those arrangements. More and more now, churches our size have
established flower guilds to support altar guilds with their important work.
At the same time, St. Stephen’s two recent flower festivals—which filled the church
with beautiful arrangements made by several church volunteers in May 2010 and
May 2011—seemed to bring people “out of the woodwork” who had an interest
in flowers and wanted to contribute to the church through a new ministry. The
result: St. Stephen’s Flower Guild was formed!
These talented people have taken their interest in flowers and the creative outlet
arranging provides, and organized a group which teaches its members how to
arrange plant materials throughout the seasons: seasons of the church year, as well as
spring, summer, winter and fall. Their arrangements grace our church with beauty
and symbolism not only on Sundays, but during special services such as weddings
and funerals. This makes for a great deal of work and dedication on the part of the
members, 75 women ranging from age 35 to 75 (men are welcome, too!). This
broad age range offers a unique opportunity for fellowship. Guild leader Preston
Gomer says, “The emphasis is on fellowship, with flowers on the side.”
In addition to the beauty of the flowers, the guild provides worshipers something
intangible, as well. As the Rev. Bill Sachs put it, flowers “illustrate our hope in new
possibility and our belief in eternal life.”
“Flowers have been an important part of our tradition since the Garden of Eden,”
says the Rev. Weezie Blanchard, vicar. “We are blessed to have so many people who
are willing to devote their talent and time to such beautiful expressions of their
faith, and enhancement of our worship.”
It’s important to note that financial support for the Altar Guild and the Flower
Guild comes entirely from individual gifts for flower memorials and dedications,
as well as special memorials at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. If you would
like to honor or remember a loved one with altar flowers, please contact Judy Kidd
at jettt@verizon.net, or 285-1689. If you would like to join the Flower Guild,
please contact Preston Gomer, ststephensflowerguild@gmail.com.
See a color version of the photo above at saintstephensrichmond.net/flowerguild.
‑Elizabeth Bartenstein
SAINT STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH PENTECOST 1 | SUmmER 2012
Icon writing workshop to return
“I did something I didn’t think I could do. I found that
working so prayerfully and intently on this icon of Jesus
has left a powerful image in my heart.”
So said a participant in last year’s
first-ever icon writing workshop.
As this response attests, it was
a deeply enriching experience
for the participants, and we are
delighted that Suzanne Schleck,
the instructor last summer, has
agreed to return for another
workshop, this August 5-10.
Painting an icon can be a
compelling experience. Using
techniques developed at the end
of the Iconoclast period (before
the year 1000 A.D.), the painter
sees a face gradually emerge from
the darkness, a face glowing with
an internal light.
The process has less to do with your ability to paint than with your willingness
to let go and trust. All are invited to experience this joy, with no art experience
required. The language of icons is the language of prayer. God’s love and
presence are revealed on a deeper, non-verbal level. “The process of writing an
icon,” according to Suzanne, “is not about finding something new but about
returning to your true being.”
Icons will be made using the traditional materials of egg tempera and gold leaf
on gessoed panels. (Last summer, the eggs came from parishioners Betsy and
Bobby Fauntleroy’s chickens.) Students will have several choices from which to
choose, based in part on their previous experience with icon writing. You may
be painting the Holy Face, the Korsun Mother of God, or St. Stephen.
Days begin at 8:10 with Morning Prayer and Eucharist in the Holy Spirit
Chapel, followed by an anointing of hands in the studio. Each day ends around
5:00 p.m.
The workshop cost of $340 includes all supplies. Reservations and a deposit of
$100 are due July 13 so that supplies can be ordered in advance. Please contact
Janet Allen or Gene LeCouteur, 804.288.2867, if scholarship assistance is
needed. You may register at saintstephensrichmond.net/icon, or simply stop
by the parish office with your deposit.
Suzanne, a retired public school art teacher, has studied iconography for
more than 20 years. Her work has been published in Episcopal Life and in
several online exhibits with Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts, at the 2006
General Convention and Princeton Theological Seminary. We look forward to
welcoming Suzanne back to St. Stephen’s.
In February, a team of medical
missionaries from St. Stephen’s
visited our friends in Azua,
Dominican Republic, to provide
medical and dental care to them
and members of the surrounding
community. During their weeklong
stay, they saw over 600
patients. They also delivered the
many toothbrushes you donated
for this mission, simple tools that
are making a big difference. Our
team enjoyed meals, fellowship
and worship with our mission
partners in Azua. To learn how
you can be part of this endeavor,
please contact Leigh Preston in
the parish office.
Teacher and students at last year’s icon
workshop
Photo by Melissa Schwarzchild
Traveling mercies | St. Stephen’s groups on the road
For many, summer is a time to travel. Several groups from St. Stephen’s will be
traveling this summer; please keep them in your prayers.
• Virginia Girls Choir tour, England (June 29-July 12)
• Youth Pilgrimage to Italy (June 29-July 13)
• Youth mission in Azua, Dominican Republic (July 14-21)
• Youth mission in New Orleans (August 5-11)
Photo by Doug Buerlein
5

6
Earl Roney called to Rebuilding Together ministry
As this issue of Seasons of the Spirit was going into production, a dedicated team of St. Stephen’s
volunteers was at work during the annual Rebuilding Together of Richmond day (April 28).
One particularly active member of St. Stephen’s team last year was Earl Roney, who co-chaired
our effort with Virginia Moncure. After the official work day was over, Earl returned to the
home that our team had repaired to complete additional projects. Earl’s carpentry skills, his
passion for this ministry and his kind, gentle manner are an unbeatable combination when it
comes to projects of this kind. Naturally, the Rebuilding Together organization wanted him for
more than their annual workday, and now Earl is a member of their staff.
“For me, there is nothing more fulfilling than helping someone,” says Earl. “To see the
appreciation on the face of someone that you’ve helped is priceless. Through my involvement
with St. Stephen’s outreach ministries, I was introduced to the work of RTR. Now that I’m
a staff member there, my opportunities to help people in need have increased exponentially
and it just feels good!”
“We are incredibly fortunate to have met Earl through the Rebuilding Together of Richmond
project in 2011,” says RTR’s Amy King. “His talents, demeanor, heart to please and to be of
service are beautifully suited for the RTR field assistant position we created this fall.
Many HANDS make light work
The Outreach Committee of the vestry has
enthusiastically endorsed an idea Earl proposed for
a ministry called HANDS: Hammers and Nails
in Devoted Service. Participants will complete a
few light construction projects throughout the
year. In addition to our neighbors in the East End,
recipients of these efforts might include some of our
own elderly or homebound parishioners who need a
few things done in their homes.
If you would like to serve in the newly-forming
HANDS ministry, please contact Deb Lawrence
in the parish office, 288-2867, or dlawrence@
saintstephensrichmond.net.
Parishioner and team leader Mac Hines is shown with the homeowner whom our team
assisted during this year’s Rebuilding Together Day, April 28.
One of the highlights of my
week is spending Wednesday
afternoons with a small group of
3- to 6-year-olds in the Atrium,
the sacred space in our spiritual
formation program for young
children, Catechesis of the
Good Shepherd. This program
is also offered on Sundays, but
the Wednesday session is a bit
different. The group is smaller
and the pace a bit slower.
Regardless of the day of the week,
however, what isn’t different is
the grace-filled nature of this
experience. What isn’t different is
the way each child settles into the
space and fills it with wonder.
Photo by Doug Buerlein
What is this telling us about the Kingdom?
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is transformative for children and adults
In the Atrium, their sacred space, children
wonder together.
Inevitably, during each session at least one child is drawn to the Parable of the
Leaven, in which the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a woman baking bread.
The child’s work after hearing the parable is to prepare two different versions of
bread dough in two small ramekins: one contains flour mixed with a bit of sugar
beforehand, yeast/leaven and water; the other, only flour and water. As the children
prepare the ramekins, we talk about the physical attributes of the ingredients: what
do they smell like? What do they feel like?
After mixing each dough together, the children leave them covered on a heating
pad for the remainder of their Atrium time.
At the end of our time together, we return to the ramekins to observe. The
ramekin with the leaven is puffy and full of air bubbles because of the yeast. The
ramekin without the leaven is exactly as it was before, only warmer.
As the catechist, it is my role to wonder with the child about the two different
batches of dough: “I wonder what this is telling us about the Kingdom.” We
wonder about separating the yeast: can it be separated from the flour mixture?
How is that like the Kingdom? How is it like the Holy Spirit? Can we be separated
Photo by Doug Buerlein
Earl Roney (third from left) works with a team from St. Stephen’s and
from the Fork Episcopal Church in Doswell, Virginia, on a home site in
New Orleans.
“Barely a day goes by that [my colleague] Susan and I don’t look at each
other and say, ‘What did we do before we had Earl?’”
Now that Earl is working for RTR, others have stepped in to lead St.
Stephen’s team for the annual workday. This year’s leaders were Mac
Hines and Charlie Borill.
Earl is known at St. Stephen’s not only for his work with Rebuilding
Together of Richmond, but also with our post-hurricane rebuilding
teams who travel to the Gulf Coast, and with those who have taken his
workshops on how to build a prayer desk or prayer stool for your home.
Earl, his wife Sandy and their grandson Vincent are deeply involved in
the life of the community at St. Stephen’s. Sandy is one of the original
catechists (guides) in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd spiritual
formation program at St. Stephen’s, and through her involvement, Earl
has built some of the liturgical furnishings in the Atria (sacred spaces)
in which the program takes place, furnishings that are scaled to the
size of the young participants. Earl also is a regular chalice bearer and
subdeacon at the Sunday morning and Celtic services.
from the Kingdom? Can we be separated from the Holy Spirit? We wonder about
those bubbles, about the grace in us and around us.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is like the ramekin with the yeast.
Once a child has been part of an Atrium and allowed to wander in and among
all of the works and presentations available, he or she can’t be separated from the
overwhelming sense of holy wonder that pervades any Atrium.
Just as adults are, our children are overstimulated and overscheduled in so many
areas of their lives. We, and they, are bombarded with noise, with constant
messages and images in many forms. At St. Stephen’s, we are promoting a lively
faith in children while offering them a rich environment in which to wonder
quietly about their life in God. (And yes, despite the ages of these children, the
Atria are quiet.)
I have seen this in my own home. My daughter Lydia is a participant in
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She knows the Parable of the Leaven. Recently,
while I was baking rolls at home, she asked to help.
As I kneaded the dough and rolled it into many smaller balls, she asked to smell
the dough. Thinking nothing of it, I handed her a ball. She gently cradled it in
her hands, rolled it, smelled it, and then looked at me and said, “It smells like the
leaven, Mommy. It can’t be separated and neither can we.”
–Abigail Whorley
Spirit
The Lucan gospel portrays Jesus as one filled with,
anointed, and empowered by the Spirit. In his teaching
and healing encounters with others, that power is
continuously at work, limbering-up ossified traditions and inviting all to see and
rejoice in the ‘new thing’ that God is doing—in Jesus and his disciples, and in
the other men and women drawn to join them.
–Br. Jonathan Maury, SSJE
To receive brief reflections such as this one from the monks of the Society of
St. John the Evangelist, please visit www.ssje.org/word.
SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT
Photo by Janie Satterfield

Preparing for a new century
Capital campaign update
Over the past few years, parishioners have been actively discussing
the challenges and opportunities facing St. Stephen’s at this point
in our history. We have inherited a beautiful church that has been
expanded and modified many times. Our forebears have taken
seriously their responsibility to provide and maintain a beautiful
and safe worship environment.
As an outgrowth of parish-wide discussions that took place in
2011, we now have over 60 parishioners serving on a variety of
committees to continue discerning how best to prepare St. Stephen’s
to deliver the Gospel to future generations, and to meet the needs of
a new century.
These ongoing discussions include replacement of aging mechanical
systems, wiring and lighting; cleaning and restoration of the areas
of the church that are suffering from neglect; upgrading the organ
console deferred when the organ restoration was done in 2002-
2004; increasing hospitality and handicap accessibility; expanding
the Memorial Garden and adding outdoor worship space;
improving the parking area; and expanding the northeast corner
of the church building to enhance the sacristy and accommodate
current and future ministries, as well as add handicap accessibility
to the altar.
Discussions have also included a major initiative to expand our
relationships with our partners in the East End of Richmond, the
Dominican Republic and South Africa.
Some committees are finalizing reports and recommendations for
the vestry. Others are still working to evaluate options. While we
all want the project to move forward as quickly as possible, we
recognize that we are stewards of this holy space and should take
the time to discern what we can do today that will support the
ministries and spiritual growth of parishioners who will follow us
through the 21st century.
As the work of design development moves forward, we will
communicate with the congregation through printed media and
our Web site, so that everyone understands where we are in the
construction process.
In the beginning was the word…
A number of new books are
now available for purchase at St.
Stephen’s–in our new bookstore!
Stop by the bookstore, located in
the parish office, during regular
office hours (Monday-Friday,
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), for a wide
array of choices. We’ll be open all
summer, and summer is the best
time for many of us to read!
Our bookstore is a natural
outgrowth of the growing
demand by our parishioners and
visitors for books, from originally
stocking works by visiting
authors, to offering clergy
and staff “picks,” to books for
various groups and classes. One
of the terrific things about this
store is that the book selections
This calligraphy, created by Tamara
Stoneburner for St. Stephen’s,
graces notecards available for
purchase in the bookstore.
have been “curated”—we carry a book because at least one person
on the staff (usually more) has read it and can recommend it.
The store also offers St. Stephen’s Blend coffee, olive oil from
the Middle East, candles, notecards, prayer beads, and, from the
Dominican Republic, jewelry and colorful wooden crosses.
New & notable
• Lauren F. Winner, Still: Notes on a Mid‑Faith Crisis
• Joan Chittister, Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion,
Purpose and Joy
• Robin Meyers, The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subver‑
sive Way of Jesus
• Elaine Pagels, Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the
Book of Revelation
• Mary C. Earle, Marvelously Made: Gratefulness and the Body
Farmers Market in fourth season
A healthy choice for all
After three successful seasons of great
produce, prepared food, crafts, live music and
more, the Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s
is excited to have begun its fourth season.
Through October 27, the market will be open
8 a.m.-noon every Saturday, rain or shine.
(Last year, the Market remained open even on
the day that Hurricane Irene blew through!)
Since its creation is 2009, the Farmers Market
@ St. Stephen’s has sought to connect our
choices about the foods we buy and eat to
our call to be stewards of God’s creation,
as we build community and support local
farmers and producers. The Market has been
so popular that we offered a smaller, indoor
version from November through April,
giving patrons the opportunity purchase fresh
produce, eggs, meat and more, during the late
fall and winter, while continuing our support
for farmers year-round.
The outdoor Market is for the entire family,
offering a café area to enjoy prepared foods,
chalk for kids to play with and water bowls
for dogs. Most weeks there is also live music
and/or special events such as visits from
Master Gardeners, a drum circle and other
offerings.
The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s, a self-supporting ministry of the parish, focuses on
local producers. A large variety of seasonal vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs, pastured poultry,
grass-fed beef, pork, flowers, pasta and other items are available each week. In addition,
the market features local artists, locally roasted coffee (St. Stephen’s Blend from Rostov’s),
prepared and ready-to-eat foods, and much more. There are many breakfast and lunch
options for you to enjoy while you are at the Market.
Perhaps the best thing about the Market, though, is access to those who produce our
food. The Farmers Market provides an opportunity for you to speak with farmers and
learn how the food is grown and ways to prepare it.
Fresh food for all
Market vendors and St. Stephen’s will once again work together to give people access to
healthy, fresh food, including those who cannot afford it, through:
• Our new vegetable garden (see page 8)
• Produce donated by parishioners from their own gardens
• Farmers’ gleaning program
The gleaning program, introduced in 2010, allows market vendors to donate fresh
produce, meat and other food from the weekly market to the church’s food pantry.
Ali Moussalli, a proprietor of Frog Bottom Farm, suggested the idea during the 2009
season.
“Gleaning is not a newfangled idea,” said Ali. “It makes so much sense for farmers who
sell at market and through CSA: produce is perishable and so what’s left at the end of
market can’t be sold later and needs to get used right away. It would be a shame for us to
take the produce back home to the farm just to throw it away. We’re really grateful to St.
Stephen’s for getting the food to people who need it.”
More information
The Market sends a weekly email newsletter which includes the latest Market news, a
seasonal recipe and a blessing. To sign up, go to our Web site, saintstephensrichmond.
net/email, enter your email address, and you’ll receive a confirmation email from
Constant Contact.
A list of vendors for 2012 is posted at saintstephensrichmond.net/vendors; the Market
is also on Facebook and Local Harvest.
Miracle
Scenes from last summer’s market
It’s not just Jesus who is a walking miracle; you also are
a walking miracle. You can draw on the hope of the
resurrection out of your miracle memory. Christ has been
with you, and Christ is with you yet.
–Br. Curtis Almquist, SSJE
To receive brief reflections such as this one from the monks of the Society of St. John the
Evangelist, please visit www.ssje.org/word.
SAINT STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH PENTECOST 1 | SUmmER 2012 7
Photos by Doug Buerlein

8
St. Stephen’s Staff
To reach a member of the staff, call 288.2867.
Extensions are listed in parentheses. Email may be
addressed to a staff member by using the first initial
and last name @saintstephensrichmond.net (e.g., John
Doe would be jdoe@saintstephensrichmond.net).
Janet S. Allen (305), Associate for Development & Operations
Stan Barnett (320), Coordinator of Kitchen Ministries
Elizabeth H. Bartenstein (338), Market Manager and Office
Assistant
Sarah R. Bartenstein (323), Director of Communications
The Rev. Louise Browner Blanchard (307), Vicar
Marion S. Chenault (316), Preschool Director
Donald Clements, Sexton
The Rev. Canon Robert G. Hetherington (339),
Priest Associate
The Rev. Matthew R. Johnson (303), Associate Rector
The Rev. Gary D. Jones (308), Rector
Deborah Lawrence (329), Director of Outreach
Gene LeCouteur (324), Associate for Christian Formation &
Education
Betsy Lee (300), Receptionist and Pastoral Care Assistant
Dan Moriarty (347), Director of Music
Ben Nelson, Sexton
Sun Ho Nuon, Sexton
The Rev. Leigh C. Preston (311), Associate Rector
Ashley D. Rotella, Palmer Hall Choir Director
The Rev. William L. Sachs (306), Priest Associate and
Director of the Center for Interfaith Reconciliation
Mary Frances Siersema (302), Wedding Coordinator
Steven Simon (321), Facilities Manager
Greg Vick (304), Associate Director of Music
Abigail Whorley (346), Director of Children’s Ministry
Other numbers
May Fair House, 282-3004 (open October through May)
St. Stephen’s Preschool, 288-6401
St. Stephen’s Vestry Class of 2013
Keith Dull
Betsy Fauntleroy
Mark Krudys
Andrew Luke
Cotesworth Pinckney
Karen Wise
Class of 2014
Becky Boyers
Mary Anne Burke, Register
Bill Goodwin
Steve Long
John Sherman
Betsy Tyson
Class of 2015
Robert Allen
Gussie Bannard, Senior Warden
Carol Dickinson
Allen Goolsby, Junior Warden
Allison Koschak
Christopher Oakey
Bill Mears, Treasurer
St. Stephen’s Endowment Fund Trustees
Becky Boyers
Lee Camp
Anne Hines
Eppa Hunton
John Sherman
Ex Officio
Gussie Bannard, Senior Warden
Allen Goolsby, Junior Warden
The Rev. Gary D. Jones, Rector
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
6000 Grove Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23226
saintstephensrichmond.net
St. Stephen’s Food Ministry grows (literally)
St. Stephen’s Community Garden seeks volunteers
Presorted
First Class Mail
U.S. Postage
PAID
Richmond, VA
Permit No. 320
Parishioner Dan Lette has generously provided land on which St. Stephen’s has planted a vegetable garden
to serve clients of our food pantry. We are excited about this new venture and the ability to supplement our
shelf-stable foods with fresh produce. Would you like to work in the garden with other St. Stephen’s volunteers?
Please contact Deb Lawrence in the parish office.
Food pantry needs have shifted
Every Monday when our food pantry opens, the scope of the
need is once again made real. The generosity of those who
regularly provide donations of non-perishable food sustains this
ministry. When we come to St. Stephen’s, we are fed—and we
feed others. Your faithfulness is deeply appreciated.
Your donations are more important than ever. The Central
Virginia Food Bank, from whom we purchase much of the food
for this ministry at relatively low cost, is transitioning away from
providing shelf-stable items such as canned fruits and vegetables
and all-important protein sources such as peanut butter and
canned tuna. Many grocery chains and other retailers who had
regularly donated (or sold at markedly low prices) to food banks,
are doing so much less now, removing a vital supply of these
items for food banks, which cannot afford to purchase the items
at higher prices. The good news is, the Central Virginia Food
Bank will provide more fresh produce which is not only healthy,
but less expensive. The challenge, though, is for us to provide
protein sources for our clients. Please keep this in mind as you
do your own grocery shopping, and give prayerful consideration
to increasing your donations of peanut butter, tuna, boxed
macaroni and cheese and other shelf-stable foods.
If you have your own vegetable garden, you are welcome to bring
fresh produce to donate, as well.
A special donation
Recently a St. Stephen’s parishioner who had gone through a
serious illness decided to give tangible thanks for the support she
received from friends, neighbors and medical professionals, by
donating a bag of groceries in each person’s name. Perhaps there
is someone in your life whom you would like to honor or thank
with such a gift.
Agua in Azua
Our friends at the Azua parishes of La Reconciliacion
and San Jorge have been asking us for years, and now
we’re going! July 14-21, St. Stephen’s youth ages
16 and up will lead morning Vacation Bible School
(VBS) and afternoon basketball camp in Azua.
The Bible school will run simultaneously with St.
Stephen’s VBS, using the same curriculum (it’s about
water—see page 4) translated into Spanish, with
Skype communication between Azua and Richmond.
The basketball camp will be led by Entrenador
(Coach) Jeff Thomas. The group will also have
some time for sightseeing in Santo Domingo, where
Christopher Columbus roamed in 1492.
Ann Pearman Blanchard took part in a mission trip
to Azua last year. Young people from St. Stephen’s
have participated in mission trips in the past, but this
summer’s will be the first youth-led trip to the ‘DR.’
I was hungry and you
gave me something to eat
St. Stephen’s food ministries
by the numbers
In 2011—its third year—St. Stephen’s
Food Ministry bought 10,274 pounds
of food (over five tons) from the Central
Virginia Food Bank to supplement the
generous donations of parishioners.
The pantry served 795 families and
3,378 individuals in 2011, from 16
different zip codes, including 23221,
23226, 23229, and 23233.
In its 13th year, our fruit ministry
purchased and delivered 7,490 pounds
of fruit; 6,552 bags of fruit were
served. Our fruit ministry volunteers
deliver this nutritious food to elderly
residents of Fay Towers, where many have
no other source for fresh fruit, and who
welcome the visits from our volunteers.
There was a 15 percent increase in
fruit ministry clients in 2011, to 224.