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

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
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