Welcome! On the following pages, you may learn about ministries that nurture and sustain our common life and embody our faith within the parish, and you also may indicate your interest in being contacted about next steps to learn more or participate in one or more ministries by submitting this form. Virtually all parish life ministtries inherrently draw people together in fellowship through common cause and purpose.

The ministries and related sub-ministries are organized into seven areas:

1. Hospitality, including Ambassadors, Greeters, Ushers
2. Pastoral Care, including Lay Eucharistic Visitor, Lay Pastoral Visitor, Prayer shawls/quilts ministry, and Daughters of the King
3. Office and Staff Support, including EpiscoPals, Office Reception, and Bulletin Collating Team
4. Parish Suppers
5. Creation Care
6. Women of St. Stephen's - May Fair House, May Fair Cook Team
7. Labyrinth Guild
8. About You - contact information, and "SUBMIT" this form

QUESTIONS

What time commitment is expected? Different ministries have differently structured schedules, but in general begin with the intention of serving one full year so that you have ample time to develop new skills and build relationships.

Do I need prior experience? No. Each ministry provides "onboarding" or training as needed. Some ministries have physical or participation requirements to consider.

How do I join a ministry? At the top of each page, you may either request a follow-up conversation to learn more, or you may express your desire to become part of the ministry

The Hospitality ministry supports and broadens St. Stephen’s culture of welcome and inclusion, both within and beyond the church, so that all people are welcomed as if they are Christ himself. These ministries offer ways for people to practice their faith, bearing the love of Christ to others in a wide range of settings and contexts in either of the following roles:

1. Ambassadors
2. Greeters
3. Ushers

Share your interest(s) below or scroll further down to read about each ministry. The "Back" and "Next" page buttons are at the end of this page.

Ministry Descriptions

 

Hospitaltiy Minsitries: Ambasadors, Greeters, and Ushers

On behalf of the congregation, greeters and ushers welcome each person--newcomers, visitors, and lifelong friends and members alike--as if one is welcoming Christ himself, for this is our belief. Greeters and ushers communicate to everyone gathering for worship that in this community, all people are equally precious, equally loved. Ambassadors share bear the gift of hospitality at receptions following worship or special events.

 

Ambassador ministry 

Summary: Ambassadors attend receptions immediately following worship services and special events. They scan the crowd and initiate “welcoming and connecting conversations” with those who appear not to be engaged with others. More than authentic welcoming, this includes active listening and providing appropriate guidance to help all people find connection and community. These topics are addressed at onboarding sessions offered throughout the year.

Serving: Ambassadors serve once or twice a month, according to their service preferences and availability. Sunday receptions last between 10 and 30 minutes and are held in the fellowship hall or outdoors, or at Palmer Hall Chapel following that service.

Another opportunity to serve in this role is available at the Farmers Market on the next-to-last-Saturday of each month.

Onboarding is provided several times a year for new Ambassadors. Times Ambassasdors may serve are:

• Farmers Market, one shift (8-10AM or 10AM-noon), next-to-last Saturday each month
• Sunday, following 9 a.m. Palmer Hall Chapel liturgy
• Sunday, following 11:15 a.m. liturgy
• Sunday, at the community supper, following 5:30 p.m. liturgy
• Special event receptions, up to an hour

 

Greeter ministry

Greeters embody St. Stephen's culture of hospitality, sharing the love of Christ by extending welcome and care to all people as they gather for worship, greeting strangers and friends alike as if they are Christ himself.

Summary: Greeters are the first to welcome or assist those gathering for worship each Sunday. Greeters are knowledgeable about church events and prepared to provide guidance so anyone can find their way to the nave, the nursery, the fellowship hall, to classrooms, restrooms, etc.

Serving: Greeters serve immediately before worship services, once or twice a month, depending upon their service preferences and availability. They stand at assigned locations throughout the campus, 20 minutes prior and 10 minutes following the start time for most worship service. New Greeters attend an onboarding session offered several times throughout the year. Some Greeters who have more scheduling flexibility serve at weekday funerals. Some Greeters serve only at holiday services (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Holy Week and Easter) when extra greeters are needed.

Sundays:

• 9AM services, 8:40 to 9:10
• 11:15AM service, 10:55 to 11:25
• 5:30PM service, 5:10 to 5:40

Summer schedule:

• 10AM service, 9:40 to 10:10
• 5:30PM service, 5:10 to 5:40
  

 

Ushers

Usher Summary:  Ushers graciously bear Christ's own peace and welcome to all who enter the church. In addition, ushers distribute bulletins, assist latecomers, count "heads," collect and present the congregation’s offerings, provide guidance and assistance during Communion, and secure the offering following the service. Service in this ministry is a source of great joy and fulfillment.

Serving: At the 11:15 a.m. service, 5 teams of 6 ushers serve in a sequential rotation (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, repeat). At the 8 a.m. service, only one usher is needed each week. Some people serve exclusively as "available substitutes" to fill in as needed. Some also choose to serve at funerals, some only at funerals. All new ushers receive individual training. Ushers arrive 30 minutes prior to their scheduled service time.

 

Providing pastoral care stands at the heart of our mission to be a community of hospitality, healing, and hope. Each of the ministries provides support and care to parishioners who are ill or recovering from surgery, homebound or hospitalized, as well as to those who need a visit or to share in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Descriptions about each of the following ministry roles are found lower on this page:

1. Lay pastoral visitors
2. Lay eucharistic visitors
3. Prayer shawl knitting and sewing
4. Daughters of the King

Ministry Descriptions

 

Lay Pastoral Visitors

Summary: Lay pastoral visitors give attention and care to fellow parishioners identified as having pastoral needs through in-person visits, phone calls, or notes, as assigned and scheduled. A monthly meeting includes training, time to share pastoral experiences, and identification of needs as they arise.

Serving: Visitors are given assignments monthly with 2-3 visits per month.

 

Lay Eucharistic Visitors

Summary: Lay eucharistic visitors share the Holy Communion with fellow parishioners who are not able to attend church in person. Eucharistic visitors undergo training for home visits and for administering the sacraments. Eucharistic visitors also have a role in our morning liturgy; the congregation commissions the visitor each Sunday to signify that our whole community participate in sharing Communion with those who receive the sacrament at home.

Serving: Lay eucharistic visitors are sent most Sundays but ministers serve on a rotating schedule, about once every 4-6 weeks.

 

Prayer shawl/quilt ministry 

Summary: Prayer shawls and quilts are crafted by parishioners for distribution to those in our parish to whom we wish to give a tangible expression of our love and prayers. Clergy and lay pastoral visitors deliver shawls to those who are sick, those who are isolated at home, new parents and infants, and others. Shawls are usually knitted, crocheted, or quilted.

Serving: Knitters and stitchers work independently and gather several times a year for prayer and fellowship.

 

Daughters of the King Prayer

Summary: Daughters of the King is an international order of lay and ordained women and girls who seek a closer walk with the Lord. Members take vows of prayer, service, and evangelism, and adhere to a Rule of Life. Although members are at different stages in their Christian journeys, their primary goal remains the same: to know Jesus Christ and to make him known to others by reflecting God’s love throughout the world.

The Virginia Diocesan Assembly consists of approximately 200 members in 15 chapters and “at large.” They support the clergy of the parish, care for each other, and strengthen their communities.

 

The chapter at St. Stephen's offers confidentail daily prayer by request of parishioners, the staff and clergy. There is a period of preparation that leads to professing vows. 

 

Life at St. Stephen's Church is full, offering a place for every person to connect and serve. In order to offer our ministries sustainably, we invite lay leaders into ministries that support staff, programming, and other needs that arise throughout the year. These ministries leverage the skills, time, and joy of parishioners and staff alike. 

Descriptions about each of the following ministry roles are found lower on this page:

• EpiscoPals
• Front Office Support
• Bulletin collating team

Ministry Descriptions

EpiscoPals | Caring for Those Who Care for Us

Summary:  The EpiscoPals is a spirited group of dedicated parishioners committed to the care and support of clergy and staff. By taking on projects beyond the capacity of paid staff, providing coverage when staff or lay resources are constrained, or hosting social events to express our gratitude for all they do, the Episcopals help meet the unmet needs of church operations and ministries as identified by clergy, staff, lay committees, or Episcopals team members. 

Guiding principles

• Ours is a ministry of service, born out of love and gratitude for all that feeds us at St. Stephen’s Church.
• We only take on work that is consistent with our mission and fits our capabilities. 
• We work collaboratively with key stakeholders, not in competition.
• It is not our role to do someone else’s job, but to enhance their capacity and capability; our work should lighten their load, not increase their burden.
• We see our role to fill temporary vs. systemic gaps in coverage or capability.
• We organize our work via project teams, with clear responsibilities. 
• Where possible, we measure our activities and quantify any savings. 
  Structure

Serving: EpiscoPals roles vary considerably, supporitng a range of minsitries and intitiatives based on church needs and member availability. Our work currently is organized into the following project teams:

• Buildings and Grounds
• Food Ministry
• Office Support
• Social
• Systems Advisory
• Staff/Clergy Relations 

 

 

Front office support

Summary: During the week, there are opportunities for parishioners to assist our front office team, greeting at the front desk, answering phones during the weekly staff meeting, assisting with bulletin collating for Sundays and special services, preparing mailings, and more. These roles contribute to the spirit of welcome in our community!

Serving: Front office support follows a weekly rhythm that you can plug into most any time. Kitty Ball manages the schedule and provides support and phone onboarding. 

 

 

 

Bulletin collating team

Summary: The collating team is composed of parishioners who gather each Friday morning for fellowship and coffee around 8:30 a.m. to collate bulletins for the upcoming Sunday services. There is a friendship and comradery about this ministry, similar to the work of guilds and set-up teams, as they support and prepare the community for divine worship. Collating is seated work, combining several folded sheets per bulletin. They also handle bulletin collating for special services, such as the Thanksgiving Day service and All Saints Day service, as well as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Holy Week, and Easter.

Serving:  This group gathers in the coffee lounge every Friday morning around 8:30 and works until all service bulletin collating is complete. An hour and a half, seated. No prior experience required; good humor  welcomed!

 

 

Kitchen ministries are inspired by the Eucharist, the central act of worship in the Christian faith. Minstiers assit chef Claire either with food prep or with serving. There is great commradarie and joy that comes from preparing food together with new friends. The suppers are part fellowship and part feeding minsitry to those who need food support. 

Scheduling is flexible, so this ministry provides a rich way to give back when you want to schedule a block of time.

Descriptions about the following ministry roles are found lower on this page:

• Wednesday food PREP
• Sunday food PREP
• Sunday SERVING

Ministry Descriptions

Wednesday suppers

Wednesday night suppers provide fellowship and comforting, homestyle food. Meals cost $10 for older children (age 10 and up) and adults, $5 for children age 9 and younger, and a family maximum of $30. 

Summary: Helpers on Wednesdays help prepare ingredients and set up the food and utensils for the meal. They also monitor food levels at the buffet.

Service: Helpers sign-up. No prior cooking experience is necessary. Seating is available in the kitchen for those who need it; prep roles can be customized to accommodate varying ability needs.

 

Sunday suppers

Sunday evening suppers provide fellowship and delicious, nutritious food. The meals are prepared for the whole community–all are welcome and no reservations are required. 

Summary: Cook teams serve in two shifts: preparation from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and/or serving and clean-up from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. No prior kitchen experience is required; seating is available in the kitchen for those who need it; prep roles can be customized to accommodate varying ability needs.

Service: Helpers sign-up. No prior cooking experience is necessary. Seating is available in the kitchen for those who need it; prep roles can be customized to accommodate varying ability needs. 

A group of parishioners and staff who work to offer ways for our parish to embody wise and faithful practices that reflect our stewardship of creation and improve our environmental practices, both as individual people and as a parish community. We collaborate with and make recommendations to the parish vestry. Recent activities have included:

Descriptions about each of the following ministry roles are found lower on this page:

• Hosting films at St. Stephen’s as part of Richmond’s environmental festival
• Bringing speakers to the church for the entire community
• Planting and tending a pollinator garden
• Offering electronics recycling events
• Hosting an environmental book group
• Writing articles on environmental/spiritual concerns

Read more on the Creation Care webpage.

In the Episcopal Church and at St. Stephen's, women are involved in all aspects of the community's life in both lay and ordained roles, as leaders and participants.

Women of St. Stephen's dates from the earliest days of St. Stephen's Church. While women's roles in the church were far less expansive when this group formed, this ministry continues to provide opportunities for fellowship, learning, outreach, and fundraising.

The Women of St. Stephen's also manage the May Fair House, a food and gift shop that generates significant funding for outreach grants the support important local communities and organizations.

Opportunities for serving in the Women of St. Stephen's include such areas as program planning, outreach, grant selection, and many others.

The May Fair House welcomes parishioners to work in the shop once a month, and/or to serve on cook teams the create the prepared food sold through the shop.

Information about these two ministries can be found on our website using the links below:

• Women of St. Stephen's
• May Fair House

The labyrinth is “a walking meditation, a path of prayer and an archetypal blueprint where psyche meets Spirit. It has only one path that leads from the outer edge in a circuitous way to the center. There are no tricks to it and no dead ends. Unlike a maze where you lose your way, the labyrinth is a spiritual tool that can help you find your way.”*

While labyrinths have ancient origins in varied cultures, interest in labyrinths and their use in spiritual practice had a resurgence in the late 20th century. Famous labyrinths are  found at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and Chartres Cathedral in France. There is a labyrinth at Shrine Mont, our diocesan camp and conference center, near the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration. Like other structures at Shrine Mont, this labyrinth was constructed with stones.

At St. Stephen’s Church, we have a canvas labyrinth which we use most often in Palmer Hall Chapel for events and classes. It is a seven-circuit labyrinth, also known as the classical labyrinth. It is an ancient archetypal design found across various cultures for at least 3,500 years, and is one of the oldest and most common forms of labyrinths worldwide.