Our services

St. Stephen's is a vibrant parish offering several kinds of worship services. Sunday, of course, is our big day. You are most welcome at any of the services held here.

Sunday schedule (from the Sunday after Labor Day through the Sunday before Memorial Day)

8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*, in the main church and in Palmer Hall Chapel
10:10 a.m., Education for all ages*
11:15 a.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite Two*
5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion
6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper
8:00 p.m., Compline

Sunday schedule (from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend)

8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion*
6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper
8:00 p.m., Compline

*indicates child care available through age 4

Weekday worship

Year-round
8:10 a.m., Morning Prayer with Communion

(When the parish office is closed for a holiday or due to inclement weather, weekday Morning Prayer does not take place.)

Where we're located

St. Stephen's is located at the corner of Three Chopt Road and Grove Avenue (the address is 600 Grove Avenue), near the University of Richmond and across the street from St. Catherine's School.

If you are coming to the church office, the most direct route is through the double glass doors to the parish house off the parking lot on Somerset. If you're coming for a worship service, you can enter from Grove Avenue or Three Chopt Road.

Accessibility

There are several entrances to the church and parish house that are designed to be accessible to those with mobility issues or other physical limitations:

All entrances to the church, and the main entrance to the parish house, are equipped with power-assist doors. In addition, the main entrance to the parish house, from the large parking lot, has an elevator on the ground floor that allows you to bypass the steps. The Grove Avenue entrance to the main church is gently sloped, without steps, and the Three Chopt Road entrance has a ramp.

Inside the church, several pews are shortened to allow space for a wheelchair or walker: the first pews on either side of the center aisle, nearest the altar, and the pews near the large baptismal font.

The church is equipped with assistive hearing devices for the hearing-impaired. Please ask an usher for one of these devices as you enter the church.

Seven whole days

A weekly rhythm for the parish

Beginning in March 2020, St. Stephen’s clergy and staff, parish leaders and dedicated volunteers learned many new ways of keeping the parish community connected while we needed to be physically apart. Over the months of the "lockdown," we learned what works well, what’s been most helpful to our parish and the community, and how to continue to exercise ministry in innovative ways while protecting the health and well-being of all our people.

In the fall of 2020, a time that traditionally meant the beginning of a new program year, the parish introduced a number of online offerings--new worship opportunities, online prayer groups, webinars, small groups and more.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the only constant has been change, and we've adjusted our course on several occasions. As of Easter 2021, we were permitted to offer in-person worship with certain limitations in place. So that part of our life is changing again--happily.

Still, other offerings continue to be available online, so this page of our site is still here.

Regardless of the delivery system, our goal is to give devotion to God every day--not just the Sabbath. The metaphysical poet and Anglican priest George Herbert wrote movingly about offering this in the 17th century. We have sung some of the lines from this poem often at St. Stephen's, set to the tune General Seminary (Hymn 382, King of glory, King of peace).

Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise thee.
In my heart, though not in heaven, I can raise thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort to enroll thee:
E'en eternity's too short to extol thee.

Here is an outline of this rhythm of parish life--seven whole days. Where events are no longer being offered regularly, you may still wish to watch videos of them.

Sundays: Worship and Fellowship

8 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. In-person services in the church; advance registration is required; read more here

10:10 a.m. Sunday Forum Registration here | Recordings here

10:45 a.m. Virtual Fellowship Time, live on Zoom, interactive; Zoom link here

11:15 a.m. Livestream of in-person service | Link to livestream page

1 p.m.-2 p.m. Periods for visiting the church to receive Communion, and to sit and pray, for those not able to attend one of the full in-person services. Weekly link is posted on this page.

MONDAYS: Sharing what we have

1:00-3:00 p.m. Monday has traditionally been the day we receive neighbors from throughout the community who need our assistance to feed their families.

Tuesdays: Bible Study

Noon-1:00 p.m. Clergy and parishioners reflect on the Gospel appointed for the coming Sunday, livestreamed and recorded Zoom link here (if you are asked for a password, use ststephens) Here's a link to a recent recording; you can find others on our Vimeo page as they are posted. (Please note: there is no Bible study on May 11, and after the session on May 18, this group will be on a hiatus. For additional information, please contact the Rev. Cate Anthony.)

Wednesdays: Prayer

6:30-7:30 p.m. Contemplative Chapel: Practicing Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer led by the Rev. John Jenkins, livestreamed; not recorded Details and registration here

Thursdays: Education series

7:00-8:00 p.m. Webinars with renowned teachers from around the world; live and recorded; free, but registration is required for live webinars, which are videotaped for later viewing; link to details about Eastertide webinar and registration, and landing page for on-demand videos of past sessions

Fridays: Art, music and the beauty of holiness

Noon Musical performances by parish musicians, some videotaped, some livestreamed from the church, as well engaging with icons, listening to poetry, and more. This is no longer being produced weekly, but here is the most recent video (March 5, 2021)

Saturdays: Feed and be fed | Sabbath begins at sundown

8 a.m.-noon The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s, offers a safe outdoor environment to shop for local, fresh, healthy food while we support local farmers and businesses; patrons help make it possible for vendors to share their products with our food pantry clients.

There's a place for you here.