Inclement Weather

When weather affects office hours and events at St. Stephen’s Church, how will you know?
  • Be sure you are subscribed to the eSpirit. Not only do we send important weekly information through this Thursday morning newsletter, but it is also the way we contact you for special announcements, including office closings, cancellations or postponements. You can subscribe here.
  • Our social media channels are Facebook and Instagram.
  • The greeting on our office phone (804.288.2867) will also note a weather-related closing.
  • Visit this website.

We do not use local TV and radio to post cancellations, closings, or other adjustments to our schedule. If you see or hear a mention of events being affected at “St. Stephen’s Church” or “St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church,” please be aware that it refers to a different St. Stephen’s Church–either a different denomination or in a city or town other than Richmond.

Please remember, when the parish office is closed for inclement weather, the following will also be true:

  • The Café @ St. Stephen’s will be closed.
  • There will be no weekday Morning Prayer service.
  • The May Fair House will be closed.
  • No events or meetings will take place.
  • If you have a pastoral emergency, call the church office at 804.288.2867 and press 4.

Below are recent updates on our plans.

Be sure to subscribe to the eSpirit to receive updates via email.

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January 11, 2025 updates

We are grateful that our regular Sunday schedule will go forward tomorrow:

8 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9 a.m., Holy Baptism in the main church, Holy Eucharist: Rite Two in Palmer Hall*
10:10 a.m. Sunday formation for all ages, including the Sunday Forum, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, youth Bible study, and Many Parents, One Vine*
11:15 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion*
6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper
7 p.m., Trailheads
8 p.m., Compline

  • All services except the Palmer Hall service will be livestreamed.
  • Our parking lot and walkways have been cleared
  • The water supply is safe to drink.
  • Childcare is available during services with an asterisk.*

We hope to see you at church tomorrow, but only if it is safe to travel from where you live. Please use caution!

Friday, January 10, 2025 updates

The church office is open today until 4:30 p.m. We have water and our restrooms are functional, but we remain under a boil water advisory. If you are coming to church, please bring your own water, coffee, tea, etc. The café remains closed.

Another winter storm is predicted for this evening and into Saturday. Staff are making plans to ensure that we are able to open safely for Sunday services, and we will provide an update here as soon as we can.

We know, however, that we will not hold the farmers market this Saturday, January 11.

Because the Richmond area is forecasted to receive 3-5 inches of snow Friday night into Saturday, we will not have the market on January 11. Even though the market is open rain or shine, there are occasionally times when weather conditions make it dangerous for vendors, volunteers, staff, and customers to travel to the market. Given the timing of the storm, tomorrow looks like one of those days.

Thursday, January 9, 2025 updates

After several days of uncertainty, we are grateful that we are able to open our buildings today and staff will be back in the parish office. We have sufficient water pressure to use sinks and toilets, though we are still under a boil water advisory, so if you come in, please bring your own water, coffee, tea, etc.

  • Winter Ministry Night will go on at 5:15 p.m. with food we had stored in our freezer, and canned and bottled beverages.
  • The fruit ministry will take place today (this morning), and so will the food pantry (distributing from 1 to 3 p.m.).
  • The young adults gathering originally planned for tonight has been cancelled since it was to take place at a restaurant affected by the boil water advisory.

We are monitoring the weather forecast for Friday evening, but at this point do not have plans to change our Sunday schedule. We will continue to keep you informed on this page, through email announcements, on our Facebook page, and our phone greeting. (A reminder: please do not rely on local TV or radio for information about our schedule.)

If the weather leads us to cancel the farmers market this Saturday, we will announce it through the farmers market email newsletter, on the market Facebook page, and on this page.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025 updates

We are disappointed not to have been able to re-open today because of the water situation, and not to have been able to hold the Epiphany Lessons and Carols service.

The Winter Ministry Night is scheduled for January 9 at 5:15 p.m. We’ll send the regular weekly edition of the eSpirit a little later than usual tomorrow morning to give us time to assess the situation in our buildings and include the latest on whether that event can still be held.

Tuesday, January 7, 2025 updates

Unfortunately, we are unable to re-open today as originally planned because of the water situation in the City of Richmond. We have now moved the food pantry distribution to Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. Stay tuned for additional information about when we will  be able to re-open our buildings.

Monday, January 6, 2025 updates
  • As of Monday afternoon, our intention is to open the office at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
  • This will mean there is no Morning Prayer (neither in person nor livestreamed) and we will not open the café on Tuesday.
  • The food pantry will go on from 1 to 3 p.m., postponed from its usual Monday hours. The pantry is a main reason to re-open as soon as we can do so safely. We are grateful for all of you who support this ministry, which provides needed food supplies at critical times like these.
  • Our plowing service will clear the large parking lot and walkways before anyone arrives on our campus. Still, we urge you to use caution.

At various times on Monday, the church was without internet and some staff members lost electricity at home. In addition, the forecast calls for more precipitation Monday evening. All of this means it’s possible that we will need to adjust plans before 11 a.m. Tuesday. If that happens, we’ll update this page, and send another message through the eSpirit.

Sunday, January 5, 2025 updates
  • Sunday evening services (the Celtic service and Compline) and the Sunday Community Supper will take place on January 5.
  • Childcare will not be available Sunday evening.
  • The parish office will be closed Monday, January 6. A decision about opening on Tuesday will be made and communicated Tuesday afternoon. To make sure you receive a message, subscribe to the eSpirit here.
  • Here is a link to the email that went out Sunday afternoon, January 5.
  • The food pantry ministry will be available on the first day that the office re-opens.