Advent and Christmas at St. Stephen’s

Some of the most beloved and meaningful traditions of the church year take place during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Here are the dates, times and other details of special events, concerts, worship and more.

Daily Advent meditations
Subscribe to receive daily emails featuring seasonal reflections by parishioners, staff, and clergy. If you received these meditations last year during Advent, you do not need to sign up again. If you did not receive them (or you’re not sure), subscribe here. As with all our emails, these are available to all (you do not have to be a St. Stephen’s parishioner), they are free, and we will not share your email address with any outside party.

Advent Fair | Sunday, December 1 | 10-11:15 a.m.
An annual intergenerational event in the fellowship hall; no sign-up is needed. Enjoy fellowship, refreshments, and pick up free Advent resources and activities to use at home. Advent wreath kits will be available for $20 (wreath form, candles, candle holders). If you would like to make your wreath on-site, we will have fresh greenery to use. If you can bring some greenery from home to share with others, please do! No sign-up is needed for the fair, but we ask adults and youth to participate in planning, set-up, refreshments, and assisting younger children during the fair. Volunteer sign-up is here.

Choral Eucharist | Sunday, December 1 | 11:15 a.m.
The choir and clergy of St. Stephen’s lead Choral Eucharist on selected dates throughout the year; on the First Sunday in Advent, December 1, the choir will sing George Oldroyd’s Mass for the Quiet Hour.

Seasonal music program and holiday luncheon | Tuesday, December 3 | 11 a.m.
The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Brent te Velde and Abby Outlaw will present a program of seasonal music in the church, hosted by the Women of St. Stephen’s and open to all (including men!). The third grade chorus of Anna Julia Cooper School will also sing during the program. A luncheon will follow. The cost of lunch is $12, payable at the door, but but make your reservation by Tuesday, November 26, by signing up in the May Fair House.

Christkindlmarket | Wednesday, December 4 | 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Our annual Christkindlmarket is a holiday craft fair hosted by the Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s in the fellowship hall and courtyard. Enjoy a festive evening of Christmas shopping from dozens of local vendors, as well as carolers, warm drinks, and food. You’ll recognize some vendors from the farmers market, and others will be new. The May Fair House will also be open for shopping that evening. Admission is free.

Winter Solstice concert | Wednesday, December 18 | 7 p.m.
Pause during the busy holiday season and enjoy classic and modern a cappella choral music reflecting on themes of waning darkness and night, increasing light and day, and our preparation for the Nativity in our hearts and lives. Sanctuary, the Compline choir, will also be joined by cellist Peter Greydanus and harpist Anastasia Jellison, performing both with the choir and on their own as a harp and cello duo. Reserve your place ($20; students $10) here, or call 804.288.2867. No paper tickets will be issued; you may present your email receipt at the door.

Christmas flower memorials | Due Sunday, December 15
Many parishioners like to donate funds to help with the cost of flowers and greenery decorating the church for Christmas services as a way to remember loved ones, whose names are listed in the Christmas bulletins. To give a memorial, submit your request and donation here, no later than December 15.

Youth Group Holiday Lights Tour | Sunday, December 15 | 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Young people in grades 6 through 12 are invited to the final youth group gathering of 2024 when we’ll gather in the Cafe @ St. Stephen’s in festive attire to take a van tour of Richmond’s holiday lights. Advance sign-up is required and we have 36 seats available. Sign-ups will be open until Monday, December 9, or until we reach capacity. We also need volunteers to drive the vans. Sign up here (this form is both for youth who wish to attend, and adults who wish to volunteer).

Fairfield School Christmas Shop | Thursday, December 19
St. Stephen’s parishioners donate new toys, games, books, and other items to stock a Christmas shop for parents and grandparents of Fairfield Court Elementary School students. Volunteers sort, deliver, and arrange the items in the Fairfield gym where adults may select things they know their children will use and enjoy, and giftwrap them to present at Christmas. The items needed are specified in a sign-up linked from our website, where you can also sign up for volunteer tasks. Additional details and deadlines will be available soon.

Live Nativity | Thursday, December 19 | 5 to 6 p.m.
As community members stroll our campus pathways, the story of Jesus’ birth will play out right before their eyes with scripture, music, and some furry friends included! Children are invited to help bring the nativity to life as angels, shepherds, members of the holy family, and more. Please use this form to register your child. If registering multiple children, please complete the form separately for each child. Roles will be assigned by the event coordinating team. The deadline to register is December 8. Adults are invited to participate as station chaperones, costume wranglers, and group guides.

• Participants will gather at 4 p.m. on December 19 to get into costume and in place for the event.
• The rain date is Friday, December 20 from 5 to 6 p.m.

This link provides sign-up for children and for adult helpers.

Christmas Pageant | Sunday, December 22 | 11:15 a.m.
This annual tradition for St. Stephen’s youth in grades 6-12 takes place on the Fourth Sunday of Advent as part of the 11:15 a.m. service. Costumed youth stage multiple scenes form the story of Jesus’ birth. As youth read passages from Scripture from the lectern, each scene moves on a cart through the center aisle of the church. A wide variety of roles range from costumed characters and readers to cart pushers (younger youth who guide the scenes on carts down the aisle). In order to participate in the pageant, youth must attend a on Saturday, December 21, from 1 to 3 p.m.

This year, we are thrilled to invite current kindergarteners to join the pageant costumed as animals in the final Nativity scene. Kindergarteners who wish to participate must attend rehearsal on Saturday, December 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. and be available on Sunday, December 22 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the pageant itself.

 Sign up here no later than December 7 (one form for all ages).

Christmas Eve services | Tuesday, December 24
Services take place in the main church with overflow seating available in Palmer Hall and the fellowship hall. Each is preceded by a half-hour of seasonal music. Child care is available during the 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. services. All services will be livestreamed.
2 p.m.: Holy Eucharist: Rite Two (music begins at 1:30 p.m.)
5 p.m.: Holy Eucharist: Rite Two (music begins at 4:30 p.m.)
8 p.m.: Celtic Christmas Service (music begins at 7:30 p.m.)
11 p.m.: Holy Eucharist: Rite One; traditional Christ Mass (music begins at 10:30 p.m.)

Christmas Day service | Wednesday, December 25 | 10:30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist: Rite One, with sermon, congregational carols, and music led by Sanctuary, the Compline choir

Sunday, December 29 | First Sunday of Christmas
8 a.m.: Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10 a.m.: Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
5:30 p.m.: Celtic Evensong and Communion

Epiphany Lessons and Carols | Wednesday, January 8, 2025 | 6 p.m.
Similar to the beloved service of Christmas Lessons and Carols made famous by King’s College, Cambridge, this candlelit service features choral and organ music for Epiphany, including anthems by Andrew Carter, Herbert Howells, Philip Stopford, Eric Whitacre, Alison Willis, and Jonathan Dove. Bring trimmings of your Christmas greenery to burn at the conclusion of the service, and join us for supper afterwards; a chili cook-off will raise funds for our music program.

Holiday schedule notes

  • Sunday morning formation concludes for 2024 on December 15 and resumes in January.
  • The parish office closes at noon on Christmas Eve and re-opens Friday, December 27.
  • The office is closed Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
  • There will be no Wonderful Wednesdays supper December 4, but vendors at the Christkindlmarket will have food available for purchase.
  • The Wonderful Wednesdays supper on December 11 will be the final one until January 15, 2025.
  • The Sunday Community Supper will take place December 22 and 29.
  • The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s and the May Fair House are open on Saturday, December 21, 9 a.m.-noon, and closed the Saturday after Christmas Day, December 28. When the market reopens January 4, some vendors will be set up indoors in the fellowship hall, and some will remain outdoors.