Easter

Please join others at St. Stephen’s Church on Easter Day, a day of resurrection and hope. We hope you will find your spirits lifted by the beauty of the flowers, the sound of the music, the smiles on faces, and most of all by the timeless proclamation that love casts out fear and life is stronger than death.

Whoever you are, and whatever journey has led you here, know that you are welcome at St. Stephen’s Church. This parish offers a range of services to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. They begin on Saturday evening with the Great Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter, and continue on Easter Day. In addition to these services, there will be festive receptions, an Easter egg hunt, and a parish supper.  The schedule is below, and additional information about each service follows.

Please note that there is no Sunday morning formation period on Easter Day.

All services that take place in the church are livestreamed (and marked with a +). Child care is available during services with an asterisk.

Easter Eve, Saturday, April 4

7:30 p.m., The Great Vigil & First Eucharist of Easter service begins outside the Three Chopt Road entrance; Sanctuary, our Compline choir, will sing.+

Easter Day, Sunday, April 5

7:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One, with organ and congregational hymns+

9 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two* in Palmer Hall with St. Stephen’s Choristers and piano
Children are welcome at all services. The Palmer Hall service is a Communion service especially suited for families with young children; parents and grandparents attend the service with their young ones, and young people have leadership roles in the service.   

9 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*+ in the main church with St. Stephen’s Choir, brass, timpani, and organ

Following both 9 a.m. services there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for children and a reception.

11:15 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two, St. Stephen’s Choir will sing with brass, timpani, and organ+* followed by a reception

5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion with cantor, piano and other instruments, and congregational hymns +*

6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper

8 p.m., Compline with Sanctuary, our mixed a cappella choir +

Other things to know
  • Everyone is welcome at St. Stephen’s Church! You do not need to be a member to attend any of our worship services or other offerings.
  • Parking: Free parking is available in our parking lot at Somerset and Grove, and on streets around the church. On Easter Day, additional parking will be available at St. Catherine’s School on Grove Avenue across from the church; please do not park in spaces marked “Resident.” Also, if you are parking on the street, take care not to block our neighbors’ driveways.
  • Child care: Child care for children age 4 and under will be available in our nursery during the 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. services. Trained child care workers staff our nursery.
  • At the time of Communion, all are welcome to come forward; if you do not wish to receive Communion, you may cross your arms over your chest and a priest will bless you.
  • No tickets or reservations are needed, but please make sure your entire family or group is here before being seated; ushers will remind you that seat-saving is not permitted.
  • Gluten-free Communion wafers are available at all services.
  • Accessibility: Exterior entrances to the church are accessible to those with mobility limitations; accessible seating is available in the church. Handicap parking spaces are available in the large parking lot and in the area next to our playground. If you enter from the large parking lot, an elevator at street level will take you to the main floor (the level where the church is located). If you are not able to walk to the Communion rail, ministers will bring Communion to you. Assistive listening devices are available from the ushers.
  • If the church fills up, additional seating will be available and a video feed and service booklets will help you participate in the service. Ushers will guide you to this area if the church is full when you arrive. They will also guide you to the church to receive Communion at the appropriate time.