Lent at St. Stephen’s
‘Rend your hearts and not your garments.’
The 40 days of Lent provide time for reflection and recommitment. We use this time to rend our hearts, in the words of the prophet Joel–to acknowledge and lament the ways we obscure God’s dream for the world. We rend our hearts and ask God to recast them, to create in us new hearts, that we may love as God loves and share in the renewal of creation. Please join us on for this holy season.
Ash Wednesday
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
These words accompany the imposition of ashes, a stark reminder of our mortal nature. In the Hebrew Scriptures, ashes were also symbols of mourning or repentance. People would anoint themselves with ashes as a sign of grief, or to represent humility or remorse over things done or left undone. This ancient ritual is reimagined in the context of the Ash Wednesday liturgy, as we confess our sins against God and one another and pray for mercy and forgiveness.
Thankfully, we believe that God meets us not with a spirit of judgment but with the promise of grace. Like the father running out to meet the prodigal son on the road, God is always ready to embrace us and welcome us home. In that sense, the ashes are not only a reminder of our mortality; they are a reminder that we are God’s children, God’s own creation, formed for life and for love.
- There is no Morning Prayer or Wonderful Wednesday supper on Ash Wednesday.
- No child care is available during Ash Wednesday services.
- The February 22 Palmer Hall service (the 9 a.m. Sunday service held in Palmer Hall Chapel for children and their parents) will include Imposition of Ashes.
Ash Wednesday services
February 18, 2026
Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes
7:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd (no music)
Noon in the church (with music)
7:30 p.m. in the church (with music)
Worship, formation, and resources
Sundays
February 22 through March 22 (schedule changes for Palm Sunday and Easter Day)
8 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd
9 a.m. in the main church, Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
9 a.m. in Palmer Hall, Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
10:10 a.m., Formation and education for all ages; Sunday Forum*
5:30 p.m. in the main church, Celtic Evensong and Communion*
6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper in Fellowship Hall
8 p.m., sung Compline in the church
On Sunday, March 29 (Palm Sunday) and Sunday, April 5 (Easter Day) the scheduled changes. The early service begins at 7:30 a.m., and there is no Sunday Forum nor other morning formation.
Livestreams of Sunday services are here.
Sunday Forum: Bible passages that challenge us
Sundays, March 8, 15, and 22 | 10:10 a.m. in the fellowship hall
The Sunday Forum will explore Bible passages which challenge us. In both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, the Bible challenges our modern sensibilities and presents significant questions about the nature of God and our relationship with God. As we examine these passages, we’ll discover what they can teach us about Scripture and faith. We meet in the fellowship hall; no registration is needed. (On March 1, we will complete our series, “Liturgy Unplugged.”)
Topics and speakers for these Sunday Forum sessions are on this page.
Trailheads: Praying shapes believing
Sundays, March 1 through 29 | 7-7:50 p.m. in the Café @ St. Stephen’s
Worship forms one’s heart, soul, and belief; it shapes what we see and believe. This Trailheads series invites you to learn more about the elements at the heart of St. Stephen’s evening worship and will reflect on practices and ways to engage more deeply at the Celtic and Compline services. You may attend any or all of the sessions. Handouts will be provided. Topics are Music at Celtic and Compline (March 1); Poetry and Prayers: the liturgy of the word (March 8)); “This is the table…” about Holy Communion (March 15); Healing Prayer, origins and more (March 22) and Holy Week at St. Stephen’s, an exploration of the rites at the heart of Christian hope, life, and worship (March 29). No registration is needed. We’ll meet in the Café @ St. Stephen’s. Read about individual sessions—topics and speakers—on this page.
Wednesdays
Invitation to the Episcopal Church
February 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 8 and 15 (no class on April 1) | 6:30 p.m.
Invitation to the Episcopal Church is a series for those who are newer here or those who are familiar yet newly curious. This introductory class is ideal for those who wish to meet others and explore more about the Episcopal Church. Topics include our unique identity and perspective, origins, worship, beliefs, practices, and more. This is excellent preparation if you are considering becoming an Episcopalian through the Rite of Confirmation or Reception; reaffirming your faith; or, if you are an adult who has not been baptized, this serves as preparation for that sacrament. Most of all, this is a supportive place to ask questions big and small. It will be co-led by the Rev. Will Stanley and the Rev. John Jenkins in our café. Register for this class using the button below.
Loving our immigrant and refugee neighbors
March 11, 18 and 25 | 6:30 p.m. in Palmer Hall
March 11 | Sacred Conversation: Immigrants and refugees in our midst
For the past few years immigration has been at the forefront of political conversation in the United States. In recent weeks the conversation has come closer to home, as many in our own community express fear for their safety or the safety of loved ones during this period of heightened enforcement. In this Sacred Conversation, participants will reflect on their own experiences and perspectives related to immigrants and refugees. Together we will uncover how our lived faith informs our engagement with this important subject.
Sacred Conversations are sessions during which a community gathers to have open and vulnerable conversation about a set topic. St. Stephen’s has hosted Sacred Conversations around a variety of subjects, including the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine and the 2024 presidential election. All are welcome for these rich and reflective gatherings.
March 18 | Biblical and theological foundations for ministry with immigrants and refugees
Join St. Stephen’s clergy for an evening of learning that will deepen our understanding of the church’s role in relation to immigrants and refugees. What do our sacred texts have to say about this complex subject? We will consult the Bible, our tradition, and our church’s history to discover a faithful way to engage with and support our immigrant and refugee neighbors.
March 25 | Loving our immigrant and refugee neighbors
We will host a panel discussion of representatives from organizations providing direct service to immigrants and refugees: Daniel Bickett, Program Manager, Sacred Heart Center, Immigration Legal Services; Julie Bilodeau, Executive Director of Crossover Healthcare Ministry; and Will Cumbia, Manager of Outreach and Volunteer Engagement at ReEstablish Richmond. We will discuss some current challenges involved in this work, and explore how the community can help support their efforts.
Lent resources
Complimentary meditation booklets from Westminster-Canterbury are available at Information Central while supplies last.
Forward Day by Day is a booklet of daily devotions published by Forward Movement. Copies are available in a rack at Information Central; a $1 donation per booklet is requested.
Lent Madness is a lighthearted, educational, and participatory take on “March Madness” where participants learn about a wide variety of saints, ancient and modern.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Richmond across from Capitol Square will hold the John Shelby Spong Speaker Series with Lenten lunches on Wednesdays at noon, February 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25. Read more here.