“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

St. Teresa of Avila

The people of St. Stephen’s Church strive to follow the way of Jesus, who embodied the breadth and depth of God’s love throughout his life. Through Holy Baptism and regular sharing in the Eucharist, we are formed in faith and fellowship. We celebrate together life’s milestones – births and baptisms, graduations and weddings, retirements and funerals. We carry that same spirit of community and connection into the world as we strive to love and serve others in the name of Christ.

Each week, St. Stephen’s parishioners can be found tutoring in schools, delivering fresh fruit to low-income communities, and visiting residents of the city jail. Our longstanding engagement in the East End of Richmond includes partnerships with Fairfield Court Elementary School and Peter Paul. With local partners, we founded Anna Julia Cooper School, a tuition-free independent school, and ReWork Richmond, an employment initiative helping adults secure family-sustaining careers. Volunteers with Rebuilding Together Richmond make repairs that allow residents to remain safely in their homes. Farther afield, we support two missionaries caring for vulnerable women and children in Argentina, and we have a history of domestic and international mission trips for youth and adults.

You are invited to join others as they seek to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Upcoming outreach projects

Shalom Farms volunteer day

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 | 9 A.M.-NOON

Join us for a work party at Shalom Farms! We will spend the morning working at their northside farm. Our tasks could include things like transplanting crops, cleaning tools, spreading mulch, weeding, or harvesting. All ages are welcome. Please bring a water bottle and wear close-toed shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.

Let us know that you are coming here, and sign the Shalom Farms volunteer waiver here.

Furniture and household goods drive for Caritas furniture bank

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 | 9 A.M.-2 P.M.

We will receive household goods and furniture in good condition for the furniture bank at Caritas. The furniture bank provides essential household items to individuals and families transitioning from homelessness or crisis situations. A Caritas truck will be parked near the playground at St. Stephen’s to receive your donations; a list of items that can be accepted is here.

Please note:

• Furniture must be in good condition (no stains, rips, tears, etc.)
• Appliances should be in good working order
• Please be prepared to take any items with you if Caritas cannot accept them; St. Stephen’s will not be able to accept or dispose of them.
• Please do not bring items before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. on April 18. We cannot evaluate them on behalf of Caritas, and we have no place to store them.

Rebuilding Together Richmond

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

Roll up your sleeves and put on your safety glasses! All across Richmond on Saturday, April 25, groups will be assisting homeowners in need with small repairs to spruce up their yard and home. We would like to have a dozen people from St. Stephen’s, ages 14 and up, to help with jobs such as painting, trimming bushes or laying mulch, mending fences, small carpentry, etc.

Sign up here.

Sons and Daughters of Ham Cemetery clean-up

SATURDAY, MAY 2

Make plans to join others from St. Stephen’s Church on May 2 for a spring clean-up of the Sons and Daughters of Ham Cemetery.

After the Civil War, it became popular among emancipated slaves to form fraternal societies to allow them to meet socially, as well as to provide a proper site for the burial of their families. Traditionally white cemeteries had no section for these interments. The Sons and Daughters of Ham Cemetery, located near St. Stephen’s, is one such site.

St. Stephen’s parishioners assist in tending to this final resting place for emancipated slaves who once worked on the land now occupied by this church, the University of Richmond, Bandy Field, and other familiar places.

More information about the May 2 workday, including signups, will be published soon in the eSpirit and Spirit.

Seasonal outreach events