Volunteer Opportunities

We are an active church with an increasing number of vibrant ministries. Participating in parish life as a volunteer is a wonderful way to get connected. We encourage you to pursue these opportunities as you are able, and to pass the word to others. This page is updated regularly, as new volunteer opportunities emerge.

Volunteer opportunities:

Mission Teams

Gulf Coast Hurricane Relief -Upcoming Trip: The next trip is scheduled for November 9-15. We plan to send two groups:  one to Camp Coast Care in Mississippi and one to New Orleans. There is much work to be done and it is not all construction.  No special skills are necessary to participate.  For more information contact Deb Lawrence by phone, 288-2867, or email.

A Family Mission Trip is available at Mission-on-the-Bay in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, August 3-9. For more information contact Deb Lawrence by phone, 288-2867, or email.

A team will go the Azua in the Dominican Republic this spring. Information: email Weezie Blanchard or call her at 288-2867.

To learn more about how you can participate in a mission trip to the Gulf Coast, the DR, or South Africa, visit our Outreach pages, or call Deb Lawrence at 288-2867 (or send her an email).

Additional Volunteer Opportunities in Outreach

Saturday, May 3, Spring Fling at Fairfield Court Elementary School, 10 a.m.–12 noon. This party is a result of the For the Love of Children fundraiser held here at St. Stephen’s.  We need about four families (including your children) to sign up to help that day with games, face painting, food and more. For more information, contact Deb Lawrence.

Tutors and buddies for Fairfield Court Elementary School: We have a long-standing relationship with the people of Richmond's East End. New volunteers are always welcome. Call or email Deb Lawrence to volunteer or to learn more about this opportunity.

Cross Over Ministry: This faith-based organization provides health care to the poor and uninsured. Our outreach budget provides some funding to Cross Over, and we would like to get more involved with parishioners volunteering at the clinic. Come to an informational session on Wednesday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. (following the Wonderful Wednesdays supper).

Additional outreach opportunities are listed on our Outreach page.

Teaching/Working with children and youth

Workshop Rotation Model teachers and aides. We have more children in Sunday school than ever before, and we need your help. Lesson plans are provided, and you need only sign up for one rotation at a time. If you can help, please contact Betsy Tyson at 288-2867, ext. 313. See the sign-up sheet.

Sunday Morning Nursery:  Whether you have a child 2 and under, or just like working with children this age, our paid care givers can always use an extra pair of hands on Sunday morning.  If you would like to volunteer in our Sunday Nursery from 9:00-11:00, please contact Betsy Tyson at 288-2867, ext. 313.

Vacation Bible School: We need teachers and other volunteers for the July 14-18 event. You can learn more about VBS from a flyer available at Information Central, and right here on our Web site. Use the form to register your child(ren) AND to volunteer. Questions? Contact Betsy Tyson via email, or at 288-2867.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a unique faith formation program for very young children. Catechists can receive training here at church. Read more here. Questions: Kathy Tappen.

Additional opportunities to work with children and youth are listed on our Outreach page.

Hospitality

Greeters: Two people stationed at each entrance to our buildings will provide hospitality and welcome to those coming to church on Sunday mornings. Greeters arrive at church 20 minutes before each service (10 a.m. service in the summer, 9 and 11:15 services fall through spring). Additional details are available from Marion Chenault. Sign up using one of the sheets across from the church office, or outside Fellowship Hall.

Ushers for Sunday morning services: contact Mary Frances Siersema via email or at 288-2867, ext. 302, if you wish to be added to an ushering team.

Shop Volunteers for May Fair House: Shifts are from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or from 12:30 p.m. til 3:00 p.m., once a month.  Please call Harriet Schnell, 282-0885, for details and available dates.  This work provides hospitality for our shoppers and assistance for our shop coordinator, Molly Johnson.

Cooking

Cooks: May Fair House cooks prepare pickles, casseroles and other goodies to be sold in the shop managed by the Women of St. Stephen's. Experience not required! Information is available from Eileen Walker at 359-2227 or Sandy Suskind at 282-4496. Learn more about May Fair House.

Gracious Gourmets are volunteers who prepare meals to be delivered to families who have recently welcomed a new baby, or who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The Women of St. Stephen's, who oversee this ministry, provide recipes, instructions and delivery bags. Volunteers are being sought for the months of May through August. To volunteer or obtain additional information, call Dabney McCoy, 355-6387.

Sewing, crafts, etc.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Volunteers are needed to complete one-time projects including painting of wooden objects, woodworking/carpentry, sewing, sculpting, etc. Some items may be completed in hours; others may take a while longer. Please contact Betsy Tyson via e-mail or at 288-2867 (ext. 313); or Kathy Tappen via e-mail or phone 358-1538 if you are interested in helping.  A full list of materials is available here for downloading and printing. (For more information on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, visit our children's pages.)

Acolyte Vestments: We would love help with cleaning and/or repairing acolyte vestments. We also need someone to organize vestment room. Contact Sarah Morris, 288-2867, ext. 324.

Baptismal Banners:  Help to make the baptism of St. Stephen’s youngest members even more memorable by volunteering to make baptismal banners.  If you like doing simple crafts (if you can cut, glue, and print neatly) and want to share in the joyous occasion of baptism by creating a true keepsake, please contact Betsy Tyson at 288-2867, ext. 313.

Worship

Please contact David Anderson or Mary Frances Siersema via email or at 288-2867 for additional information or to volunteer for the following:

Ushers
5th, 6th and 7th graders needed for the 9 a.m. service
Adults needed at the 11:15 a.m. service

Oblation Bearers
Needed for the 9 a.m. service and special services (bring bread and wine to the altar during the Offertory)

Prayers of the People
Needed for the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services

Lay Readers
Needed for the 11:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. services

Chalice Bearers
Needed for all services (training is scheduled for September 16 and 23)

General

Additional opportunities are available in Pastoral Care and in Outreach. For more information about Pastoral Care, contact the Rev. Louise (Weezie) Blanchard (ext. 307). For Outreach, contact the Rev. David T. Anderson (ext. 311) or Deb Lawrence (ext. 329), or visit the Outreach Bulletin Board in the hall between Palmer Hall Chapel and Fellowship Hall.

To volunteer in the parish office, call Liz Jones at 288-2867, or send her an email.

The Women of St. Stephen's also offer a number of volunteer opportunities.