volunteer

St. Stephen's Church is a thriving community with so many ministries that volunteers are indispensable.

The New testament describes the church as a body with many members, and each member has an important role to play in the proper functioning of the body. Some of us are teachers, some are cooks, some are gifted in providing hospitality, some are leaders of worship, some are counselors, some work with their hands, some are called to a ministry of prayer, and so on. Whatever your gift or inclination, there is a place for you and a role for you to play in keeping our community strong and healthy.

If you are interested in volunteering, we will gratefully put you to work! Volunteering is a great way to strengthen our common life, get to know new people, and realize that you are an important member of the Body of Christ, the church. A list of ongoing areas of need is provided below; in addition, new and upcoming roles are described here:

Fairfield School has new opportunities for volunteers. In addition to roles for classroom assistants, tutors and lunch buddies, there are new opportunities to read to classes or to serve as a reading pal to a student, a math buddy or in an "Adopt-a-Classroom" capacity. These all have very flexible time frames and can be done monthly as opposed to weekly. "Adopt-a-Classroom" is a wonderful opportunity for a group such as an Emmaus Group, and it's also a good thing for someone who prefers an activity that can be done from home, such as sending in a holiday treat, helping sponsor a field trip, etc.

Also at Fairfield, the Central Virginia Food Bank's Mobile Food Pantry visits the school once a month to provide bags of food to Fairfield School families. They do this on the same night as the PTA meeting (2nd Tuesday of each month) and volunteers are needed to help with distribution.

Our hosting week for CARITAS (Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter), takes place each Fall. Sign-up sheets are placed at the Outreach Table several weeks in advance.

We send a team of health care providers (physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) to CrossOver Ministry's Cowardin Avenue clinic twice each year. Volunteers are also needed to assist with administrative tasks; Spanish speakers are also helpful.

Questions about any of these opportunities may be addressed to Deb Lawrence via email or at 288-2867.

Hospitality and Fellowship | Volunteer to help with:

The Farmers Market at St. Stephen's (contact Mary Frances Siersema)

Wonderful Wednesday suppers (contact Stan Barnett)

May Fair House cooking (contact Sandy Suskind, 282-4496)

Local Outreach Ministries

Serve as a classroom assistant/ tutor in Richmond's East End

Serve as a Mentor or Lunch Buddy to an elementary school child

Help with our food ministry

National Outreach Ministries

Help with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast

International Outreach Ministries

Join our next medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic

Join our next mission trip to South Africa

Ministries at St. Stephen's

Help in the kitchen on Wednesday nights

Cook with May Fair House volunteers

Help with St. Stephen's Farmers Market

Youth Ministries

Volunteer to mentor or teach

Help chaperone field trips

Prepare meals for youth group meetings

To volunteer in any of these Youth Ministry roles, contact Matt Johnson.

Children's Ministries

Train to become a catechist for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Volunteer to teach Sunday school (preK-grade 5)
Serve in Palmer Hall Chapel services on Sundays (there are roles for adults and children)

The Women of St. Stephen's

The Women of St. Stephen's offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities, including working in their shop, the May Fair House; preparing foods to sell in the May Fair House; Gracious Gourmets, who prepare meals for those who have recently welcomed a new baby or suffered a loss; and other opportunities. Please visit the Women of St. Stephen's page for more information, or contact Beverly Bates, president.