Sunday Formation for Adults
Sunday morning formation takes place from 10:10 until 11 a.m.
For adults, this includes the Sunday Forum in the fellowship hall (also livestreamed); Many Parents, One Vine; and this fall, “An Introduction to the Episcopal Church” (often called the inquirers class).
In the evening, between the contemplative service of Celtic Evensong and Communion (5:30 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m.) and the sung Compline service (8 to 8:30 p.m.) we offer a series called Trailheads. Those who wish may pick up supper at the Sunday Community Supper and bring it to the Café @ St. Stephen’s where Trailhead sessions take place, 7-7:50 p.m. (Please note that Trailheads does not convene every week; check this page and the Spirit and eSpirit for dates, speakers, and topics.)
Registration is not required for most Sunday formation offerings. The planners of Many Parents, One Vine, remind parents to complete the all-purpose family registration form which includes this offering. Registration is requested for An Introduction to the Episcopal Church. This class is offered a few times a year, sometimes on Sunday mornings, sometimes on weeknights.
The Sunday Forum
10:10 a.m. in the fellowship hall (and livestreamed)
September 15
A new year
A parish update by the rector and other parish leaders
September 22 and 29
Becoming Pilgrims
- September 22: Brent te Velde, Diana, Chou, and Cate Anthony will reflect on the choir pilgrimage in July.
- September 29: Speakers are Craig Kocher, dean of religious and spiritual life at the University of Richmond, UR sophomore Svea Erickson who went on pilgrimage with me Craig on the Camino de Santiago; and parishioner Kim Schmidt and staff member Anna Jones, who took a racial justice pilgrimage a little over a year ago.
October 6, 13, 27, and November 3
God’s American Purpose
A series led by the Rev. William L. Sachs on the role of faith in our national story
October 20
Love in Action
The annual giving campaign
November 10
Week of Compassion
A panel composed of some of our mission partners, our missionaries in Argentina, Monica Vega and Heidi Schmidt; ReWork Richmond CEO and parishioner Deb Lawrence; and Mike Maruca, head of Anna Julia Cooper School.
November 17 and 24, December 8 and 15
Racial Healing as Spiritual Formation
(No Forum on December1)
- November 17: Members of St. Stephen’s Racial Healing Commission will open this series with a discussion of their purpose and how all of us can be involved in the work of racial healing
- November 24: “Restoring Sacred Ground: The Story of Ham Cemetery,” by professional archaeologist Tim Roberts
- December 8: “Racial Healing as Spiritual Formation.” Dr. Catherine Meeks is the esteemed founder and retired director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in the Diocese of Atlanta.
- December 15: “Healing, Inclusion, and Welcome.” To close our series, St. Stephen’s program staff will reflect on the ways the principles of racial healing, inclusion, and welcome are upheld in our liturgy. How can and do we use art, music, and worship to fully embrace diversity within the St. Stephen’s community as well as to reflect the expansive diversity of the Episcopal Church and the global Anglican Communion?
The forum will not be held December 22 or 29.
More detailed descriptions of forum topics are here.
Many Parents, One Vine
10:10 a.m. in Room 14
Planned and led by the Rev. Cate Anthony with Andrew Robertson, Paula Chambers, Scott Mates, Julie and Farmer
This staff and lay-led parenting support group addresses topics relevant to family life. This is a space to grow in faith and connect with other parents in mutual affirmation. Raising children takes a village and together, connected to the vine, we are stronger parents. Members of the leadership team facilitate the Sunday sessions with an opportunity for open dialogue and questions. This fall we will offer two special series focusing on topics relevant to parenting in faith.
The first series, taking place from September 22 through October 13, focuses on “Children’s Spirituality Today,” and will include presentations from local experts in ministry with children as well as St. Stephen’s staff. Each presentation will address a different topic or practice in contemporary children’s ministry, including the theology of joy and play, fostering resilience in school and social groups, and more.
On November 3 and 10, the Rev. Cate Anthony will facilitate a conversation about parenting during a heightened political season.
Later in the fall, the group will join the Sunday Forum for a series on racial healing as a spiritual practice. Together with the wider parish, parents will learn about the work of racial healing in Richmond historically and today, prayer and other spiritual practices to use in this work, and ways that our liturgies can reflect the diversity of God’s people. All are welcome and no registration is required, though it’s helpful to the parent team if you complete the family ministry registration.
An Introduction to the Episcopal Church
Sundays at 10:10 a.m. in the Café
October 27-November 24, 2024
Led by St. Stephen’s Clergy
This introductory class is ideal for those who wish to understand more about this church—our identity, origins, worship, beliefs, practices, and more—especially if you are newer or newly interested. This is excellent preparation if you are considering joining the church, but it also is a supportive place to seek answers to questions.
Additional details about this class and about joining the church should you wish to do so (it’s not required) are included in the registration form linked below.
Trailheads
September 22, September 29, October 6, October 13 | 7–7:50 p.m.
To Hope and Act with Creation
The creation care ministry of St. Stephen’s Church, like many Episcopal parishes and dioceses, will participate in the annual global ecumenical observance of a Season of Creation, which calls all people to reflect on our relationship with God’s creation and commit to actions the liberate and heal the vitality of the earth. This year’s Season of Creation theme is “To Hope and Act with Creation” (www.seasonofcreation.org). One part of this year’s observance is a four-part Trailheads series offered on Sunday evenings.
September 22: What in creation!? The Rev. John Jenkins will offer a teaching that invites us to reevaluate what we understand humanity’s relationship to be with God’s creation and to face reality of a world in ecological and climate crisis.
September 29: Cultivating Spiritual Resiliency in a Climate-Changed World. Our presenter, Stephanie Peramas, is a St. Stephen’s parishioner with experience in faith-based creation care work on the parish, diocesan, national, and international levels of the Episcopal Church.
October 6: Story Sharing. We’ll listen to personal stories of experiences with creation and faith to discover new connections, new community, and new energy for the work ahead. The facilitator is Bill Gray, co-chair of our creation care committee.
October 13: Joining hands with Christ who makes all things new. We conclude the series with a showcase about ongoing creation care ministries, activities, advocacy, and more so that you may come alongside others “to hope and act with creation.” Bill Gray will be joined by Anna Jones, the manager of our farmers market and the coordinator of our food outreach ministries.