Adult Formation and Fellowship
St. Stephen’s Church offers a wide array of opportunities for adults to grow in faith with others.
Groups and Offerings for Adults
St. Stephen’s is a large church where a variety of groups help people feel connected through fellowship, study, prayer, and more, whether you’re looking for a group of young adults, senior adults, men, women, parents. . . we provide a variety of ways for you to get to know others, to know yourself better, to learn something new, and to grow closer to God.
Small Groups
St. Stephen’s Church has a robust small groups ministry. Read more about the variety of groups by clicking the button.
Bible Study
A Thursday morning Bible study convenes for several weeks at a time, focusing on a particular book of the Bible or a specific theme. This group is led by St. Stephen’s clergy. Watch the Spirit and eSpirit for announcements. Upcoming dates and themes will also be posted here.
The Women of St. Stephen’s
The Women of St. Stephen’s host monthly programs and speakers, as well as outreach activities, trips and tours, social gatherings, and more. They also run a gift shop that raises funds for community grants.
Young Adults
Adults of all ages are welcome in the groups and classes described here. In addition, we have groups and events that are planned especially for young adults. While the definition of “young” is up to you, we invite adults who are single, partnered, with or without children, and generally speaking, in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Young adult offerings can include such things as small groups, book groups, social events, outreach and service projects, and more. They are announced in our weekly communications and through young adult email blasts.
Senior Adults
Adults of all ages take part in nearly everything we offer at St. Stephen’s Church, from small groups to the Women of St. Stephen’s, outreach ministries to cooking parish suppers or May Fair House foods, attending the parish weekend at Shrine Mont and Bible study–to name just some of these activities. Some groups and activities, however, are especially for senior adults.
St. Stephen’s clergy regularly visit Westminster-Canterbury or Cedarfield where many St. Stephen’s parishioners live. Our clergy lead worship services at Westminster-Canterbury, and work in partnership with area churches to provide support at Cedarfield, and attend events for our parishioners at both retirement communities.
A relatively new group calling themselves EpiscoPals is comprised of retired parishioners who enjoy providing support to the staff and our food ministry.
A new group coming in 2025 will focus on the Spirituality of Aging. Learn more about all of these offerings here.
Men’s Prayer Groups
Small groups of men gather weekly for prayer and fellowship. These groups meet Thursdays at 9 a.m. in the lounge, and Fridays at 8:15 a.m. in the library. All are welcome, and no registration is needed.
Sunday Formation
Sunday Forum
The Sunday Forum features members of our clergy and others from within the parish, as well as guest speakers, presenting on a variety of topics. The forum gathers on Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall between the 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services during the program year (September through May). No sign-up is needed.
An Introduction to the Episcopal Church
This class is especially for those who are new to the Episcopal Church, but it can be an enriching experience for any who simply want to deepen their knowledge or who’d like a refresher. It serves as preparation for adults to be confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church during our annual visit from one of our bishops. Sometimes the class is offered on weekday evenings, at other times it’s offered Sunday mornings. We post upcoming class dates and times here, and announce them in the Spirit and eSpirit.
Sundays, 10:10-11 a.m., October 27 through November 24, 2024; led by St. Stephen’s clergy.
Many Parents, One Vine
Many Parents, One Vine gathers in Room 14 on Sundays between the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services during the school year. This is a parenting support group which uses podcasts, readings, and guest speakers to launch discussions, while remaining open to addressing topics that may arise within individual families or the community at large. No registration or prior attendance is required to participate.
Trailheads
Trailheads is a Sunday evening offering, taking place between the Celtic service and Compline. A trailhead is both a meeting place for hikers and a point of departure for an encounter. Likewise, on Sunday evenings we gather–usually in the Café @ St. Stephen’s–to learn, share, and connect at the intersections of Christian life, practice, and faith. Bring your meal from the Sunday Community Supper if you like. Trailheads does not convene every week, so watch the Spirit and eSpirit for upcoming Trailheads offerings.
Wednesdays
Wednesday evening is another gathering time for St. Stephen’s, with a mid-week supper, youth choir rehearsal, and several small groups. This is also a time when we offer occasional guest speakers or classes; watch the Spirit and eSpirit for announcements.
The menu for the mid-week supper (September-May) is available each week on this page.
Wednesdays this fall, 6:30 p.m. in Palmer Hall
September 11: A conversation on end of life issues
The Rev. John Rohrs, rector; attorney Newnie Rogers; parishioner Blair Nelsen
No registration needed
One of the great privileges of parish ministry is supporting families following the death of a loved one. Very often, we face those difficult days bombarded by decisions and logistics–how to plan a funeral, how to execute (or even find!) a will, how to manage a loved one’s finances, and on and on. Advance preparation and conversation today can make those decisions much easier to navigate. Join the Rev. John Rohrs, rector; parishioner Blair Nelsen, former owner of Nelsen Funeral Homes; and special guest Newnie Rogers, managing partner and attorney at Virginia Estate and Trust Law and a parishioner at St. James’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. This program is for those of any age who recognize the need to think ahead about end-of-life care and decisions for themselves and their family members. It’s co-sponsored by the Communal Care Committee and the Legacy Society of St. Stephen’s; no registration is needed.
Beginning September 18: Grief and the Possibility of Life
Wednesdays through October 9
The Rev. William L. Sachs
Grief is an inevitable experience in various aspects of our lives. Despite the reality of loss, new life becomes possible as we are led by faith to new possibility. No registration is needed for this free offering. Sessions are:
September 18: Grief as Sacred Journey
September 25: Why We do Funerals
October 2: Memory and Hope
October 9: Awakening to Possibility
Beginning October 16: Sacramental Citizenship
Through November 20
The Rev. Cate Anthony
Register here.
For many, looking toward the November 2024 presidential election inspires feelings of concern, fear, or anger. Citizens at various points on the political spectrum view the election as a battle for the soul of our nation. As Christians, this “battle” takes on an additional dimension: how does our faith inform our political engagement and decisions?
Join Cate Anthony for Sacramental Citizenship, a six-week class designed for anyone wondering how to live faithfully in our current political climate.
October 16: To begin our journey, we will do a close reading of the baptismal covenant as an ethical document. How do our baptismal vows instruct us to act? What values does the baptismal covenant uphold?
October 23: Continuing our work with the baptismal covenant, we will each begin to form our own Christian code of ethics using a practical values exercise. Together, we will draw connections between our baptismal vows, our personal values, and modes of political engagement.
October 30: We will consider a few hot-button issues from multiple Christian ethical perspectives. Using case studies, we will examine the various ways Christians engage with different issues. This will offer a model for engaging with and taking stances on various political issues as we each prepare for November 5.
November 6: Our time together will begin with a Sacred Conversation about the experience of voting the day before as well as the results of the election (if available). Together we will hold lament and celebration together. Our time will close with an informal Eucharist service during which we will pray for our nation and renew our baptismal vows.
November 13: Our conversation will turn toward tools and resources to combat polarization and division in our local contexts. We will think theologically about models of relationship, communication, and reconciliation while also building a toolbox of practical strategies for connection across lines of difference.
November 20: In this final class we will conclude our focus on relationship-building tools and resources. We will also think together about next steps in our shared work of seeking to live as sacramental citizens. Where is God calling us to exercise our faith in tandem with our civic duties post-election?
No books are required for this series, but it is helpful if participants have a copy of the Book of Common Prayer. Cate also recommends the following books which she will reference throughout the course:
Discerning Ethics: Diverse Christian Responses to Divisive Moral Issues by Hak Joon Lee and Tim Dearborn
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD