The Sunday Forum
The Sunday Forum
10:10 a.m. in the fellowship hall (and livestreamed). No registration is needed.
Contemplative Spirituality in Contemporary Life
In a four-week series leading up to the February 1 commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the first Celtic Evensong and Communion service at St. Stephen’s Church, we will explore multiple dimensions of contemplative life and ministry: from foundational forms of prayer and meditation to spiritual direction, rules of life, labyrinth walking, and the central connection between contemplation and action.
January 11 | The Contemplative Roots of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement
The series begins with a presentation by the Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill, Jr., the Canon for Racial Justice and Healing in the Diocese of Virginia. Dr. Hill is an ordained minister with multiple advanced degrees and standing in both the Alliance of Baptists and the United Church of Christ. Dr. Hill will speak about the contemplative roots of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, and how such thinkers and practitioners as Howard Thurman and Mahatma Gandhi had a profound influence on the theology and practice of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other key leaders. This opening forum reminds us that contemplation is not simply about the inner life, but about how we ground ourselves for faithful engagement with the world.
January 18 | The Gifts of Spiritual Direction and Friendship
St. Stephen’s Church is home to many trained spiritual directors whose work accompanies folk as they grow deeper in their life with God. Come to an engaging conversation with parishioners Lydia Mercado and Paul Amrhein on the principles of spiritual direction and its application to people’s lives. This forum will be part two of a four-part Sunday forum series on “New perspectives on contemplative life”, which will culminate in a weekend of events January 31-February 1 that will honor the 20th anniversary of the Celtic service at St. Stephen’s. The Rev. Will Stanley will moderate.
January 25 | Contemplative Practices at St. Stephen’s Church
St. Stephen’s Church has a rich history and practice of contemplative life. On January 25, join the Rev. Cate Anthony for the third part this series, when she will moderate a panel discussion with parishioner practitioners of some of these contemplative ministries. Community members Bob Dibble, Millie Cain, and Barbara Massey will discuss contemplative prayer, labyrinth walking, and icon painting. We will reflect on the ways each of these practices shapes spirituality, wondering: what can we learn for our own journeys of faith?
February 1 | Contemplative Practice in Contemporary Life
In keeping with the overall focus of this forum series, and as part of our weekend observance of the 20th anniversary of the Celtic service at St. Stephen’s Church, the February 1 Forum will feature a teaching led by Westina Matthews with the Rev. John Jenkins. Westina Matthews is a highly-sought teacher, author, and spiritual director who speaks at Episcopal seminaries, churches, cathedrals and in other settings about contemplative practice in contemporary life. She will also be the guest preacher at the 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services on February 1 and will lead an afternoon retreat here on Saturday, January 31. More details about the retreat and other components of this celebratory weekend are here.
Liturgy Unplugged
Episcopalians are a people deeply connected to our shared worship. Much of our Episcopal formation takes place during worship, through the use of the Book of Common Prayer and other resources. In this series, join St. Stephen’s clergy as we take a deep dive into the shape and content of the Eucharistic service, discovering what our worship has to tell us about living in the world faithfully.
February 8 | The Liturgy of the Word
In the first session, the Rev. Cate Anthony will examine the first half of the Eucharist service, known as the “liturgy of the word.” Together, we will consider the role of Scripture in worship as well as the origins and purpose of our wide variety of prayers. Through this deep dive, we will explore the ways this aspect of our worship shapes our personal prayer and public witness as faithful Christians.
Slides for February 8 and February 15 presentations.
February 15 | The Liturgy of the Table
Continuing our series on “liturgy unplugged,” the Rev. Cate Anthony will speak about the Eucharist: what it is, why it is so central to our worship, and how it forms us through our participation in the sacrament. Known as “the liturgy of the table,” the second half of our worship draws each of us to the table of Christ. Together we will reflect on what happens in this encounter and how the sacrament forms us for faithful living.
February 22 | Annual Parish Meeting
On Sunday, February 22, we will hold the annual parish meeting during the Sunday morning formation period. We’ll affirm a new vestry slate and hear from parish leaders about markers of parish vitality, our budget, and other topics. Extended child care will be available for those through grade 5 to allow parents to attend the meeting.
March 1 | The Role of Music in the Liturgy
For the final session of our series “Liturgy Unplugged,” join the Rev. John Rohrs to welcomes our new director of music, Robert McCormick. In addition to introducing himself, Robert will speak about the role of music in liturgy. How do our musicians make decisions about music each week? What informs those choices? Join us to get to know Robert and learn more about our rich music tradition.
Bible Passages that Challenge Us
On March 8, 15, and 22 the Sunday forum will explore Bible passages which challenge us. In both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, the Bible challenges our modern sensibilities and presents significant questions about the nature of God and our relationship with God. Together we will dive deep into these passages, revealing what they have to teach us about Scripture and faith. Details about each week’s topic and speakers will be available soon.
There is no Sunday Forum or other Sunday morning formation on Palm Sunday, March 29, or Easter Day, April 5.