Children
Birth through Age 12
Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3
At St. Stephen’s we respect and nurture each child’s innate spirituality and understanding of God’s profound love for them, tailoring experiences in worship, education, and fellowship to the individual developmental needs of the child. It is our role as their faith community to help support and be with our children along the way.
Holy Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament signifying our identity as children of God and our commitment to walk in the ways of God throughout our lives.
Baptism serves, as well, as a sacrament of welcome into the Body of Christ—for children and adults. In it, we celebrate God’s love and embrace for God’s people as unconditional and absolute; we are “marked as Christ’s own forever,” making Baptism a sacrament that is done only once in a person’s life.
Baptism is also a time when the community of faith gathers to renew its own commitment to Christ and to support those who are being baptized in their life in Christ. So it is appropriate that baptism take place, whenever possible, in the midst of the congregation during the Holy Eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or other feast day.
The Book of Common Prayer designates certain days in the liturgical year as being especially appropriate for the celebration of Holy Baptism. These are the Easter Vigil (Saturday night before Easter Day), the Day of Pentecost, All Saints’ Day or the Sunday after All Saints’ Day, the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany) and the annual visit from one of our bishops.
Instruction
In the early Church, adult baptisms were the norm as more and more people heard and responded to the Gospel. Adult baptisms continue to be the cause for great celebration in our church. We encourage adults who are exploring the Christian faith at St. Stephen’s to discuss the possibility of baptism with one of the members of the clergy. Many adults who wish to be baptized take part in an Inquirers Class as part of their preparation.
If you wish to bring your child to be baptized, both the parents and godparents of the child will receive instruction from a member of the clergy in anticipation of this happy occasion.
Upcoming Dates
Available dates for Holy Baptism are listed on this page.
St. Stephen’s Church offers a nursery for children through age 4. Trained and caring staff take care of young children during Sunday morning services (9 and 11:15 a.m. during the academic/program year, and 10 a.m. during the summer), the Sunday morning formation period (10:10-11 a.m.) and during the Sunday evening service of Celtic Evensong and Communion. The nursery is located on the lower level of the parish house in the same area as Dogwood Preschool. Greeters are happy to help you find your way to the nursery.
You are also welcome to bring your child(ren) to a service with you. Questions? Contact Abby Kocher.
Deepening Grace: Sacraments for Children and Parents
Sunday, January 26, February 2, and February 9 at 10:10 a.m.
Concluding retreat for children: February 23
In a revised version of what has been called “Solemn Communion,” we now offer a three-week concurrent study for parents and children on Sunday mornings called “Deepening Grace: Sacraments for Children and Parents.” Beginning January 26 during the 10:10 a.m. formation hour, children in grades 1 through 3 will participate in this special study led by the Rev. Abby Kocher during their time in the atrium (the specially-prepared room where Catechesis of the Good Shepherd takes place).
During the same period on Sunday morning in Many Parents One Vine, our group for parents of children and youth, St. Stephen’s clergy will explore the same themes related to Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist. In this model, families are invited into deeper conversation at home with one another about the life of faith as a Christian.
The dates are January 26, February 2, and February 9 from 10:10 to 11:10 a.m. A concluding retreat for the children will take place February 23 from noon to 3:30 p.m. If you have a child in grades 1-3 who would like to participate, please contact Abby Kocher.
Seasonal offerings
Children and their parents can take part in a variety of seasonal offerings in addition to regular Sunday formation and worship. These include:
- Vacation Bible School in the summer
- Blessing of the Animals in October on a Sunday just before or just after St. Francis Day, October 4; there are two options: bring your pet to the Palmer Hall service service for a blessing and/or attend a service that afternoon on the lawn outside the church.
- Thanksgiving meals for those in need; St. Stephen’s delivers food boxes assembled by families and individuals to provide holiday meals to people identified by our outreach partners.
- Advent Fair; an all-ages event where you can make a fresh Advent wreath and find a variety of resources for observing the season at home
- Live Nativity; an outdoor pageant when children through grade 5 wear costumes and are arranged in several tableaux–complete with live animals–where older children read portions of the nativity story aloud for visitors who walk from station to station.
- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on the evening before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
- Agape Meal: a supper and simple liturgy in the fellowship hall that recalls Jesus’ last meal with his friends before his trial and crucifixion; takes place on Maundy Thursday, the night before Good Friday. Instrumental music and optional foot washing are also part of this observance.
Sundays at St. Stephen’s
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation
Catechesis (cat-eh-KEE-sis) of the Good Shepherd is a unique approach to the spiritual nurture of young children. Based on the work of Sofia Cavalletti and Maria Montessori, this offering recognizes that children are already in touch with God in their deepest being. It is not “Sunday school,” in the traditional sense of the word, with adults imparting information to children. Rather, adults—specially trained for their work as “catechists”—accompany children on their spiritual journey. Adults who take part in Catechesis [kat-eh-KEE-sis] find that it enriches their own religious lives in a profound way. Families whose children spend Sunday mornings in the atrium (their sacred learning space) are similarly enriched. And the impact on a parish church using Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is profound.
Catechesis Level 1 Atrium
Children ages 3-6 years old work in the Level 1 atrium.
Catechesis Level 2 Atrium
Children ages 6-9 years old work in the Level 2 atrium.
Catechesis Level 3 Atrium
Children ages 9-12 years old work in the Level 3 atrium.
St. Stephen’s Choristers
The St. Stephen’s Chorister program offers not only an excellent education in music, but imparts skills for life. Formation in leadership, teamwork, service, work ethic, commitment, and friendship will serve each chorister well in whichever walk of life they choose. The choirs seek to instill confidence and poise in each chorister in order to be part of a team—both as members and as leaders—whose sum is greater than its parts.
The chorister program welcomes young people grades 1-5 and is inclusive of all genders. Choristers sing for services in the main church at St. Stephen’s and in Palmer Hall, a separate chapel that offers services for families with young children. Choristers are trained in the fundamentals of musicianship and chorister conduct. They serve primarily in Christian worship services, but welcome young people of any or no faith background.
The chorister program uses the curriculum from the Royal School of Church Music called Voice for Life, an excellent graded approach to vocal training, sight-singing, music theory, and leadership.
Dogwood Preschool
The leaders of St. Stephen’s Church and Dogwood Preschool are thrilled that this outstanding preschool relocated to our campus as of summer 2023. Read more about Dogwood here.
Register your child
When registration opens in August, please be sure to register your child for 2024-25 children’s offerings. Registration not only helps us plan more effectively; it also provides important information about your child(ren) to our staff.
The registration link will be available on this page and will be announced in our weekly communications.