Connect
If you are looking for ways to connect with others at St. Stephen’s, consider one or more of these offerings. Click on the purple bar to read about each one.
Emmaus groups gather 6-12 people regularly for a time of prayer, conversation, and fellowship. The purpose of these groups is to help members connect more deeply with God and one another. Groups pattern their life together around the Four Pillars: spiritual connection, mutual care and support, prayer, and service. Some groups may be intergenerational and include people from a variety of backgrounds; others may serve as affinity groups for people of a common experience or identity. These groups may be time-limited or may meet for the long term at the discretion of members and facilitators.
Please note that the deadline to register for an Emmaus group is September 22, 2024.
Focus groups gather 5 to 15 people around a particular topic: a book, a course, a spiritual practice, etc. The purpose of these groups is to foster ownership of faith through dedicated study or practice, all while supported by others on the same journey of faith. Focus groups of different topics may pop up throughout the program year. In most cases, these groups have no prerequisite other than a curious mind and attentive heart. Three focus groups will be offered this fall. Additional details about each are in the Connect: Small Groups form. Please note that the registration deadline for these groups is September 22, 2024.
Light Comes in the Morning: A Racial Healing Book Study
Two group options: Mondays at 6 p.m. or Wednesdays at 10 a.m. beginning the week of October 6
The work of racial healing is a vital spiritual practice which draws us all closer to the world as God imagines it to be.
Digging for Gold: The Treasure of Finding Greater Faithfulness Through Fiction
Eight sessions on Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. beginning October 19
Led by parishioners James Eckblad and Riker Purcell, this group will discover lessons of faith through fiction by well-known authors.
Universal Christ Reflection group
Mondays at 6 p.m.; 8 sessions in total
The Universal Christ: How a forgotten reality can change everything we see, hope for, and believe is a sort of capstone presentation of Fr. Richard Rohr’s teachings about Christianity for the 21st century.
Being With groups gather 5 to 15 people who want to deepen their relationship with Jesus and with fellow Christians. Group gatherings are guided by Being With, a Christian formation curriculum designed by the Rev. Sam Wells. These groups meet for 10 sessions. About the program, Sam Wells says, “To find the meaning of life we need each other. We need to spend time being present and attentive to others who may be different to us, to ourselves, and to the world around us. As we do this we can discover a way to be attentive to God and discover that God is present to us… Being With aims… to create the opportunity for this to happen.”
Learn more about Being With here.
The following groups do not require advance registration. Use the Connect: Small Groups form to indicate your interest in participating in one or more of these groups.
- Young women’s book group (gathers women in a similar phase of “young adulthood” for a time of conversation around a different book each month)
- Contemplative prayer group (includes a 30-minute silent prayer period and reflection conversation)
- Earth and Soul threshold community (focuses on Celtic spirituality, John Philip Newell’s teachings, and Newell’s School for Earth and Soul)
- Greek Bible Study (gathers for an hour to read and discuss the upcoming Sunday’s lectionary passages in Biblical Greek)
- Men’s prayer groups (groups meet weekly for fellowship and prayer)
Thursday morning Bible study: The Letter to the Hebrews
October 10, 17, 24, 31; November 14, 21; December 5, 12 | 10 a.m.
Led by St. Stephen’s clergy | No registration needed
Join St. Stephen’s clergy and other intrepid parishioners for our Thursday Bible Study beginning on October 10 at 10 a.m. This fall we will study the Letter to the Hebrews. While Hebrews was traditionally viewed as one of the Pauline Epistles, modern scholarship has thrown this enigmatic letter into a more mysterious light regarding authorship and context. In any case, Hebrews contains a rich message regarding the significance of Jesus’ life and death. This study aims to help the learner reflect on each of the letter’s distinctive claims, to understand the context in which they were originally presented, and to reflect on the application of their understanding to a Christian life today.
We strive to offer a broad variety of focus groups over the course of each program year. We are excited to share that we will launch a new Spirituality of Aging small group next spring. This fall, in preparation for this group, we will convene a series of focus groups to help facilitators and staff design this program to fit the needs of our community. Please stay tuned for more information on these focus groups in the eSpirit and Spirit. You may indicate your interest in participating in one of the focus groups on the Connect: Small Groups form.
More Ways to Connect
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 are included in the registration form.
Newcomer Receptions
Next reception: September 26 | 5:30-7 p.m.
A few times during the year, the rector, members of the parish staff, and our hospitality committee host a reception especially for those who are new to this community of faith. If you’ve recently joined St. Stephen’s Church, or you have visited but have not yet decided whether this will become your church home, or if you’ve been a member and would like join in welcoming newcomers, please come to the next reception on Thursday, September 26.
These informal gatherings offer an opportunity to meet our clergy and staff and to get to know others who are discovering St. Stephen’s Church. We serve appetizers, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages.