The Sunday Forum
The Sunday Forum
10:10 a.m. in the fellowship hall (and livestreamed) resuming January 11, 2026.
No registration is needed.
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?