Worship Services
Explore the range of beautiful, creative worship services offered at St. Stephen’s Church, from traditional liturgies from the Book of Common Prayer to contemplative candlelit evening services to a service in Palmer Hall especially for families with young children.
If you’ve never been to St. Stephen’s Church, you might wonder what you’ll find when you visit on Sundays. Here are descriptions of our varied services and what you can expect when you attend.
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite Two* followed by reception
5:30 p.m. Celtic Evensong and Communion*
6:30 p.m. Sunday Community Supper
8 p.m. Sung Compline (August only)
*Child care available
The Sunday after Labor Day through the Sunday before Memorial Day weekend
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite Two* (two services occurring simultaneously, one in the church, the other in Palmer Hall)
10:10 a.m. Formation for all ages*
11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite Two* followed by reception
5:30 p.m. Celtic Evensong and Communion*
6:30 p.m. Sunday Community Supper
8 p.m. Sung Compline
*Child care available
All services in the main church are livestreamed.
The Sunday morning schedule at St. Stephen’s Church includes liturgies from the Book of Common Prayer and other resources of the Episcopal Church, such as Enriching Our Worship, and the Anglican Communion, such as the New Zealand Prayer Book; hymns from the Episcopal hymnal, anthems sung by our choirs, choral and instrumental pieces from a range of traditions; and excellent preaching.
Early service: Rite One
At 8 a.m., there is a service of Holy Eucharist: Rite One (more traditional language) along with a sermon. There is no music at this service. Many people enjoy the majestic language of Rite One, and they like to begin the day in worship. This service takes place in a side chapel within the main church, called the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. Of the two side chapels, Good Shepherd is the one that is closer to the parish house.
Two 9 a.m. services
At 9 a.m., there is a service of Holy Eucharist: Rite Two (more contemporary language, though still a standard Prayer Book liturgy) with sermon, hymns, and music sung by one or more of our choirs. This service takes place in the main church. Another service take place simultaneously in the building known as “Palmer Hall.” Read more about this service below.
The 11:15 a.m. service
At 11:15 a.m., there is a service of Holy Eucharist: Rite Two in the main church, and like the 9 a.m. service, it includes a sermon, hymns, and music sung by one or more of our choirs. An informal reception follows the 11:15 a.m. service except during Lent.
The Palmer Hall Service
During the academic year (September-May), a service takes place in Palmer Hall Chapel while the 9 a.m. service is taking place in the main church. All are welcome at this Rite Two service, which is somewhat less formal than the service in the main church, and is especially attuned to the needs of families with young children. Children have important roles as acolytes, readers, and choristers. (Please note: this is not “children’s church,” but is for the entire family.) Read more about the Palmer Hall service, and watch a video, here.
Summer services
During the summer, the two large Sunday morning services (9 and 11:15 a.m.) are merged into one 10 a.m. service, and there is no Christian education hour or Palmer Hall service. A simple reception follows the 10 a.m. service, often outdoors. There is no Compline service in June or July; it resumes in August. The 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. services take place year-round.
Sunday evenings at St. Stephen’s offer a departure from the more typical Sunday morning offerings, though they are based on even more ancient Christian practices than those we use in the morning. For some, our Sunday evening offerings have provided the occasion to form a special community within St. Stephen’s Church.
Between two contemplative services–the Celtic service at 5:30 p.m. and Compline at 8 p.m.–is a relaxed time for supper and fellowship. If you would like to help with meal preparation, please contact Claire Hackley. If you would like to see the upcoming menu, follow this link.)
The Celtic service (5:30 p.m.; lasts about an hour)
If you’ve never been to the Celtic (KEL-tic) service, please know that it is especially open and inviting to those who are new to the church, or have perhaps been away for a time. The service incorporates significant periods of silence for prayer, contemplation, and stillness. There is no traditional sermon, but a brief reflection, often by a lay person. Music includes congregational hymns with piano and other instruments (though no organ), and is drawn primarily from the Celtic, folk, and classical traditions.
Diana Butler Bass wrote about the Celtic service in her book Grounded. She also discussed it in a Facebook post after visiting St. Stephen’s one Sunday evening in July 2015. The PBS series Religion & Ethics Newsweekly produced with this segment in April 2016.
What is Compline? (8 p.m.; lasts about a half-hour)
From the ancient monastic practice of ending the day in prayer and praise of God, Compline (COM-plinn) is held at St. Stephen’s every Sunday night at 8 p.m. This stunningly beautiful candlelit service features a small group of singers, “Sanctuary,” offering Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony.
The word “Compline” is from the same root as the word “complete.” As the last service of the day, it is the completion of our worship of God until the next morning, when we pray, “O Lord, open thou our lips.” In monastic communities, Compline is the beginning of “the Great Silence” lasting until the morning.
Compline begins on page 127 of The Book of Common Prayer. While this simple service is spoken in many churches, homes, schools, and communities, our Sunday evening service is entirely sung by the choir a cappella as the congregation simply sits or reclines in their pews in silence, praying, meditating or simply listening.
- Sign up for occasional emails about Compline here.
- There is a Compline page on Facebook.
- There is an order of service for Compline as it is presented at St. Stephen’s. Copies printed on card stock are available in the church, and you are welcome to take one home.
Compline takes a hiatus in June and July. August, we will provide a repertoire for the settings and motets Sanctuary will sing each week.
Faith Formation
At 10:10 a.m. on Sundays during the academic year, children and youth attend offerings for their particular age groups on the top floor of the parish house. Adults can choose between the Sunday Forum in the fellowship hall or Many Parents, One Vine in Room 14. Occasionally, other offerings are available for adults, as well, such as informal discussion groups for young adults, or our inquirers class for those who are new to the Episcopal Church.
On Sunday evenings, we often hold a gathering between the 5:30 and 8 p.m. services called “Trailheads.” These do not occur every week, but are announced in advance in our weekly communications.
The Palmer Hall Service
At 9 a.m. on Sundays during the academic year, St. Stephen’s Church offers a service of Holy Eucharist: Rite Two (more contemporary language) in Palmer Hall Chapel. Palmer Hall is a small brick building located between the playground and the memorial garden, to the east of the large stone church. The service takes place at the same time that another Communion service is taking place in the main church.
The Palmer Hall service is especially welcoming to young families with children, parents, and grandparents. In place of a traditional sermon, one of the ministers wonders with the children about the Gospel passage read during the service. Hymns are accompanied by a pianist. Palmer Hall features a “soft space” for children who want or need more room to wiggle or sit on a cushion or the rug.
Children and parents are invited to serve in the Palmer Hall service as chalice bearers, acolytes, readers, greeters and ushers, altar guild members, and flower guild members. The St. Stephen’s Choristers, our youth choir, sing in this service often.
The Palmer Hall service resumes on the Sunday after Labor Day.
Celtic Evensong and Communion
At 5:30 p.m. every Sunday evening, St. Stephen’s Church offers Celtic Evensong and Communion, a form of worship shaped by God’s beauty, stillness, and radical welcome. This service draws from the Celtic liturgical traditions of Ireland and Scotland, particularly the communities of Iona and Northumbria. In addition to prayer, the service includes poetry and speaks of God in common language. Music is largely instrumental–piano with a variety of other instruments from week to week (classical guitar, violin, cello, oboe, flute), but no organ–with some congregational singing. The service is quiet and contemplative and offers periods of silence for prayer and reflection. There is also an opportunity to receive prayer and anointing for healing for any who desire it. People arrive to pray or rest in silence in the church as early as 5:10 p.m. Here is a sample bulletin from the Celtic service; helpful information and guidance are printed throughout in italics.
Compline
From the ancient monastic practice of ending the day in prayer and praise of God, a Compline service is held every Sunday night at 8 p.m. This stunningly beautiful candlelit service features a small group of singers, “Sanctuary,” offering Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony. The service was inaugurated in September 2010. We also livestream it each Sunday night at 8 p.m. Once this 30-minute service concludes each Sunday, you’ll see a recording of the most recent service until the next livestream a week later. (Please note that Compline does not take place in June or July.)
Special Services
Information about Baptism and other sacramental rites such as Confirmation, Marriage, and Burial is available under the “About” tab.
Special services such as the Blessing of the Animals, All Saints’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, Ash Wednesday and other Lenten services, are offered throughout the year. Watch the Spirit and eSpirit for information.
How can we help?
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