Nursery

The nursery is open with a child care provider mid September until the beginning of June during the 10:15 service. Britta Kilbourn is serving in the nursery this year. Britta is a responsible high school senior who is wonderful with the children.

Volunteering in the nursery is an important ministry. Sometimes the nursery has many little ones that need attention. High school aged youth and adults are always welcomed. If you are interested in helping in the nursery or if you are willing to substitute when Britta is absent, please let Laura Davis know. Having help always makes the nursery run smoothly which is so important for the littlest in our congregation.

4th - 12th grade Christian Education

Come and join us on Sunday mornings at 9:00am for learning and some fun. We are very blessed to have wonderful teachers leading each group.

Here are the specifics:

4th-6th graders meet in the tower from 9:00-10:00am each Sunday. Peter Nelson and Allison de Kanel are the leaders for this group. The learning in this group is based on the Episcopal Children’s Curriculum. They use that curriculum as a launching pad for exploration of their faith and our Church. Through discussion, prayer, crafts and games, the topics are brought closer to the kids’ hearts.

7th-12th graders meet in the basement in one of the preschool rooms from 9:00-10:00am each Sunday. George Woodzell and Gloria Kavanah are the leaders for this group. They talk about matters that affect the students' lives at home, at school, and in their social worlds; George and Gloria look for guidance in the lessons they hear in church each week, as well as in outside materials that offer useful insights.

Allison, Peter, George and Gloria are looking forward to seeing you!

Kids’ Chapel

Kids’ Chapel begins at 10:15 and ends at the Offertory each Sunday. Kids’ Chapel is for children in preschool through 4th grade (older kids are welcomed - they can be helpers!) We hold Kids’ Chapel in the Parish Hall. It begins with a short service (a prayer, the Gospel, a Homily, a song and the Peace). After this the children will divide into groups for a lesson and a simple craft. Adult and high school volunteers help lead the service and the lesson time. The volunteers serve for four weeks at a time. Very little preparation is required, come and be with our children!

Unit 1: Creating Our Chapel (9/27-10/18)

Unit 2: Saints (10/25-11/15)

Unit 3: Pageant and Christmas (11/22-12/13)

Unit 4: Animals in the Bible (1/10-1/31)

Unit 5: Serving (2/7-2/28)

Unit 6: Holy Week and Easter (3/7-3/28)

Unit 7: The Parables (4/11-5/2)

Unit 8: Eucharist (5/9-5/30)

6/6/10 - Last day of Kids’ Chapel for the program year. It’s time for a celebration.

If you have questions or would like to help with any of the above ministries, please call the church and ask for Laura Davis. Thanks!

Confirmation
Confirm not Conform

The initial problem with most confirmation programs is that, from the moment a youth signs up, the assumption that they will be confirmed is in place. It's a done deal. No student would want to spend so much time in study and not reach the goal. But how can you confirm your faith without opening your heart and mind to ask what it is you really believe? The process is meant to be about exploration, not memorization.

CnC is focused on helping young people ask the tough questions and search out the answers. Through innovative classroom work, field trips, mentor relationships and the challenge to do a whole lot more than just learn a few facts; CnC lets kids take real responsibility for understanding their faith and its power. When they do -when they see the church and faith as something that truly belongs to them, rather than something they're forced to accept -it builds a bond that lasts.

At the end of the class, as a sign of their ability to take charge of their own spiritual life, each youth chooses whether or not to be confirmed. All participants, whatever their decision, are honored in a special service dedicated to their work, exploration and discoveries. In parishes that have used CnC, kids refer to the service as one of the , most meaningful experiences they've had in church.

If you in 7^th -12^th grade and are interested in this experience, please see Fr. James. The course will not work with less than eight students.

Contact person: The rector

Adult Christian Education

Our congregation has an understanding of the Christian faith that informs but does not determine what ought to be done in living the Christian life. Our education programs take into account diverse understandings of issues within and without the church. Ambiguity and difference are not only tolerated but accepted, as long as issues and questions are probed and insights are gained.

The content of our education programs for youth and adults is not a matter of setting down right belief. Rather, the aim of our teaching is to present the understandings of the inherited tradition and the questions, challenges, and understandings that arise in the contemporary church and world. In other words, our teaching attempts to present the questions, challenges, and understandings of the present without demanding a narrow orthodoxy.

Whatever the issue, teaching seeks not conformity but understanding of what the witnesses have claimed in the past and what makes sense now. In most areas there is some consensus on fundamental convictions. As grounded in Christian identity, we claim that Christ has transformed us, changed us in relationship to creation itself, given us new life. But transformation and new life do not mean uniformity of belief.

How people are reconciled with God and what this means for our understanding of the world and for what we should do --such questioning stands at the heart of a serious engagement with the faith that has been given us. This is the heart of Education for Christian Living.

Inquirers' Class     is an introduction to the Episcopal Church in the United States. These four classes give an overview of how Episcopalians fit into the complex of protestant and catholic churches. The National Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Albany, the congregation of St. Stephen's and the relationship among all three will be explored. Frank discussions include both the wonderful things about our Church, and also some not-so-wonderful things. This course is required for all adults who wish to be confirmed or received into the church, but is open to all members of the Parish Family. This course is offered several times each year. It usually meets at noon on Sundays in the rector's office.

Contact person:  Fr. James.

The Kerygma program is a Bible study curriculum covering a wide ran ge of portions of the bible and other Bible-based topics. These courses are given by Deacon Pat and Fr. James, usually on a weekday evening. They can be as short as five weeks, or as long as  two years.  The latter is a foundations course which "does" the old testament the first year, and the new testament the second. The most recent course was taught by Deacon Pat. It met Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00, but these courses have occasionally been offered at 9:00 am on Sunday morning. Topics offered in the Kerygma curriculum include Biblical Interpretation, The Psalms, Luke, John, The Parables, The Book of Revelation, Romans, The Brahms Requiem, Shalom, and many others.

Participants are asked to purchase a soft cover guide for each course. The guide directs the "homework" readings and suggests exercises to help in the exploration of the subject matter. Participants bring Bibles to class.  If you’re thinking of taking one of these courses and would like to buy a Bible, talk to Deacon Pat or Fr. James about some of the alternatives.

Every baptized person is called to ministry. The Education for Ministry (EFM) program provides people with the education to carry out that ministry. It is that vocation for which we pray at the end of the Eucharist: "And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord."

EFM is the theological education extension program of the School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. The seminar group is the nucleus of EFM. A group consists of eight to ten students and a trained mentor meeting weekly for two to three hours over the course of a nine-month year. A one-year commitment is required. Completion of the program takes four years, during which participants study the Old and New Testaments, church history, and twentieth century theology. The purpose is to provide lay members of the church with a comprehensive foundation for understanding and experiencing Christian faith.

Students are given weekly lesson assignments to study with the help of resource guides. Students are responsible for setting their own learning goals. They spend between two and four hours in study and preparation each week.

What can you expect fr om EFM? Those enrolled in the program report that EFM has helped them to think theologically, increase their understanding of the Christian heritage, deepen their faith and provide them with a new confidence in their ministry.

Through study, prayer, and reflection, EFM groups move toward a new understanding of the fullness of God’s Kingdom. This process can be illustrated by a two-rail fence. One rail is the Christian tradition. The other is the collective experience of the group’s members. The rails are linked by fence posts which represent the seminar sessions where life and study meet. The fence is grounded in the soil of regular worship which is vital to the life of the group.

Greeters

This is a new group being organized to greet all new people and families to our church. We would have a Greeter or Greeter Family at both services on Sunday to greet new people and give them information about the different programs available to them at St. Stephen’s. Also consider taking on the task of keeping up-to-date photos for the picture board in the Parish Hall Extension.

No regular meetings are required. We would have one meeting in order to organize the "Greeter" committee and obtain any suggestions you may have for the committee. Consider wearing badges showing "Greeter" the day you are volunteering.

Pastoral Care Teams

The pastoral care committee is made up of teams of two people who are on a rotating schedule.  Most of the time, the team for the week rearranges the altar flowers into smaller containers and delivers them to the sick, shut-ins and those in nursing homes and hospitals.  The visit that accompanies the flowers is what is important, and the flowers serve to remind the person that he or she is remembered by the parish.  Pastoral care teams can go together or individually on the visits, depending on the situation.  At times, there are very few parishioners ill, hospitalized or in long term care facilities.  Each team then can take flowers to the ones who donated them that week, to those listed under Birthdays or Anniversaries in the Sunday bulletin, or to elderly people known to them, not necessarily from St. Stephen’s.  As visitors, we usually learn so much from those we visit.  If you would like to be part of a pastoral team, please contact Fr. James or Deacon Pat. Marilyn Causey, scheduler

Daughters of the King

The Daughters of the King is an Order for women in the Episcopal Church, begun in 1885. Recently the Order has grown rapidly, and there are now over 300 members in our diocese alone. We take a lifetime vow to live by a rule of life, which is a spiritual discipline of daily prayer, service and evangelism.

Many of you already live by a daily rule of life. In addition to this we invite you to share in the joy of praying, studying and serving with other women in close community. The Order is a "safe place" where we can be together and support each other in Christ’s love.

Our meetings are (usually) on the third Saturday of each month, 9-11 AM. You are very welcome to join us at any time.

Contact person: Debbie Trawick or any of the daughters listed below.

DOK St. Clare Chapter at St. Stephen's: Barbara Adams, Angel Anthony, Eunice Chouffi, Marilyn Humphrey, Kabby Lowe, Julie McDonald, Debbie Trawick, Margaret Trawick, Mary Whitney, Richey Woodzell.

The Vestry

What is the Vestry?

The Vestry is the body within our congregation that, with the clergy, leads the parish.
What are the responsibilities of the Vestry?
The Vestry is responsible for personnel management and the stewardship of our money and property. The Vestry has a legal and moral responsibility to manage our congregation’s resources, including operating funds, investment, furnishing, buildings and grounds. As well as insuring the care of paid and volunteer personnel, so that they receive adequate compensation, benefits, equipment, resources, training, and support.
How does the Vestry accomplish this goal?
The Vestry engages in short and long range planning, both directly and through committees of the parish. We review our parish’s mission, our current programs, staff and facilities, and plan for the future. A strategic plan can be delegated to a subgroup, but it is the Vestry’s responsibility to make sure that such planning occurs, is formally adopted, and is supported.
Our congregation needs resources to accomplish our mission. Vestry members play a key role in gathering these resources. They actively give of their time, talent and treasure.
What is the time commitment of Vestry members?
The Vestry meets on the second Monday of each month beginning at 7:30. Each Vestry member is also assigned to a subcommittee of the Vestry. Much of the communication between meetings is completed via e-mail. Vestry members serve three year terms.
Who are the current members of our Vestry?
They are listed on our leadership page.

Vestry are elected by the parish at our annual meeting.

 Vestry meetings are open to members of the parish. Please drop by sometime and see how the vestry works.

The Messenger

The Messenger is a monthly newsletter of the parish that is mailed to all of the families and friends of St. Stephen’s. The current and past issues of the Messenger are also on the St. Stephen’s website. It contains articles about church events for the month, Christian education information, a list of birthdays and anniversaries and descriptions of various activities and ministries that make St. Stephen’s church a special place.

The editor collects articles usually by email and an updated list of birthday and anniversaries the last half of the previous month. At the end of the previous month, the editor puts the articles together to create the Messenger. Then it is sent via email to Father James and to Chris Jones. Chris puts it on the website. Father James reviews it and sends it to Kathy Miller to print and mail. It is published during the program year (September through June).

Many people contribute articles to the Messenger. Of course the clergy write, but members of the congregation also contribute: book reviews, articles about new people, articles about what's going on in the Sunday School or Youth Group, and so forth. If you would like to write something for the Messenger, please do so.

Contact: Larry Levine is now editing the Messenger. The current issue is usually available on our web site.

The Web Site

We have a web site because people often do their church searching on-line. When they do that, we want to be sure to be there, and we want to present a reasonably accurate view of who we are. Also, the web site is a resource for members of the parish. There is some basic information, such as hours of Sunday services, how to get to St. Stephen’s Church, and who is on the vestry. Items that get frequent updates include our calendar page, the prayer chain list, the Messenger, and many photographs.

Web site maintenance takes several hours per week. The monthly calendar page needs to be up to date. Some of the calendar page is based on information from of our monthly newsletter, the Messenger. Most of this work is done by the webmaster, but others have contributed, such as photographs from the youth work camp and Sunday School. Keith Nelson contributed an article and photographs about the church in Dorsett, England from which the St. Stephen’s Church buildings were modeled. George Woodzell provides pictures from youth activities from time to time.

Would you like to be involved? How about taking on the Youth pages? How about doing a "News" page, presenting articles from the web and/or newspapers about local and national issues in the Episcopal Church? There’s plenty going on these days! How about a diocesan news page? You don’t need to be a computer nut to do this stuff. Proficiency with a word processor and the ability to do e-mail would help, but not even these skills are essential.

Church Library

The St. Stephen’s Library is a congregational library for the use of all members. Library Committee members seek to select books for our collection which illuminate our Christian faith and Judaic heritage. Prayer and devotional material is chosen to guide the spiritual growth of all ages. Film and audio materials are available to be taken home and can be signed out through the church office. The library is responsible for the display of books for special occasions, i.e. Christmas, Easter etc. The loan period for all material is one month, and all books must be signed out with the circulation card (found in the back of the book) left in the metal box on the shelf. Parishioners are encouraged to donate books given as a memorial, or as a celebration of a special occasion such as a birthday. A bookplate may be inserted if desired. Readers are encouraged to write book reviews for The Messenger and to put suggestions for purchases in the library mail box.

Directions for borrowing and returning books can be found on the bookshelf. Our collection is arranged by the Dewey Decimal System – which is posted. The card catalog, located on top of the mailboxes, can be searched by author, title or subject.

Contact people regarding the Library are Jane Tatge, Marti Spang, Eunice Chouffi and Liz Varno.

Coffee Hour

The coffee hour is part of our ministry to each other and to visitors. One way to carry out this ministry is for you to be there and strike up conversations with people who may be new (or old!) to the parish.  Making connections with people is what it’s all about.

Another way to help is to do a coffee hour now and then.  There is a sign-up sheet back in the parish hall with a set of directions and suggestions. Once you find out where things are in the kitchen, it’s really pretty easy. Most people prepare (bake or buy) goodies, but that’s optional. The essentials are coffee and tea, paper cups and napkins.

There is a person who takes the responsibility for purchasing supplies when needed. Right now that person is Christine Nelson (374-3862). Robyn Stewart (831-1729) has been organizing the sign-up sheet.

The Over The Hill Gang

Do you ever wonder who replaces those burned-out light bulbs in the church, or who sands and varnishes the big oak doors, who does the painting, or who installed the new lighting fixtures in the Sunday school classrooms? All of these jobs, and countless others are done by the Over The Hill Gang, a group of people who meet each Tuesday afternoon to repair and maintain the church buildings and grounds.

We in the Over The Hill Gang don’t sing much, and the only time we hit a high note is when a hammer malfunctions and hits a thumb, but our work has compensations: the satisfaction of a job well done (usually), wonderful camaraderie, lots of jokes, after-work executive sessions at Bruegger’s, and those nifty red sweatshirts.

If you enjoy working with your hands, come join us any Tuesday afternoon. It helps if you have a sense of humor, but that isn’t required.

The Over the Hill Gang meets every Tuesday afternoon to do whatever work is needed to keep the church and grounds in good working order. We do minor electrical and plumbing work, we paint, we do carpentry, we clean gutters, we move topsoil and clear brush – in fact, we do almost anything that permits a group of people to gab and joke while they work. And after we finish solving problems at church, we adjourn to Bruegger’s, where, over hot chocolate and coffee, we solve the problems of the world.

Contact person:  George Woodzell