Junior & Senior High Youth Formation

St. Stephen’s offers a variety of youth programs and activities for those in the sixth  through twelve grade.  Each program is a part of our Christian Formation program for youth and young adults and provides our youth a wide variety of opportunities for involvement in the church and the community.

If you have questions, contact Shannon Eng, Youth Minister

Facebook: SaintStephens Orinda
Note: According to Facebook policy, you must be 13 years to register.

St. Stephen’s Youth Fall Calendar…click here!

Youth Permission Form

Upcoming Events:

Happening 29, Mar. 2-4^th 2012:  A Meaningful and Spiritual Retreat for High School DioCal youth.  Experience a powerful weekend of new friends, good times, and WOW moments.  Contact Shannon for details.

Sunday Morning Faith Formation for Youth

Junior High Sunday School meets in the Youth Lounge and the High School Group meets in the small side of the Youth Lounge.  Both meetings begin at 10:00 a.m.

Junior High and High School classes focus on preparing for life’s many transitions while building a lively teen community.  Our goal is to provide a place for young people to experience the freedom of being who they are without being judged or evaluated, as well as a place to learn about the Christian faith, enjoy fellowship and build community with new and old friends.

St. Stephen’s 5^th annual Youth Mission Trip

From June 10 – 17, we will be partnering up with the Diocese of Spokane to work on both urban ministries and renovation projects.  To assist in creating an Episcopal youth mission site serving West Central Spokane and beyond, we are fundraising to purchase sleeping cots to furnish the youth community room at St. John’s.  We will also be venturing to an Episcopal camp in Idaho, Camp Cross, where we will be working on renovation projects such as painting an altar and building storage sheds.  Part of our trip we will be staying in Spokane at the youth mission center volunteering with urban ministries and the later part of the trip we will be staying at an Episcopal camp doing rennovation work. 

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation please send a check to St. Stephen’s with “Mission Trip” in the memo.  You can also go on line and make a donation on your credit card.  Thank you for your support!  Contact Shannon Eng for more details.

Faith Formation Milestones

Rite 13 and Confirmation are two six week courses designed to help our youth deepen their knowledge of themselves and their journey in faith.

The Rite 13 Experience:
The Rite 13 course is the “Milestone” offered for those nearing or just past the age of 13.  Each class will have a focus, beginning with who we are.  The next five topics are; Search, Find, Reflect, Vision and Commitment.  Clergy and guest speakers will be invited to meet with the group.  The Rite 13 course experience prepares those who are involved to participate in the Rite 13 Ceremony; a Sunday morning liturgical celebration in which the whole congregation honors the youth and their parents.

Confirmation Class:
Designed for those who have compelted Rite 13. For our youth in high school Confirmation Class is a six week course.  This class, led by our clergy, prepares our youth for participation in the Sacrament of Confirmation celebrated by our Bishop.

This is the Milestone on the Journey of faith in which participants renew the promises made for them by their parents at Baptism.

St. Stephen’s Acolytes are an outstanding group of young people (grades 6 through 12) that play an integral role in Sunday morning worship services and other special occasions.  Our Acolytes work in teams to assist clergy and the congregation throughout the service.  Acolytes have the opportunity to learn about the service and its many levels of meaning as they are involved in all aspects of the service including the Procession, the Gospel Reading, the Offertory, the Holy Eucharist and the Recession.   Please contact our acolyte director Peter Gutzwiller with questions 949-8662.

Youth Outreach Program
The St. Stephen’s Youth Outreach Program (SSYO) organizes and directs the outreach activities of the middle school and high school youth of St. Stephen’s.  Over the past several years, the SSYO have collected baseball gloves, held car washes and raffles and provided baby-sitting to raise funds to reach out and help the less fortunate.  We have also visited and volunteered at a variety of shelters and retirement homes.  The SSYO program unites all the different youth groups of St. Stephen’s to coordinate and facilitate the outreach events.

Youth Community Service Retreat
Each year, we have a great weekend full of hiking among the redwoods, helping the planet, hanging out with friends and putting our faith into action at St. Dorothy’s.

Join us for monthly Pancake Breakfasts to support the Youth Mission Trip.