Adult Ministry
To follow Jesus means to be his disciple — which means “student” — and for all us students, there is always more to learn about scripture, tradition, and the practices of living a Christian life. In keeping with tradition, we do that together as a community of practice. The basic idea is that by living our lives in imitation of Jesus, we become more like him: generous, free, merciful, loving, oriented toward justice, able to forgive, and above all, faithful to God. Below are examples of current and past adult ministry programs that the St. Stephen’s community has embraced.
1
The Everyday Spirituality Book Group
Talking about books is a way to come together to talk about our faith in relation to our lives and the issues we face everyday. We meet every other month (always on a Wednesday in the early evening) to discuss a book and maybe even hear from the author. Anyone can attend, drop in when the book seems interesting, and volunteer to choose a book and moderate a session. Also, NO guilt if you come but haven’t read the book!
It is our hope that this group can become part of your spiritual formation and part of your experience of the St. Stephen’s community!
Books we have read recently include:
-
Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans
-
The Thank You Project: Cultivating Happiness, One Letter of Gratitude at a Time by Nancy Davis Kho
-
The Night Lake: A Young Priest Maps the Topography of Grief by Liz Tichenor
-
No Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler
2
St. Stephen’s Book Club
St. Stephen’s Book Club meets at 10am on the 4th Tuesday, eight months of the year in the parish hall. We take December and the three summer months off. We meet for fellowship and refreshments at 10 o’clock and then move on to the book review and usually very lively discussion. The Book Club is always looking for new members and we are happy to have you visit any meeting whether you have read the book or not.
3
Night Readers
We gather four times a year, on the first Monday evening in Feb, May, August and November, at 6:30pm. We meet in a parishioner’s home where we socialize and then discuss a chosen book. Visitors are always welcome!
4
Wednesday Night Bible Study
While currently on hold, we look forward to resuming our Wednesday night Bible study, gathering together to share a meal, to tell stories, and to learn and listen together while reading the Bible. We use this time mid-week to strengthen our faith and develop relationships with one another and with the living God revealed to us in scripture.
5
Anti-Racism
As part of the Episcopal Church’s commitment to Becoming a Beloved Community, St Stephen’s has undertaken a series of Anti-Racism curricula and discussion groups. From the Fall of 2021 to the Spring of 2022 we convened two circles working our way through the Sacred Ground program.
6
Seasonal Programs in Advent and Lent
During the seasons of Advent and Lent, we offer additional programs to enrich our members’ spiritual life. Previous programs have included additional Wednesday night discussions, Sunday morning programs (between services), and material to take home and develop into a personal practice for individuals and families.
7
Weekend Retreats
A “Retreat” is a time set apart, when parishioners spend time together as a community. Talking, learning, sharing meals, and often just “wasting time with God” strengthens our friendships and shared commitment to spiritual growth. An all-parish retreat is held each year at The Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg; the men gather at St Dorothy’s Rest for a weekend Men’s Retreat every spring.