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Youth Ministry Welcomes You Join Us!

At St Stephen’s, our goal is to encourage young people to accept doubt as part of the journey to know, to love and to serve Christ, and to support their church and one another in the midst of the busyness of life in Lamorinda. Please reach out for more information.  

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Youth Community Service  & Youth Group Program (4th Grade through High School)

This program, which launched in September 2022, is to bring the youth of St. Stephen’s together to serve members of the greater community, build connections within our own St. Stephen’s community and also offer the more traditional Youth Group elements such as developing a relationship with God, fellowship, and religious formation. Each year we take on a different theme such as homelessness, food insecurity, etc. Through their experiences, our youth will further understand and explore these issues. Meetings are typically Sunday evenings (4:00-5:00pm) with additional volunteer experiences throughout the year.

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Some volunteer experiences include: 

  • Coordinating and leading a Thanksgiving Food Drive to support Monument Crisis Center

  • Baking pies and serving food to homeless clients at a soup kitchen in San Francisco.

  • Creating holiday cards to send to St. Stephen’s parishioners who are unable to attend church.

  • Donating Xmas stockings to participants of the Winter Nights Safe Parking Program in Pittsburgh, CA.

  • Serving food and play games with homeless families at Winter Nights in Walnut Creek.

  • Volunteering at an urban garden in Oakland.

  • Helping host parish events including: St. Stephen’s Day, Trunk-or-Treat, Mardi Gras Pancake Dinner & Olympics.

  • Sorting food at a food bank.

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Confirmation

Every other year, high schoolers are invited to participate in the Rite of Confirmation, including a 1.5 year preparatory course. The class includes  classroom learning, field trips, volunteer outings, retreats, and much more.

 

Confirmation is often understood as a rite of passage for youth to become fully-fledged adult members of the church with their own beliefs and commitments, separate from their parents.

 

The course is an opportunity for them to grapple with faith, doubt, and what it means to be a Christian. Please contact our parish administrator for more information. 

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Acolytes

The acolytes at St. Stephen’s play an integral role in Sunday morning Eucharists and other special services at Christmas, during Holy Week and Easter. Depending on the service, acolytes serve as crucifer, torch, gospel bearer, clergy cross, and as thurifer at Christmas and Easter. Acolytes assist the clergy and help lead the congregation in worship.

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Serving as an acolyte is a fantastic way to learn more about the church service and be valued part of our community.

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Sunday Morning, Afternoon, and Evening

St. Stephen’s is bustling from 9am to noon and there are many ways for your youth to plug in to the worship, the learning, and the work:

  • Youth Sunday School at 9am 

  • Serving as an acolyte at the 10am service

  • Being a barista at the espresso bar after church

  • Serving with parents as an usher or on a hospitality team 

  • Volunteering in Sunday school or the nursery

  • Being a reader during the service

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All-Ages Events

There are many ways for our entire community to be together for worship, fun, and formation:

  • Parish retreat at the Bishop’s Ranch in May

  • Annual Woods-to-Waves fundraising hike at St. Dorothy’s Rest

  • Holy Week, including Maundy Thursday foot-washing

  • Easter Sunday 9am family service

  • Christmas Pageant and family service

  • “Feast and Festival” days throughout the year

  • Sunday Morning Instructed Eucharists

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