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Acolytes
St. Stephen’s
boasts a proud tradition of Acolyting. Acolytes are a vital part
of Eucharistic services at St. Stephen’s. Children can begin to
be a part of the Acolyte ministry when they are in the third grade.
Adult Acolytes participate in services when children or youth cannot.
Acolyting is a wonderful way for a child to understand what Episcopal
services are about and a wonderful ministry to be a part of.
Altar Flowers -
Altar
Guild
The altar guild
is an organization within our church specifically charged with assisting
the priests in preparing for the celebration of the eucharist. This
includes marking the books, laying out vestments, placing the vessels
on the credence, dressing the altar, caring for candles as well
as other duties.
Care
Committee
The Care Committee
is a wonderful ministry of St. Stephen's. We provide meals
for members of our congregation in times of need. It is a blessing
to be a part of this ministry.
Choir
The choir is
directed by Terry Garrett who joined the staff in Advent 2008.
Any adult who loves to sing and is willing to learn is welcome!
The
Parish Choir rehearses on Wednesdays, 7-8 PM and leads the Sunday
10:30 AM Holy Eucharist during the academic year.
The
choir's purpose is to support the congregation in the worship service.
We sing the glorious music of the Anglican tradition with its rich
heritage of hymnody and choral music. In addition to preparing weekly
offertories, the choir prepares a Taize musical prayer service periodically
and a major choral work every other year or so.
Larry
Douglas, organist, has provided support to our music program for
over 20 years. He is also an arranger for the choir.
Join
us . . . attend a rehearsal!
O
sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord and bless his name; proclaim the good news of his
salvation from day to day! (Psalm
96:1-2)
Coffee Hour
Assistants -
Communion
Bread
The Eucharistic bread committee is responsible for baking the communion
bread for the two Sunday services and the Wednesday evening service.
It also provides the bread for funerals and weddings and any other
special event. The type of bread made changes with each season.
These recipes were researched and presented by Lindl Graves. The
spices and flavors used were those used in Christ's time. For many
years she made all the communion bread, which started our tradition.
Episcopal
Youth Community (EYC)
EYC is open to
parish youth in grades 6-12. The mission of St. Stephen’s
EYC is to build fellowship and community with old and new friends,
deepen Christian formation, and learn how to serve God and others.
Through our time together, the group seeks to create a safe place
to encourage individualism, interaction with each other, and a deeper
knowledge of God.
Sr. High EYC (grades 9-12) meets on most Sundays, following the
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist for fellowship, food & fun. EYC members
look forward to participation in a variety of outreach, bible study
and outreach activities throughout the year.
Jr. High EYC (grades 6-8) meets Sundays during Sunday school at
10:15 a.m. for Rite 13, and on some Sundays after the 10:30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist for fellowship, food and fun (check newsletters and
announcements to find out what activities are coming up outside
of Rite 13).
WHAT IS RITE 13? J2A includes in-depth exploration of Self, Society,
Sexuality, and Spirituality, and is based on two key concepts: Womanhood
and Manhood are gifts from God; and Adulthood must be earned.
The program is built around three distinct two-year phases of development,
the first of which is called Rite 13. Rite 13 includes a liturgical
celebration of the gift of womanhood and manhood, and is designed
to celebrate individuality and creative potential, and to instruct
students in the skills necessary for successful adult participation
in the Church community and in society as a whole. Among other things
we deal with prayer, with the ways we see and encounter God, with
possessions and their importance in our life, and with trust in
God on our faith journey together. Every effort is made to keep
this process experiential, with a hands-on focus. Perhaps more than
anything else, all activities are geared to build community, to
establish trust and safety, to remind the youth again and again
that this is their church, and they are safe and welcome within
it.
Funeral Reception Committee -
Greeters
Hospital Visitors
Lectors,
Eucharistic Ministers, Beyond-the-Altar Ministers
A Lector
is the person who, coming from within the congregation, reads the
First Lesson at Sunday 10:30 A.M. Holy Eucharists and Festival Eucharists.
Eucharistic Ministers bear the chalice at the communion rail
for all Holy Eucharists – Wednesdays, Sundays, Festival Days.
As appointed, they read / lead Lessons, Psalms and the Prayers of
the People.
Beyond-the-Altar Ministers take bread and wine from the Sunday
eucharists to members who are unable, physically, to join parishioners
at a regular services. They lead the two or three gathered folk
in a brief service, recalling some of the morning’s service for
them, and distributing the communion elements as they conclude with
some of the traditional words from the Holy Table.
Parishioners who wish to be involved in these ministries are invited
to make their interests known to the Rector. We welcome more participants!
(The Sunday 8 A.M. eucharist and the Wednesday 5:30 P.M. eucharist
are always in need of more eucharistic ministers, as is the beyond-the-altar
ministry.)
Mandala Ministry
Men
of St. Stephen’s
The Men of St.
Stephens is an organization open to all male parishioners. We openly
invite all men of the parish to come and explore our mission with
us. The Men of St. Stephen’s goal is to balance outreach, fellowship,
and Spiritual activities in the direction of a productive and healthy
Christian community.
Newcomers Committee
Newsletter
La Carta de San
Esteban is St. Stephen's monthly newsletter. It is a highly orchestrated
effort, but still a labor of love.
The heart of the newsletter is our content wrangler, who is tireless
in gathering information from clergy, ministry chairs, parishioners,
and diocesan contacts. There's also the matter of keeping evergreen
material current with the latest staff and vestry members, and church
life schedules. It's a big job!
The monthly content is sent to our paste-up artist who arranges
the content along with any contributed photos, or embellishments
to make the newsletter fun and attractive. A couple of times a year,
we produce special insert pages for graduation, convention, and/or
any time there is content that requires more space.
After close inspection of the finished product, it goes to a third
party printer, who delivers the newsletter at a specific time for
the Fold 'n Stuff ministry to make sure it gets to your mailbox.
The St. Stephen's newsletter is a welcomed, monthly arrival for
parishioners who want to keep informed about activities of the church.
Many members who have moved away still receive the St. Stephen's
newsletter, and all readers' input is invited.
Outreach: Beyond our
Walls
Receptions (Special Events)
Saints
and Sinners (Dinner
group)
Saints &
Sinners is a fellowship-focused ministry. Parishioners join into
groups of 6-8 adults (married or single) that meet once a month
for dinner and fellowship. The idea is that we do not really know
each other until we have broken bread together. And as we come to
know each other better, we can become more effective members of
the Body of Christ.
If you are new, or relatively new to our church and want to get
better acquainted, Saints and Sinners is definitely the place for
you.
The dinners are very simple and are served with an emphasis on fellowship.
Members host dinners in their homes or at a location of the host’s
choice. Usually the hosts prepare the main course, and guests bring
side dishes, bread and wine, or dessert. Each group will plan their
own dinner dates and times (typically done at the end of the meal).
The groups meet once a month for four months, on a date convenient
to the group members. After 4 months, a coordinator will randomly
draw names and establish new groups.
Everyone is encouraged to join Saints & Sinners. Newcomers will
make new friends and feel the community of St. Stephens. Long time
members will get to know their fellow parishioners better. Everyone
will have a great time! Signups will continue until Rally Day in
September.
Please join us!
Stuff & Fold
Ushers
Ushers play a
vital role in the service at St. Stephen’s. This group of people
is normally the first contact a visitor may have with our community.
During the year Usher’s are scheduled for the regular Sunday services,
funerals, weddings, and other special occasions.
Currently there are 9 ushers for the 8:00 a.m. service and 14 for
the 10:30 a.m. There is always a place for additional ushers if
you would like to volunteer please contact the church office. Please
keep in mind this group is open to both men and women of the church.
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