Clergy Reflections

Intergenerational worship is something we already do at St. Stephen’s because it means worshiping praising God together across generations. The question is, how can we do it more intentionally, so that people of all ages can experience the deep and abiding love of God? We learned on Saturday that the 5 Hallmarks of Intergenerational Worship are Intentionality, Relationality, Dignified Reciprocity, Flexibility and Empowerment.

We gather at a moment of deep transition in the life of the Church. The world around us is shifting rapidly, and with it the assumptions that once shaped our leadership, our structures, and our sense of institutional security. In such a time, the invitation before us is not to recover a lost dominance or to refine strategies of preservation, but to rediscover Gospel-shaped imagination that has always been at the heart of Christian leadership.

If God is for us, who is against us? These are words of hope for us now, too, my friends. Now, when the Way of Jesus –  thea compassionate, merciful, healing, sharing, mutually loving, radically giving way of Jesus seems so absent and so looked down upon in our contemporary society, even by many who call themselves Christians. 

For over ten years, The SoulFisher Ministries has had the privilege of operating our summer program at St. Stephen’s. Throughout this partnership, St. Stephen’s has graciously opened its doors to our students and staff, providing a welcoming environment where young people can learn, grow, and develop a heart for service.

After emergency building repairs, Pastor Teresa encourages all to participate in the life of the church – in prayer, bible study, worship, planning and giving to St. Stephen’s.

As we approach the official 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday, July 4, may we prayerfully and humbly consider what we can do – as individuals and as a community of faith – to make the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness closer to reality for each and every person. 

Pastor Teresa reflects on the words of Bishop Desmond Tutu as she considers the emotions of Holy Week and Easter.

Pastor Teresa shares her sermon from March 8 about Phitoni’s transformational encounter with Jesus.