Connecting - Small Group Registration Fall 2025 Logo

  • Connecting through Small Groups

    At St. Stephen's, faith-based small groups enable parishioners to build deep relationships with God and with one another. We are excited to offer a full complement of small groups this fall. All the information needed to register can be found in this form.

  • We are excited that you're interested in joining a small group. Below you will find some important information to help guide your registration process.

    • Most groups will run from the week of October 5 through the week of December 8.
    • We hope to connect everyone who is interested in small groups with one of the options they're interested in; however, it is not always possible to accommodate individual constraints.
    • Registration closes on September 21!

    If you have any questions or feedback as you fill out this form, please reach out to the Rev. Cate Anthony. 

    Wondering which small group is the best fit for you? The chart below helps compare the qualities of each type of group (Emmaus, Focus, and Being With). Click on the image to see it up close.

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  • Emmaus Groups

    Emmaus groups gather 6-12 people regularly for a time of prayer, conversation, and fellowship. The purpose of these groups is to help members connect more deeply with God and one another. Groups pattern their life together around the Four Pillars: spiritual connection, mutual care and support, prayer, and service. Some groups may be intergenerational and include people from a variety of backgrounds; others may serve as affinity groups for people of a common experience or identity. These groups may be time-limited or may meet for the long term at the discretion of members and facilitators.

  • Focus Groups

    Focus groups gather 5 to 15 people around a particular topic: a book, a course, a spiritual practice, etc. The purpose of these groups is to foster ownership of faith through dedicated study or practice, all while supported by others on the same journey of faith. Focus groups of different topics may pop up throughout the program year. In most cases, these groups have no prerequisite other than a curious mind and attentive heart.

  • We are delighted to offer a variety of special focus groups this term. Below is a list of groups with details about each offering:

    Revelations in Literature and Liturgy | Tuesdays 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., October 14 – November 18 | We all have occasional moments of clarity, enthusiasm, and insight, when everything makes sense.  Wordsworth called them “spots of time.”  In scripture, some of these moments are also frightening and convincing.  For all of us, these moments may be life affirming and even life changing. Of course, these experiences are difficult to describe.  We will read and discuss a variety of attempts to articulate the inarticulable.  The goal is to become aware of these attempts and to build a language to think through our own moments. 


    The Experience and Spirituality of Aging | Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., October 7 – November 18 | This seven-week program will provide a space for building community among older adults as we explore the challenges and rewards of aging within a spiritual context. Together we will explore questions such as: Who am I as I age? How do I face new challenges at this time of life? How do I "let go" and shift from doing to being? What is my passion and purpose? How is God summoning me now? The program will emphasize group participation, supported by short readings and videos, poetry and prayer, and exploration of various contemplative practices. 


    Awakened Faith: Confronting Racism with Gospel Values | Thursdays 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., October 16 – December 11 | Please join us for a book study and discussion small group. Together we will seek to understand the history of the white church’s complicity in establishing and sustaining systemic racism. We will look inward to identify our own biases as we also dive into the Gospel’s call to justice, especially racial justice. Participants will develop the ability to have productive conversations about race using new insights and their own Christian values. 


    The Labyrinth: Walking a Sacred Path | Wednesdays 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., October 29 – November 19 | Are you curious about our new labyrinth and wonder how to use this ancient spiritual tool in your life? Come join us for an interactive discussion of Lauren Artress’s book, Walking a Sacred Path — Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool. At the time of its publication, Artress was Canon for Spiritual Ministries at Grace Cathedral (Episcopal) in San Francisco. Her book makes a good case for the labyrinth as a sacred space, as an embodied ritual, that unlocks the imagination and the inner resources of soul. Participants should acquire the book before the class begins and have read the first two chapters before the first session. Following the conclusion of the class, we will have an opportunity to enjoy an Advent Walk on our very own St. Stephen’s labyrinth. Walking the Labyrinth has reemerged today as a metaphor for the spiritual journey and a powerful tool for transformation. Come join us and see. 

  • Being With Groups

    Being With groups gather 5-15 people who want to deepen their relationship with Jesus and with fellow Christians. Group gatherings are guided by Being With, a Christian formation curriculum designed by the Rev. Sam Wells.

  • Being With groups are on hiatus for fall 2025. This small group will return in spring 2026. 

  • Basic Information: About You

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