Connecting - Small Group Registration Winter-Spring 2026

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 March 8 through the week of May 10.
- 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 February 22!
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.

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.
If you'd like to join an Emmaus group, please indicate that here.

I am interested in joining a St. Stephen's Emmaus group.
Emmaus groups may be general (intergenerational, many backgrounds) or affinity-based (gathered around a common identity). Please indicate which type of Emmaus group you would be interested in joining.

"General" Emmaus group (i.e. intergenerational, many backgrounds)Men's support and fellowship group
Are there types of affinity-based Emmaus groups you'd like to see that are not listed above? Examples could include a caregivers group or a recently-bereaved group. If so, let us know what they are!
In most cases, we encourage Emmaus groups to meet weekly for the duration of the covenant period. Are you able to commit to a weekly meeting during the fall covenant period (the week of March 8 through the week of May 10)?

Yes, I can meet weeklyProbably--I may need to miss one or two sessionsNo, a weekly meeting is not possible for me right now
Our hope is to grow the small groups ministry so that all people who want to join a group are able to do so. In order to do that, we need facilitators for our groups. Are you interested in facilitating an Emmaus group?

YesNoMaybe; I need more information
If you answered yes to the question above, please indicate which type of Emmaus group you're most interested in facilitating (general or affinity). If an affinity group, please indicate which affinity (it can be one not listed above!).

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:

The Spirituality of Aging | This eight-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.

The Path Ahead will be offered at three different times:

Mondays 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. beginning on March 9

Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. beginning March 10

Thursdays 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. beginning March 12

How Does God Speak? | Wednesdays March 25, April 1, 8, 15 at 2 p.m. | A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. According to The Doctrine of The Sacramental Universe, the spiritual expresses itself through the material, and the spiritual acts through the material. God constantly speaks to us through the material world. In this group, we will talk about how that happens, and what happens if we misunderstand. Using a variety of mediums such as architecture and poetry, the group will reflect on where they experience God in the material world.
If you are interested in The Path Ahead, please indicate which group times you CAN attend (select all that work for you).

Mondays 1:30 to 3 p.m.Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. to noonThursdays 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Some focus groups meet regularly throughout the year and are open to all on a drop-in basis. See below for brief descriptions of each group. For more detail on each group, please visit ststephensrva.org/small-groups. To indicate interest in one or more of these groups, select options below.

Contemplative prayer group (includes a 30-minute silent prayer period and reflection conversation)Greek Bible Study (gathers for an hour to read and discuss the upcoming Sunday's lectionary passages in Biblical Greek)Many Parents, One Vine (gathers parents to support one another in the work of leading a family faithfully in the modern world)
Are there types of Focus Groups you'd like to see that are not listed above? If so, let us know what they are! (Examples include an Ignatian prayer group, a women's Bible study, a poetry and prayer group, a racial justice study group, etc.)
We want to offer focus groups that fit the interests of our whole community. To do that, we need lay facilitators. Are you interested in facilitating a focus group?

YesNoMaybe; I need more information
If you answered yes to the question above, please tell us what you'd like to focus on (i.e. what topic, practice, etc.).

Please indicate which special focus group you are interested in joining this winter/spring.

The Spirituality of AgingHow Does God Speak?
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.
About the program, the Rev. Sam Wells says, “To find the meaning of life we need each other. We need to spend time being present and attentive to others who may be different to us, to ourselves, and to the world around us. As we do this we can discover a way to be attentive to God and discover that God is present to us... Being With aims... to create the opportunity for this to happen.”

Click here to learn more about Being With.

We are pleased to offer two types of Being With group this spring: the original Being With and Being With: Yourself which focuses on cultivating a deep inner sense of self and spirit. Being With is recommended for those seeking to develop relationships here at St. Stephen’s Church; Being With: Yourself is recommended for those seeking a stronger relationship with the self.

Being With will meet on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Being With: Yourself will meet on Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
Please indicate below if you are interested in participating in this group.

I'm interested in joining this springs's Being With group.

Many people indicate interest in multiple types of group. Please rank the group types below based on interest from highest to lowest. We cannot guarantee that everyone will be placed into their top choice immediately, but this information is helpful as we work to compose groups for the spring 2025 covenant period. (If you're only interested in one type of group, please simply rank that group as #1.)
Should be Empty:

Connecting through Small Groups

Emmaus Groups

Focus Groups

Being With Groups

Basic Information: About You