• 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 4 through the week of December 13.
    • 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 24!

    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.
  • 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.
  • 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?
  • 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?

  • 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.

  • The Papal Encyclical on Artificial Intelligence | Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for six weeks beginning on October 6 | This small group will gather over the span of six to eight weeks to study and discuss Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV’s recent encyclical on artificial intelligence (AI). Chapters of the document address the implications of AI for warfare, work and freedom, human dignity, and other topics.

    The Experience and Spirituality of Aging | Wednesdays at 10 a.m. beginning October 7; Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. beginning October 8 | 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 “let go” and shift from doing to being? How is God calling me now, and what is my passion and purpose? This program will emphasize group participation, supported by short readings and videos, poetry and prayer, and exploration of contemplative practices.

    Sacred Ground: Exploring Race through the Lens of Faith | Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m beginning October 8 | Sacred Ground is a dialogue-based small group that utilizes videos, readings, and personal reflections to explore race and racism in the American historical context, through the lens of faith. Developed in partnership with the Episcopal Church and adapted for use in our small group setting, this facilitated curriculum will guide us over the course of eight to ten sessions this fall. 

    Moby Dick: A Spiritual Odyssey | Tuesdays October 6, 13, 20, 27 at 2pm | This small group will gather over the course of six to eight weeks to read and discuss the epic tale of Moby Dick, by Herman Melville. Participants will follow Captain Ahab on his obsessive voyage to hunt down the white whale that wrecked his ship and bit off his leg.  

    Love God, Love God’s World | Mondays from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. beginning October 19 | This small group will follow the recently released nine-week curriculum, Love God, Love God’s World, which utilizes videos, readings, and personal reflections to explore and encourage our care and stewardship of God’s creation. Developed by the Episcopal Church with a format similar to Sacred Ground, this curriculum helps participants discover ways to learn, pray, advocate, and conserve.

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

  • 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. These groups are especially meaningful for newcomers or others who want to deepen their faith and their connection with others in the St. Stephen's community.

  • 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.

     

  • Basic Information: About You

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • What is your age?
  • With which gender do you identify?
  • Which Sunday service do you primarily attend at St. Stephen's?
  • Choose as many as apply:
  • How long have you been affiliated with St. Stephen's?
  • Have you been part of a small group before?
  • Small groups meet at various times during the week. Are there any times of day during which you absolutely cannot meet?
  • Are there any days of the week during which you absolutely cannot meet?
  • 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. (If you're only interested in one type of group, please simply rank that group as #1.)
  • Should be Empty: