Sunday Forum returns to the Fellowship Hall Guest speakers and St. Stephen’s staff will discuss a variety of topics during the Christian education hour
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fter a year of virtual forums focused primarily on conversations with each Sunday’s preacher, the Sunday Forum in its more traditional form will return on September 19. This standard of adult formation at St. Stephen’s Church will continue its practice of featuring high-quality speakers and teachers, drawing upon the best of our tradition through biblical, theological, and artistic lenses, both from within and outside the community of St. Stephen’s. In this time of transition and discernment, the forum will also provide space for dedicated engagement and conversation on related topics with the wider parish. Our hope and expectation is for all sessions to occur in person in the Large Fellowship Hall during the formation hour (from 10:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.). All sessions will be recorded and available later, on-demand.
The Forum will open with the Rev. Patrick J. Wingo, our interim rector. In fact, Pat will have the first three Sundays (September 19 and 26, October 3) in the Forum schedule, and will be joined September 26 by the Rev. Sarah Brockenbrough, the transition minister for the Diocese of Virginia. On October 10, our guest speaker will be the Very Rev. Dr. Andrew McGowan, the dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. A panel of our new clergy and lay staff, including the Rev. Will Stanley, the Rev. Cate Anthony, the Rev. John Jenkins, and Ron Brown, will speak on October 17. On October 24, we’ll welcome the Rev. Whitney Edwards, upper school chaplain at St. Christopher’s School. A three-week series will take place October 31, November 7 and 14, featuring the Rev. Thom Blair. Thom was rector of St.
Stephen’s from 1994 to 2004, and is known for his outstanding biblical teaching. On November 21, Allison Seay, associate for religion and the arts, will speak in the Forum. Allison’s presentations are always extremely popular. November 28 is the First Sunday in Advent, and there will be no Forum that day so that all can participate in our intergenerational Advent Fair. On December 12 and 19, another popular Forum speaker returns when Dr. Gardner Campbell, a St. Stephen’s parishioner and associate professor of English at Virginia Commonwealth University, will present a two-part Forum on an Advent poem (see description on page 25). The Forum will then be on hiatus until the new year. There is no Forum on September 5 (Labor Day weekend and the last Sunday for our summer schedule) nor September 12, which is “Rally Day,” when we will hold a ministry fair and fellowship time.
Good to know The Café @ St. Stephen’s is open Sundays, 8:30 a.m. until noon. Drip coffee is complimentary on Sunday mornings, and other drinks, such as espresso drinks and smoothies, are available for purchase. Grab and go snacks and pastries are also available. Pick up your beverage of choice and bring it to the Forum with you.
Journal writing as a spiritual practice Popular group returns
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ne of the many experiences I missed at St. Stephen’s during the pandemic was a class I have offered here several times, “Journal Writing as Spiritual Practice.” I have been keeping a journal for over 30 years, sometimes faithfully, sometimes less so. By Regena Stith There is something about journal writing in a group that supports my self-discipline and spirit. Writing with others builds community, and my writing is enriched by the gifts of meditation, poetry and music.
Now that we have returned to face-to-face worship and other activities, I find that I am carrying a quiet excitement for joining a gathering to begin another year of learning and reflecting through writing. Keeping a journal has a rich heritage in faith development and spiritual practice. In this eight-week class, participants will explore a variety of approaches to journaling, engage in reflective writing and incorporate meditation, poetry, music and structured exercises to deepen and enrich their writing practice. The class meets from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for eight Wednesdays beginning October 6. There is no charge, but space is limited, so advance registration is required; call the parish office, 804.288.2867.
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