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Community Hour
We will hold a Community Hour every Sunday starting at noon.
This hour will provide the opportunity to do a deep dive
into topics that are important to some portion of our community.
September 20 What are co-wardens and why change from Sr. and Jr. Warden? How is the Vestry changing the lay leadership structure to suit the needs of the 21st century? Does this have any impact on the by-laws? Join Mother Whitney and co-wardens Lauren Tarantino and Rich Stein to hear about what’s “in process.” We value your engagement and support of the leadership of the church and look forward to hearing your questions.
September 27
St. Stephen’s engaged in a Feasibility Study in the spring of 2026. The findings gave the leadership more questions than clear answers. The Vestry wants to share with you some “next steps” in discerning together a path forward. This Community Hour will include some small group work for those who attend toward the end of helping the Vestry listen better as well as enlisting your insight and participation.
October 4
Blessing of the Animals
at noon in front of the church
In honor of the Feast of St. Francis,
please bring your feathered and furred friends for a blessing and a small token.
St. Francis' feast day is special because it embodies the essence of his life—marked by humility, deep compassion, and a heartfelt connection with all of God's creation.
October 11
How do we ensure that St. Stephen's remains a thriving parish for future generations? Join us for a special presentation on legacy giving, stewardship, and the role our endowment plays in sustaining the mission and ministries of the church. Morgan Stanley's philanthropic advisors will share insights on planned giving and the importance of growing the resources that support St. Stephen's long-term future. We hope you'll join us for this thoughtful and hopeful conversation.
October 25
Relational Health for addiction prevention
Lynn Tidgewell, LMFT serves our community through Ridgefield Youth and Family Services. She will share relational practices families can use to make young people resilient in the face of addictive substances. Rather than expending all our effort solely on prevention, we can equip ourselves with practices which strengthen healthy relationships to address pain, anxiety, and fear.
Young people will choose what is most effective.
Are you aware of effective relational skills?
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November 8
Recognizing the body as a gift
Frequently we only speak of the body when it is broken or causing us trouble.
Yet, there is a theology of the body which recognizes its blessedness, even when it's difficult. Sue Vogelman and Mother Whitney will lead this hour to help us claim body positivity by sharing some church resources. After all, without our bodies, we couldn't develop relationships with one another.
We hope that you'll bring your body to this Community Hour.
October 18
River of Life - Discerning St. Stephen's Future
A spiritual practice which helps us recognize God's presence throughout our lives is a "River of Life" exercise. What if we applied this exercise to the life
of St. Stephen's? How might we see God at work in
our midst differently if we consider our 300 years of
life as the single life of this Body of Christ? Attendees will be introduced to this practice and assist in applying it to St. Stephen's.
November 1
Justice & Joy -These words were written by the prophet Habakkuk 2,630 years ago. We might find ourselves asking the same question...still!
Join fellow parishioners Jennifer Franz and Anne Beatty as they share how this past summer's women's retreat, entitled "The Spirituality of Trees," helped them engage this question. Come and listen. You are part of these answers through St Stephen’s. Is this a calling and our purpose?
November 15
Affordable Housing - What is It? Join with members of the Ridgefield Housing Commission for a discussion on this important topic in our community.
November 22
Want an update on the 2026 Budget? There were surprises in both costs and savings. This is your opportunity to hear all about the details from the Finance Committee. This presentation will incorporate capital costs and endowment activity.
Join us!
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Sundays, November 29-December 20 at noon
Join us for an Advent Study series - “A Way to the Manger” devotional book conversation.
Explore Christ's birth as recounted in the Gospel of Luke through the lens of the Way of Love and the seven practices of turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. With daily devotions of personal stories, modern examples, art, and invitations to prayer and journaling, the authors challenge you to discover and incorporate these practices into your own life. During Advent and Christmas, walk with the shepherds and the angels, Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, and Anna and Simeon. All of their paths—as well as yours—lead to the same destination: the humble manger where Love was born. Purchase a book from the church for $5 for your daily prayer reflections and attend Community Hour when you can to discuss Advent’s invitation, reflect in community, and pray together.