St. Stephen’s
                      Episcopal Church

Worship:
     Saturday 5:00 pm
     Sunday 8:00 & 10:30 am
     Classes 9:30 am

 

 

 

About

 

What to expect on your first visit...

If this is your first time visiting St. Stephen's, or for that matter, any Episcopal Church, we welcome you.  You may want to check out the national Episcopal Church’s Seekers Center to learn more about worship in the Episcopal Church.  We offer this brief description of what you may expect on your first visit to St. Stephen's.

Entering St. Stephen's Buildings

If you park in the north parking lot, you will follow the sidewalk toward the south and center of the campus and enter the church through doors located on the north side of the patio.  This is also the handicapped accessible entrance. 

If you park in the small south lot, you will follow the pathway between buildings and across to the doors on the north side of the patio. 

Greeters, clearly identified by red ribbons, will be located at the entrance to help you with any questions you may have about the service or directions.

Worship

As you enter the Sanctuary, you will notice an atmosphere of serenity and reverence.  Most Episcopalians try not to talk to one another in church before a service, but instead to use this time for personal meditation and devotions.  You may notice that some worshippers bow to the altar on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for Christ. 

Children are welcome at all St. Stephen's worship services.  We have noticed that young children are most likely to follow the actions of the service if they sit up front where they can see.

The seating at St. Stephen's is not reserved and there is always room for visitors.  An usher will give you a printed worship bulletin that will list page numbers in the blue hymnal and the red prayer book.  The scripture readings are printed in the bulletin, along with additional service music and psalms.  

On the left side at the front of the church there is a pulpit, where the Lessons are read.  Often the Sermon is preached from the center aisle just outside the altar. At the top of the center aisle, just outside the altar rail is the baptismal font, placed at the front of the church as a reminder that baptism is the entry point into the life of the church for all Christians. 

We stand for the Gospel, sit to hear the other lessons, sermon, and announcements, and stand to sing, and kneel or stand to pray.  Members of the congregation will be glad to help you follow along in the prayer book, and you may stand, sit, and kneel with the congregation, as you feel comfortable. 

Any Christian who has been baptized is welcome to participate in receiving Holy Communion, regardless of age.  Visitors who are not baptized Christians are invited to the altar rail to receive a blessing. 

At the end of the service some persons kneel for private prayer before leaving. Others sit to listen to the organ postlude. 

Following the service, the clergy greet worshipers as they leave. 

Dress

You will notice that the clergy and lay people serving at the altar wear special garments to signify their different ministries. The congregation's dress is quite diverse with people dressed in everything from blue jeans to business suits. 

Most clergy, eucharistic ministers, and acolytes will wear a long, white vestment called an alb. Over it, ordained ministers wear a stole, a narrow band of colored fabric. Deacons wear the stole crossed over one shoulder, priests over both shoulders. Choir vestments usually consist of an under-gown called a cassock (usually black) and a white, gathered over-gown called a cotta.

At the Holy Eucharist a priest frequently wears a chasuble (a circular garment that envelopes the body) over the alb and stole. Stoles and chasubles, as well as altar coverings, are usually made of rich fabrics. Their color changes with the seasons and holy days of the Church Year.

Names and Nametags

When you visit St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, you will be our respected and welcome guest. You will neither be singled out in an embarrassing way, asked to stand before the congregation, nor to come forward.   We do ask that, along with all the other worshippers, you wear a nametag so that everyone may learn one another’s names.

We are a pretty informal place.  Adults address our rector, The Rev. Gregory Fry, by his first name, Greg. Children call him "Father Greg."   

The congregation of St. Stephen's warmly welcomes you.  We look forward to greeting you personally, and hope that this brief introduction will help you feel at ease when you visit.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church | 2310 N 56th Street Phoenix, AZ 85008 | 602.840.0437