Learning

We hope and strive to encourage each of our members in his or her spiritual journey, arriving at new perspectives by a variety of means, and through different experiences, including adult formation, meditation groups, worship, and study groups.

Adult Education

Our parish offers a robust environment geared toward adult learning in various settings. Offerings include a regular series of educational lectures and discussions, which often take place between the early and later services on Sundays. As St. Stephen's is situated in Middlebury, a college community, we have access to a wide range of scholars, many of them from within the parish itself.  Speakers also visit from outside of Middlebury, bringing a range of talents to our adult formation program.  We make a concerted effort to support the spiritual life of our members by strengthening their faith through discussion, reading, and attendance at lectures.

We are also committed to connecting to the larger community of Christians in Addison County and throughout the region, being aware that many resources exist for exploring the Christian faith and encouraging individual Christians at different stages in their path through life.

In recent years, our former rector led parishioners on a tour of Middlebury College's Museum of Art exhibit of Italian Renaissance panel painting.. In 2010, Br. Robert Sevensky, Superior of the Order of the Holy Cross, an Anglican Benedictine monastic order, preached at both Eucharists and, in between, offered a class on monastic spirituality. Another highlight was a lively discussion about Phyllis Tickle's recent work The Great Emergence. Our former rector, Fr. Terry, also offered lectures on fundamental themes running through New and Old Testaments, Cistercian monastic architecture and the Bendectine Rule. Last year closed with a display of collected Nativity scenes from around the world, both for general public viewing, and then in the church throughout Advent.

 Please check back periodically on the Parish Event Calendar for upcoming events.

Children's Christian Formation

In order to respond to the growing number of young families within the parish in recent years, St. Stephen's has made its formation program for children a priority. We now offer a monthly family service providing interactivity for the children while giving support to parents and guardians. In addition to weekly childcare services during the 1atter morning service, a more formal children's gathering is also held monthly. This group is led by either one of the parents or another adult parishioner, and it is usually focused on that Sunday's Gospel.

St. Stephen's continues to experiment with ways to further appeal to family needs and to make itself available to the wider local community.This past year, a parish family lunch made its debut with about a dozen families in attendance. A foyer group for young families is well patronized. Parishioners also distributed candy outside the church during Middlebury's annual Halloween Spooktacular. Each year, all anticipate the annual Christmas Pageant at St. Stephen's, which brings together parish children and their peers in a reenactment of the Nativity complete with live animals, and sometimes a laugh or two.

Fellowship

In addition to adult formation, a Fellowship program was just formed. The intent of the program is to ensure that opportunities for fellowhips are planned so that people can acquaint themselves with one another and can feel connected to the community that is our church.

This group jumpstarted 2011 by holding its inaugural event, an Ice Skating & Bonfire Party at the McGuire's, this past January. They also released their first newsletter edition. If you want to join in planning some of the events, or for more information about upcoming fellowship activities, please contact the Parish Office.