learn

Education

No matter where you are on your faith journey, we believe that Christian Education is an essential part of being a disciple of Jesus. St. Stephen’s takes this responsibility seriously to support you on this formation journey. We view Christian Education as a partnership that embodies our shared commitment to one another and to Christ whom we follow and serve. Our way of living out the promise we make at our baptisms is to “continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship.” 

We offer programs for everyone across the lifespan. Here you can find information about what we’re currently offering.

Please contact Jeremy Godwin, our Director of Formation, if you have any questions.

We hope that you will come and grow with us! 

Formation Programs

Regular Sunday Morning Formation Schedule

9:00 a.m. | Formation Hour | All Ages | *Starts September 21

  • Adults | Davis Room

  • Youth (6th - 12th Grade) | Youth Room

  • Children (K - 5th Grade)

    • 9:00 a.m. | Music Room

    • 9:30 a.m. | Formation Room

  • Children (Birth-PreK) | Nursery

A Note about Children’s Formation

Children’s Formation is split into two sections:

9:00 a.m. – Music – Each week, the children and Dr. Filippa will explore how music is such an important part of our liturgy—and how we can all participate! This interactive block will feature hand chimes, percussion instruments, games, singing, psalms, and learning to use hymnals. (No musical experience is required!)


9:30 a.m. – Stations – Each week, this half-hour will rotate between different blocks. On first and third Sundays, they will have interactive sessions on Scripture centered on the Wisdom theme (see below). On second Sundays will be worship and liturgy classes with Fr. Sandy and Archdeacon Sarah. And on fourth Sundays, the children will engage in mini mission/service projects.

Formation | 2024-2027

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new three-year formation cycle at St. Stephen’s!

We’ve done some imaginative and creative things over the past four years during and after the pandemic, as we sought to minister in a new landscape. This new three-year cycle is born out of that period of reflection and seeks to move us forward into the next phase of our life together.

This three-year cycle is a comprehensive approach to formation that will allow every single member of our parish community to participate in big and small ways. What we promise, in return, is that you will find meaningful ways to be nurtured in this lifelong process of being formed as a disciple of Jesus.

guiding principles/goals

Emotion + Experience - We bring our emotions and our experiences on our faith journeys. This cycle will foreground that connection as a way of organizing the Scripture thematically, as well as guiding how we approach the Scripture.

Spirituality - By actively seeking to name how our emotions and experiences interact with Scripture, we’ll build on this by process by examining the insights that arise and in turn, exploring how those insights lead to spiritual growth.

Connection - This process will not be undertaken alone. The ultimate goal is to invite the kind of vulnerability that leads to genuine connection by engaging with one another on this mutual journey.

Three Levels

At Home - We’ll provide a mix of physical and digital resources that align with each theme for members to engage in formation in their homes—whether they are a household of one or many. There will also be opportunities to respond back in virtual spaces and at church.

Small Groups - There will be classes (like the adult formation class at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings) as well as periodic opportunities for check-ins or activities with small groups to share insights as we move through each theme.

Church-Wide - During each theme, we’ll have at least one offering that involves the whole parish—usually a liturgy, but sometimes a lecture or other program.

Year 2 | Proverbs: Sayings For Every Season

Fall 2025

Season after Pentecost Part I: Introduction

At-Home

  • Each member of our community will receive an at-home kit for use throughout the year.

Small Group

  • Sunday Morning Formation (see schedule above)

    **beginning Sunday, September 21

    We will introduce the idea of Wisdom and how it appears in the Bible.

Season after Pentecost Part 2: Wisdom in Everyday Life

Small Group

  • Sunday Morning Formation (see schedule above)
    Each class will be exploring portions of Wisdom Literature—Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom of Solomon, and Sirach—related to aspects of our everyday life.

Church-Wide

  • CHORAL EVENSONG

    Sunday, October 19 | 4:30 p.m. | Recital Church

    Sunday, October 19 | 5:00 p.m. | Evensong | Church

    Join us for a Wisdom-themed Evensong for the Feast of Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, and Nicholas Ridley, transferred

  • WISDOM RETREAT
    Sunday, November 9 | 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Parish Hall

    Join us for a half-day retreat where we’ll explore together wisdom found in everyday objects and our use of them. Participants will be invited to bring an item special to them as part of our reflection together.

Other Formation Programs

Bible Studies 

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY - Resumes September 9
Tuesday | 7:30 A.M. | The Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams

This bible study will meet mainly on Zoom;
Zoom (Meeting ID: 842 7568 0536 | Passcode: 261181)

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY- Resumes September 11
Thursday | 10:00 A.M. | Dr. Jeremy Godwin

This bible study will meet in-person in the Conference Room.

For 2025-2026, we will be studying the book of Acts.

The Forest at Duke BIBLE STUDY  |  10:00 A.M.
Wednesday | 10:00 A.M. | The Very Rev. Sanford Key