Return of Wednesday Night Live - Weekly Soup Suppers - and Welcome Diane Hightower

Dear Saint Stephen’s,

Next week we will resume our Wednesday Night Live program (on September 7), our weekly gathering for learning opportunities for all ages, music and choir, fellowship, pastoral care, and an opportunity to deepen our faith and relationships with each other. I love Wednesday nights and how they play a critical role in my own faith development, and I know many of you feel the same way. We have Bible studies, a knitting circle, a writing group, special programming, children’s and youth activities, music offerings, nursery, and more. You can learn further details here. About once a month, we will have a special Wednesday night dinner added into the Wednesday Night Live mix (and we hope these dinners will become more frequent in 2023), the first of these will be for our kickoff on September 7. 

Beginning Sunday, September 11, our monthly Soup Supper will become a weekly event on Sunday evenings, which we will call a Simple Community Supper. I am pleased to share that we have hired Diane Hightower to coordinate meals including our Community Supper. Diane will prepare a simple soup and bread meal including a vegetarian option immediately following the Celtic Service every week. All are welcome to attend. Diane will also help to prepare meals for different ministry areas as needs arise. We are excited about how Diane will enhance our many ministries and help us extend hospitality and build our sense of community.   

Besides WNL and weekly Sunday suppers, other exciting ministries are in the works. We hope to launch a Sunday morning parents group soon, we are adding Children’s Chapel at the 11:15 a.m. service on September 11, and our art exhibitions are returning this month. I give thanks every day for the creativity, vibrancy, and passion of our community and look forward to gathering with you for Wednesday Night Live and our Sunday Simple Community Suppers this fall. 

Faithfully, 

The Rev. John B. Burruss

Rector