How can I know what’s going at St. Stephen’s?
The calendar page is the most current page, so check there if you need to know if an event is still happening (in case of weather-related cancellations, for example). In addition, we have a Facebook page and an Instagram account, and we send out an e-blast every Thursday evening. You can sign up for the weekly email by clicking here.

What does a normal Sunday morning look like?
Most Sundays, we have quiet Morning Prayer with Communion at 8 am, and Holy Eucharist with choir & music at 10 am. The third Sunday of every month, we have Lay-Led Morning Prayer where you will be guided through the service by trained worship leaders and hear from licensed preachers. Our worship services include prayers, readings from the Bible, a sermon, and a celebration of Holy Communion (also known as Holy Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper). Coffee Hour, a time for coffee, treats, and fellowship, takes place after the 10 am service.

Does St. Stephen’s stream their services online?
Our 10 am services are live streamed on our website and YouTube every week. The streaming links can be found here.

Do you have Worship opportunities during the week?
Yes. We offer online Morning Prayer Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 am on Zoom, the link for which is found on our home page. Click on the “Midweek Morning Prayer” block.

Are children welcome at St. Stephen’s?
Absolutely! Children are welcome at all services. Their wiggles and giggles are a blessing and a sign of God’s love. The second Sunday of each month, our 10 am service is devoted to celebrating our relationship with family, friends, and Jesus and is especially appropriate for young children, worship features a story sermon and activities/crafts after church..

Is there a Sunday School Program? YES!
This summer we hired a new Director of Children’s Ministry, Ms. Jennifer Dugan. Miss Jenn will oversee our new Sunday School program which is primarily geared towards children ages 3–9 and draws upon the Godly Play® curriculum. Godly Play utilizes Montessori methods and encourages children to explore Bible stories through wonder, imagination, and hands-on response. Children will gather in the classroom each Sunday between 9:50 and 10:00 AM to settle in. They will rejoin the congregation in time for Eucharist. On lay-led Sundays (the 3rd Sunday of each month), they will remain in the classroom for the entirety of worship. Click here to register!

Do you have nursery care at St. Stephen’s?
Nursery Care is available every fourth Sunday during 10 am worship.

Can I help out during the services?
Kids (4years+) and adults, Rev. Erin Flinn would love to invite you to join her in worship. This could look like carrying the cross, helping her set the altar for Communion, reading scripture, helping the ushers collect/bring up the offering, even ringing the bell! We will help each kid learn their task and practice so that they can feel confident helping out. Members are invited to learn how to lead Morning Prayer and possibly preach.

Does St. Stephen’s offer programs for young adults?
Yes! St Stephen’s is blessed be part of a cohort of congregations that are part of to a two year innovative process with Communitas Innovation Hub at Yale Divinity School. We host events semi-monthly for young adults to gather, to build community engagement, discover the spiritual needs of right now, to have fun and to make friends. Recent activities include: Forest Bathing in September and a craft activity of Cocoa and Cards in November. This is a safe and fun outlet for young adults to engage in their community and meet new friends. For more information, check out our web page for Young adults.

Where is St. Stephen’s located?
St. Stephen’s is just up the hill from the Goodspeed Opera House. Our address is 31 Main Street, East Haddam, CT. For directions scroll down to the bottom of any page on our website.

How do I become a member?
Membership begins by attending worship services on Sunday morning. Meet some of our friendly people and introduce yourself to our Priest, Rev. Erin Flinn. If you think this is the spiritual home God is calling you to choose, we invite you to sign up for our eNews and get involved! Membership at St. Stephens is defined by regularly attending worship services and sharing of time, talent and treasure. Rev. Erin also invites you to join her for a cup of tea. You can email her at reverin@ststeves.org.

Do I have to give money?
As a community in Christ we are called to share the gifts that God has given us. For many this means sharing gifts of time, talent, and financial support. The financial support and generosity we do receive, helps plant the seeds that enable St. Stephen’s to grow in our community, and provide a church home for you and for all to come through our door. St Stephen’s is entirely self-funded. Giving financial support is not a requirement of membership. We are grateful for every gift we receive. If you wish to give to the church you can do so here.

Is St. Stephen’s accessible to those with physical challenges?
Yes! Our parking lot, sanctuary, chapel, parish hall and kitchen are all on the same level. Our nursery, children’s classroom and handicapped bathroom are all accessible via ramp to the left of the main entrance. Our admin office and Rev. Erin’s office are also accessible via a handicapped ramp. During worship, we have multiple places that can accommodate a wheelchair or walker. While there are times in the service where we stand or kneel, you are invited to take a prayer posture that works for your body. During the distribution of Communion, anyone is invited to receive from their pew at any time, for any reason, just let our ushers know. Our goal is to put your body at ease during worship. We always welcome feedback on making St. Stephen’s more accessible to all.

Is there a choir and is it open to anyone?
Yes and yes! The choir has a sustained membership of around 12 members. They sing most Sundays at the 10 am service and newcomers are welcome. If you enjoy good fellowship and can carry a tune, feel free to join in. Choir rehearsal is on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. For photos, videos and more information, please check out the music page on our website.

How does St. Stephen’s reach out to the community?
We reach out to the community in many ways! One way is by giving: St Stephen’s collects non-perishable donations for the food pantry every week. Another way we reach out to the community is by sharing our space: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meets at our church 3 nights a week, and an Art Therapist uses the second floor of our administrative building. A third way we reach out is by serving: St. Stephen’s hosts Harvest House, a free community meal, most Sunday evenings. Lastly, St. Stephen’s reaches out by bringing church to the elders in our community.

Does St. Stephen’s provide elder care?
Yes! St. Stephen’s conducts monthly community worship services at Chestelm Adult Day Care Services in Moodus and Commonwealth Senior Living in Haddam for residents in independent living and memory care. The worship service at Chestelm is led by The Rev. Erin Flinn and assisted by lay parishioners. Some of the group live in group homes and others live at home but due to their unique needs find it difficult to attend church on a regular basis. We are blessed to serve this community. The service includes familiar hymns, an affirmation of faith, prayers, confession, a brief reflection and discussion with the group, and Holy Communion. Click here for more information.

Does St. Stephen’s provide opportunities to get involved?
Why yes we do! The opportunities to get involved are called Ministries. These ministries fall under five categories: Mission & Outreach, Nurture & Education, Worship & Sacramental Life, Community Building, and Stewardship & Fundraisers. At the end of each year we compile an Annual Report for members of our community. More than just a report, it is a yearbook of sorts, full of stories and picture that recall the many ways that we answered God’s call to grow in our faith and serve our community and neighbors. The ministries are described throughout the report. Click Here to find our Annual Report (available to download).

Can I celebrate life events, like marriage and baptism, at St. Stephen’s even if I’m not a member?
Yes. You may plan any number of types of life events at St. Stephen’s even if you are not a member. Life Events are going to happen whether or not you belong to a church, and you are invited to mark them with ceremony here, at St. Stephen’s. Please see our Life Eventshttps://ststeves.org/life-events/ page for information on Baptisms, Weddings, Confirmation and Funerals. For weddings, at least one member of the couple needs to be a baptized Christian (not necessarily Episcopalian). We require three sessions of pre-marital counseling with clergy beforehand, so make sure you contact us with plenty of time before your planned date.