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Fostering a relationship with God through our worship is at the core of who we are as Episcopalians. There are a range of Episcopal worship styles, and any one of them can be very beautiful if the worship is intentional and joyful. We are a campus church, and people come to us from many different traditions, both inside and outside of the Episcopal church. So we seek to engage a variety of worship practices. Some of our members are “high church” and some are “low church.” We shift between these two distinct liturgical styles as we move from season to season, and sometimes we inhabit a middle ground between them. We are a “bring your own piety” congregation, as we believe that individuals have the best sense of which practices and postures will bring them close to God. Some of the people in the pews cross themselves, some do not. Some hold their hands up in the orans position when they pray, others kneel. We have an “open table,” meaning that you are invited to receive the eucharist regardless of where you are on your faith journey.
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How to Get Involved with Worship
Our worship wouldn’t be possible without the time and talents of the Altar Guild, which sets up the sanctuary for Sunday services and cleans and cares for all of the objects we use in worship. They also do a mean flower arrangement. If you’re interested in joining the Altar Guild, contact Janet McNaughton.
Sunday worship incorporates several special roles for lay people. Every Sunday we have two lectors, who read the Old Testament lesson and the Epistle. An intercessor leads the prayers of the people. Acolytes and crucifers help lead the procession and set the table. Chalice bearers help distribute the wine. If you’re interested in taking any these roles, contact Karl Stevens, our priest.
Music
We have an amazing choir, led by Dr. Dennis Davenport, our Organist and Choir Master. Our sections are led by paid stipend singers, students who both offer their gifts and learn how to sing in a church choir every Sunday. We feature music from a range of traditions, and even premiere original pieces on occasion. If you’re interested in joining the choir, contact Dennis.
Scheduling Recitals
We are also always happy to host recitals. Every year, students at OSU perform concerts in our sanctuary. Click here if you would like to reserve space for a performance. Please make reservations a month ahead of your event.
Poetry
We use poetry in our worship every Sunday. A dedicated group of parishioners, known as The Canticle Club, meet before each liturgical season to share poems and decide which we’ll be using. If you would like to get involved, contact Stuart Hobbs.
Many of our members also belong to a Columbus area poetry workshop. If you write poetry and would like to join with other Episcopal poets for critiquing and fellowship, contact our priest, Karl Stevens.
Art in the Sanctuary
Our curators, Stuart Hobbs and Kaitlin Raver, work with artists to bring diverse and beautiful shows to our sanctuary. Each show is up for one to two months, and augments our worship with beauty and, sometimes, a sense of challenge. Posts describing past shows are below. If you are interesting in showing your art in our sanctuary, please contact Stuart Hobbs.
- Art in the Sanctuary – the Work of Helen Hoffelt
- Art in the Sanctuary – Mike & Elly Kaizar’s Block Prints
- Art in the Sanctuary – Jen Poppen’s “Hybrid”
Recent Posts about Communing with God
If you’d like to read more about events and activities that are related to our worship life, click on any of the posts below.
- St. Francis Feast Day Pet Blessing on Sunday, October 4
Saint Francis’s Feast Day is on October 4th. We will hold our annual pet blessing in the midst of the service. Bring your pet or a photo of your pet to church! If you’re more of a plant person, bring a plant! St. Francis’s care for creation extends to all living things. - Art in the Sanctuary – Mike & Elly Kaizar’s Block PrintsWe’re so excited to be featuring block prints by Mike and Elly Kaizar this month. Stop by the sanctuary and check them out! Artist Bio Mike Kaizar michaelkaizar@yahoo.com 614-747-3151 Michael Kaizar is a Columbus-based blockprint artist whose bold, hand-carved imagery blends craft with playful, mythic storytelling. He began printing during the early COVID-19 pandemic, growing… Read more: Art in the Sanctuary – Mike & Elly Kaizar’s Block Prints
- Outdoor Worship & Parish Picnic on May 3
We will hold our annual outdoor worship service and picnic on Sunday, May 3 at 10:30 AM at Whetstone Park. See the map below for our exact meeting location. There are no electrical hookups, so we suggest that you bring picnic items that don’t need to be heated. Bring enough for yourself and some to… Read more: Outdoor Worship & Parish Picnic on May 3 - Holy Week at St. Stephen’s
Holy Week (the week between Palm Sunday and Easter) is a commemoration of Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem and death on a cross. It is marked by three major feast days, known as the Triduum. These are the most beautiful, profound, and tragic days of the Christian year. Service times and descriptions of the days are… Read more: Holy Week at St. Stephen’s - African American Voices Gospel Choir Concert on Saturday, December 6
5:00 PM in the Sanctuary African American Voices Gospel Choir (AAVGC) is one of our long standing community partners. They rehearse in our sanctuary every week while school in session, and grace us with their music leadership at our 10:30 AM service at least once a year. Their concerts are spiritual experiences and full of… Read more: African American Voices Gospel Choir Concert on Saturday, December 6 - Advent Lessons & Carols
Sunday, December 14th 5:00pm – The Sanctuary On the evening of Sunday, December 14th we will hold our Lessons & Carols service! This is one of the most beautiful services of the Advent Season, and we are very glad that Luces Stellarum will be leading the music again this year. In addition, we will accompany… Read more: Advent Lessons & Carols