Welcome to St. Stephen’s!
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Since our founding more than 200 years ago, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Forest has welcomed people to this sacred place in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. No matter who you are or where you are on your journey, YOU are welcome here. We invite you to experience for yourself the joy and presence of God’s real and abiding love. If you are looking for a church to call home, we would love to have you with us at St. Stephen’s!
Worship with Us
Sunday Services and Education
8:30am – Morning Prayer or Holy Eucharist (spoken)
9:30am – Adult Forum and Bible Study
10:30am – Morning Prayer or Holy Eucharist (with music and live on YouTube)
Calendar
Recent Sermons
Sermon for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (August 9, 2026)
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33 The week I learned to ride a bike nearly 50 years ago was quite an adventure. Training wheels were nowhere to be seen; my parents had bought one that was ready to go. The only problem was that I wasn’t ready to go. The balance needed to ride wasn’t easy to come…
Sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 2, 2026)
Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21 As I continue to reflect on my time here at St. Stephen’s, I find today’s Gospel reading particularly relevant to life at this place. This passage, Matthew’s version of what we know as the Feeding of the 5,000, is this church and this congregation. In fact, since returning in 2021, I’ve heard…
Sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (July 26, 2026)
Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 In writing this sermon I found myself moving from a very particular set of questions that I started with to a completely unexpected answer at the end. For me, it was a strong example of how reflection and thought lead to revelation, often in the most unexpected moments. So allow me…