2026
Your Weekly Update
Sunday’s Sermon: Pastor Chaney preaches on the hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” exploring God’s love as an endless fountain. One 10:00 am service continues through August; two services (9:00/11:00 am) resume in September.
This Week’s Events: Sunday offers several class options: Social Principles of the UMC, Adult Sunday School, bilingual Bible study, kids’ Nursery/Godly Play, and The Vine’s study of Philemon. School supply collection ends Sunday (goal: 400+ local kids), and Thursday–Saturday brings a food distribution volunteer opportunity with Grace Ministries.
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2026
Your Weekly Update
This week at St. Stephen’s, Pastor Paula explores the hymn “Once to Every Soul and Nation” and what it means to be everyday translators of God’s love. We’re in the final stretch of our school supply drive — help us reach our goal of equipping 400+ local kids for the new school year (donations accepted through August 16th!). Plus, join us Wednesday for a family movie night, and don’t miss “Flat Wesley’s” latest adventures as he travels with our church family. One Sunday service continues at 10:00 am through the end of August. We can’t wait to worship with you!
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2026
Your Weekly Update
This Sunday at St. Stephen’s: Pastor Sunu explores how we share an invisible God with a visible world, through the hymn “Here I Am, Lord” 🎶 Plus: Holy Communion, August birthday shoutouts, a summer movie night with David (2025) 🍿, fresh new floors in the preschool wing, and Flat Wesley’s tomato-gleaning adventures 🍅. One service, 10am, all summer long. ✝️
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2026
Your Weekly Update
Beyond Sunday worship, it’s a busy week: VBS was in full swing, “Flat Wesley” is exploring the community, our native plant babies are getting ready for fall planting, and Grace Ministries urgently needs volunteers for this weekend’s distribution event. Plus, our Back-to-School supply drive is underway. Help us equip over 400 local kids for the new school year.
Join us Sunday at 10:00 am — we can’t wait to worship with you!
Read the newsletter here.
2026
Three Things You Need to Know
Our summer of music keeps rolling! Catch Michael Baker’s euphonium concert (with Tammy Lydon on piano!) at Baltimore’s Peale Center on July 25. Free tickets, but reservations are a must, so grab your friends and make a day of it.
Meanwhile, Flat John Wesley is still out there having the time of his life — Independence Hall, Topsail Island, pizza runs and all. Haven’t picked up your own Flat Wesley yet? Grab one this Sunday and join the fun.
And a big thank-you to Martha for a year of dedicated service as Office Manager. As we search for her replacement, we could use a few extra hands in the front office. Can you help?
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2026
Your Weekly Update
This Sunday at 10 am, Pastor Sunu continues our summer sermon series on music with a look at Blessed Assurance, exploring what it means to know, without a doubt, that we are held by God.
It’s a full week ahead: today, volunteers are bagging and distributing fresh produce for local families (4-6 pm, teens welcome), and Saturday brings a hands-on project transforming Sanctuary Woods into a native-plant outdoor worship space (8-10 am). Sunday morning offers adult classes at 9 am, including a look at the UMC’s Social Principles, plus kids’ programming during the 10 am service. And Monday kicks off a full week of Vacation Bible School — nut-free snack donations (juice boxes, applesauce, fruit cups) are needed and can be dropped at the church office.
A big thank you to Weyni Tesfaye for her food truck and hospitality at Pastor Sunu’s Welcome Center reception, and to the Cochran family for including us in fostering Warrior Canine Service dog Merv, who’s now moved on to advanced training. Don’t forget “Flat John Wesley” — he’s already been spotted from Chautauqua, NY to Brookneal, VA this summer. Grab your own cutout Sunday and send us your photos!
Finally, school starts before we know it. St. Stephen’s is collecting supplies through August 16th for over 400 local children and teens, with an Amazon wish list and drop-off boxes available at church.
It’s a season full of music, service, and community. We’d love for you to be part of it. Join us this Sunday at 10 am as we lift our voices together. We hope to see you there.
Read the full newsletter here.
2026
Communion Sunday, Welcome Pastor Sunu
Join us for worship on Sunday, July 5, as we welcome Rev. Sunu Kwon as our new associate pastor and celebrate Holy Communion together.
Our summer sermon series will explore the stories and meaning behind beloved hymns. Each week, Pastor Chaney will help us discover how these timeless songs continue to shape and strengthen our faith. Come, hear your favorite songs in a whole new way.
2026
Three Things You Need to Know
We’ve got a weekend full of creative expression and learning! From the Maranatha Singers concert on Saturday to the social principles class and artist luncheon on Sunday, there are multiple ways to connect with your faith through music, art, and literature.
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2026
Your Weekly Update
From a thought-provoking sermon on digesting Scripture like food, to community conversations about our church’s future, there’s lot to chew on this Sunday.
This week’s newsletter also spotlights our Easter offering partner (the Lamb Center in Fairfax), a choral concert, a coffeehouse fundraiser, a youth lock-in, and a special Bible milestone for Kindergarteners! 👇
Read the newsletter here.