St. Stephen the Martyr

Episcopal Church

424 Sokokis Trail

P.O. Box 158

East Waterboro, ME 04030

(207) 247- 6458

Website: www.ststephenwaterboro.org

Bishop:

The Rt. Reverend Chilton Knudsen

Vicar:

The Reverend Kit Wang

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Episcopal Church of St. Stephen the Martyr is to help all persons experience the love of God so they can know and share the good news of Jesus.

 

About Us

A pastoral-sized congregation known for local outreach, St. Stephen the Martyr Episcopal Church is an enduring community which values the welcoming warmth of its members and their high level of involvement in worship and stewardship. The diverse age of worshipers at St. Stephen’s lends our fellowship a personalized atmosphere of informality, openness to laughter and acceptance.

Breakfast Together

“The congregation made us feel welcome, and . . . it wasn’t just that we were, but anyone would be. It was a cozy, happy place.”*

Worship at St. Stephen’s

St. Stephen’s offers two Sunday services in celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The 10am worship is complemented by St. Stephen’s choir, a talented and enthusiastic group that seeks to glorify God with anthems and support of congregational singing from the 1982 Hymnal and alternative songbooks. Holy Eucharist Rite II is customarily celebrated, along with occasional worship using The New Zealand Prayer Book, Compline, Morning Prayer and Morning Prayer as Liturgy of the Word. Congregants may request healing during regular worship. On the first Sunday of each month, our youth assume principal roles in a specially designed intergenerational Eucharist. Ash Wednesday and Holy Week services form an integral part of our spring calendar.

St. Stephen’s has a high percentage of lay involvement. Congregants, both children and adults, actively participate in worship as chalice bearers, acolytes, crucifers, torchbearers, lay readers and ushers, or by leading Morning Prayer, preaching the homily and serving on the altar guild. Children join their families for the Eucharist following Sunday school. St. Stephen’s conveys a ‘come as you are’ friendliness that says, “You are home now; relax, open your heart; God is here.”*

Christian Education

Both nursery care and a weekly Sunday school program are available for our youngest participants. When ready for confirmation, youth meet with the priest for group discussion about religion and its impact on school and personal life. Adult education includes a Lenten course of reflection and bi-weekly group study of scriptures and issues affecting our lives and spirituality. We have an active chapter of the Daughters of the King.

Our New Priest

St. Stephen’s seeks a faithful priest who is well-versed in scripture and Christian doctrine. Our new rector will need to be flexible, have a sense of humor and reach out to the diverse ages represented in our congregation with sermons that relate to today’s real life events. As a skilled communicator and facilitator within our church and the local community, St. Stephen’s priest will plan ways for new worshipers to join our fellowship. He or she will strengthen our spiritual health, educate and advise church members, and develop committed, trusting relationships with congregants. We envision our priest as someone comfortable with the presence of children at services and who will assist in creating a youth program that involves families in church activities. Finally, our new priest will aid us in administrative matters as we work to increase stewardship that supports our outreach programs.

Our History

Initially a Sunday school affiliated with Trinity, Saco in the 1930’s, St. Stephen’s Spanish-style mission building was consecrated in 1940. A congregation hall was added in 1955, with a large meeting room, kitchen, offices, nursery and Sunday school area. Serving approximately twelve communities west of Portland, St. Stephen’s has drawn members from a variety of denominational backgrounds who cherish its openness and commitment to local outreach, especially its Food for Life food pantry, opened in 1984. We are known in our communities as a “caring” church.

Operating for many years as a Mission supported with Diocesan aid, St. Stephen’s at one time shared ministerial duties with other churches. In recent years our church has enjoyed great stability, with a committed core of believers, expanded membership and long-tenured priests. The Rev. Janice Schuyler retired in 2007 following thirteen successful years of service at St. Stephen’s.

Today, situated at the center of communities experiencing a population increase of 35% since 2000, St. Stephen’s is eager to move in the direction of growth in membership, spiritual support to families, and increased sharing with its neighbors.

Celebrating our 65^th Year in 2005

Our Community

At St. Stephen’s we take great pride in our position in the community, both physically and pastorally. The church sits on the shore of Little Ossipee Lake, a natural resource for fishing, boating and swimming in the town of Waterboro. Another point of interest near the church is Ossipee Mountain, from which you will find a beautiful vista stretching east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to New Hampshire.

St. Stephen’s congregants hail from numerous towns in the Waterboro area. With 7,700 year-round residents, Waterboro itself is one of southern Maine’s fastest growing municipalities, but retains the relaxed atmosphere of its rural surroundings. St. Stephen’s is located close to downtown Waterboro expansion, two new schools and a recently constructed medical center.

From Waterboro a short drive will take you to the White Mountains or to the city of Portland and cultural offerings such as the Old Port, Portland Symphony and diverse museums. The community of St. Stephen’s is a reflection of the communities around it:: we welcome a wide variety of ages here, as well as a broad diversity in education, beliefs and backgrounds, making St. Stephen’s a faithful and well-rounded church.

“We found a home here.”*

Outreach

The Food for Life food pantry , the first in York County, is located adjacent to St. Stephen’s parish hall. Other outreach includes an active prison ministry, scholarships for youth and theological students, prayer shawls and knitted hats for congregants and seamen, quilts for children in crisis, and donations for Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International and Day One Substance Abuse Rehabilitation. A number of community services, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and the Girl Scouts, share in the use of our facility. Special events, such as our annual fair, quilt raffle and Cookie Walk, provide funding for additional outreach.

“A comfortable, relaxed, close community.”*

 

Inquiries

Interested clergy may send their resumes, CDO profiles and a letter of interest to: Clergy Deployment Officer,

The Rev. Canon Linton Studdiford

lstuddif@episcopalmaine.org

143 State Street

Portland, ME 04101

http://www.episcopalmaine.org

Discernment Committee

Richard Bateman

Sandra Negus

Phyllis Bogdahn

Frank Gilcreast, Jr.

Marcia Chase

Katie Tucci (missing from photo)

 

Bishop’s Committee

Elizabeth Tracy, Senior Warden

Wendy Cox, Junior Warden

Richard Bateman, Treasurer

Dani Grady, Clerk

Phyllis Bogdahn

Jim Fisk

Marilyn Hopkins

Pat McCarthy

Sandra Negus

Paula Taggart

Hyla Tracy

Belle Wilcox

* All asterisked items are quotations from our congregation survey.