We believe that it is much easier to raise faith-filled children with the love and support of a faith community, and are delighted to welcome families of all shapes and sizes to participate in our ministry together. We welcome children in worship, at the communion table, and in worship leadership positions. We also offer Sunday Church School and youth group activities for children and youth of all ages.
Information about our Sunday Church School program is available here.
We are intentional about protecting the children and youth who worship and learn at St. Stephen. All adults who work with children or youth on a regular basis are trained, screened, and supervised. A copy of our Child Protection policy is available here.
Summer Camps
We are fortunate to have two incredible church camps right in our backyard: Camp Nawakwa (Arendtsville PA, near Gettysburg) and Camp Kirchenwald (Colebrook PA, near Lebanon). St. Stephen proudly supports these camps, and provides camp scholarships to children and youth each year so they can attend camp. More information about our camps is found here.
We want everyone in the St. Stephen family to have the opportunity to experience church camp, regardless of the family’s ability to pay. We believe that summer camp is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to live in Christian community, to experience God’s presence in the great outdoors, and to be renewed in their faith. We believe that participation in outdoor camps helps to strengthen disciples for service and proclamation of the Gospel, and we are excited to offer camping opportunities through our partnership with the Lutheran Camping Corporation.
Through the generosity of present members of our congregation, and the endowed funds of those who have gone before us, we are able to offer scholarships to help make camp a reality for all who are interested.
Camping brochures can be found in the Fellowship Hall beside the Resource Room.
Upcoming Events
For a list of at home ideas for kids- go to https://sslc.360unite.com/groups/youth .
Follow us on Instagram!
For the general Youth page search for St_stephen_youth_ministries . It will be the one with a picture of our church.
For a more personalized experience with Mrs. B, to send chats to her, or have her follow your page, visit her by searching Mrs_B_St_Stephen .
February 12, 2022 - 7PM - 8PM
All ages. Congregational Game Night - Every Saturday
Join us for this congregational hour of game playing! A good way to reconnect, laugh, and have some fun at the same time!
To join Zoom Meeting- please request the link from Mrs. B via email.
See you then!
February 19, 2022 - 7PM - 8PM
All ages. Congregational Game Night - Every Saturday
Join us for this congregational hour of game playing! A good way to reconnect, laugh, and have some fun at the same time!
To join Zoom Meeting- please request the link from Mrs. B via email.
See you then!
February 26, 2022 - 7PM - 8PM
All ages. Congregational Game Night - Every Saturday
Join us for this congregational hour of game playing! A good way to reconnect, laugh, and have some fun at the same time!
To join Zoom Meeting- please request the link from Mrs. B via email.
See you then!
March 5, 2022 - 7PM - 8PM
All ages. Congregational Game Night - Every Saturday
Join us for this congregational hour of game playing! A good way to reconnect, laugh, and have some fun at the same time!
To join Zoom Meeting- please request the link from Mrs. B via email.
See you then!
March 10, 2022
Second Thursday of Every Month- 5PM - 6PM
To attend, please register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DK5HFSM
Ages 10 - 18. Meeting in Parlor. We are starting a community support group for children of divorced families. If you have or know someone that could benefit from being able to vent about their experiences in a safe, judgement free zone, get non-partial information about divorce and custody, receive support, or simply meet others going through the same thing, please invite them to these meetings.
We will be meeting once a month, for one hour, and will be exploring different topics, having Q and A times, discussion times, and exploring exercises for coping and stress management skills. Meetings will be led by Mrs. B. Parents will not be permitted to stay or attend. Please make arrangements for children to be dropped off and picked up.
Our goal is to provide children with a safe atmosphere, where they can feel free to talk and express themselves, without fear or retaliation.
Anyone with questions may contact Mrs. B at yfmd@ststephenlc.org .
March 12, 2022 - 7PM - 8PM
All ages. Congregational Game Night - Every Saturday
Join us for this congregational hour of game playing! A good way to reconnect, laugh, and have some fun at the same time!
To join Zoom Meeting- please request the link from Mrs. B via email.
See you then!
March 18, 2022 - March 20, 2022
Senior High Retreat
March 26, 2022 - 7PM - 8PM
All ages. Congregational Game Night - Every Saturday
Join us for this congregational hour of game playing! A good way to reconnect, laugh, and have some fun at the same time!
To join Zoom Meeting- please request the link from Mrs. B via email.
See you then!
May 13, 2022 - May 15, 2022
Kirchenwald Retreat with St. John's church of Boiling Springs
Grades 6 - 12
September 23, 2022 - September 25, 2022
ELCA Alive Event
Grades 6 - 8
2023
Grades 9-12. Winterfest
Event registration includes participant’s two-night stay, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. Worship concludes our time together on Sunday morning.
Winterfest gathers youth for a weekend-long immersion in Christian community, focused around a central theme. Large group gatherings feature keynote speakers and live music, that introduce the theme, and help inspire youth and young adult attendees to think critically about how the theme intersects their daily lives. Small group conversations allow participants to go deeper, and to explore the ways God may be speaking to them through the theme and the surrounding Christian community.
Start thinking now if you want to attend! If you already know you will be attending, please contact Mrs. B to let her know as soon as possible!
The following scheduled activities are on hold pending COVID-19 conditions:
(Group meets every third Thursday of the month)
This group will resume over the net.
Join URL:
All Grades. Home/Cyber School Group. This group was originally designed for all the Home/Cyber school families to reach out to each other for support, fun, and socialization.
As we continue forward during these unusual times, we have all, now found ourselves in this category. Everyone dealing with kiddos at home, should feel free to participate in this monthly session. You don’t have to be a member of the church. Extend the invite to your neighbors, friends, or family. Our meeting will cover any necessary introductions, hand out information, and find out what you'd need/like to see for this group going forward. Share ideas and advice from what’s been working for you, learn tricks and tips from those of us that have always done this, socialize with other parents, meet new friends or reconnect with old ones, network/build connections with other families, create study groups, do an activity, and get support from each other. We’ll even try to fit in a game or two for the kiddos.
Let us help you to work out the bugs of cyber learning!
This is not a religious event. Any home school/cyber school families can attend.
We ask that parents plan to attend with their children, as child care will not be provided.
July 24-28, 2022
Grades 9-12. Youth Gathering, Minneapolis, MN
Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives.
The Gathering consists of four program areas: Interactive Learning, Synod Day, Service Learning and Mass Gathering. Congregational groups will be assigned to a rotation schedule to experience Interactive Learning, Synod Day and Service Learning.
Interactive Learning is a space for participants to engage and be immersed in the life and breath of the church, the community of God. Through a variety of mediums, participants will engage in learning opportunities that support the mission of the Gathering and its theme, and that lift up partner organizations or groups, all in the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Synod Day is when you will gather with congregations in your geographic area for worship, conversation, communion, music and learning about how boundless our God really is. In the past, Synod Day was held in hotel ballrooms; however, for this cycle we are excited to be hosted by local congregations. Participants will be transported with their synods to their host congregation for this program day.
Service Learning is an opportunity to take part in the Twin Cities’ great story and live out our Lutheran faith by being God’s hands and feet in the community. Participants will be able to work alongside our neighbors in the Twin Cities and share meaningful conversations with them. Participants will be transported to their Service Learning site that morning.
Mass Gathering is a time for all our Gathering participants to gather and experience church at U.S. Bank Stadium. This provides a unique experience for participants to come together to sing, dance, pray, learn and ponder their faith. On Saturday, everyone will come together for worship, blessings and safe travels as well as an opportunity to share communion with 30,000 other people.
Start thinking now if you want to attend! If you already know you will be attending, please contact Mrs. B to let her know as soon as possible!