Infants & Children Infants and children are a welcome part of our services. Children can also attend Sunday School at 10.30am during school terms.
Youth Our youth combine for activities with Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Flinders Street several times throughout the month. On the 1st and 3rd Fridays youth meet at Bethlehem House from 5.15pm-6.30pm for a variety of activities and devotion. On a Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon youth meet again for fun activities.
Prayer Group St Paul urges that ‘supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone’ (1 Timothy 2:1). Jesus is recorded to have regularly taken time out to pray (Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:23; 26:36). We recognize the privilege we have to talk to God without any intermediary and to bring the cares, concerns, joys and sorrow of our community, and our world, before our loving God. Prayer is a regular, and vital, part of our corporate worship, but we don’t just leave our prayers till Sunday morning. Prayer is an important part of our pastoral care for each other and all those whom God places in our path. Members of the congregation are ready at any time to respond to prayer needs and a prayer group meets each Friday at 11am. Individual prayer needs are supported with sensitivity by our prayer group. Prayer requests can be forwarded through the office on 8223 5491 or at ststephens@tpg.com.au.
Bible Study
Regular group studies (including Saturday at St Stephen’s)
Men’s Bible Study group
Women's Fellowship Read more Friendship Groups We have a number of friendship groups, which meet once or twice a month, in homes or at the church for an hour or two. These gatherings are an enjoyable and casual time for small groups of our congregations to get together and chat. They might include bible studies, discussion, afternoon tea or outings. Please contact the Church Office Secretary on 8223 5491 or at ststephens@tpg.com.au for more information if you’d like to be part of a friendship group.
Hospital Visiting No one wants to be in hospital but, when you are, it can comforting to see a friendly face who is not a member of the medical staff. Thankfully most hospitals now understand the need for holistic care of patients. St Stephen’s provides a rostered team of accredited Pastoral Care Volunteers who visit Lutheran patients at St Andrew’s Hospital on South Terrace. For specific pastoral care issues the St Stephen’s pastors are also able to visit by arrangement. If you know you are going into St Andrew’s and would like a visit from one of our friendly volunteers please phone our office on 8223 5491 to let us know.
Library We have a small library of approximately 2000-3000 resources, including books, DVDs, CDs and games, for both adults and children. These include bible studies, Christian resources, church history, mission, devotional, doctrine, encouragement, grief & loss, biographies, music, multicultural, prayer, fiction and picture books. There is a quiet reading space nearby with a box of toys suitable for toddlers. Greeting cards, seasonal Christmas and Easter cards are available for sale, as are some books and CDs including Robin Mann's music books and CDs, Norm Habel's books and Purple Puzzle Tree DVDs, and Leigh Newton's Christmas music books and CDs. The LCA Yearbook and ACR's devotion books and Christian diaries can also be purchased via the library.
Community Street Library St Stephens supports a street ministry in our forecourt with our Neighbourhood Street Library on Wakefield Street. It was developed by our congregation to activate the space that meets the many pedestrians and residents who pass by each day with an attractive and ever-changing supply of books. Books in a wide range of genres, including children’s books, are provided by members of our congregation and available as a free gift to people who stop. There is simple seating to allow time to browse and strip lighting provided for people who come by after dark. You are very welcome to visit any time you are in the area. https://streetlibrary.org.au/library/neighbourhood-free-library/
Tennis and Table Tennis
Tennis St Stephen’s has continued to field two teams in the Southern District Tennis Association. This has provided much social and competitive enjoyment as well as physical activity. The teams have played in the Summer with Home Courts being at Concordia College, Highgate. Currently the two teams are in Divisions 4 & 5 of the Doubles Competition. Teams comprise four males and four females. The format of the competition is a best of three sets doubles match as well as a single set of mixed doubles. The club continues to be quite successful with teams generally appearing in the finals. Home matches are a very social occasion with many young children out at the matches. New players are always welcome. If interested contact the Church on 8223 5491 or at ststephens@tpg.com.au for further information.
Table Tennis St Stephen’s Church also has a Table Tennis Club which provides a fun activity as well as a competitive involvement for players of a variety of ages. The club is affiliated with the Combined Churches Association. St Stephen’s provides a number of teams that cater for players of a high standard to those with much less experience. There are two competitions that run. The main one is the Winter competition running from April through to August. Teams comprises four players. In recent seasons we have fielded three teams – A, B and C. St Stephen’s has excellent success in recent years winning the A grade. The more casual season is the Spring competition with teams composed of three players. This runs through September to November. St Stephen’s commonly fields four teams at a variety of levels. Matches are played on a week night usually on Tuesday and Wednesday and run from about 7.15pm to 9.15pm. New players are always welcome. Please contact the Church on 8223 5491 or at ststephens@tpg.com.au if interested.