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St. Stephen's, an Episcopal Adventure of Embodied Love, affirms the divine beauty of each person and creature. We welcome you! wherever you are on your journey. We hold as sacred the questioning mind, the searching heart, the thirsting soul. With our partnerships we have been a beacon of hope and care in downtown Portland, Oregon, since 1873. Located near Portland State University on the corner of SW 13th & Clay Streets, we gather for worship at 8 am and 10:30 am each Sunday. |
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Kevin G. Thew Forrester -- the Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen's -- is a theologian, an interfaith spiritual writer and speaker, and a student and teacher of the soul's journey. Kevin is a certified teacher of the Enneagram in the Narrative Tradition, and has received certification from the Integral Institute. He is a student of the Diamond Approach, and received Jukai from Shoken Winecoff of Ryumonji Soto Zen Buddhist Temple in May, 2004. As Rector, he founded the Healing Arts Centers at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Marquette, and Trinity Episcopal Church in Houghton, Michigan. He is the author of Beyond My Wants, Beyond My Fears, as well as four previous books, including I Have Called You Friends, Holding Beauty in My Soul's Arms, and My Heart is a Raging Volcano of Love for You, along with being a contributing essayist for Progressing Spirit.
Kevin holds three advanced degrees in theology: MA, MTS, and Ph.D. Read more on his website: Essential Living: For The Soul's Journey. |
We are located in downtown Portland at
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Church Services & Spiritual Life
Interested in St. Stephens? Contact Kevin using the form below:
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Stewardship 2020 - A Message from Kevin
Dear Friends,
As the rains steadily fall from the heavens this morning and cleans the skies of soot, ash, and smoke, I welcome the crystal fresh air flowing deep into my being. I am reminded of the simple and precious gift of azure sky graced by warming sun, all visible once more to the eye’s gaze.
We find ourselves now within autumn and the close of 2020 just on the horizon. The year continues to offer us challenges none of us foresaw: challenges to our health, our socializing, our education, our care for others, our worship, our service to the community, our finances.
I bear this all in mind and heart as I write to you about the close of Stewardship and Pledge for this year. Some of us have lost jobs or our income has been reduced. Some of us have been ill. Some of us have been suffering with the pain of extended isolation. As a community, we hold and respect however we find ourselves; and we offer each other support and loving care.
As we do close out this year, we find ourselves as a Parish Community about $13,000 short of our pledged income. With the support of the Payroll Protection Loan we do have the wherewithal to draw on our investments to balance a shortfall come December. But to do so would diminish our long-term goal of fiscal sustainability.
And so, I ask you in these challenging times, if it is possible, to review your pledge. Is it up to date? Perhaps with so much happening you’ve understandably forgotten about it? If you are able, I invite you to give what you can to fulfill your pledge. If that is not possible, I fully understand. Life-circumstances are different for us all and we are all in this community together.
If you would like assistance in determining where your pledge stands, please contact Dwayne Thurnau, our treasure, at Dwayne.Thurnau@gmail. He can help you access your account on our Realm communications and accounting software, which is quite handy. He can also help you locate where our Parish budget is posted online.
I thank you for what you have already so generously given. I am also grateful for Journey Catholic and Operation Nightwatch for their continued rental income.
A surprising realization for me over the past months has been the deepening sense of community and care within St. Stephen’s made possible by our Zoom Sunday Service, Poetry, Book Club, Faith Explorations, and Meditation. Grace always is finding a way, like a river through the desert, to encourage life to endure and thrive. For a window into our dynamic life together, visit and peruse and enjoy our beautiful website, https://www.ststephenspdx.org/.
Gratefully, Kevin
As the rains steadily fall from the heavens this morning and cleans the skies of soot, ash, and smoke, I welcome the crystal fresh air flowing deep into my being. I am reminded of the simple and precious gift of azure sky graced by warming sun, all visible once more to the eye’s gaze.
We find ourselves now within autumn and the close of 2020 just on the horizon. The year continues to offer us challenges none of us foresaw: challenges to our health, our socializing, our education, our care for others, our worship, our service to the community, our finances.
I bear this all in mind and heart as I write to you about the close of Stewardship and Pledge for this year. Some of us have lost jobs or our income has been reduced. Some of us have been ill. Some of us have been suffering with the pain of extended isolation. As a community, we hold and respect however we find ourselves; and we offer each other support and loving care.
As we do close out this year, we find ourselves as a Parish Community about $13,000 short of our pledged income. With the support of the Payroll Protection Loan we do have the wherewithal to draw on our investments to balance a shortfall come December. But to do so would diminish our long-term goal of fiscal sustainability.
And so, I ask you in these challenging times, if it is possible, to review your pledge. Is it up to date? Perhaps with so much happening you’ve understandably forgotten about it? If you are able, I invite you to give what you can to fulfill your pledge. If that is not possible, I fully understand. Life-circumstances are different for us all and we are all in this community together.
If you would like assistance in determining where your pledge stands, please contact Dwayne Thurnau, our treasure, at Dwayne.Thurnau@gmail. He can help you access your account on our Realm communications and accounting software, which is quite handy. He can also help you locate where our Parish budget is posted online.
I thank you for what you have already so generously given. I am also grateful for Journey Catholic and Operation Nightwatch for their continued rental income.
A surprising realization for me over the past months has been the deepening sense of community and care within St. Stephen’s made possible by our Zoom Sunday Service, Poetry, Book Club, Faith Explorations, and Meditation. Grace always is finding a way, like a river through the desert, to encourage life to endure and thrive. For a window into our dynamic life together, visit and peruse and enjoy our beautiful website, https://www.ststephenspdx.org/.
Gratefully, Kevin
St. Stephen's is a community with a rich history.
We were the first community in Portland to welcome African-Americans to the Episcopal Church in the 1920's. We were home to Japanese-Americans who returned to Portland after internment in the 1940's. We were the first church in Portland to lead a marriage ceremony for an interracial couple in the 1960's. We called the first woman rector to an Episcopal church in Oregon, and we started the first chapter of Integrity, the LGBTQ advocacy group in the Episcopal Church. We have always served the marginalized, and we continue to work for justice and equality for all of God's people.
How To Live Lives of Gratefulness |
Rediscovering Grace at the Center of Creation, Life, Liturgy
Saving Paradise
https://savingparadise.net/
