St. Stephens | Worship - ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL PARISH PORTLAND, OREGON

As a Community of Soul & Service
we recognize that each person is on a spiritual journey
of realizing that their true nature is Holy Mystery.
Every human being is of infinite value and embodies gifts
that invite the community to grow in Christ in unimaginable ways.
We hold as sacred the questioning mind, the searching heart, the thirsting soul.

Your abiding Presence hovers over the deep drawing forth life from the dark womb of chaos, giving surprising birth to this unfolding creation bursting with stars and comets and cosmic dust and pin-wheeling galaxies; inviting into life within an endless expanse of expanding space this precious blue-green sphere we know as home – this lovely, lovely, earth. Without you nothing can be. With you as its ever-quickening heart this cosmos is creation – your sacred body. All that is unfolds from you and is a sign for our journey home. Whatever the eyes of our soul behold, if we behold with you as our soul, is a graceful jewel telling of your wondrous presence.

In the beginning, light shines in the darkness – loving, beautiful, good – giving birth to all creation, the center, the heart, of unfolding life. The light graces all creation as presence of Holy Mystery.

Holy and gracious one, we are yours, body and soul – even in our blind complacency with evil and our fear of death. You are mercy itself, embodied in the tenacious and tender life of Jesus become Christ – sacrament of your eternal and undying love. Jesus is who we are each called to be: love, through and through.