About St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
PARISH PROFILE
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. STEPHEN’S
St. Stephen’s began in 1927, as a chapel of Schenectady’s historic St. George’s church. The first services were held in a remodeled store; as attendance grew, services moved to a nearby house, and, ultimately, in 1947, to a new church building, constructed of stone from an abandoned nearby armory (a person interested in history can still see stones bearing chalked numbers indicating the locations from which those stones were removed and where they were to be installed as the church was built).
In the 1970s we expanded the church building to provide wheelchair access and so that we could support a senior meals program at the church.
In 2010, faced with a building with environmental problems, and recognizing a need for a larger, more flexible space, we committed to replace the outdated parish hall with a newer, larger structure that would provide a more modern parish hall, as well as classrooms, a nursery, a library, and utility rooms. Part of the effort to construct the new building was the creation of a stone labyrinth courtyard, a space for quiet meditation (or a romping space for youngsters). Recognizing the importance of music in our worship, in 1981 we installed a 15-rank Carey pipe organ, and in 2018 we added two more ranks and modernized the instrument’s keyboard and electronics.
Labyrinth
One unique aspect of the grounds at St. Stephen’s, in addition to our gardens, is the labyrinth in the heart of the campus. The entrance to the labyrinth is in our courtyard, situated between the library and the fellowship hall. Our labyrinth is an adaptation of the millennia-old classical type. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one path in and out; there are no tricks or dead ends. The path winds from the exterior to the center; the walk to the center is intended to quiet and calm the mind. The walk back from the center can evoke the return to one’s life. Walk it with an open mind and an open heart!
The labyrinth is a common point of attention for both parishioners and guests of St. Stephen’s. This past summer we held “labyrinth evenings” that offered an opportunity for members and neighbors to gather and learn more about our labyrinth.
Church Staff & Lay Leaders
Interim Priest-in-Charge: The Rev. Jane Brady-Close
Senior Warden: Erin Cohen
Junior Warden: Jean Stefanski
Office Manager: Jon Ewbank
Treasurer: Denise Crates
Clerk: Theresa Fay
Organist: Susan Lohnas
Choir Director: Dr. Douglas Lohnas
The Vestry
The Vestry is the body within our congregation that, together with the clergy, leads the parish.
The Vestry is responsible for personnel management and the stewardship of our money and property. The Vestry has a legal and moral responsibility to manage our congregation’s resources, including operating funds, investments, furnishings, buildings and grounds, and to ensure the care of paid and volunteer personnel, so that they receive adequate compensation, benefits, equipment, resources, training, and support.
Wardens and Vestry members are elected by the parish at our annual meeting. Vestry meetings are open to members of the parish. Our current Vestry members are: Ruth Basantes, Linda Emaelaf, Vicki Hoshko, Carole Merrill-Mazurek, and George Woodzell.
The Over The Hill Gang (OTHG)
Do you wonder who replaces the burned-out light bulbs in church buildings, sands and varnishes the big oak doors, paints walls, doors and ceilings, unclogs drains and many other countless jobs? At our church these are done by The Over the Hill Gang, a small group of people oriented towards repairs, maintenance, (and fellowship); who gather each week to address the physical needs of our church buildings, seeking to be good stewards of our extensive property. If you enjoy working with your hands, please consider joining The Over The Hill Gang to volunteer your time and talent! Work experience is not required but having a sense of humor and a willingness to learn helps. Please visit the Contact section of the website to submit work orders to the OTHG.
