Your First Visit

Getting to the church

St. Stephen's United Methodist Church is located at 2003 West 43rd Street, near T.C. Jester. A Map with turn-by-turn directions from your location is available.

Parking

Plenty of parking is available on our site. Visitors are invited to park in the lot adjacent to the building; if all of these spots are full, you are also welcome to park across 43rd Street in the parking lot of the Scout House. Most people enter the sanctuary from the doors at either side of the north end of the building.

Handicap accessibility

St. Stephen's is handicap-accessible throughout the building, and many differently-abled people worship with and serve this church. In the parking lot there are several van-accessible parking spaces; there is an ADA-compliant curb ramp on the west side of the building beneath the carport. There is space for wheelchairs next to the pews in the back of the sanctuary.

Assistive hearing devices are available, just ask an usher as you enter. Large-print hymnals are available from the ushers for traditional services, and during contemporary services easy-to-read projection screens display the word to sing and for spoken responses.

Adults and children with developmental disabilities and their caregivers are present at many worship services, and often enjoy being seated near the front on the far right, which provides a great view of worship activities plus easy access to exits. Regardless of the abilities of you or your family, you'll find a warm welcome from the St. Stephen's community.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I dress?

You are invited to wear what is comfortable for you. In the Traditional Worship Service (11 am), you will find a mixture of casual and formal dress. In the Contemporary Worship Service (8:30 am) you will find people dressing casually.
There are shawls available in the Narthex in case the Sanctuary is too cold for you.

Do I need to bring anything?

No. Bibles are provided in the pews, but you are also invited to bring your own Bible.

When should I get there?

Sunday services begin at 8:30 a.m. (Contemporary) and 11:00 a.m. (Traditional). Sunday School for all ages begins at 9:30 a.m. People at the front doors will be happy to assist you in finding Sunday School rooms and other facilities (like coffee!). We suggest that you plan to arrive 5 to 10 minutes early to allow for parking and finding your way around.

What about my children?

Children are welcomed with open arms! In worship, they are specifically included as much as possible. During both services, children are called to the altar steps for a Children's Sermon. After the Children's Sermon, some of our nursery staff will lead the children into the nursery if the parents desire. Our nursery is available to care for babies from one week to three years old during Sunday School and during all services.

Click Here to learn more about Sunday School classes.

Who is our pastor and how can I meet him?

Our Senior Pastor is Rev. Cramer Johnson. Pastor Johnson serves in preaching, worship leadership in both services, and participates in other activities across the church community. If you leave your name and phone number on the registration pad, we will contact you as soon as possible.

When is Holy Communion served and who can participate?

Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month in both worship services. Methodist Communion is open to Christians of all denominations. All who genuinely want to follow Christ are invited to participate. Ushers will assist you in knowing what to do. If you are not able to walk forward, let the usher know, and communion will be brought to you in the pew.

How do I become a member of St. Stephen's?

You are strongly encouraged to participate in all opportunities to get to know people in the church and to learn about service to others through St. Stephen's. Guest and New Member brunches are scheduled periodically, and of course, the coffee pot is always a gathering place.

A course in "Methodism 101" is available for those who are not Methodists. We encourage others to take it as a refresher and to learn about specific ministries at St. Stephen's.

It is recommended that you talk with one of the ministers before joining. On the Sunday you join, it will be helpful if you fill out a "Wishing to Join" card, available in the pew.