We welcome Children & Families to Our Ministry
St Stephen’s provides play-based formation and developmentally appropriate formation and Christian education for children of all ages. Every Sunday of the year we offer Nursery care during our 10am service for our youngest members. Sundays from September to June are our 10am service we also offer Sunday School for children in grades K through 5.
Our goal is to nurture faith through playful experiences of prayer and worship, scripture learning, fellowship, and outreach so that each child may grow with all of us “to know, to love and to serve Christ.”

Family and Children: a Team Effort.
Our rector, Rev Dr Stephen Hassett, works with our Preschool Director Tracie Nelson and assorted staff and volunteers to produce a program that meets the needs of our community, and preserves and passes on the teachings and traditions of the Church. See below for our regular offerings, and stay in touch to learn about periodic seasonal events.
Children are Welcome in Worship
Our elementary children join us each week for the celebration of the Eucharist, and infants often stay with their parents for the whole service. Please know that the worship experience of your children is important to us. Children learn to worship by participating and we value their presence in church. We understand that they may not be quiet or sit still. The presence of the whole family of God together enriches all of our worship. We are very glad to have children with us. Please know that we do not mind having babies in church, even crying ones.
Spirituality of Parenting
Raising children is one of the most rewarding — and challenging — occupations of human life. It also happens to be the perfect arena in which to reflect on and learn from Christian tradition: What does it mean to be made in the image of God, to be given to one another in loving commitment, and to practice patience, forgiveness, and joyful companionship in mutual self-discovery? Join us as we offer a new program for parents of all ages.
Nursery/Toddler Room
Our Toddler Ministry focuses on welcoming young ones (and their parents) into a warm and loving community of faith. We provide a safe and familiar environment for toddlers as they begin to explore their world and their relationships. Through early loving experiences young children begin to know a loving God. Nursery care for infants and toddlers is provided every Sunday year-round.
Sunday School
St Stephen’s offers Sunday School every Sunday (with some exceptions for holidays) between early September and mid-June. Sunday School exposes children to stories from scripture, helps them grasp the basic traditions of the church, and grounds them in spiritual practices that are the roots of a lifelong connection to God through Jesus and the Church. Children are always welcome to join their parents in church, and we offer Sunday School classes for children grades Pre-K through 5. Contact us to learn more, or to register your child for Sunday School.
Christmas Pageant
St Stephen’s tells the story of the birth of Jesus by inviting children and adults to participate in a live-action telling of the story: songs, costumes, narration, speaking and non-speaking parts all combine to remind us of the astonishing thing that God did: came to be one of us. Contact us to find out about participation.
Latest Children’s Ministry News

Create: Lenten Daily Devotional 2021
St. Stephen’s Orinda invites you to participate in our Lenten Daily Devotional: Create. We are putting together a series of daily contributions, reflections, artistic offerings by parishioners and staff and community members of all ages which will then be shared as a daily opportunity for reflection throughout the 40 some-odd days of the Lenten season. The invitation…
Virtual Summer Camp Chaplaining at St. Dorothy’s Rest
Our youth minister Ethan and youth ministry assistant emeritus Spencer Hatcher spent the week of July 6th through July 10th serving as the virtual chaplains to virtual summer camp at St. Dorothy’s Rest. Check out their chaplaincy program videos below — each video is between 10 and 15 minutes and includes ways to engage in…

Creativity Month – July 13th – August 11th, 2020
It’s a pandemic summer and though we are sad to be missing out on mission trips, summer camp, and summer vacations, we are excited to offering something new that is not simply another opportunity to be on Zoom. Introducing Creativity Month 2020 ! We’ll be offering two different versions of a 30-day long creativity immersion…
#ThrowbackThursday – family service Eucharistic prayer
From the family service at St. Stephen’s Orinda on Feb 23rd, 2020. The Great Thanksgiving CelebrantGod be with you.PeopleGod be with you, too.CelebrantGod is here with us now, here.PeopleLet us turn our attention to God.CelebrantLet us give thanks to God.PeopleThank you God!! Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds Celebrant, facing the children at the altar:…
‘Mass’terclass #2 – reenchanting the world in disenchanted times
Interview with parishioner Mary Lou Vernon Ph.D., a specialist in early childhood development on the challenges of sheltering-in-place with little ones. We talk too about the “curriculum of living” and what kids can re-teach adults about seeing the world right in front of us with awe (through the same eyes, maybe, that God sees all…