Welcome
There are no strangers at St. Stephen’s. We welcome those who are looking for a church home. We encourage visitors to sign the register and pick up a Visitor’s Brochure from the pew racks. And we invite you to join us for coffee hour following the 9:00 and 11:00 services.
What comes to mind when we think of the Church? I suppose that for many of us the first thing we think of is a building. I vividly remember the buildings of the Church that brought me into the Episcopal Communion. We here at St. Stephen's can justifiably be proud of our physical plant, It is attractive, it is beautifully appointed.
BUT, the Church is not a building; it is a community! It is the community composed of those who are baptized into the Living Savior. Therefore, the Church is a living, breathing entity; and we are constituent parts. We are connected, not only with each other here in New Port Richey, but to the larger Christian Community -- the Diocese of Southwest Florida, the Episcopal Church U.S.A., the Anglican Communion and of even greater importance to Christians in all places and at all times.
The community which is the Church is a community on a mission. Our mission has been given to us by Our Lord Jesus Christ and it is at once a quite simple and the most difficult and important thing we will ever do: We are to go forth in the world and make disciples. We are to proclaim the kingdom of God and invite in to her fellowship all sorts and conditions of people-- all those who do not know Our Lord. What a wonderful and exciting job we have. Fr. Dage.
Our History
St. Stephen's was established as a mission in November 1926. The original church, which now houses the West Pasco Art Guild, was located on the corner of Missouri Avenue and Jefferson Street. The present church was open in December 1964. The Narthex and Bell Tower were added in 1973. The Parish Hall was built in 1980. The church proper was completely remodeled and renovated in 1990.
St. Stephen's became a parish in 1967. The first Rector was the Reverend Charles E. White, who had served as Vicar of the mission since 1963. The Reverend Albert E. Rust, Jr. was called as Rector in 1968 and served until his retirement in 1984. The Reverend Paul C. Johansen served from August 1985 to his retirement, December 1995. The Reverend Raymond E. Dage was called as Rector in June 1997.
Our Stewardship Statement
Stewardship is the fundamental belief that all that we are, all that we have, all of the time, are gifts God has entrusted us to use as He wants them to be used. It is, then, the way in which we, as individuals, and as a parish, are enabled to grow in the life of grace and express our thankfulness to him in the form of a meaningful offering of our time, talent, and treasure to the service of God through his Church.
Community Support
Food Pantry: A collection of canned and non-perishable goods for the Covenant Christian Center that provides for the indigent. Collection is the 3rd Sunday of each month.
In addition, the various parish organizations have taken on support of many community projects and services. For more information on individual parish organization's projects check out their page.