Saint Stephen's United Church of Christ

Saint Stephen's United Church of Christ Founded in 1894 we are a traditional church in Harrisonburg, VA, at the corner of Campbell and South Main. We worship together on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

We are an Open and Accepting church and welcome all to participate in Worship and Communion with us.

09/13/2026

Today's sermon by Pastor Craig Janney from Matthew 18:21-35 entitled, "The Power of Forgiveness" looks at the mathematics of revenge and how forgiveness can change what our past is allowed to do to our future.

Please follow along with us today by downloading the Order of Worship for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pPpZolxaKAXt3hbA4Rnbv7Sr8hr0P9Ad/view?usp=sharing.

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Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, 25 and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

09/06/2026

Today's sermon by Pastor Craig Janney from Ezekiel 33:7-11 entitled, “Sentinel of Sin” invites us to consider what it means to watch carefully, examine ourselves honestly, and speak the truth with love. We are not self-appointed sin police. God has called us to be faithful sentinels who trust the LORD with judgment and outcomes we could never control.

Please follow along with us today by downloading the Order of Worship for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PlOPdgazA6M8pUur_iAmbpPH9ksLSwUJ/view?usp=sharing.

Following today’s sermon, we will celebrate Communion as a church and we'd love for you to take part. Be sure to gather your portion of the Bread and the Cup for our service of remembrance. You can download the Holy Communion Liturgy (PDF) by clicking the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18FqOEr305IB4ZjAdZ5dQjtY7ZHADTQLK/view?usp=sharing.

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Ezekiel 33:7-11

7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel: Thus you have said: “Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?” 11 Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

08/23/2026

Today's sermon by Pastor Craig Janney from Genesis 45:1-15 entitled, "The Stories We Tell Ourselves, Part 2" is a continuation of last week's message exploring how grief, pain, forgiveness, and reconciliation shape the stories we tell about our lives. The story of Joseph reminds us that what happened to us may be part of our story, but since God is still at work, it doesn't have to be the whole story.

Please follow along with us today by downloading the Order of Worship for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18of4KjlC9i8EsYsn8MIEwVGaCovJrnUo/view?usp=sharing.

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Genesis 45:1-15

1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me; do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there, since there are five more years of famine to come, so that you and your household and all that you have will not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

08/16/2026

Today's sermon by Pastor Craig Janney from Genesis 45:1-15 entitled, "The Stories We Tell Ourselves" explores how grief, pain, forgiveness, and reconciliation can shape the stories we tell about our lives. The story of Joseph reminds us that what happened to us may be part of our story, but it does not have to be the whole story, because God is still at work.

Please follow along with us today by downloading the Order of Worship for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YfqCrdOqMyAPoibflRyRnEfTaKu6otBi/view?usp=sharing.

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Genesis 45:1-15

1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me; do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there, since there are five more years of famine to come, so that you and your household and all that you have will not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

06/14/2026

We are pleased to welcome the Reverend Marilyn Smith Heishman back to our pulpit again as she preaches a sermon from Matthew 10:1-23 entitled, "Are We Part of the Entourage?"

Rev. Heishman grew up in our congregation and was ordained to the Gospel ministry at Saint Stephen's UCC after working at James Madison University for more than 25 years. She retired from full- time ministry in 2021 after 16 years as a lay minister and over 20 years of ordained ministry. We are grateful to Rev. Heishman for sharing her pastoral gifts with us again today!

Please follow along with us today by downloading the Order of Worship for the Third Sunday after Pentecost: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-GCDq2y5u0aYI0Jn844k9y4O2D4o8nas/view?usp=sharing.

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Matthew 10:1-23

1 Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not take a road leading to gentiles, and do not enter a Samaritan town, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse those with a skin disease; cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff, for laborers deserve their food. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of S***m and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

16 “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the gentiles. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time, 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Sibling will betray sibling to death and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this town, flee to the next, for truly I tell you, you will not have finished going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

It's Pentecost Sunday! As you're choosing your outfit for church today, let this photo of Sarah Jessica Parker inspire y...
05/24/2026

It's Pentecost Sunday! As you're choosing your outfit for church today, let this photo of Sarah Jessica Parker inspire your warm tones selection. Can't wait to see you for worship at 10:30 a.m.

Join us for Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026!Sunrise service at 7:00 a.m. in the Backyard Gardens (weather permitting) or Sa...
04/05/2026

Join us for Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026!

Sunrise service at 7:00 a.m. in the Backyard Gardens (weather permitting) or Sanctuary

Coffee Hour at 8:00 a.m. in the Garrison Room

Worship with Communion at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary

Address

358 S Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA
22801

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 12pm
Thursday 10am - 12pm
Sunday 10:30am - 11:30am

Telephone

+15404346290

Website

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