Adult Education

Adult Education at St. Stephen’s is a welcoming forum for thoughtful spiritual exploration. Programs are in spring and fall seasons, usually meeting on Sundays at 9:00am in the Upper Meeting Room (with refreshments and fellowship beginning at 8:45). Additional offerings are sometimes scheduled on weekdays or weeknights to accommodate a wider range of interests and availability. All are welcome to attend—parishioners and the broader community alike. For information or program suggestions, please contact Theresa Gleason, Linda Maupin, Diane Nancekivell, John Warren, An Duclos, or Rev. Charlie Nichols.

When available, Zoom access is provided at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87490029176 with the passcode AdultEd

Sunday, November 1, 9 am, Meeting Room

Mindfulness and Meditation Relevant to Christian Faith

by Mark R. Orten,

Dean, Director & Chaplain, Middlebury College

Christian prayer takes many forms, including some that are similarly found within other religious traditions but with varied, yet complementary, philosophical worldviews. In this hour we will explore most particularly the religious roots of mindfulness and meditation, especially within Buddhism, as a way to engage in prayer more wholly. Further, we will apply concepts in Patanjali's yogic framework as a way of expanding beyond merely a dialogic consideration of prayer to a socially conscious, non-oppressive, even ethical practice.

Mark R. Orten is in his eleventh year as dean of spiritual and religious life at Middlebury College. He lives in Middlebury with his wife and two of four daughters (two others are off at college) and he is ordained in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.

Sunday, Nov 8, 12:00 noon, the Nave

Prayer and Meditation in the Jewish Faith

presented by

Rabbi Danielle Stillman

Jewish traditions of prayer include everything from short, routine blessings over activities of daily life to lengthy, elaborate Hebrew liturgies that follow a set form in a prayer book. Where and how can contemplative approaches to prayer fit into these set models? We’ll explore Jewish traditions of infusing prayer with intention and connection to the Divine, drawing from ancient mystical approaches as well as contemporary mindfulness. Rabbi Stillman will also speak personally about her own experiences and challenges in building a meaningful prayer life.

Please welcome Rabbi Stillman, who has been serving as the Rabbi and Associate Chaplain at Middlebury College for almost ten years. She is also a trained spiritual director. Join us in the Lower Level for coffee and goodies before the noon program.

Sunday, Nov 15, 9 am, Meeting Room

Prayer and Remembrance in the Islamic Faith

presented by

Zahra Moeini Meybodi,

Muslim Chaplain

The human condition in the Qur’an and Islamic tradition is often described as a sense of home-lessness in the world. The human being is displaced from his or her paradisal origins and is then confronted with an existential ‘heedlessness’ (ghiflah) and forgetfulness. In fact, the very word ‘human’ in Arabic means one who forgets. What, then, are we forgetting?

Chaplain Zahra will be speaking about the centrality of prayer and the more foundational concept of dhikr or remembrance in the Islamic worldview as a means of returning to our sacred origins.

Adult Education’s Fall ‘26 Calendar

Sunday, Sept 20, 9 am: HOW TO KNOW A PERSON, with Diane Nancekivell, 9 am, Meeting Room

Sunday, Sept 27, 9 am: LEAVE THE LEAVES, by Emily May, Biologist with Xerces Society, MR

Sunday, Oct 4, 9 am: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SACRED IN NATURE, by Theresa Gleason & Sharon Tierra, MR

Sunday, Oct 18, 12 noon: THE REQUIEM, with Robert Ludwig, the Nave

Sunday, Oct 25, 12 noon: THE REQUIEM, with Robert Ludwig, the Nave

Sunday, Nov 1, 9 am: MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION RELEVANT TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, offered by Mark Orten, Dean & Chaplain, Middlebury College, MR ‍

Sunday, Nov 8, 12 noon: PRAYER AND MEDITATION IN THE JEWISH FAITH, presented by Rabbi Danielle Stillman, the Nave

Sunday, Nov 15, 9 am: PRAYER AND REMEMBRANCE IN THE ISLAMIC FAITH, presented by Muslim Chaplain Zahra Moeini Meybodi, MR

Sunday, Dec 6, 9 am: PARADISE NOW, by Jay Parini, Meeting Room

Sunday, Dec 13, 9 am: PARADISE NOW, by Jay Parini, Meeting Room

Sunday, Dec 20, 9 am: PARADISE NOW, by Jay Parini, Meeting Room