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  I've been a member of St. Stephens for about 6 years - and decided it was time to replace the short review I wrote here years ago. I know church preferences are a lot like comfort food in many ways: extremely subjective and personal. I rarely give 5 stars ratings and hope this review conveys enough objective information for you to gain a sense of the community.
  
  St. Stephen ELCA is located right across from William & Mary on Jamestown Road - in fact, feel free to park in the W&M lot on Sunday Morning. The proximity to the school certainly lends its flavor to this community. You will find college students, current and retired faculty, active and retired military, and lots of folks from around the country. All these folks manage to worship together because they accept that all are simultaneously sinners and saints on the same journey.
  
  The service is fairly traditional and will be quite familiar to those from Catholic, Episcopal, and of course, Lutheran traditions. Yet this particular Sunday the congregation recited an alternate Statement of Faith that I found spot-on, with all the 'traditional' values expressed through more contemporary words. Scripture is read within its historical context. The bulletin says that the Eucharistic Meal (Communion) is the "sacrament of [...] unity among all Christians" and that there are "no exclusions".
  
  There is a small choir - but the congregation SINGS, usually led by pipe organ, with occasional piano. On this particular Sunday guitars led the communion hymns.
  
  There are one or two toddlers in attendance at each service, and 'nursery care' is offered for those under 7 years old. There was a children's sermon. There is also a 'college room' for W&M students; during the academic year dinner is provided every Sunday.
  
  The bulletin I carried home includes these words on its cover:
  
  If you are seeking God you are welcome here.
  If you have been hurt in a judgmental church, here you will not be judged.
  Here you will be nurtured in the grace and Good News that our salvation has
  been accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  Here you may discover that, in fact, it is God who has been seeking you!

  Added August 22, 2016 by Stan York