Dear Friends,
Saint Stephen’s sits in a quiet residential area of north Fargo. Here,we as a growing faith community strive to live out the calling we believe we have received from Jesus to love and serve God and one another. Here,we practice a radical form of hospitality in which we greet each and every person who comes through our doors as though they are Christ. Here we welcome all people,no matter who they are—whether they are gay or straight,young or old,rich or poor,and every race and color. We are a truly open,welcoming,and inviting place and we strive to serve God and the community as a beacon to a world that is looking to find meaning in life,to find love and acceptance,to find the God who loves us all,and a community that seeks to live out this reality.
Our vision for our community is one where we welcome all people no matter where they are in their faith journey,and even people who may disagree with each other. In gathering together in the very presence of God Incarnate,we are able to experience this beautiful life God wishes for us so that we can be strengthened to serve a world that is aching for our love,our witness and our help.
Visit us at St. Stephen’s for worship and friendship,and together let us go out to love and serve God and a world that really needs us.
So welcome to our website. Please explore it and if you like what you see and read,please come and visit us. We celebrate Holy Eucharist on Sundays at 11:00 am (with Children’s Chapel during the service) and Wednesdays at 6:00 pm (with supper afterward at a different local restaurant).
Peace,
Jamie Parsley,SCP+
Priest-in-Charge
ABOUT FR. JAMIE:
Fr Jamie has served as Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s since 2008. He also serves as Executive Assistant to Bishop Michael Smith in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota.
He serves as on Diocesan Council and is the Chair of the Commission on Ministry. He is also a Deputy to the Episcopal Church’s General Convention and is a member of the Board of Governors of Episcopal Life,the news publication of the Episcopal Church.
Before coming to St. Stephen’s,Fr. Jamie was an Assisting Priest at Gethsemane Cathedral in Fargo and was Chaplain to All Saints Episcopal Church,Valley City,ND.
Fr. Jamie is also an award-winning poet. He is the author of ten books of poems,including This Grass (2010),with paintings by St. Stephen’s parishioner Gin Templeton,and Fargo,1957 (2010) ,which chronicles the June 20,1957 tornado that struck Fargo. In 2004,he was named Associate Poet Laureate of North Dakota.
He holds Master’s Degrees from Vermont College and Nashotah House Seminary.
He also teaches theology,ethics,philosophy,writing and literature at the University of Mary’s Fargo Campus.
Fr. Jamie has been a long time Oblate of the Order of St. Benedict at Blue Cloud Abbey in Marvin,SD and an Associate of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. He is also a member of Affirming Catholicism and is a member of the Society of Catholic Priests.
His website is www.jamieparsley.com.
