Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.”

~ Acts 2: 34-36

The words above begin the first lesson for Easter Sunday during this 50th Anniversary year.  This sermon from Peter declares the depth of God’s love and real motivation and purpose behind Jesus’ death and resurrection.  It is because God loves the world – all people – that Jesus died and rose. 

Here at St Stephen, the mantras of “All means All” and “All are Welcome” have become central to our mission and vision in sharing Christ’s love with the community.  In the aftermath of the tragic events at the Pulse night club on June 12, 2016, St Stephen felt the calling to clearly communicate to the Orlando community that our church is a sanctuary – a safe and welcome place – for all, especially those who are LGBTQIA+ .

In January 2019, St Stephen officially became part of Reconciling Works.  This is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that since 1974 has been working to share Christ's message, the Gospel, to everyone equally. Reconciling Works advocates for systemic change in policy and practice in church and society, working to alleviate not only the painful symptoms of oppression but also to eliminate its root causes.  It seeks to bring Lutherans together working with the recognition that racism, sexism, ageism, able-ism, heterosexism, homophobia, and all the other artificial distinctions that seek to raise one group into privilege and preference over another, conspire together to diminish our world and church.

When St Stephen declares “All Means All” we are seeking only to be a grace filled place that leans on the love of Jesus seen at the cross of Good Friday, leading to the new life for all on Easter morning!