About Us
How to Find Us:
We are located at 248 Highland Road East in Kitchener which is at the corner of Stirling Avenue and Highland Road.
GRT Bus Routes: We are conveniently located on both Route #3/4 and #16.
What do I need to wear at church?
You will find people at church who are wearing a suit and tie as well as people in jeans and t-shirts. Be yourself.
Where do I park?
Feel free to use our parking lot which can be accessed from Highland Road or Russel Street, or take advantage of street parking. We like to make sure that spaces closer to the church are available for those with accessibility issues or young children.
When can I come?
To be sure there is someone to greet you, please contact the church office or pastor either by phone or email for opportunities to visit outside of Sunday morning worship times.
Or join us on YouTube
Who’s Who
Our team and leadership
Pastor Ronnie Smith has been ordained for ministry with ELCIC for 8 years and counting. He holds an HBA (Political Science & History), an MA (History) and MDiv (Theology).
He is married to Hilla and is the proud father of Lumi and Vilja.
He is an avid musician and enjoys sports and games.
His ideal vacation is paddling backcountry in a canoe.
Elizabeth Hackett
Church Musician
Kathleen Robert
Church Administration
Charlene Crozier
Health & Safety Representative
Donna Seidl
Church Administration
| Council Executive | Linda Mittleholtz – Chair |
| Paula Sears – Vice Chair | |
|
Kirsten Boucher – Treasurer Linda Weinstein – Secretary |
|
| Card Group Coordinators | Larrie Brown & Larry Kennedy |
| E.L.W. Contact | Donna Seidl |
| Choir and Handbells | Elizabeth Hackett |
| Community Life Team Chairperson | Dia Penny |
| Quilting Group Contact | Wilma Peirson |
| Property Chairperson | Alex Keuper |
| Women’s Prayer & Book Club Contact | Lori Hansen |
| Worship & Music Committee Team Leader | Jan Hansen |
Renting A Space
St. Stephen has a variety of rooms that may be rented either for short term/day use or for extended periods. Please contact the church office either by phone (519-744-2521) or email ([email protected]) with inquiries.
The button below leads to a chart showing the size of each of our spaces, along with the rental fees for each space.
Fellowship Hall
This space can be set up with round or rectangular tables, and has ample chairs.
Sanctuary
Sound system provides ample amplification in the room, two TVs can present visual content, and there is a three camera setup for online streaming. There is a raised performance space at the front, which can be cleared, and between the grand piano and organ console is a space for musicians.
Kitchen
Our Kitchen is inspected and holds a community kitchen designation from Waterloo Regional Public Health. Dishes can be included in rental.
Fellowship Hall
Viewed from the other direction. The kitchen is entered from the Fellowship Hall, making food service easy.
Room 5
A 600 square feet room with folding wall that can divide the room into two spaces.
Room 3
A smaller meeting room/classroom/office.
Room 1/2
A medium sized meeting room.
Coat Racks included
Rentals include access to coat racks. This is one of them, in a space just outside the Fellowship Hall.
Washrooms included
Rentals include access to washrooms. There is a women’s, men’s, and an accessible non-gendered washroom with a change table.
Our Church History
1949
Just ten weeks later, on March 20, 1949, at an afternoon service, again in the parsonage basement, 91 adults signed the charter and a new Lutheran Church was officially organized. Immediately following the service, a congregational meeting was held. A constitution was adopted; the name St. Stephen Lutheran Church was chosen; Pastor Alvin Baetz was called as the first pastor; and a church council was elected. By the end of 1949, the charter list had grown to 144 adult members, and St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church was well on its way.
1952
1963
1984
2002
2014
2025
Some of Luther’s teachings –
Salvation and eternal life are not something humans can achieve through their own actions and behaviour – they are God’s gifts, freely given to us through God’s grace.
Each person should be able to study the Bible and to participate in worship in their own language. He translated the Bible from Latin into German and created a German version of the mass.
Because of Luther’s criticism of the practices of the Roman Catholic church he was excommunicated which led to the birth of the Protestant movement – the Reformation.
In recent years the Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches have held conversations that have led to a deepening relationship and re-examination of the position of each church body.