The E-pistle

Friday, April 4th, 2025

Sunday, April 6th, 2025

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 A.M Holy Eucharist Rite II

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Fifth Sunday in Lent: Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8

Serving this Sunday:

Altar Guild: Ginny Willcox

Fellowship: Ginny Willcox

Serving at 8:00 AM:

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel Vaught

Acolyte/LEM: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: David Pearson

Greeter: David Pearson

Serving at 10:00 AM:

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Verger: Darryl Lafferty

Acolyte: Virgil Stucker

LEM: Kim Savery

Lector:Alison Larkin

Intercessor: Virgil Stucker

Greeters: Carl Sprague and Lis Stucker

Musician: Nancy King

Parish Prayer List

Those who are ill or in need of intercession

Jacob, Kathleen, Donna, Cynthia, Lori, Kit, David, Ann, Celia, Anne, Dawn, Bill, Tom, Tracey, Ginny, Rebecca, Jim, Travis, Faye, Linda, Mary, Emery, Martha, Anne, Win, Beth, Joe, Mike

Those who have recently died

Dorit Vander Wilden, friend of Patty Melville

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

Ginger, Heidi, Rick, Allie, Ginger, Joan, Duncan, Bernadette, Ray, Piers, Katrina, Rich, Karen, Michael, Khali, George, Barbara, Christy, John, Anthony, Astrida

Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

Devyn Fillio, Mary Maltzoff, Tamara McCandless

Our Parish: St. Paul’s, Stockbridge

That we may grow in faith, hope, and love, and together strive to be the hands and heart of Christ for Stockbridge and the wider world; for Sam, our Rector; Jane and Libby, our Priests Associate; for our Wardens  and Vestry; for the students and staff of the St. Paul’s Children’s Center 

The Diocese of Western Massachusetts

Doug, Bishop

Steven, interim Canon to the Ordinary 

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 4/6)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

St. Paul’s Church, Holyoke

Laundry Love

Clergy in Fresh Start

The Church and Wider Mission

Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations

Church Scholarship Society

The Episcopal Church in the United States of America; Sean, Presiding Bishop

The Anglican Communion throughout the world; Stephen, Archbishop of York

Anglican Cycle of Prayer (week of 4/6)

Sun 4/6: The Anglican Church of Chile

Mon 4/7: Diocese of Masindi-Kitara (Uganda)

Tues 4/8: Diocese of Massachusetts (USA)

Wed 4/9: Diocese of Western Massachusetts (USA)

Thurs 4/10: Diocese of Masvingo (Central Africa)

Fri 4/11: Diocese of Matabeleland (Central Africa)

Sat 4/12: Diocese of Matana (Burundi)

Prayers for those in Authority

The Town of Stockbridge 

The Stockbridge Select Board 

Ernest Cardillo, Jamie Minacci, Patrick White

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts

The General Court of Massachusetts 

Leigh Davis (House of Representatives) 

Paul Mark (Senate) 

The United States of America 

Donald Trump, President of the United States

Supreme Court of the United States

The United States Congress 

Richard Neal (House of Representatives)

Elizabeth Warren (Senate) 

Ed Markey (Senate) 



Prayers for the World 

For lasting peace in the Middle East

For the people of the Middle East, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Haiti, and other places of conflict

For kidnapped Ukrainian children and their families and friends

For all affected by natural disasters and climate change, especially in Kentucky

For all who live in fear, especially migrants and transgender children and adults

April Red Letter Days

Monday, April 21-Saturday, April 26: The Great Octave of Easter (Monday-Saturday of Easter Week)

Monday, April 28: Saint Mark the Evangelist (transferred from 4/25)

Easter Flowers

Easter Flower forms will be available in worship bulletins this week. Please return the form by Wednesday, April 16th at church, mail to PO Box 704 Stockbridge, MA 01262, or email Kyra Saltman at parishoffice@stpaulsstockbridge.org with the amount you would like to contribute, and for whom they are in memory of or thanksgiving for.

Lee Food Pantry: Current Needs

Baby wipes

Laundry detergent

Flour

Sugar

Rice

Paper towels

Toilet paper

Items can be dropped off at the back of the church. On the second Saturday of the month, a team from St. Paul’s volunteers to distribute food. Questions? See Jim Wade.

Baptism/Confirmation Class in Eastertide

If you are interested in Baptism, Confirmation, or the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, please be in touch with Father Sam. He is planning to offer a Baptism and Confirmation class throughout the Easter season.

Holy Week Schedule

Sun, April 13: Palm Sunday Holy Eucharist at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.

Mon, April 14—Wed, April 16: Holy Eucharist each evening at 6:00 p.m.

Thurs, April 17: Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist with foot washing at 6:00 p.m at Christ Trinity Church, Sheffield

Fri, April 18: Good Friday Stations of the Cross at 12:00p.m, details and location TBD Liturgy of the Day at 6:00 p.m. at Grace Church, Great Barrington

Saturday, April 19: Holy Saturday Liturgy of the Day at 10:00 a.m., followed by church clean up.  Great Vigil of Easter at 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 20: Easter Day  Holy Eucharist at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m., followed by egg hunt in churchyard

Maundy Thursday All-night Vigil

365 nights a year, our church is open for prayer and refuge (and may it always be so!). On one night in particular, you are invited to join with Christians around the world by keeping vigil in the church. On the night of Maundy Thursday (April 17), the reserved bread and wine of communion will be placed on an “altar of repose” set up in front of the baptistry. The palms from the previous Sunday will adorn the space, mimicking the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed with his disciples after the last supper, asking them, “could you not stay awake with me one hour?” The sacrament will remain on the altar throughout the night, the space lit simply by candles and a few necessary lights. You are invited to deepen your participation in the mysteries of Holy Week by praying in this space for a time throughout the night. You may come and go as you please, but a sign-up sheet is attached here with one-hour slots. Our intention is to have at least two people in the church at all times for safety. This sign-up sheet will be available in person on Sunday mornings, as well. If you have any questions, please contact Father Sam.

Loving our Neighbors with Multicultural BRIDGE

Parishoners are invited to join two upcoming events hosted by Multicultural BRIDGE, located at the Solidarity House in Great Barrington. For more information about Multicultural BRIDGE, click here. If you have any further questions, please reach out to Tracy Johnson.

April 9th from 7:00 - 9:00 PM: Nonviolent Tactics for Community Defense: A Training with Andre Henry. To learn more about this event, click here.

April 10th at 10:00 AM: Strategies For Food Justice and Food Sovereignty: Conversation With Dr. Leeja Carter: For more information, click here.

Sunday Forums Schedule

Mark your calendars for the following Sunday Forums and other activities, which will take place after the 10:00 Eucharist on the following dates. Questions? See Brett Roberts. (brett.roberts25@gmail.com)

April 6: Bible Study on the Book of Esther (read as much of Esther as you can before)

April 13: Palm Sunday, no forum

April 20: Easter Day Egg Hunt

April 27: Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark (read Mark - only 16 chapters!)

Lent Formation Series: “In the Garden”

Our Lenten supper series returns this year on Wednesday nights in the Rectory. This year, our theme is “In the Garden.” Have you considered that the creation story in Genesis, Jesus’ arrest, and Jesus’ resurrection all take place in gardens? Is that a coincidence? Why is there a tree at the center of Eden and a tree at the center of heavenly Jerusalem in the book of Revelation? We will explore the important gardens and agricultural images in scripture as we walk the journey towards Easter together. A simple supper of soup and bread will be served each evening.

In the Garden: 2025 Lenten Formation Series

March 12: Life Began in a Garden (Creation)

March 19: Trees by Streams of Water (Life in Christ)

March 26: Laborers in the Vineyard (The Kingdom of God)

April 2: The Garden of Gethsemane (Suffering and Death)

April 9: An Empty Tomb in a Garden (New Creation)

All sessions will be at 6:00 p.m. in the Rectory.

Journey through Lent

Attention: Parents and Grandparents

We’re offering something new for families with preschool and elementary children or grandchildren—a booklet of simple yet meaningful activities for each week of the Season of

Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday, March 5. The suggested activities center around themes of blessing, loving our neighbors, hospitality, giving, and praying. You can pick up a copy of “Journey through Lent” on the Children’s Table in the church. If you would rather receive a copy by mail, please e-mail our Priest Associate Libby Wade. (libby_wade@yahoo.com).

Opportunities from the Diocese

Safe Church Training

The Rev. Tanya Wallace, our Diocesan Safe Church Officer, will be leading Safe Church training on the following dates via Zoom.

Please consider your commitment as space is limited in each Zoom session. Your parish will be billed for your registration. Registration closes one week prior to training date.

For full details please visit our webpage. You may register by clicking on the date of your choice below. Thank you for helping to keep our churches safe.



Wednesday, April 9 -5: 00 pm - 8: 00 pm (Volunteers)

Thursday, April 24 -5: 00 pm - 8: 00 pm (Volunteers)

Thursday, May 1- 9: 00 am - 2: 00 pm (Clergy, Staff, Lay leader)

Tuesday, May 20 -5: 00 pm - 8: 00 pm (Volunteers)

Saturday, May 31 -9: 00 am - 12: 00 pm (Volunteers)

Tuesday, June 10/Wednesday, June 11- 5:30 pm - 8: 00 pm (Clergy, Staff, Lay leader)

Thursday, June 19-5: 00 pm - 8: 00 pm (Volunteers)

Saturday, June 28-9: 00 am - 12: 00 pm (Volunteers)

Training for Lay Preachers

4 Sessions Online Beginning May 13

This spring we will be offering a four-week Zoom training for new or relatively new lay preachers. The sessions will be offered on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 pm - 7:45 beginning May 13 and ending on June 3.

FACILITATOR

The facilitators of these gatherings will be the Rev. Steven Wilco, Canon to the Ordinary. Steven has worked at the national level on worship planning with the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and the Institute of Liturgical Studies. He is ex officio member of our Liturgical Commission.

FOR WHOM THIS IS OFFERED

This training is open to no more than two from a congregation. It may be that you have been raised up by the community for this ministry but have not been trained. Perhaps you currently hold a license to preach in our diocese, but you are looking to learn and grow and deepen your ministry. We hope those who participate will come willing to learn and take some risks for the sake of the gospel. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO APPLY

We ask that all applicants have a conversation with their clergy and/or senior wardens before applying for this training. The standard liturgical license form must be signed and returned via email or USPS by April 30th to be eligible for training. Attn: Karen Warren

Hate Has No Home Here



The Jewish Federation is partnering with local chambers, businesses, cultural organizations, houses of worship, and schools to amplify the message that “Hate Has No Home Here” through posters, social media, and lawn signs (in the spring.) In addition, there will be billboards across the Berkshires in December, January, and February with the expanded message “Antisemitism threatens us all – Hate Has No Home Here.”



Praying the Offices in Church

You are invited to join Father Sam in praying the Daily Office (Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer) in the Church four days a week. Each Tuesday-Friday, Morning Prayer is offered at 8:00 a.m. and Evening Prayer at 5:00 p.m. Come begin or end your day in prayer with fellow parishioners!

Our regular weekday services of Wednesday Zoom Morning Prayer and Friday Intercessory Prayer continue at 8:30 a.m. on those days. Consider staying after Morning Prayer on Fridays to pray through the parish prayer list with others at Intercessory Prayer. Or, if you are a regular at the online Morning Prayer on Wednesdays, and would like to find more ways to pray with others, consider coming to the Church on another day of the week!