The E-pistle

August 17th, 2023

A Message from Libby

As these photos show, St. Paul’s team enjoyed a beautiful Saturday at the Appalachian Trail Angels’ Tent in Sheffield last week. Sharon Billetter, our Coordinator, and the Rev. Jill Graham, the overall Project Coordinator, flank two hikers in one photo. These hikers were so happy to eat lunch with us, repair their shoes, and wash traces of poison ivy off their legs before hopping back on the trail. Another photo shows a dog hiker with his own backpack! We had doggie treats for him. The third photo is a portion of our team for the day. Thanks to all who served this time and those who served on our team in July. By the numbers…..Teams offered hospitality six days a week from June 19-August 12. During that time, 656 hikers visited the tent. The highest number of daily hikers was 33 on July 20. The lowest was 2 on August 5. The hikers coming from the farthest distance to trek the Appalachian Trail were from Australia and New Zealand. 

Last year the biggest hazard was the lack of water due to drought.  This year the biggest hazard was mosquitoes due to excessive rain. Every hiker has an interesting story to tell and every hiker is extremely grateful for the gracious hospitality provided. “Spreading love and kindness, what better way to spend a day,” as one hiker put it. 

While one St. Paul’s team was spreading love and kindness in Sheffield on Saturday, another St. Paul’s team was doing the same thing by offering food supplies and fresh produce to people at the Lee Food Pantry. It’s good to know that our small congregation can manage two outreach projects on the same day. Blessings on our volunteers and on the AT hikers and Food Pantry clients. 

This Sunday - On the Lawn at 9:00 AM

Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for August 20th: Genesis 45:1-15, Psalm 133, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Matthew 15: 10-20, 21-28

Worship Team for August 20th

On the Lawn at 9 a.m.

Celebrant               The Rev. Jane Tillman

Preacher                 The Rev. Libby Wade

Reader                    Frank Smith

Intercessor             Sharon Billetter

Usher/Greeter       Jim Wade

Lemonade Host     Gale Page

Musician                 Nancy King

Worship Team for August 27^th

On the Lawn at 9 AM

Celebrant     The Rev. Libby Wade

Preacher       Sharon Billetter

Reader          Sharon Billetter

Intercessor   Darryl Lafferty

Usher/Greeter    Ginny Willcox

Lemonade Host  Lis & Virgil Stucker

Musician              David Smith

Parish Prayer List

-  People we pray for on Sundays: Bruce, Charles, Linda, Veronica, Jeff, Karen, Lisa, Allie, Rosalind, Estreeta, Kit, Anne, and Jacob

-Long-term prayer list: Irby, Ginger, Joan, Duncan, Bernadette, Ray, Piers, Katrina, Rich, Karen, Michael, Michael, Tom, Khali, George, Doug, Barbara, Christy, John, and Anthony

- Our partners at Grace Church, Great Barrington, and their priest Tina Rathbone; Christ Trinity Episcopal-Lutheran Church, Sheffield, and their priest Erik Karas; the Austen Riggs community and the Riverbrook Residence

- Victims of war, violence, abuse, persecution, and disaster at home and abroad; and those

impacted by the pandemic

-Outreach Ministry of the Week: The Cathedral of the Beloved

-Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:  Southwick Community Episcopal Church, Southwick

- Anglican Cycle of Prayer:  The Church of England

- Birthdays:  Christy Cosby French, Martha Bodine

-Anniversaries: Peter & Diane Dillon

-We pray for the repose of the soul of Dorothy Maggio, Anthony Maggio's mother.

Open for Tours on Sunday, August 20

The annual Stockbridge Arts and Crafts Festival is August 19-20. St. Paul’s will take part in this Festival on Sunday, August 20, as we offer worship on the lawn at 9 a.m. followed by guided tours of the church. Thanks to Genet Jeanjean, Jean Rousseau, Carl Sprague, Jim Wade, and Libby Wade for volunteering to be our tour guides from 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. St. Paul’s is blessed with a church and grounds replete with art and architectural craftsmanship. While our doors are always open for self-guided tours and prayer time, it’s great to be able to offer a guide who can add their own storytelling flair to the experience. At 4 p.m., The Mount is bringing a small seminar group to view our stained-glass windows (see below). David Pearson will be parish host for that ticketed event.

America’s Great Art Contribution:

Stained Glass of LaFarge and Tiffany

Presented by The Mount with Richard Guy Wilson

Sunday, August 20

In the late 19th century, a new form of stained glass emerged using color and radiance. Created by John La Farge and then picked up by Louis Comfort Tiffany, it became known as “American Glass in France and Europe." This talk and tour with architectural historian, Richard Guy Wilson, will investigate this extraordinary creation.

The program starts in the Stable auditorium at 2 p.m. with a slide presentation followed by guided tours of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Stockbridge and Trinity Episcopal Church in Lenox to view the glassworks. The group will be at St. Paul’s from 4 – 4:45 p.m., then return to The Mount. Tickets are $75 and may be reserved on The Mount’s website (www.edithwharton.org). Registration limited to 18.

Richard Guy Wilson is Commonwealth Professor Emeritus in Architectural History at the University of Virginia. A frequent lecturer, television commentator, and author of many articles and books on different aspects of American and modern architecture and design, including The American Renaissance (1979), McKim, Mead & White, Architects (1982), The AIA Gold Medal (1983), Machine Age in America (1986), Thomas Jefferson’s Academical Village (1993, 2009) The Colonial Revival House (2004), Harbor Hill: Portrait of a House (2008), and Edith Wharton At Home (2012).

The Search Committee (David Pearson, Martha Bodine, Darryl Lafferty, Donna Gray, Robin Race, Matt Fillio, & Anne Covell) has begun its work as the next step in St Paul's search for a new minister. Visit our new church website and click on the rector search button for more information on the process and how potential candidates can "look" at our church. The committee will keep the congregation updated as we progress.

-Anne Covell, Chair

Prayer for Rector Search

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rectory Renovation Update

Picture your new rector drinking morning coffee next summer with this view from the bay window in the Rectory Kitchen

Though still a work in progress, the Rectory Kitchen is looking great. The appliances are waiting to be fully installed among the cabinets. Then painting will be finished and the floor uncovered. The only things remaining from the old kitchen are the refrigerator, washer, and dryer. Everything else is new, efficient, and attractive.  

Calendar of Upcoming Events

+ Every Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. (on Zoom) –Morning Prayer

+ Sunday, August 20, 9:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist on the Church Lawn

followed by Guided Tours of the Church from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. during the Stockbridge Arts & Crafts Show. (To volunteer as a guide, contact Libby Wade)

+ Sunday, August 20, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – A Seminar Group studying the stained glass art of LaFarge and Tiffany will visit St. Paul’s.  Registration is limited to 18. Visit The Mount’s website to purchase a ticket. 

+ Saturday, August 26, 9:30 a.m. – Memorial Service and Interment for former member Jim Harpst