The E-pistle

August 30th, 2024

A Note from Father Sam

Dear friends in Christ,

Monday is Labor Day. With its origins in the organized labor movement of the 19th century, on Labor Day we recognize the essential contributions that laborers of all kinds have made to the modern society in which we live. Monday comes with the invitation to rest from our labors, whatever they may be, to take time in that rest to give thanks for those who work, often with less recognition and compensation than deserved, and to prayerfully resolve to work together to build a society where the labor of all of our neighbors is safe, fair, and just.

An exciting fall awaits us at St. Paul’s, with new opportunities for worship, fellowship, formation, and outreach. While this last vestige of summer remains, though, let us rest from our labors, and in that rest, pray:

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

-from the Book of Common Prayer, p. 261

This Sunday is our last day outside this summer! See you indoors the following Sunday, Sep 8, at 8 and 10 a.m.

Faithfully,

Father Sam

Sunday, September 1st, 2024

9:00 A.M.

Holy Eucharist

Collect for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9, Psalm 15, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Serving today, September 1

Celebrant/Preacher: The Rev’d William Loutrel

Server: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: Jean Rousseau

Musician: Nancy King

Greeter: TBD

Fellowship: Gale Page

Altar Guild: Natalie Boyce

Serving next week, September 8

8:00 a.m.

Celebrant/Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte/LEM: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: Darryl Lafferty

Altar Guild: Jennifer Carmichael

10:00 a.m.

Celebrant/Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

LEM: TBD

Lector: TBD

Intercessor: TBD

Musician: David Smith

Greeters: TBD

Fellowship: Vaunie Graulty

Altar Guild: Jennifer Carmichael

Parish Prayer List

Those who are ill or in need of intercession

Bruce, Charles, Linda, Veronica, Jeff, Karen, Lisa, Rosalind, Jacob, Kathleen, Doug, Holly, Rick, John, Vicki, Donna, Cynthia, Eliza, Cindy, Lori, LaDawn, Elaine, Kit, David, Ann, Jessica, Heidi, Paul, Kate, John, Lisa, Shawn, Betty Jo, Celia, Anne, Dawn

Those who have recently died

LaDawn Priebe, aunt of Father Sam

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

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

Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 9/1)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

Christ Church Cathedral, Springfield (The Rev’d Bernard W. Poppe, Interim Dean; the Rev’d Kate Derose, Deacon)

Admin. Assistant to the Canon to the Ordinary & Trustees, Karen Warren

The Church and Wider Mission

Seminaries of the Episcopal Church

Multicultural BRIDGE

Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Sun 9/1: Igreja Anglicana de Mocambique e Angola

Mon 9/2: Diocese of Ikeduru (Nigeria)

Tues 9/3: Diocese of Ikwerre (Nigeria)

Wed 9/4: Diocese of Ikwo (Nigeria)

Thurs 9/5: Diocese of Ikwuano (Nigeria)

Fri 9/6: Diocese of Illaje (Nigeria)

Sat 9/7: Diocese of Ile-Oluji (Nigeria)

Indoor Worship returns September 8

Mark your calendars: on the Sunday after Labor Day, September 8, we will return to our regular worship schedule, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. each Sunday, indoors. 8 a.m. is Holy Eucharist, Rite One (traditional language, early morning quiet, and no music). 10 a.m. is Holy Eucharist, Rite Two (contemporary language, hymn singing, and organ music). We’ve had a wonderful summer of outdoor worship, and look forward to seeing you inside soon!

Worship Leader Opportunities: Acolytes, LEMs, and more

Would you like to worship at St. Paul’s in a new way? Have you ever considered serving at the altar alongside the clergy? Starting this fall, we are hoping to expand the worship leader roles on Sunday morning. We are looking for acolytes, LEMs, and more! Acolytes carry the cross in the procession into church, help set the altar during the Offertory, and perform other liturgical tasks as assigned. Lay Eucharistic Ministers, or LEMs, serve the chalice at Communion and help the priests clean up the elements. We are also always looking for more Lectors, who read the scripture lessons, Intercessors, who lead the Prayers of the People, and Greeters, who help welcome folks to church, and bring forward the bread and wine and pass the alms basins at the Offertory. If you are interested in serving in any of these roles, please contact Father Sam or our Verger, Darryl Lafferty. Each of these roles is really quite simple, and training will be provided! Thank you for considering helping make our worship of God happen through the diverse roles we play on Sunday mornings. 

Help improve our beloved pipe organ on Sep. 21

Some parishioners may know that our pipe organ, originally built in the 1880s, has more than a few quirks. Like all old instruments, it needs regular love to keep it in shape. But did you know that parishioner and Stockbridge neighbor John Bishop is a professional organ builder and restorer? John has generously agreed to do a little work on our instrument, donating his time and labor by repairing some of the 16-foot pedal pipes, the lowest notes on the organ, at his workshop in Maine. However, he needs help getting the pipes out of the organ and into his car for the trip! If you like working with your hands and can help lift moderately heavy pipes, or if you’re interested in learning more about how pipe organs work, come over to St. Paul’s on Saturday, September 21, at 9:00 a.m. We need a small crew to get the work done, and it promises to be a fun task! Father Sam will have some snacks on hand, too. If you’re planning to come, please email Father Sam so that we know how many folks to expect. And do not worry–the organ will be playable the whole time these particular pipes are in the workshop. Thank you, John!

Thank you, fellowship hosts!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Fellowship Dinners this summer, especially our gracious hosts! A few of the dinners needed to be rescheduled, and there was still some room for more guests at one of them, so stay tuned for an update if you’d still like to attend. These dinners were so well received that we will assuredly have more in the future, too! A special thanks to Martha Bodine for her work in organizing the dinners.

Two Opportunities to Pray Together Each Week

Wednesday: Morning Prayer at 8:30am (Online)



Every Wednesday, a group of parishioners meet at 8:30am to pray Morning Prayer online via Zoom. All are warmly welcome to join via the Zoom link on our website. Thank you Darryl Lafferty for continuing to lead this weekly offering.

Friday: Intercessory Prayer at 8:30am (In-person)

Some may remember that several years ago, a group of parishioners met each week to pray for the needs of those on the parish prayer list. All are invited to join on Friday mornings in the church as we revive this tradition of intercessory prayer. Thank you Alice Wohl for your leadership in reviving this weekly offering.