The E-pistle

August 3rd, 2023

A Message from Libby

For the last several weeks, I’ve set myself the task of removing books from my home bookshelves. Sometimes my goal is 20 a week, sometimes 10. I’m determined not to buy more bookshelves (one of my previous solutions), but to narrow my cache to the point that there is actually empty space on some shelves. For the first week or two, I named my practice as “getting rid of books.” That sounded too much like destruction and made it hard to permanently remove a book from the group of beloved past reads, helpful professional reads, and potential future reads. Then it occurred to me that what I really wanted to do was to “let go of” books so that someone else could enjoy them. That has made all the difference in the world. As I take a book off the shelf, examine its contents, remember what drew me to it in the first place, and think about who might make use of it now, it’s become a weekly practice of making space that spills over into my spiritual life as well. What do I need to let go of in order to be closer to God? What can I give away that might help someone else experience God?

A “Ministry Tip of the Week” from the Episcopal Church Foundation on July 31, 2023 makes some pertinent suggestions about discerning which spiritual practices bring you closer to God. 

·     What brings us closer to God is deeply personal; only you can truly discern the best way.

·     Identify those practices that do not bring you closer to God and let them go.  “For example, if centering prayer isn’t your spiritual jam, then don’t do it!”

·     Consider this time of inquiry as a spiritual inventory of your faith practices and use it as an opportunity to explore and bring new life into your relationship with God. 

Happy exploring!

This Sunday -- INSIDE at 9:00 AM

This Sunday Chloe Alexandra Mitchell will be baptized and we’ll celebrate Holy Eucharist in the church. We’ll pray this beautiful and hopeful prayer for Chloe: “Sustain her, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give her an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works.”  Please come welcome this child into the fellowship of Christ. 

Collect for the Transfiguration

O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture for August 6^th: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99:5-9, 2 Peter 1:13-21, Luke 9:28-36

Worship Team for August 6^th

Inside at 9 AM

Celebrants The Rev. Jane Tillman and the Rev. Libby Wade

Preacher     The Rev. Jane Tillman

Reader         Martha Bodine

Intercessor  Sharon Billetter

Usher/Greeter   Ginny Willcox

Lemonade Host Patty Melville

Musicians    Nancy King & Doug Schmolze

Worship Team for August 13th

On the Lawn at 9 a.m.

Celebrant/Preacher The Rev. Libby Wade

Assisting Priest        The Rev. Jane Tillman

Reader/Intercessor Carl Sprague

Usher/Greeter         Vaunie Graulty

Lemonade Host       Ginny Willcox

Musician                   David Smith

Parish Prayer List

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

-  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

-     Those who have died: The Rev. Edward Long, Jr and Keith Holsapple

-   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: Lee Food Pantry

-    Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: All Saints South Hadley

-     Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Province de L’Eglise Anglicane Du Congo

-     Birthdays: Pam Drumm, Anne Auberjonois, Graham Higgins, Natalie Boyce

-     Anniversaries: Chris &Tracy Johnson, Sebastian Bonner & Anne Auberjonois

St. Paul’s First Story Walk

It’s fitting that our first Story Walk at St. Paul’s is up in time for a child’s baptismal Sunday! “There’s Only One You” is the title of this charming story. We hope the colorful storyboards will appeal to families who already enjoy walking through St. Paul’s gardens and relaxing in the Adirondack chairs. The Walk begins at the Little Book Box near Main Street and ends at the entrance to St. Paul’s Children’s Center. Thanks to Jessica Maloney for bringing this idea to life! 

Food Transport Cart Blessed for Use at Lee Food Pantry

Thanks to a Mission Grant from the Diocese of Western MA, St. Paul’s purchased two carts to help transport food at Lee Food Pantry. The carts were blessed at our outdoor worship service on July 23^rd. Sue Gore, Food Pantry Director, expressed her gratitude after the carts were delivered to the Pantry. 

Sunday, August 13 – After Worship

Quick Weeding of the Garden

Thanks to those who helped on July 23^rd, the driveway and rectory gardens are in much better shape. Your next opportunity to help is on Sunday, August 13. 

Open for Tours on Sunday, August 20

TOUR GUIDES NEEDED

The annual Stockbridge Arts and Crafts Festival is August 19-20. Last year we mounted a major event of our own with the very successful “St. Paul’s Creates.” This year due to the continuing construction at the rectory, we don’t have space available for an art/craft show. However, one of the most popular pieces of the weekend last year was the opportunity for people to tour the church with a guide who’s knowledgeable about the rich expressions of art in our worship space. On Sunday, August 20, we’ll have our regular Sunday morning Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. on the lawn. Then beginning at 11:30 a.m. and going through 3:30 p.m., we’ll offer guided tours. There will be a sign-up sheet this Sunday for volunteers to work one-or-two-hour shifts. You can also e-mail the Rev. Libby Wade, if you’re interested in helping.  At 4:00 p.m., The Mount is bringing a small seminar group to view our stained-glass windows (see below).  

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).

St. Paul’s Welcomes Appalachian Trail Hikers

Our July day as Trail Angels went so well! When our whole team welcomed hikers coming out of the woods, our first question was, “Can I get you a hamburger or hot dog?” The questions that followed were things like “Are you traveling north or south?” or “How are you doing?” I was glad we led with those questions. If the hikers wanted to know who we were, they asked. My favorite memory was the last hiker. This person, who identified as they/them, came at the very end of the day. They had challenging food restrictions, and we had a difficult time finding them some food. Finally, we offered hard-boiled eggs. The delighted person smiled from ear to ear as deviled eggs were made. Jim and I brought them to a place where there was a shower and a place to sleep. I’m excited for next month. We’ll be the Trail Angels again on Saturday, August 12^th. I appreciated meeting the hikers and having deeper conversations with the people of St. Paul’s. Peace, Sharon

Have you checked out St. Paul’s new website yet? If not, make it a point to do so. It will continue to evolve and be updated regularly as time goes on. We hope it will help engage the imagination of potential rector candidates, but we also hope the website will prove helpful to you by making information about worship, special events, and giving easily accessible. Please let us know what’s most helpful to you and what we might improve as time goes on. To access the website, use the same address as always (www.stpaulsstockbridge.org)

What’s Next in the Search Process? Two steps will be taken this coming week. 

·     Canon Rich Simpson, Diocesan Transition Minister, will file St. Paul’s Profile (the answers to the 12 questions that many of you helped the Profile Committee put together last winter) with The Episcopal Church’s Office of Transition Ministry. That’s the “matchmaking” system where both churches searching for priests and priests searching for churches place their profiles. Seek and ye shall find, as the saying goes!

·     Anne Covell, Search Committee Chair, will begin gathering the Search Committee to prepare for their work. We’ll begin praying regularly for the Search Process. Many thanks to those serving on the Search Committee: Anne Covell, Donna Gray, Darryl Lafferty, Martha Bodine, Matt Fillio, David Pearson, and Robin Race. 

Your Part in the Search Process:

·     Pray for the Search Committee and the Vestry and for the priests who might feel a call to serve with St. Paul’s.

·     Tell priests you might know that they can read about St. Paul’s on our website and encourage those who express an interest to contact Canon Rich Simpson (his contact info is on our website).

·     Help continue the re-invigoration of St. Paul’s by participating in worship and other activities.

·     Support fundraising for the Rectory Renovation which will be a significant piece of welcome for a new Rector.  (More about that in a future newsletter.)

·     Be faithful to the great commandment to love God and love neighbor.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

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

+ Sunday, August 6, 9:00 a.m. – Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist in the Church

+ Saturday, August 12 – Appalachian Trail Angels Work Day for St. Paul’s Team (contact Sharon Billetter for details)

+ Saturday, August 12 – Lee Food Pantry – St. Paul’s Team (contact Jim Wade for more info)

+ Sunday, August 13, 9:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist on the Church Lawn followed by a Quick Garden Weeding    (Worship inside if it’s raining)

+ 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