The E-pistle

Friday, December 6th, 2024

A Note from Father Sam

Dear friends in Christ,

On Sunday, we lit one candle in our Advent wreath, and began counting down to Christmas. It certainly feels like the season here Stockbridge! There is snow on the ground, Main Street is all ready for its annual Christmas weekend, and the Today Show even taped a segment across the street this morning.

Amidst such festivity, I pray that we will all find time to enter deeply into the restful quiet that Advent invites—the stillness in which we watch and wait for the coming of Christ. We wait patiently to celebrate Christ’s first coming at Christmas, and we wait with expectant hearts for Christ’s second coming, for the coming reign of justice, peace, and life that will triumph over all the forces of death and destruction that hold sway in our world. Advent helps us collect ourselves and refocus our sights on Christ, so that we can celebrate in joy, and then share with the whole world, the good news of Jesus Christ—beginning with his birth in Bethlehem all those years ago.

I invite you to find ways to enter into this season. Try praying the Lord’s Prayer each day, and wondering with God how praying “thy kingdom come” might shape your life in the present. Find someone who needs good news, and share what you can with them—perhaps the gift of your presence, surely the greatest commodity for those who follow a God who came to be present with us. And then come be with one another in church, to light more candles, to sing the season at Lessons and Carols on Sunday night, and finally to celebrate the wondrous gift of Christ’s birth at Christmas.

Our King and Savior now draws near. Come, let us adore him.

Faithfully,

Father Sam

Sunday, December 8th, 2024

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 A.M Holy Eucharist Rite II

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Second Sunday of Advent: Baruch 5:1-9, Canticle 16, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6

Serving this morning, Dec 8 (8:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte: Rob Maloney

LEM: Jorja Marsden

Lector/Intercessor: Vaunie Graulty

Greeter: TBD

Altar Guild: Tracy Johnson

Serving next week, Dec 15 (8:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Jane G. Tillman

Acolyte: TBD

LEM: TBD

Lector/Intercessor: Darryl Lafferty

Greeter: TBD

Altar Guild: TBD

Serving this morning, Dec 8 (10 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Assisting Priest: The Rev’d Jane G. Tillman

Acolyte/LEM: Kim Savery

Lector: Torey Winn

Intercessor: Gale Page

Musician: David Smith

Greeters: Frank Smith and Gale Page

Fellowship: Michael Flamini

Altar Guild: Tracy Johnson

Serving next week, Dec 15 (10 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Jane G. Tillman

Verger: Darryl Lafferty

Acolyte: TBD

LEM: Brett Roberts

Lector: Virgil Stucker

Intercessor: Martha

Musician: Nancy King

Greeters: Jim Wade and Liza Picoli

Fellowship: Patty Melville

Altar Guild: TBD

Altar flowers are given to the glory of God and in Thanksgiving for St. Paul’s by Libby Wade

Parish Prayer List

Those who are ill or in need of intercession

Charles, Jacob, Kathleen, Donna, Cynthia, Cindy, Lori, Elaine, Kit, David, Ann, Jessica, Heidi, Lisa, Shawn, Betty Jo, Celia, Anne, Dawn, Natalie, Bill, Tom, Ginger, Tracey, Mary

Those who have recently died

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

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

Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

Donna Gray

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 12/8)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

Saint Mark’s Church, Worcester (The Rev’d Jose R. Reyes, Priest-in-Charge)

Non-parochial priests and deacons

The Church and Wider Mission

Church Video & Film

Prayer Shawl Ministries

Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Sun 12/8: The Episcopal Church of Sudan

Mon 12/9: Diocese of Kobe (Japan)

Tues 12/10: Diocese of Koforidua (West Africa)

Wed 12/11: Diocese of Kolhapur (North India)

Thurs 12/12: Dio. of Kollam-Kottarakkara (South India)

Fri 12/13: Diocese of Kondoa (Tanzania)

Sat 12/14: Diocese of Kongor (South Sudan)

Mark your Calendars: Advent and Christmas

Advent and Christmas are here! Mark your calendars for these special events, and stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks:

Sunday, December 8: Advent Lessons and Carols, 6 p.m. in the Church

Saturday, December 14: Oakes and Smith Annual Holiday Concert, 7:30 p.m. in the Church

Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve services at 5:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day service at 10 a.m.

“Lord, teach us to pray:” Advent Series on Prayer

Are you looking to deepen your prayer life? Would you like to explore new ways of praying with others? This Advent, Join Father Sam for a three-part series all about prayer. We’ll meet on three Sundays in December after the 10:00 Eucharist: December 1, December 15, and December 22 (skipping Dec 8 for the Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas festivities).

In Advent, we slow down to watch and wait for the coming of Christ, both in our annual remembrance of Christmas and in our anticipation of Christ’s second coming. Amidst what is sometimes a busy season, it is the perfect time to take a pause, breathe deeply, and join with those first disciples of Jesus who asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Sunday, 12/1: The Lord’s Prayer

Sunday 12/8: break–no session

Sunday 12/15: Praying with Scripture

Sunday 12/22: Praying with Beads: The Rosary

Next Red Letter Day: St. Thomas

Join us on the shortest day of the year, December 21, for our next red letter day: St. Thomas the Apostle. Come find out why “Doubting Thomas” is remembered on this day, and be together on this day of little light! Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 21. Stay tuned for information about a post-worship conversation themed around this shortest day.

And thank you to everyone who joined us for worship and fellowship on St. Andrew’s Day! We had a wonderful time in church and in the rectory. Enjoy these photos from our Scottish-themed celebration.

 Christmas Giving Tree for our Immigrant Neighbors

Thank you to Patty Melville for organizing our Christmas Giving Tree in support of our Haitian immigrant neighbors. There are still a few empty spots, so if you haven’t yet signed up, consider taking an ornament on Sunday at church that corresponds with one of the missing items! We need all items returned to church by next Sunday, December 15th.

If you’re looking for another way to give this season, Multicultural BRIDGE is supporting over 180 families through mutual aid. Please contact fellow parishioner Tracy Johnson at tracy@multiculturalbridge.org before Tuesday, Dec. 10 for more information. Gifts can be delivered to 965 Main St, Great Barrington through the front right hand door, no later than Thursday, Dec. 12. Thank you all for your generosity in sharing the gifts of this season with our neighbors!

From the Stewardship Committee

Thank you to everyone who has prayerfully submitted their 2025 Pledge Cards! If we somehow missed getting you a Pledge Card so that you too can make a pledge to St. Paul's for 2025, please reach out to Brett Roberts at brett.roberts25@gmail.com or Fr. Sam. We will get you a Pledge Card to fill out ASAP. We hope to provide the parish with a Stewardship Report next Sunday! 

Upcoming Events

+Sunday, December 8: Advent Lessons and Carols, 6 p.m. in the Church

+ Saturday, December 14: Oakes and Smith Annual Holiday Concert, 7:30 p.m. in the Church

+Saturday, December 14: St Paul’s serves at the Lee Food Pantry, 8:30 AM

+Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve services at 5:30 and 10:30 p.m.

+Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day service at 10 a.m

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.