The E-pistle

February 16th, 2024

A Note from Father Sam

Friends in Christ,

What a full and glorious week it has been! From the joys of the Annual Meeting and Shrove Tuesday supper to the solemnity of our Ash Wednesday observance, we’ve spent lots of time together in fellowship and prayer. And we’re not done: tomorrow, we’ll commend Carl de Gersdorff to Almighty God as his family and friends gather for his burial, and then on Sunday we’ll mark the first Sunday in Lent as a parish with, among other things, the Great Litany. There’s much to celebrate and much to pray about, and I’m so glad to be doing it with you.

My note this week is a hearty word of gratitude for everyone who has contributed to making this busy week a success: our Altar Guild for pulling triple duty changing seasons while preparing for a funeral, Patty Melville and her team for providing delicious food for the Annual Meeting (including a surprise second wedding cake for your Rector and his husband!), our Wardens and Vestry for pulling off another successful Annual Meeting, everyone who came to the Shrove Tuesday dinner in the rectory, especially those who contributed food, Kyra Saltman for her beautiful cello playing at our Ash Wednesday Eucharist and for managing a 4-bulletin week in the office, and finally to everyone who has made this week so special with your prayers and presence and faithfulness.

It’s a blessing to be part of a Christian community that is so alive. Thank you. Enjoy some pictures below from the week!

Faithfully,

Father Sam

Sunday, February 18th

8:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M.

Holy Eucharist

Collect for the First Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ our Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for the First Sunday in Lent: Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 25:1-9 , 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15

Worship Team February 18 (8:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Preacher: Sharon Billetter

Assisting Priest: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Crucifer: Sharon Billetter

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

Lector: David Pearson

Intercessor: Darryl Lafferty

Worship Team February 18 (10:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Preacher: Sharon Billetter

Assisting Priest: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Crucifer: Sharon Billetter

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

Lector: Virgil Stucker

Intercessor: Martha Bodine

Musician: Nancy King

Greeters: Lis and Virgil Stucker

Fellowship: Lis and Virgil Stucker

Altar Guild: Robin Race

Worship Team February 25 (8:00 a.m.)

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

Crucifer: Sharon Billetter

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

Lector: Sharon Billetter

Intercessor: David Pearson

Worship Team February 25 (10:00 a.m.)

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

Crucifer: Sharon Billetter

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

Lector: Gale Page

Intercessor: Frank Smith

Musician: David Smith

Greeters: Gale Page and Frank Smith

Fellowship: Patty Melville

Altar Guild: Jorja Marsden

Parish Prayer List

-People we pray for on Sundays: Bruce, Charles, Linda, Veronica, Jeff, Karen, Lisa, Rosalind, Kit, Jacob, Kathleen, Doug, Holly, Rick, David, John, Lenore, Vicki, Donna, Cynthia, Eliza, Cindy, and Lori

-People on our Long-term prayer list: Allie, Irby, Ginger, Joan, Duncan, Bernadette, Ray, Piers, Katrina, Rich, Karen, Michael, Tom, Khali, George, Barbara, Christy, John, Anthony, and Estreeta.

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

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

- For peace and an end to violence and oppression in the world

- Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Mark’s, East Longmeadow

- Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan

- Birthdays: David Pearson

-Anniversaries: Natalie & John Boyce

Upcoming Events 

-Every Wednesday at 8:30 AM- Morning prayer on Zoom

-Every Friday at 8:30 AM- Intercessory Prayer in the Church

-Tuesday, February 20th– Vestry Meeting at 5:30 PM in the Parish House

-Wednesday, February 21st- First Meeting of Pilgrimage to the Cross: A Lenten Formation Series at 6:00 PM in the Rectory

Pilgrimage to the Cross: A Lenten Formation Series



Wednesday nights at 6pm in the Rectory, beginning Feb 21

Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? Would you like to learn more about them?

Join Father Sam in the Rectory on Wednesday nights in Lent for a formation series we’re calling “Pilgrimage to the Cross.” Each week, we’ll explore a different type of Pilgrimage and its relevance to our lives as together we make a common pilgrimage through the season of Lent. Feel free to come to one, a few, or the whole series! A simple supper of soup and bread will be served. If you think you might attend the first session, RSVP to Father Sam so we can have a rough count for food. All are welcome!

The schedule:

Feb 21: Pilgrimages to Holy Sites (Jerusalem, the Camino, Iona, etc.)

Feb 28: The Way of Cross (Stations of the Cross)

Mar 6: The Gifts of God for the People of God: The Pilgrimage to the Altar in Worship

Mar 13: Cradle to Grave: The Pilgrimage of Life

Mar 20: COVID-19: A Pilgrimage through Sickness

Patty Melville’s delicious raspberry chocolate cake at the Annual Meeting. Father Sam and Brett didn’t know they’d be cutting a second cake so soon!

Brett Roberts at the helm of the pancake ship on Tuesday night.

26 members of the community enjoyed a feast of pancakes, sausages, fruit, and champagne!

Last year’s palms all ready to be turned into this year’s ashes.

The palms go up in flame!

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.

Getting Ahold of Father Sam

Father Sam now has a working church email address, rector@stpaulsstockbridge.org, that can be used for all church communication. You can call him at the church office, (413) 298-4913, or any time at his cell phone, (765) 401-6112. Father Sam will observe Monday as his sabbath day each week and therefore not check email, but will always respond to a pastoral emergency if contacted by cell phone.