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The E-pistle

Saturday, January 11th, 2024

A Note from Father Sam


Dear friends in Christ,


Happy New Year! One year ago this week, Brett and I began unpacking our boxes in the beautifully renovated rectory, and you and I were just starting to get to know each other. As I look back over the last year, I am filled with gratitude for our many “firsts” together, which culminated in a wonderful first celebration of Christmas. Thank you to everyone who made Christmas so joyful at St. Paul’s.


A new year is now in front of us, and I honestly can’t wait to see what it will bring. The Hymnal 1982 contains a wonderful hymn appointed for the first day of the year, which is also the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. It’s a translation of a 17th century Slovak text, and it challenges us to meet the new year confident in the goodness and love of Jesus, this “Name of names.” Each verse of the hymn concludes with the same refrain, “rejoice, rejoice, with thanks embrace another year of grace.” I want to share just two of the verses with you:


Now greet the swiftly changing year

with joy and penitence sincere;

rejoice, rejoice, with thanks embrace

another year of grace.


His love abundant far exceeds

the volume of a whole year’s needs;

rejoice, rejoice, with thanks embrace

another year of grace.


The Hymnal 1982, #250


Whatever this new year brings, I am confident that the abundant love of Jesus far exceeds all that is in front of us. Through joy, sorrow, and adversity, my prayer for us is that 2025 may be a year of grace for St. Paul’s, Stockbridge—that in the midst of all that we do together: our worship, outreach, formation, and fellowship, and in our lives outside of church, too, we may know the grace and love of God given so freely to everyone in Jesus Christ. That we are loved beyond measure, and forgiven beyond measure, and set free by God to live as his children, sharing that love with everyone we meet. Whatever may come, God will see us through this year. It is so good to be here with you.


God bless you,

Father Sam


Sunday, January 12th, 2025


8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 A.M Holy Eucharist Rite II



Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.


Scripture for the First Sunday after the Epiphany: Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22


Serving this Sunday:


Altar Guild: Tracy Johnson

Fellowship: Vaunie Graulty


8:00 AM


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

Acolyte: Rob Maloney

LEM: Diane Dillon

Lector/Intercessor: David Pearson

Greeter: TBD


10:00 AM


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

Acolyte: Kim Savery

LEM: Brett Roberts

Lector: Gale Page

Intercessor: Kendra MacLeod

Greeters: Don Savery and Frank Smith



Parish Prayer List


Those who are ill or in need of intercession

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


Those who have recently died

Doug Willcox, husband of Ginny Willcox

Ethel Shippey

Charles Huebner, father of Diane Dillon

Ruth SanJurjo, mother of Torey Winn



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


Our Parish: St. Paul’s, Stockbridge

That we may grow in faith, hope, and love, and together strive to be the hands and heart of Christ for Stockbridge and the wider world; for Sam, our Rector; Jane, our Priest Associate; for our Wardens  and Vestry; for the students and staff of the St. Paul’s Children’s Center 


The Diocese of Western Massachusetts

Doug, Bishop

Steven, interim Canon to the Ordinary 


Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 1/12)


Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

Grace Church, Amherst 

Building Bridges Veterans Initiative 


The Church and Wider Mission 

The House of Bishops 

The Episcopal Church in the United States of America; Sean, Presiding Bishop 

The Anglican Communion throughout the world; Stephen, Archbishop of York 


Anglican Cycle of Prayer 

Sun 1/12: The Church of the Province of West Africa

Mon 1/13: Diocese of Lango (Uganda) 

Tues 1/14: Diocese of West Lango (Uganda)

Wed 1/15: Diocese of Langtang (Nigeria)

Thurs 1/16: Diocese of Lebombo (Mozam. & Angola)

Fri 1/17: Diocese of Leeds (England) 

Sat 1/18: Diocese of Leicester (England) 


Prayers for those in Authority 

The Town of Stockbridge 


The Stockbridge Select Board 

Ernest Cardillo, Jamie Minacci, Patrick White 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts


The General Court of Massachusetts 

Leigh Davis (House of Representatives) 

Paul Mark (Senate) 

The United States of America 

Joseph Biden, President of the United States Supreme Court of the United States 


The United States Congress 

Richard Neal (House of Representatives) Elizabeth Warren (Senate) 

Ed Markey (Senate) 



Prayers for the World 

For peace in the Middle East; for the people of Syria, Gaza, Israel, the West Bank, Lebanon, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Haiti, and other places of conflict; for all affected by natural disasters and climate change, especially in California and Tibet; for kidnapped Ukrainian children and their families and friends

January Red Letter Days


The Confession of St. Peter the Apostle, Friday 1/17, 6 p.m.

The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle: Patronal Feast Day, Sunday 1/26, 8 and 10 a.m.


January has two red letter days, each celebrating an event in the life of an apostle: the Confession of Peter on Jan 18, and the Conversion of Paul on Jan 25. We will celebrate the Confession of Peter with a simple service on the night before, Friday, Jan 17. We will transfer for the Conversion of Paul to the next day, Sunday, Jan 26, to celebrate our Patronal Feast at our regular 8 and 10 a.m. service times. The week between these two dates is often observed as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Stay tuned for an invitation to pray with Christians of other denominations at some point in the week!

Annual Meeting Sunday, January 26

Mark your calendars for Sunday, January 26, for the Annual Meeting of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church following the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist. At the Annual Meeting, we elect a new class of Vestry members, 4 Vestry officers, and 2 delegates and 2 alternates to the Diocesan Convention. We will also share good food, reflect on the last year of our life together, and have a little fun! Please plan to stay after the 10:00 Eucharist or come back to church around 11:15 if you attend at 8:00.


Nominations for Election at the Annual Meeting

A nominations committee has met to nominate new members of the Vestry and officers. Delegates to Diocesan Convention are ordinarily nominated by self. If you are interested in serving as a Delegate to Diocesan Convention, please contact Father Sam. This year’s convention will be a 2-day meeting in early November, and will have the extra responsibility of electing the next Bishop of our Diocese. Because of the Bishop election, it will be important to have a full delegation of 2 delegates and 2 alternates elected.


Annual Reports due January 21

If you lead a ministry at St. Paul’s, Father Sam will be contacting you to submit a report for the Annual Report, presented at the Annual Meeting. All reports are due to Father Sam no later than Tuesday, January 21.

Winter Formation on Zoom: Exploring Paul, our Patron


Who is St. Paul? Why did he write so much of the New Testament?


Starting next Thursday, January 16, join fellow parishioners for a 7-week formation series exploring the Apostle Paul, our parish’s patron. Each Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m., we will meet over Zoom from our homes to learn more about Paul, read one of his letters, and hopefully gain some new perspectives on this pervasive figure in our faith! The sessions will build on one another, but please feel free to attend any that you are able to. This formation offering is virtual, and we will meet using the Church zoom link found on the website and linked to here. Questions? See Father Sam.

Praying the Offices in Church


You are invited to join Father Sam in praying the Daily Office (Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer) in the Church four days a week. Each Tuesday-Friday, Morning Prayer is offered at 8:00 a.m. and Evening Prayer at 5:00 p.m. Come begin or end your day in prayer with fellow parishioners!


Our regular weekday services of Wednesday Zoom Morning Prayer and Friday Intercessory Prayer continue at 8:30 a.m. on those days. Consider staying after Morning Prayer on Fridays to pray through the parish prayer list with others at Intercessory Prayer. Or, if you are a regular at the online Morning Prayer on Wednesdays, and would like to find more ways to pray with others, consider coming to the Church on another day of the week!

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.

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Contact

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

29 Main Street, P.O. Box 704

Stockbridge, MA 01262

Church Office Voicemail: (413) 298-4913

Email: parishoffice@stpaulsstockbridge.org

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