The E-pistle

Friday, January 31st, 2025

A Note from Father Sam

Dear friends in Christ,

A sincere and hearty thanks to everyone who helped make our Annual Meeting possible on Sunday. It was a joy to take inspiration from the life of Saint Paul as we celebrated our Patronal Feast, and an equal joy to conduct the business of the parish as we looked back on 2024 and looked forward to 2025. I am especially grateful for those members of our parish who have agreed to take on new leadership in the coming year. And may I add—if you are looking for ways to get involved, please reach out to me or a member of the Vestry! There are ways for everyone to contribute to the life of the parish, no matter what your interests or skills are.

This coming Sunday provides another special occasion at church: the feast of the Presentation, sometimes called “Candlemas.” At this dark time of year, and in a world that feels increasingly dark from the forces of isolation, injustice, and division, the church proclaims that there is a light in that darkness. That light is Jesus Christ, given to all the nations of the world, given to bring us out of sin and death into the light of his life and presence. We’ll hear the story of the infant Jesus being presented in the temple in Jerusalem, and of these two elderly characters, Simeon and Anna, who recognize the light shining from this child. And, it turns out that lighting candles is a pretty good metaphor for the good news that this story tells, so we’ll bless the candles we’ll use in church this year, and bless any that you bring from home! Bring your candles, bring your sorrows, bring your joys—come, let us meet this one who is a light to the nations. Let us bask in the warm light of his grace.

Faithfully,

Father Sam

Sunday, February 2nd, 2025

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 A.M Holy Eucharist Rite II

Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Presentation: Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 84, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40

Serving this Sunday:

Altar Guild: Natalie Boyce

Fellowship: Libby Wade

Serving at 8:00 AM

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte: Rob Maloney

LEM: TBD

Lector/Intercessor David Pearson

Greeter: TBD

Serving at 10:00 AM

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Assisting Priest: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte: Virgil Stucker

LEM: Brett Roberts

Lector: Martha Bodine

Intercessor: Jim Wade

Greeters: Jim Wade and TBD

Musician: Nancy King

Altar flowers are given by Patty Melville in honor of educators everywhere who are committed to teaching children the critical thinking skills they need to make choices based on scientific fact and empathy for the human condition.

Parish Prayer List

Those who are ill or in need of intercession

Jacob, Kathleen, Donna, Cynthia, Lori, Kit, David, Ann, Celia, Anne, Dawn, Bill, Tom, Ginger, Tracey, Ginny, Rebecca, Jim, Travis, Faye, Linda

Those who have recently died

Ruth SanJurjo, mother of Torey Winn

Elizabeth Bishop, mother of John Bishop

Pamela Drumm

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

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

Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

Darryl Lafferty & Peter Wright

Brett Roberts & Samuel Vaught

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 and Libby, our Priests 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 2/2)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

Daughters of the King

The Church and Wider Mission

Evangelism Initiatives

Racial Reconciliation and Creation Care

Anglican Cycle of Prayer (Week of 2/2)

Sun 2/2: The The Anglican Church in Aotearoa,

New Zealand and Polynesia

Mon 2/3: Diocese of London (England)

Tues 2/4: Diocese of Long Island (USA)

Wed 2/5: Diocese of Los Angeles (USA)

Thurs 2/6: Diocese of Louisiana (USA)

Fri 2/7: The Diocese of Luapula (Central Africa)

Sat 2/8: The Diocese of Lucknow (North India)

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 

Donald Trump, 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 lasting peace in the Middle East

For the people of the Middle East, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Haiti, and other places of conflict

For kidnapped Ukrainian children and their families and friends

For all affected by natural disasters and climate change, especially in Tibet and California

For all who live in fear, especially migrants and transgender children and adults

February Red Letter Days

Sunday, February 2: The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, also called the Purification of the Blessing Virgin Mary - that's a long title for a feast day! (See below)

Monday, February 24: Saint Matthias the Apostle: Bishop Doug will join us for Holy Eucharist at 6pm, followed by a discussion about bishop elections! Stay tuned for details.

Sunday, February 2nd: Feast of the Presentation of Christ (Candlemas)

This Sunday, February 2, is 40 Days after Christmas, the Feast of the Presentation. This holy day remembers the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem, and the words of the aged Simeon that Jesus is to be a light to all peoples. Dwelling in the theme of light in the darkness, the Presentation is also called Candlemas. Bring your candles to church to be blessed at the end of the Eucharist!

Click the image of the PDF below to read the Annual Report!

Announcing our newest Priest Associate

She’s no stranger to St. Paul’s, but we are delighted to announce that the Rev’d Libby Wade is taking on the title of Priest Associate at St. Paul’s. Many of us know Libby from her two terms as Interim Priest, most recently from 2022-2024, and from her faithful participation in the life of our parish between interims. While she is retired from full-time ministry, Libby has agreed to take on some responsibilities here at St. Paul’s, notably working with the parish to develop Christian formation for children. We think it’s best that we recognize Libby’s current role in our parish with the same title of Priest Associate shared with the Rev’d Jane Tillman! While Jane’s work is primarily liturgical and pastoral, Libby is choosing to focus on other areas, and may not be on the altar as regularly as Jane.

We are grateful that Libby continues to play such a vital role in our community. Thank you, Libby! Here’s a little more about Libby’s background, if you didn’t know:

A native of Alabama, Libby earned a BA from Huntingdon College and did graduate study at Auburn University.  While living in North Dakota as a young adult, she moved from the Southern Baptist Church to the Episcopal Church and knew she had arrived home.  After several decades as a lay professional in the areas of music and Christian formation, Libby was ordained in 1998 in the Diocese of Kentucky. She studied at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary and received an MDiv from the General Theological Seminary (Episcopal).  She served as priest at several congregations in Louisville, KY, retiring in 2014 after 10 years as Rector of Grace Church in Paducah, KY.  She and her husband Jim moved to Lee, MA that summer and have thoroughly enjoyed the abundant cultural activities and natural beauty of the Berkshires.  She quickly discovered a post-retirement vocation in Interim Ministry in the Diocese of Western MA and has served as Interim Priest in Williamstown, Southwick, Great Barrington, and twice here at St. Paul’s in Stockbridge.  As of 2025, she has ‘hung up’ the Interim hat and become a non-stipendiary Priest Associate at St. Paul’s, the parish that has been a touchstone and home base between Interims for the last ten years.  She is particularly interested in Christian formation and outreach, as well as empowering and resourcing lay ministry.  She will continue to be a Sunday supply priest occasionally in other parishes in addition to St. Paul’s.  Libby enjoys reading, playing piano, taking OLLI classes, using photography as a spiritual practice, and spending time with family, especially her three grandchildren.  

Winter Formation on Zoom:

Exploring Paul, our Patron

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

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 through his Letter to the Galatians, and hopefully gain some new perspectives on this important 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.

Next week, February 6, we will explore Galatians, chapter 3. If you would like some additional perspectives, find two readings here. (Choose the folder labeled Week 4.)Questions? See Father Sam.

Be Vigilant for Phishing Scams

As most of you hopefully already know, many parishioners were targeted by an email phishing scam this week, sent by someone claiming to be Father Sam. This has happened in the past, but this weak's scam appears to have been the most widespread and sophisticated scam in some time. Please be vigilant and keep in mind that Father Sam will never email you asking you to purchase gift cards, or send a cryptic message like "I am in a meeting and need your help." If you are the target of such a scam, please reach out to Kyra at parishoffice@stpaulsstockbridge.org and let us know.

Note: Changes to Weekly Reminder Emails

In an effort to streamline communications, we have adjusted our communication schedule with the parish to no longer include a weekly reminder email on Wednesdays before Morning Prayer and Sundays before Sunday Worship. The E-pistle will come out on Friday afternoons and will contain reminders for the upcoming week as well as news & announcements.

Please note that the Zoom link for Wednesday morning prayer is always the same and is located at the bottom of all constant contact emails and on the Church website.

We will send out reminders on Red Letters Days and for other special events.

Seeking feedback: Streaming Church Services

You may have noticed that we have not streamed a Sunday service for about two months. With our technical limitations and small pool of volunteers to run our equipment, we made the decision to take a pause. We want your feedback. Did you notice? Do you regularly tune in to worship at St. Paul’s on Sunday morning or later in the week? Please be in contact with Father Sam to share any thoughts you have about online worship, and thank you! 

Episcopal Relief & Development: Support Our Wildfire Response

If you are looking for a way to help out the wildfire response in Los Angeles, please consider a gift to Episcopal Relief & Development. From Episcopal Relief & Development:

We are working with local diocesan partners to assess the needs of evacuees and provide support in the coming days. Emergency responders are still working to contain the 100 mph wind-fueled fires that are consuming land, homes, places of worship, parks and businesses all across Southern California. More than a hundred thousand people have evacuated their homes – many of whom no longer have a home to which they can return.

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!