The E-pistle

July 12th, 2024

A Note from Father Sam

Dear friends in Christ,

It is very good to be home after a few weeks away. I’m looking forward to a return to routine and catching up with all of you. Thank you to everyone who helped keep things running smoothly in my absence, especially last Sunday when I was unexpectedly back in Indiana.

This Sunday, we will have the joy of witnessing the other great sacrament of the Church, less frequent than the Eucharist but no less important: Holy Baptism. Baptism is the doorway into the Christian faith, a doorway that stands wide open and is freely open to all who would enter. In Baptism, we are joined to the saving work of Christ and immersed into the mystery of Christ’s life. Baptism is an occasion of joy and celebration, and also awe at the unstoppable love and grace of God that is so lavishly poured out on us in Jesus Christ.

Into this great occasion of grace we welcome Joud Hariri, who will be baptized on Sunday. Joud lives in Florida, but is in Stockbridge this summer with her husband Anson Waller, who grew up in this parish and whom some of you may know. Joud and Anson will have their marriage blessed in the church later this month, and it has been a special privilege for me to walk with Joud as she has prepared for Baptism alongside their preparation for marriage.

You may have noticed a new section of our prayer list this year, for “Those Preparing for Holy Baptism.” Joud’s name has been there, and I encourage you to pray for Joud this weekend as she is baptized. Pray that Christ’s Body may be even more complete with the gifts that Joud brings, and may we give God great thanks for the gift of coming so close to his love and grace in this wonderful and mysterious way. 

See you on Sunday at the font,

Father Sam

Sunday, July 12th, 2024

9:00 A.M.

Holy Eucharist

Collect for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: Amos 7:7-15, Psalm 85:8-13, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29

Serving this week, July 14

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

Assisting Priest: The Rev’d Jane G. Tillman

Acolyte/Server: Rob Maloney

Lector/Intercessor: Carl Sprague

Musician: Doug Schmolze

Greeter: TBD

Fellowship: Brett Roberts

Altar Guild: Jorja Marsden

Serving next week, July 21

Celebrant: The Rev'd Jane G. Tillman

Preacher: The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught

Server: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: Virgil Stucker

Musician: Amanda Watroba

Greeter: Jim Wade

Fellowship: Patty Melville

Altar Guild: Tracy Johnson

Parish Prayer List

Those who are ill or in need of intercession

Bruce, Charles, Linda, Veronica, Jeff, Karen, Lisa, Rosalind, Jacob, Kathleen, Doug, Holly, Rick, John, Vicki, Donna, Cynthia, Eliza, Cindy, Lori, LaDawn, Elaine, Kit, David, Ann, Jessica, Heidi, Paul, Kate, John

Those who have recently died

John Boyce, husband of Natalie Boyce

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

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

Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

Helen Davies, Anne Covell; Elizabeth Skakel and Diego Marchant

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 7/14)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

Christ Church, Rochdale (The Rt Rev’d Martin Field, Interim Rector)

Big Blue Drop-in Center of Christ Church Cathedral

The Church and Wider Mission

Anglican Fellowship of Prayer

Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Sun 7/14: The Church of Ireland

Mon 7/15: Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast (Episcopal Church)

Tues 7/16: Diocese of Gusau (Nigeria)

Wed 7/17: Diocese of Guyana (West Indies)

Thurs 7/18: Diocese of Gwagwalada (Nigeria)

Fri 7/19: Diocese of Haiti (Episcopal Church)

Sat 7/20: Diocese of Hanuato’o (Melanesia)

Summer Happenings

Appalachian Trail Ministry

Fellowship Dinners Begin

Carl Sprague Art Demo in Lenox

Don’t Forget a Lawn Chair for Outdoor Worship

Summer attendance has been fantastic, so much that we’re occasionally short on seating! If you have a comfortable and portable lawn chair, bring it along to church so that we can have plenty of seating for visitors and those who need a chair. Thank you for making our outdoor worship such a vibrant and welcoming time!

Join a Fellowship Dinner this Summer!

Would you like to deepen your relationships with fellow parishioners? Would you like meet new people at St. Paul’s over good food? If so, you are warmly invited to join one of the Fellowship Dinners hosted in the homes of parishioners this summer. There are eight dinners scheduled in the months of July and August in the various locales in which we live. Find one that works for you and sign up here. If you are having any difficulty with accessing the google doc, please call Martha (413-281-9772) and ask for help. She recently discovered that she can add names using her desktop computer, but cannot on her phone! She is happy to help you!

Questions? Contact Junior Warden Martha Bodine

For the second year in a row, St. Paul’s is sponsoring a hole at the Human to Human Golf Tournament, a new annual fundraiser to support a wide variety of ministries throughout Western Massachusetts. Father Sam would like to issue an additional challenge: this year, let’s field a team of 4 players to play the tournament! If you enjoy golfing, you can represent St. Paul’s, raise money for important work around the Diocese, and have fun all at once! You can find more information here. And don’t let the registration cost deter you—the Vestry is happy to pitch in to make any registration possible.

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.