The E-pistle

June 4th, 2023

A Message from Libby for Trinity Sunday

The carving above is an exquisite depiction of the Trinity. It’s the top of the chair next to

St. Paul’s high altar, given to the church in 1884 by Mrs. Franklin H. Delano, friend of

Susan Sedgwick Butler, in whose memory the church building was given. (Mrs. Delano

was the granddaughter of John Jacob Astor and the great-aunt of Franklin Delano

Roosevelt.). On the chair, the Latin words Pater (Father), Filius (Son), and Spiritus

(Spirit) are in separate circles with Deus (God) in a central circle. These circles are

separate, yet intricately interconnected in a flowing line. The Latin ‘est’ around the

inner circle proclaims that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God.

Engraved in the large outer circle three times ‘non est’ (‘is not’) to affirm that the three

parts of the Trinity are separate, yet all part of the fullness of God. As we will sing on

Trinity Sunday, “Holy, holy, holy…God in three persons, blessed Trinity!” It’s as if the

circles interweave in a holy dance of divine relationship. God is ultimately communion

and the dance of the Holy Trinity invites us into that communion. Contemporary hymn-

writer Brian Wren speaks of this communion of love in the following text from Imaging

the Word (vol. 3):

How wonderful the Three-in-One,

whose energies of dancing light

are undivided, pure and good,

communing love in shared delight.

Before the flow of dawn and dark,

Creation’s Lover dreamed of earth,

and with a caring deep and wise,

all things conceived and brought to

birth.

The Lover’s own Beloved, in time,

between a cradle and a cross,

at home in flesh, gave love and life

to heal our brokenness and loss.

Their Mutual Friend all life sustains

with greening power and loving care,

and calls us, born again by grace,

in Love’s communing life to share.

How wonderful the Living God:

Divine Beloved, Empowering Friend,

Eternal Lover, Three-in-One,

our hope’s beginning, way and end.

Sunday Worship at 8 and 10 a.m.

Collect for Trinity Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture for June 4th: Genesis 1:1-2:4a, Psalm 8, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthews 28:16-20

Worship Team for June 4th, Trinity Sunday

Celebrant/Preacher (8 & 10) The Rev. Libby Wade

Assisting Priest (10)       The Rev. Jane Tillman

Reader/Intercessor (8)     David Pearson

Reader/Intercessor (10)    Vaunie Graulty

Usher/Greeter (10)        Ginny Willcox

Fellowship Host          Liza Picoli

Worship Team for June 11th, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Celebrant (8 & 10)                 The Rev. Libby Wade

Preacher (8 & 10)                  The Rev. Jane Tillman

Reader/Intercessor (8)          Darryl Lafferty

Reader/Intercessor (10)        Carl Sprague

Usher/Greeter (10)                Natalie Boyce

Fellowship Host                     Patty Melville

Parish Prayer List

--People we pray for on Sundays: Bruce, Charles, Irby, Ginger, Joan, Duncan, Bernadette, Linda, Veronica, Jeff, Karen, Lisa, Ray, Allie, Isabel, Estreeta, and Michael Curry

--Long-term prayer list: Piers, Katrina, Rich, Karen, Michael, Tom, Khali, George, Doug, Barbara, Christy, John, and Anthony

--Our partners at Grace Church, Great Barrington, and their priest Tina Rathbone; Christ Trinity Episcopal-Lutheran Church, Sheffield, and their priest Erik Karas; the Austen Riggs community and the Riverbrook Residence; victims of war, violence, abuse, persecution and disaster at home and abroad; and those who continue to be impacted by Covid

--Outreach Ministry of the Week: Lee Food Pantry

--Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Christ Memorial Church, North Brookfield

--Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria

--Anniversary: John Teschi & Joel Levi

--The altar flowers are given today by Libby & Jim Wade, in honor of their granddaughter Audrey's 13th birthday.

“My Soul in Silence Waits”

Meditation and Prayer Group 

Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. on Zoom

Our format will include a brief reflection on a psalm followed by a time for silent prayer, meditation, or journaling, and ending with spoken prayers. 

Come into this quiet time for centering, reflection, and prayer.  Nourish your soul in silence and safety.  Participate every Tuesday or drop in whenever you can.  You will be welcomed!    Contact: The Rev. Libby Wade at ( libby_wade@yahoo.com )  

You Can Make a Difference

+Fellowship Hosts for Summer Sundays – Thanks to those who have provided snacks to entice us to stay after the 10 a.m. worship service. Informal conversations over food help form us as a community. Last Sunday, worship visitors stayed and a couple touring the church after worship joined in the outdoor fellowship time on a beautiful day. Hosts are ready through June, but there’s still room to sign up for July and August. To volunteer, contact Martha Bodine (marthabodine@yahoo.com) or sign up on her clipboard on Sunday. 

+ Gideon's Garden Planting Day, June 3rd from 10 AM-4 PM (come and go as you please!) Gideon's Garden is at 26 Division St., Great Barrington (across from Taft Farms).

+ St. Paul’s serves at Lee Food Pantry – Saturday, June 10. Contact Jim Wade (jimwadejr@yahoo.com) if you would like to volunteer. Leave non-perishable food at St. Paul’s anytime.

+ Appalachian Trail Angels Ministry – Our work days will be Tuesday, July 18 and Saturday, August 12. Contact Sharon Billetter (sharonwillis2@yahoo.com) if you’d like to volunteer for one of these days. If you’d like to contribute to the Big Y gift cards that each team is asked to provide, put a check in the offering plate or mail to the church marked “AT Ministry.” The gift cards are used to purchase food for the next week’s AT hospitality.

A Note from Sharon Billetter, our Ministry Intern

I’m excited to be part of the Appalachian Trail ministry. The dates are scheduled for Tuesday, July 18 and Saturday, August 12. I will have a sign up sheet in the back of St. Paul’s for the next few weeks. Rev Jill Graham will also have a training session for participants and that date will be forthcoming. I’m looking forward to this great ministry.

Honoring Graduates on Sunday, June 18 at 10:00 A.M.

Is someone in your family graduating from preschool, elementary school, middle or high

school, or college this spring? Are you an educator or is someone in your family an

educator? If so, please send their name, grade or degree, and school to Libby Wade

(libby_wade@yahoo.com) as soon as possible, so that they can be listed in our leaflet on

Sunday, June 18, and in the E-pistle that week. On June 18, we’ll pray for graduates and

educators, as well as celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the founding of St. Paul’s

Children’s Center. There will be a brunch after the 10 a.m. worship service with special

guests from the early days of our preschool.

A Look Back in Time – St. Paul’s Children’s Center

As we prepare to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the founding of St. Paul’s

Children’s Center, here’s a glimpse into those early days. This is taken from an article in

the Berkshire Eagle on September 10, 1992, when the school was celebrating its 20th

anniversary. The Rev. Theodore H. Evans (Tad) was rector of St. Paul’s in 1992 and had

been since 1974, shortly after the center first opened. According to the article, “The Rev.

Theodore H. Evans, pastor of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, said… that the center is very

successful, serving 37 children from Berkshire County and beyond. But he recalled that

the opening of the center was controversial. He said the women’s liberation movement

was just getting started in the Berkshires, and many people thought women should stay

home to rear their children rather than go to work. ‘There was a lot of ‘anti’ feeling in

those early days,’ Evans said. ‘We got some static within the church about using the

parish house for non-churchy things.’…. Evans added, ‘It’s become an asset to the parish

as well as an important part of its ministry.’” Thanks to Children’s Center Director Lisa

Kane for sharing this article that reminds us how visionary St. Paul’s was in the early

1970s. Society’s attitudes have changed a great deal, but the Children’s Center is still at

capacity serving children and their families with excellent care.

On Sunday, June 18, the Rev. Theodore Evans (Tad) will join us for worship and

brunch as we share memories of this vital mission of St. Paul’s. The Rev. Tom

Damrosch will also join us for the brunch. Parents, former and present students, and

staff are especially welcome that day. Director Lisa Kane will also be with us, and we’ll

honor her decades of service.

Come celebrate this ongoing outreach to our community!

St. Paul's Children's Center Playground

Calendar of Upcoming Events



+ Saturday, June 3 – 10 a.m. – Planting Day at Gideon’s Garden

+ Saturday, June 10 – St. Paul’s works at Lee Food Pantry

+ Friday, June 16 – Marriage Ceremony at St. Paul’s for Linda Boborodea and Naren Dhamadharan

+ Every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. on Zoom – Meditation and Prayer Group

+ Every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. – Morning Prayer on Zoom

+ Sundays, May 28 – June 11 – Holy Eucharist in the Church at 8 and 10 a.m.

+ Sunday, June 18 – One Service Only at 10 a.m. with Brunch after– Honoring Graduates & Celebrating 50^th Anniversary of St. Paul’s Children’s Center

+ Sunday, June 25 ff – Outdoor Worship, One Service Only – Time TBD

+ Wednesday, June 21, Time TBD -- Safe Church Training for Volunteers (more info soon)

Rev. Libby Wade led a service in Stockbridge in honor of Memorial Day. Click here to read the Berkshire Edge article about the event. Photo credit: Berkshire Edge.

Parish Family News

…(Correction) Congratulations to Nick Dillon who graduated from Wesleyan University last Sunday.  

…Welcome back to the Berkshires & St. Paul’s from winter homes: Helen and John, Ramelle and Michael   

Rectory Renovation Process

Out with the old and in with the new! Rectory renovation continues!