The E-pistle

Friday, June 6th, 2025

Celebrate the Day of Pentecost this Sunday!

Festival of the Wind after the 10 a.m. Eucharist

“When the day of Pentecost had come…suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.”  Acts 2:1

The Great 50 Days of Easter culminate on the Day of Pentecost. Fire…Dove…Spirit…Breath…Wind…There’s no lack of vivid images appealing to all our senses.  On the Day of Pentecost described in the first chapter of Acts, the apostles received power from the Holy Spirit and were sent into the world as witnesses to the Good News of Resurrection, new life in Christ.  Because Pentecost marks the beginning of the Church’s spread beyond the original band of disciples, it is sometimes called the Birthday of the Church.  On this festive day, Sunday, June 8, St. Paul’s will celebrate with lively worship honoring graduates (preschool through graduate school) and sharing eucharist at 8 and 10 a.m.  After the 10 a.m. worship service, we’ll begin our own Festival of the Wind with a birthday cake.  Blow bubbles, make wind chimes or a pinwheel, decorate a kite, hear stories about wind and spirit, add your own wind stories, follow the path of our latest Story Walk, relax into a guided meditation.  Our Christian Formation Team has planned activities for toddlers, children, youth, and adults—ALL AGES!  

You can help….

+ Invite friends and family to join us for worship and/or the Festival of the Wind.

+ Wear something red (the liturgical color of the Day of Pentecost).

+ Join wholeheartedly in the celebration!

We hope to see you Sunday!

Sunday, June 8th, 2025: The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 A.M Holy Eucharist Rite II

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Day of Pentecost: Acts 2:1-12, Psalm 104:25-37, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-18, 25-28

Serving this Sunday:

Altar Guild: Cheryl Resetarits

Flower Guild: Libby Wade

Fellowship: Pentecost celebration

Serving at 8:00 AM

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

LEM: Jorja Marsden

Lector/Intercessor: Linda Mason

Greeter: Sebastian Bonner

Serving at 10:00 AM

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Assisting Priest: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Verger: Darryl Lafferty

Acolyte: Virgil Stucker

LEM: Kendra MacLeod

Lector: Darryl Lafferty

Intercessor: Kendra MacLeod

Greeters: Lis Stucker and Gaunie Graulty

Musician: Nancy King

Altar flowers are given to the glory of God by Libby Wade

Parish Prayer List

Those who are ill or in need of intercession

Jacob, Kathleen, Cynthia, Lori, Kit, David, Ann, Celia, Anne, Dawn, Tracey, Jim, Mary, Emery, Win, Mike, Janet, Bobbie, Ginger, Arthur, Josh, Bette, Michael, Holly, Dick, Loralee, Maggie, Michelle

Those who have recently died

Donna Gray

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

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

Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

John Tedeschi & Joel Levi

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

Search Committee for the next Bishop 

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 6/8)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

Christ Memorial Church, North Brookfield

Budget and Finance Committee

The Church and Wider Mission

National Cathedral Association

Action Centered Tutoring Services,  Springfield

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 6/8: The Anglican Church of Melanesia

Mon 6/9: Diocese of Multan (Pakistan)

Tues 6/10: Diocese of Mumbai (North India)

Wed 6/11: Diocese of Mumias (Kenya)

Thurs 6/12: Diocese of Mundri (South Sudan)

Fri 6/13: Diocese of Mundu (South Sudan)

Sat 6/14: Diocese of Murang’a South (Kenya)

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

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

June Red Letter Days

Wednesday, June 11: Saint Barnabas the Apostle

Friday, June 13: The First Book of Common Prayer

Tuesday, June 24: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Sunday, June 29: Patronal Feast: Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles

Lee Food Pantry: Current Needs

Baby wipes

Laundry detergent

Flour

Sugar

Rice

Paper towels

Toilet paper

Items can be dropped off at the back of the church. On the second Saturday of the month, a team from St. Paul’s volunteers to distribute food. Questions? See Jim Wade.

Instructed Eucharist on Friday, June 13

Why do we worship the way we do? Have you ever wondered where the different parts of our Sunday service come from, and how they are connected? Bring your questions and curiosities on Friday, June 13, to a special worship service called an “Instructed Eucharist.” During an Instructed Eucharist, we pause during the service to explain, ask questions, and more deeply understand what we do together when we join for worship. As we do, we will commemorate a special occasion: the first Book of Common Prayer, originally published in 1549. Questions? Ask Father Sam.

Newcomer’s Lunch, June 15 after service

Are you new at St. Paul’s? Have you been around for a few months, or weeks, and are looking to meet more people and get involved? Join Father Sam for lunch after service to learn more about the parish and how you can make a home in this community of faith. We’ll meet after the 10:00 Holy Eucharist in the tower room and walk over to the upper level of the Parish House to share lunch and conversation. All are welcome!