The E-pistle

Friday, March 21st, 2025

Dear Friends in Christ,

What is Confirmation?

The Catechism of the Prayer Book defines Confirmation as “the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.”

Maybe you were baptized as an infant, when your parents and godparents made the promise to follow Christ on your behalf. Or maybe, you were baptized as an adult, but many years ago, in a different stage in your life. Confirmation provides the opportunity to make a mature, public commitment to following in the way of Jesus. Literally, the Bishop, as the chief pastor of our diocese, “confirms” your baptism, and prays that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide you as you seek to love God and neighbor. I like to think of Confirmation as when we say “yes, sign me up” to follow Christ and participate fully in the life of the Church.

When we talk about Confirmation, you’ll sometimes also encounter the word “Reception.” If you were Confirmed by a bishop in another part of the Church, like the Roman Catholic Church or the Lutheran Church, but want to make this adult commitment to faith in the Episcopal Church, rather than re-confirming you, the Bishop will instead “Receive” you into this particular part of Christ’s body, the Episcopal Church. That is our way of respecting your journey with Christ that may have happened outside of our particular denomination.

If that sounds appealing, or if you have questions and want to know more, please let me know! And if you are already Baptized and Confirmed, next week I will introduce a third way we make such a public commitment: the Renewal of Baptismal Vows. Stay tuned for more.

As we say each week in the invitation to communion: Christ calls each of us; all are welcome in this place.

Faithfully,

Father Sam

Sunday, March 23rd, 2025

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 A.M Holy Eucharist Rite II

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Third Sunday in Lent: Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9

Serving this Sunday:

Altar Guild: Robin Race

Fellowship: 

Serving at 8:00 AM:

Celebrant: The Rev’d Libby Wade

Preacher: The Rev’d Libby Wade

Acolyte/LEM: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: David Pearson

Greeter: David Pearson

Serving at 10:00 AM:

The Rev’d Libby Wade

Preacher: The Rev’d Libby Wade

Assisting Priest: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

LEM: Diane Dillon

Lector/Intercessor: Kendra MacLeod 

Greeters: Don and Kim Savery

Musician: David Smith

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, Tracey, Ginny, Rebecca, Jim, Travis, Faye, Linda, Mary, Emery, Martha, Anne, Win, Beth

Those who have recently died

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

Ginger, 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

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 3/23)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

Saints James and Andrew Church, Greenfield

Cathedral in the Night, Northampton

The Board of Examining Chaplains

The Church and Wider Mission

The Episcopal Church Foundation

Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church

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 3/23: The Anglican Church of Central America

Mon 3/24: Diocese of Maper (South Sudan)

Tues 3/25: The Diocese of Mara (Tanzania)

Wed 3/26: Diocese of Maralal (Kenya)

Thurs 3/27: Diocese of Marathwada (North India)

Fri 3/28: Diocese of Maridi (South Sudan)

Sat 3/29: Diocese of Marsabit (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, especially in Kentucky

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

March Red Letter Days

Tuesday, March 18: Eve of Saint Joseph. Holy Eucharist at 6pm.



Stay tuned for more details about these holy days.

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.

Baptism/Confirmation Class in Eastertide

If you are interested in Baptism, Confirmation, or the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, please be in touch with Father Sam. He is planning to offer a Baptism and Confirmation class throughout the Easter season.

Lenten Retreat Day for Young Adults 18-40

The Young Adult Ministry Network (YAMN), led by both lay and clergy young adults in the diocese, organizes events open to young adults throughout out region who are seeking to grow in faith and friendship. YAMN defines "young adult" as anyone 18-40. Coming up, the network is holding its second annual Lent retreat day on Sat. April 5th at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst. We ask that you spread this news to any young adults you know who might be interested and eligible. Please register by Thurs. Mar 27th or as early as possible, so the retreat organizers can make plans for lunch and worship. If you have any questions or if young adults in your congregation have questions, please reach out to the Rev. Megan McDermott, Priest Associate and Director for Creative Formation at Grace Church, at mmcdermott@gracechurchamherst.org. You can register for the event here.

Lent Formation Series: “In the Garden”

Our Lenten supper series returns this year on Wednesday nights in the Rectory. This year, our theme is “In the Garden.” Have you considered that the creation story in Genesis, Jesus’ arrest, and Jesus’ resurrection all take place in gardens? Is that a coincidence? Why is there a tree at the center of Eden and a tree at the center of heavenly Jerusalem in the book of Revelation? We will explore the important gardens and agricultural images in scripture as we walk the journey towards Easter together. A simple supper of soup and bread will be served each evening.

In the Garden: 2025 Lenten Formation Series

March 12: Life Began in a Garden (Creation)

March 19: Trees by Streams of Water (Life in Christ)

March 26: Laborers in the Vineyard (The Kingdom of God)

April 2: The Garden of Gethsemane (Suffering and Death)

April 9: An Empty Tomb in a Garden (New Creation)

All sessions will be at 6:00 p.m. in the Rectory.

Journey through Lent

Attention: Parents and Grandparents

We’re offering something new for families with preschool and elementary children or grandchildren—a booklet of simple yet meaningful activities for each week of the Season of

Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday, March 5. The suggested activities center around themes of blessing, loving our neighbors, hospitality, giving, and praying. You can pick up a copy of “Journey through Lent” on the Children’s Table in the church. If you would rather receive a copy by mail, please e-mail our Priest Associate Libby Wade. (libby_wade@yahoo.com).

Hate Has No Home Here



The Jewish Federation is partnering with local chambers, businesses, cultural organizations, houses of worship, and schools to amplify the message that “Hate Has No Home Here” through posters, social media, and lawn signs (in the spring.) In addition, there will be billboards across the Berkshires in December, January, and February with the expanded message “Antisemitism threatens us all – Hate Has No Home Here.”



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!