The E-pistle

May 10th, 2024

A Note from Father Sam

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Dear friends in Christ,

On behalf of the entire community, I wish to say thank you to everyone who helped make our Celebration of a New Ministry such a special occasion.

To our wardens, verger, and staff—thank you!

To our altar guild, greeters, acolyte, video crew, photographer, and other liturgical participants—thank you!

To Nancy King, for her beautiful organ music—thank you!

To our gracious reception hosts, and the many hands who helped plan and execute our party—thank you!

To each and every member of this parish, for your prayers, faithfulness, good cheer, and welcoming of so many neighbors—thank you!

Thank you for your trust in welcoming me and my family into this community. May God give us the grace to truly be the Body of Christ in this place, at this time. I cannot wait for all that is to come.

Yours in the risen Christ,

Father Sam

Sunday, May 10th

8:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M.

Holy Eucharist

Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Easter

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Scripture for the Seventh Sunday of Easter: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1, John 17:6-19

Serving this morning, May 12 (8:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Deacon: The Rev’d Sharon Billetter

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

Lector:David Pearson

Intercessor: David Pearson

Altar Guild: Ginny Willcox

Serving next week, May 19 (8:00 a.m.)

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

Deacon: The Rev’d Sharon Billetter

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

Lector: Jorja Marsden

Intercessor: Jorja Marsden

Altar Guild: Natalie Boyce

Serving this morning, May 12 (10:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Jane G. Tillman

Deacon: The Rev’d Sharon Billetter

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

Lector: Frank Smith

Intercessor: Kendra MacLeod

Musician:David Smith

Greeters: Jim Wade

Fellowship: Cheryl Resetarits

Altar Guild: Ginny Willcox

Serving next week, May 19 (10:00 a.m.)

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

Deacon: The Rev’d Sharon Billetter

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

Lector: Vaunie Graulty

Intercessor: Gale Page

Musician: Nancy King

Greeters: Ginny Wilcox

Fellowship: Carl Sprague

Altar Guild: Natalie Boyce

Altar flowers are given by Tracy Weston, in memory of Martha M. Muir, George M. and Gertrude M. French, Mabel P. French, Helen F. Stoner, Wellington A. French, George M. French Jr, Harold P. French Sr, Ada M. French and Jessie L. French on Mother's Day

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, Lenore, Vicki, Donna, Cynthia, Eliza, Cindy, Lori, LaDawn, Elaine, Kit, Adam, Peter

Those who have recently died

Charles Mancivalano, stepfather of Rob Maloney

Larry Tonini

Leslie Wright, father-in-law of Darryl Lafferty

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

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

Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

Scott Muir

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 5/12)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

St. Andrew’s Church, Longmeadow (The Rev’d Charlotte H. LaForest, Rector; the Rev’d Lora Smith, Deacon; the Rev’ds James Monroe and Richard Bellows, Priests Associate)

Commission on Ministry

Third Order of Franciscans

The Church and Wider Mission

Faith Alive

The Episcopal Network for Stewardships (TENS)

Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Sun 5/12: The Anglican Church of Burundi

Mon 5/13: Diocese of Ekiti Kwara (Nigeria)

Tues 5/14: Diocese of Ekiti Oke (Nigeria)

Wed 5/15: Diocese of Ekiti West (Nigeria)

Thurs 5/16: Diocese of Eldoret (Kenya)

Fri 5/17: Diocese of Port Elizabeth (Southern Africa)

Sat 5/18: Diocese of El-Obeid (Sudan)

Support St. Paul’s Children’s Center May 18

The annual St. Paul’s Children’s Center Color Run, in memory of Grayson Pellegrino, will be Saturday, May 18, at 10:00 a.m. behind Monument Mountain High School. If you know a child aged 2-12 who would like to participate in a fun 1-mile run or walk, encourage them to sign up! The entry fee is $10/child, and all proceeds help fund scholarships to help families afford tuition for the Children’s Center. If you’d like to support the runners, all donations will be accepted and appreciated! You can make a check out to St. Paul’s Children’s Center and drop it in the plate at church or mail it to the Children’s Center, PO Box 784, Stockbridge, MA 01262. Entry forms and more information are available in the church tower room.

An important message from our partners at Grace Church, Great Barrington

Dear friends & faith leaders, 

As you know, our community has been blessed these past few months by the presence of a community of Haitian and Latin American people who have begun new lives here. Many of you have already done a lot to help these newest of our neighbors feel welcome and connected. Thank you! 

I am writing now with a specific and pressing request: The time allocated for our new neighbors to stay at the motel in Great Barrington is now almost up.  Some are excited to move on to new places, but many have begun to make real lives here, securing employment, settling their kids into school, and creating community with friends and neighbors. For this reason there is now an urgent need for housing in the area and - as you know - housing is in short supply around here!  

Would you be willing to spread the word that if anyone has a space for rent of any size, that we have reliable, hard working, financially stable individuals and families who would be grateful to pay market rate and become their new tenants. Many are people of deep faith, and everyone comes with excellent references from several respected members of our community. 

During these times of global upheaval and pain, many in my own congregation have struggled with a feeling of powerlessness: how can they do anything that will make a difference?  I believe this is an opportunity to do just that. Please help spread the word!  

Please ask anyone with potential leads or space to reach out to Shasta Bona and Jason Godfrey at the Great Barrington Family Resource Center as they are coordinating the search.  Their emails are:  Shasta.Bona@csoinc.org and Jason.Godfrey@csoinc.org

-The Rev’d Tina Rathbone

Fellowship Dinners

Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in hosting a fellowship dinner in your area! Martha Bodine and Father Sam are working on more details, including a list of dates for these dinners over the summer, so stayed tuned for more information in the coming weeks! 

Mark your calendars: Parish Life Events

Mark your calendar for two events in the early summer: one work and one play!

Sunday, May 19: Church Clean-Out Day

Stay after church to join with fellow parishioners in a clean-out day! We’ll tackle some of the clutter in the basement, do some gardening, and have jobs for all ages and abilities. Bring your work clothes!

Sunday, June 30: Parish Picnic

On the last Sunday in June, we’ll celebrate our other patronal feast, the Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and join together for a parish picnic after worship. Stay tuned for more information!

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.

Getting Ahold of Father Sam

Father Sam now has a working church email address, rector@stpaulsstockbridge.org, that can be used for all church communication. You can call him at the church office, (413) 298-4913, or any time at his cell phone, (765) 401-6112. Father Sam will observe Monday as his sabbath day each week and therefore not check email, but will always respond to a pastoral emergency if contacted by cell phone.