The E-pistle

Friday, May 23rd, 2025

A Note from Father Sam

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Dear friends in Christ,

The Easter season is an especially full one, both inside and outside the Church! When we keep the calendar of the Church year, the Church’s round of feasts and fasts, we find ourselves with all kinds of things to celebrate at this time of year: Holy Week and Easter Day itself; forty days later, Ascension Day; and finally, on the fiftieth day, the Day of Pentecost.

It’s also Memorial Day weekend, and we are delighted to begin the summer at St. Paul’s by hosting a Blessing of the Bicycles tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. in the Churchyard. This event, rain or shine, is a chance for us to offer prayers and blessings for our neighbors at the start of an active summer in the Berkshires for residents and visitors alike. All the details are below, and a special thanks to Michael Flamini and others who are organizing this first-ever event.

We’ll celebrate our Lord’s Ascension with Eucharist and a cookout next Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. I’m grateful to the Rev’d Libby Wade for leading us in this devotion this year. And Saturday, May 31 brings a chance to help plant the fields at Gideon’s Garden, a vital ministry of Grace Church that grows food for our neighbors in need.

It all leads up to the celebration of Pentecost on June 8, when we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit to the early church. As Jesus tells his disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel,

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

Even after his Ascension from the earth, Jesus does not leave us alone. God’s Holy Spirit is with us always, and with God we can face whatever this life brings us. It is a joy and privilege to celebrate these holy days with you, and to comfort our hearts with the peace of Christ.

Faithfully,

Father Sam

Sunday, May 25th, 2025: The Sixth Sunday of Easter

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 A.M Holy Eucharist Rite II

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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 Sixth Sunday of Easter: Acts 16:9-15, Psalm 67, Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5, John 14:23-29

Serving this Sunday:

Altar Guild: Robin Race

Flower Guild: Patty Melville

Fellowship: Lis and Virgil Stucker

Serving at 8:00 AM

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte: Rob Maloney

LEM: Jorja Marsden

Lector/Intercessor: David Pearson

Greeter: David Pearson

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: TBD

Lector: Darryl Lafferty

Intercessor: Virgil Stucker

Greeters: Carl Sprague and Lis Stucker

Musician: David Smith

Altar flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of  John A. Pege and Robert A. Pege by Deborah Pege

Parish Prayer List

Those who are ill or in need of intercession

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

Those who have recently died

Orin Smith, father of Frank Smith

Joe Davis, uncle of Mary Tierney

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

Bill Higgins, Patty Melville, Tracy Johnson

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 5/25)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

St. John’s, Millville

Clergy living beyond the diocese

Reclaiming Hope: the Commission on Mental

Health and Substance Abuse

The Church and Wider Mission

Episcopal Women’s History Project;

New England Synod of the ELCA

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 5/25: The Anglican Church of Kenya

Mon 5/26: Diocese of Port Moresby (Papa New Guinea)

Tues 5/27: Diocese of Morobo (South Sudan)

Wed 5/28: Diocese of Morogoro (Tanzania)

Thurs 5/29: Diocese of Mount Kenya Central (Kenya)

Fri 5/30: Diocese of Mount Kenya South (Kenya)

Sat 5/31: Diocese of Mount Kenya West (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

May Red Letter Days

Thursday, May 1: Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles

Thursday, May 29: Ascension Day

Saturday, May 31: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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.

Ascension Day Eucharist and Cookout

“God has gone up with a shout!” On Thursday, May 29, we will celebrate Ascension Day for the third year in a row. 40 days after Easter Day, Ascension Day remembers the event recorded in the Gospels when the risen Jesus “withdrew from the disciples and was carried up into heaven,” foreshadowing the gift of the Holy Spirit 10 days later at Pentecost. Come to church on May 29 for Holy Eucharist at 6:00 p.m. followed by a cookout. The Rev’d Libby Wade, priest associate, will preside and preach.

Gideon’s Garden Planting Day: Saturday, May 31

(Planting Day at Gideon’s Garden will take the place of a worship service for the Feast of the Visitation, Saturday, May 31.)

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!

Parishoners in the news!

Pam Breslin was recently honored at the Berkshire Nonprofit Awards for her volunteer work with Literacy Network. You can read more here: https://www.berkshireeagle.com/bizbrief/berkshire-nonprifit-center-awards-honorees/article_b1ca24d1-7118-433a-b68a-33977afa0fc1.html.

Cheryl Resetarits wrote an excellent article about Bowker Woods in the fall edition of Laurel Leaves, the newsletter of the Laurel Hill Association. Read it here: https://laurelhillassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Laurel-Leaves_2024-final.pdf

Know of St. Paul’s people doing great things in the community? Drop us line!

Be alert for email scams!

Some parishioners have continued to receive email scams from people claiming to be Father Sam or another member of the church. This is an unfortunate part of life in the digital age right now. Each of these occurrences is an opportunity for community education and awareness, and so here is some advice from the Rev’d Vicki Ix, Canon for Communications for the Diocese:

1.   No one in the church will ever ask for money or gift cards via email or text.

2.   Double check the sender’s exact email address, which often reveals something out of the ordinary.

3.   If you are suspicious about an email, call the church office or the person from whom the email seems to have come.

4.   Never click on links in emails unless you are certain you know the sender.

5.   Never share the parish directory with anyone outside the Sunday community or leave it in the church.