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The E-pistle

May 26th, 2023

A Message from Libby -- A Spirit-Filled Week


Our reading this Sunday from 1 Corinthians includes this sentence: “There are

varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same

Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of

them in everyone.” The past week in the life of St. Paul’s has demonstrated the truth of

this statement. We gathered to worship, pray, serve others, eat and talk together,

participate in the Children’s Center Fundraiser event, ask blessing on the property with

which we’ve been entrusted, and clean and beautify the gardens. While we were doing

these services and activities, our contractor was busy with the rectory renovation, office

staff prepared an up-to-date parish address book, life moments (confirmation, marriage,

baptism, interment) were celebrated or planned, a rectory renovation fundraising

committee began forming, the website update moved into high gear, visitors were

welcomed, and musicians gathered for a concert rehearsal. That’s just a small window

into the last seven days! So many gifts were offered. There is an undeniably renewed

energy that can only be attributed to the breath of the Holy Spirit moving through our

congregation.

 There is no way I can thank individually every person who contributed to the life

of this parish in the events of last week without unintentionally missing someone, but I

do want to thank….

….Lisa Kane, Jorja Marsden, Vaunie Graulty, and the team of preschool parents who planned and presented the Children’s Center Fundraiser last Saturday. While final

figures aren’t in, Lisa reports that well over $6,000 was raised for scholarships and

enrichment activities;

….Darryl Lafferty, Jim Wade, and Natalie Boyce for the BBQ after the Ascension Day Eucharist (yes, we used incense in worship!);

….Natalie Boyce, Ginny Willcox, Gale Page, Patty Melville, and others who provided

food for our Rogation Sunday picnic;

….Chris Johnson and Martha Bodine for their work in organizing the Garden Workday,

and all who weeded, pruned, hauled trash, and cleaned benches for several hours;

….Kyra Saltman, David Smith, Nancy King, Sharon Billetter, Darryl Lafferty, Jane

Tillman, and all who supported and led our worship services.

This Sunday we’ll celebrate the Day of Pentecost, when the disciples experienced

the rush of a mighty wind and tongues of fire descending upon them. After a time of

waiting, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The photo accompanying this message is

of our pulpit hanging for Pentecost. The dove represents the Holy Spirit, while the red

represents the fire of energy and empowerment. As a fun way to celebrate the

beginning of a new week and a new season, you are encouraged to wear something red this Sunday! Let us continue moving in the power of the Spirit.

Sunday Worship at 8 and 10 a.m.

 

Collect for the Day of Pentecost

O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Scripture for May 28th: Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:25-35, 37, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13,  John 20:19-23

Worship Team for May 28th

Celebrant (8)         The Rev. Libby Wade

Celebrant (10)     The Rev. Jane Tillman

Preacher (8 & 10) The Rev. Libby Wade

Reader/Intercessor (8)  Darryl Lafferty

Reader/Intercessor (10)    Carl Sprague

Usher/Greeter (10)                Jim Wade

Fellowship Host                Tracy Johnson


Worship Team for June 4th, Trinity Sunday

Celebrant and Preacher     The Rev. Libby Wade

Reader and Intercessor  Vaunie Graulty                                            

Crucifer                                 Sharon Billetter

Verger                                   Darryl Lafferty

Usher/Greeter                     Ginny Willcox

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, and Isabel

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

--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: Gideon’s Garden

--Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: All Saints Church in North Adams

--Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Extra-Provincial Churches

--Birthdays: Patty Melville and Tracy Johnson

--The altar flowers are given today in memory of Robert A. Pege by Deborah Pege.

“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. 


The psalms speak to us as humans because they are honest expressions of need, praise, thanksgiving, fear, and anger.  Biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann calls them “the voice of our own common humanity—gathered over a long period of time, but a voice that continues to have amazing authenticity and contemporaneity.” (Brueggemann, Praying the Psalms, pp. 16-17).  


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 – June 11, June 25 & beyond –

Bring a sweet and/or savory snack for the fellowship time after the 10 a.m. service and set up/clean up the table. Coffee, cups, plates, napkins are provided. Contact Martha Bodine (marthabodine@yahoo.com) to volunteer.

+ Gideon’s Garden Planting Day – Saturday, June 3 at 10 a.m., 26 Division Rd., Great Barrington (see article below)

+ 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.

Honoring Graduates and Celebrating 50 Preschool Years

Sunday, June 18, 10 a.m. Worship 

On Sunday, June 18, we’ll pray for graduates and teachers and celebrate the founding of St. Paul’s Children’s Center 50 years ago.  If you have a family member graduating from preschool, elementary school, high school, or college this year, please send their name, grade, and school to Libby Wade (libby_wade@yahoo.com).  If you are a teacher or someone in your family is an educator, please let Libby know that also.  Plans for celebrating the founding of St. Paul’s Children’s Center are still being formulated, but will include special guests and a brunch after the 10 a.m. worship service.  The Children’s Center is our Outreach Ministry of the Week on May 14, so two photos of the children’s delightful artwork are included with this article.


Calendar of Upcoming Events


+ Sunday, May 28 – The Day of Pentecost – Wear Red

+ Monday, May 29 – Stockbridge Memorial Day Main Street Parade at 12:15 and Program at 12:45 at the Old Town Hall

+ 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 50th 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)

Gideon's Garden is looking for Volunteers!


Gideon's Garden is a vegetable garden run by Grace Church and Taft Farms dedicated to addressing food insecurity in the area as well as being a place for children and youth to learn, grow, and build relationships. This season, Gideon's Garden is looking for community volunteers to help make the work of the Garden possible!


What: Planting Day, come for our first community event of the season and see what Gideon's Garden is about.

When: June 3rd from 10 AM-4 PM (come and go as you please!)

Where: Gideon's Garden at 26 Division St., Great Barrington (across from Taft Farms).

We also have open volunteer hours twice a week starting now and ending at the end of September. Our Spring hours are on Tuesday/Thursday from 10a-12 and our Summer hours (starting in June) are on Monday from 9a-12 and on Wednesday from 1-5pm. Come for the work and stay for the conversation and company!


If you have other ways you might want to get involved with Gideon's, email Joel at gideonsgarden@graceberkshires.org. or kendramac26@gmail.com


Parish Family News

…Congratulations to Tracy Johnson, nominee in the “Unsung Hero” category of the 2023 Berkshire Nonprofit Awards for her work with Multicultural BRIDGE, Inc.

…Congratulations to Nick Quinn who graduates from college this weekend.

…Welcome back from winter homes to the Berkshires and St. Paul’s: Genet and Phillippe, Virgil and Lis, and Torey. 

Rectory Renovation Process


The dumpster behind the rectory is now full. Cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and tile have arrived or will shortly. Soon kitchen and upstairs bathrooms will be on the way to a fresh updated functional status. Funding for this major project will come from several sources including endowment funds.  A fundraising committee is forming and will share plans soon. Renovating the rectory interior is vital preparation for calling a new rector, and your vestry hopes everyone will want to be part of this project.


Photos from Rogation Sunday and the St. Paul's Children's Center 50th Anniversary Fundraiser

Memorial Day – Monday, May 29

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. The first national celebration took place in Arlington National Cemetery in 1868 with speeches by dignitaries and flowers strewn on graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers. From its beginnings, Memorial Day was about reconciliation, not division. 

Stockbridge observes Memorial Day with a Main Street Parade at 12:15 p.m., visits to each of the cemeteries, and a program at 12:45 with speeches, music, and prayers followed by a hot dog lunch. St. Paul’s lawn is a great place to view the parade. Then it’s a short walk to the Old Town Hall near the Congregational Church for the program. The Rev. Libby Wade will offer the invocation and benediction at the program this year. 

On this Memorial Monday following our celebration of the Day of Pentecost on Sunday, may we remember the dead not only of our nation’s wars, but also of all wars in all lands where men, women, and children have lost their lives to the harsh and bitter cruelty of human combat. Make us more compassionate, loving, and forgiving as we call to mind the tragic deaths brought by wars. Let peace come in a thousand tongues and a myriad of languages. May we renew ourselves in the quest for the dream that God’s “kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”  


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Contact

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

29 Main Street, P.O. Box 704

Stockbridge, MA 01262

Church Office Voicemail: (413) 298-4913

Email: office@stpaulsstockbridge.org

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