The E-pistle

Friday, May 2nd, 2025

A Note from Father Sam

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Dear friends,

It has been a joy to watch the bright green world come alive over the last two weeks, just as we have begun our celebration of the Easter season. Brett and I recently found ourselves remarking just how impossibly green the grass, trees, and other plants look in the churchyard and across the Berkshires. “The whole bright world rejoices now, Hilariter, hilariter!” one of our Easter hymns proclaims (“Hilariter” is Latin for “joyfully,” our hymnal helpfully explains). “Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,” another has us sing. The symmetry of the church’s calendar and the earth’s rhythms gives a special, colorful flair to our Easter celebration. Christ is risen, and so is the world around us. Over the remainder of these fifty days and beyond, may the green grass, colorful bulbs, and bright blue sky be a reminder for you of our risen Lord’s presence. Present with the disciples in those surprising Easter days, present with the Church throughout all ages, present to all creation in his re-creating resurrection life, Jesus Christ is present with us now, and through him we have life. “Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.”

Faithfully,

Father Sam

Sunday, May 4th, 2025: The Third Sunday of Easter

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 A.M Holy Eucharist Rite II

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Third Sunday of Easter: Acts 1-20, Psalm 30, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19

Serving this Sunday:

Altar Guild: Ginny Willcox

Fellowship: Gale Page

Serving at 8:00 AM:

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

LEM: TBD

Lector/Intercessor: Jorja Marsden

Greeter: Jorja Marsden

Serving at 10:00 AM:

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Verger: Darryl Lafferty

Acolyte: Kim Savery

LEM: Kendra MacLeod

Lector: Gale Page

Intercessor: Frank Smith

Greeters: Natalie Boyce and Jim Wade 

Musician: Nancy King

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, Joe, Mike, Janet

Those who have recently died

Walter M. Gillman, father of Anne Skakel

Charles Folger

Francis, Bishop of Rome

Orin Smith, father of Frank Smith

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

Emily Beckler and Daniel Rourke

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 5/4)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

St. Mark’s Church, Leominster

Loving the Questions Discernment Experience

The Church and Wider Mission

Evangelical Education Society

National Episcopal AIDS Association (NEAA)

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 5/4: The Church of Ireland

Mon 5/5: Diocese of Northern Michigan (Epis. Ch.)

Tues 5/6: Diocese of the Great Lakes (Epis. Church)

Wed 5/7: Micronesia (Diocese of Hawaii, Epis. Ch.)

Thurs 5/8: Diocese of Wisconsin (Episcopal Church)

Fri 5/9: Diocese of Minna (Nigeria)

Sat 5/10: Diocese of Minnesota (Episcopal Church)

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

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.

New Copies of Forward Day by Day Available

New copies of Forward Day by Day are available in the back of the church for you to take home. Forward Day by Day is a daily devotional that includes scripture readings, prayers, and a reflection written by a fellow disciple. If you are looking for a daily prayer practice, this is a great place to start! The publication is quarterly, so the new copies will take you through July.