The E-pistle

Friday, May 9th, 2025

A Note from Father Sam

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Dear friends,

Every year on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, we celebrate Jesus the Good Shepherd. In John 10, Jesus repeatedly refers to himself in phrases like this: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.”

For some, the image of the “good shepherd” evokes bucolic images of sunny pastures and fluffy sheep. A fairy tale, really. But we know that life, in reality, is far from this verdant scene. Jesus calls himself the good shepherd not because life is a storybook, but because life is hard. Because like sheep, we can get lost or hurt. Like sheep in a flock, we grow tired, and sick. To say that Jesus is our shepherd is not to say that nothing bad will ever happen to us, but rather, that when we get lost, there is One who knows us, who loves us, who cares for us enough to go and search for us. To find us in the midst of our pain, to know us and love us more deeply than we can imagine, and right there to lead us into his good pastures.

Whatever you are facing right now, I pray that you may know the presence of the Good Shepherd. God is faithful. Christ is risen. You are not alone.

The Lord is my shepherd; *

I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures *

and leads me beside still waters.

He revives my soul *

and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I shall fear no evil; *

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *

you have anointed my head with oil,

and my cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Faithfully,

Father Sam

Sunday, May 11th, 2025: The Fourth Sunday of Easter

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 A.M Holy Eucharist Rite II

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Fourth Sunday of Easter: Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30, Psalm 23

Serving this Sunday:

Altar Guild: Jennifer Carmichael

Fellowship: Carl Sprague

Serving at 8:00 AM:

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Preacher: The Rev’d Canon Greg Baker

Assisting Priest: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte: Rob Maloney

LEM: Jorja Marsden

Lector/Intercessor: David Pearson

Greeter: David Pearson

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane Tillman

Preacher: The Rev’d Canon Greg Baker

Assisting Priest: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte: Virgil Stucker

LEM: TBD

Lector: Kendra MacLeod

Intercessor: Carl Sprague

Greeters: Lis Stucker and Don 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, Tracey, Jim, Mary, Emery, Win, Mike, Janet, Bobbie, Ginger, Arthur

Those who have recently died

Francis, Bishop of Rome

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

Scott Muir

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 5/11)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

St. Andrew’s Church, Longmeadow

Commission on Ministry

Third Order of Franciscans

The Church and Wider Mission

Faith Alive

The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS)

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 5/11: The Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Japan)

Mon 5/12: Diocese of Mishamikoweesh (Canada)

Tues 5/13: The Missionary District (Brasil)

Wed 5/14: Diocese of Mississippi (Epis. Church)

Thurs 5/15: Diocese of Missouri (Episcopal Church)

Fri 5/16: Diocese of West Missouri (Epis. Church)

Sat 5/17: Diocese of Mityana (Uganda)

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.

Guest Preacher on Sunday

This Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is Good Shepherd Sunday. Each year, we hear a different part of the tenth chapter of John, where Jesus calls himself the “Good Shepherd.” On Sunday, we will welcome a guest preacher: the Reverend Canon Greg Baker of Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis. Canon Greg was raised and ordained not far from here in the Diocese of New Hampshire, and trained for ministry alongside Father Sam at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Welcome, Greg!

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.