The E-pistle

October 5th, 2023

Fall Sunday Worship Schedule

Holy Eucharist

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

Every Sunday

View of Monument Mountain from Chesterwood (www.chesterwood.org)

A Message from Libby for Indigenous Peoples Weekend

One way to honor Indigenous Peoples Day is through a Land Acknowledgement. St. Paul’s has not adopted such a statement, though we did use one at the beginning of our Rogation Sunday Procession last spring. I hope this congregation will undertake study and discussion in the next year and write its own Land Acknowledgement. Here’s one example: With gratitude and humility we acknowledge that St. Paul’s Episcopal Church gathers for worship, fellowship, outreach, and learning on the ancestral homelands of the Mohican Nation. We pay honor and respect to the Muh he con ne ok (People of the Waters That Are Never Still) ancestors who were forced from this land in the 1700s and recognize our responsibility as contemporary stewards of this space.

In our worship service this Sunday, October 8, we will honor Indigenous Peoples by including Native American flute music played by Virgil Stucker during communion and by singing two hymns from indigenous traditions. The text of “Peace Before Us” is based on a Navaho prayer. “Many and Great” comes from the Dakota culture. Joseph Renville (1779-1846), composer and author of the text and tune, was a guide and fur trader of French-Dakota lineage who was also a bridge-builder between Indigenous and European Settler cultures. The tune name, “Lacquiparle,” comes from a lake near the present border of Minnesota and South Dakota. You can easily imagine a drum beat as you sing the hymn. The text paraphrases the creation hymn in Jeremiah 10:12-13. First published in the Dakota Odawan Hymnal (1916), this hymn provides food for thought as we celebrate our Creation Season Eucharist on this Indigenous Peoples Weekend.

Many and great, O God are thy works, maker of earth and sky;

thy hands have set the heavens with stars; thy fingers spread the mountains and plains.

Lo, at thy word the waters were formed; deep seas obey thy voice.

Grant unto us communion with thee, thou star-abiding one;

come unto us and dwell with us; with thee are found the gifts of life.

Bless us with life that has no end, eternal life with thee.

Celebrating the Feast of St. Francis

Calling all cats, dogs, and other pets

(on leashes or otherwise restrained, please)

Sunday, October 8, 2023 3:00 P.M.

On the Front Lawn

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

29 Main St., Stockbridge, MA

Pet Food Donations for the Lee Food Pantry are Welcomed

Refreshments and Blessings Provided

In honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis, patron saint of animals and ecology, we will bless our lovable creatures on the church lawn. This service acknowledges our belief that our loving Creator fashioned not just human beings, but also the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and the creatures of the forests and fields. It also acknowledges our calling to be stewards and caretakers of all God’s creatures.

All Are Invited!!!

This Sunday, October 8^th – 8 AM and 10 AM

Holy Eucharist

Creation Collect for the 19^th Sunday after Pentecost

Creating God, your name is written on every leaf, every bird, every river, every stone, every living being. We praise and worship you for the magnificence of your creation. Make us attentive to the wounds of the earth and willing to work for the healing of the whole creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Scripture for October 8^th: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20; Psalm 19; Matthew 21:33-46

Worship Team for October 8^th

Celebrant/Preacher The Rev. Libby Wade

Reader (8 am) David Pearson

Reader (10 am) Carl Sprague

Intercessor (8 & 10 am) Darryl Lafferty

Usher/Greeter (10 am) Lis Stucker

Fellowship Hosts Libby & Jim Wade

Musicians David Smith, organ

Virgil Stucker, native flute

Worship Team for October 15^th

Celebrant/Preacher The Rev. Libby Wade

Reader (8 am) Jorja Marsden

Reader (10 am) Kim Savery

Intercessor (8 am) Sharon Billetter

Intercessor (10 am) Gale Page

Usher/Greeter (10 am) Jim Wade

Fellowship Host Tracy Johnson

Musician Nancy King

Parish Prayer List

-People we pray for on Sundays: Bruce, Charles, Linda, Veronica, Jeff, Karen, Lisa, Rosalind, Estreeta, Kit, Jacob, Kathleen, Jimmy, Doug, Margie, and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

- People on our Long-term prayer list: Allie, Irby, Ginger, Joan, Duncan, Bernadette, Ray, Piers, Katrina, Rich, Karen, Michael, Tom, Khali, George, Doug, Barbara, Christy, John, and Anthony

- Our partners at Grace Church, Great Barrington, and their priest Tina Rathbone; Christ Trinity Episcopal-Lutheran Church, Sheffield, and their priest Erik Karas; the residents and staff of the Austen Riggs community and the Riverbrook Residence

- Outreach Ministry of the Week: St. Paul’s Children’s Center

-Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Good Shepherd Episcopal/Grace Lutheran, West Springfield

- Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Episcopal Church of Jerusalem & The Middle East

- Birthdays: Duncan Pollock, Jean Rousseau, Anne Skakel, & Tom Race

-Anniversaries: Matt & Danielle Fillio

- Lila Jean McCormick and Bennett Littlefield, who will be baptized on October 15

-Altar flowers are given by Jorja Marsden, in memory of Anna Pilling

Building the Future with a Renovated Rectory

Watch this video to learn how you can help!

Building the Future 2023

Rectory Renovation Fundraising Presentation

Sunday, October 22

after both the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Eucharists

A major renovation of the interior of the Rectory is a necessary and exciting step for St. Paul’s in this transition time. As the Search Committee and Vestry move closer to calling a new Rector to serve this community and live in the Rectory, we hope everyone will contribute toward funding this project. You’ve seen photos from time to time in the E-pistle, and we intend to host a Community Open House in November. Many of you have already made a contribution. Now we want to give you an opportunity to see before-and-after photos, hear about the scope of the project, and ask questions. Please join members of the Fundraising Team along with Rectory Project Manager Jorja Marsden on Sunday, October 22 for this special presentation after both the 8 a.m. Eucharist and the 10 a.m. Eucharist.

Student Care Packages

We’ll be shipping to 10-12 students

who are children or grandchildren of St. Paul’s folks.

Suggested Donations by October 15

Candy, Small Flip Notebooks, Pens and Pencils, Stickers for Laptops,

Bookmarks, Small Note Cards, Popcorn, Snacks

Place your donations in the basket at the rear of the church on Sunday, October 8 or Sunday, October 15.

Questions? Ask Kim Savery or Rob Maloney

“Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs and Practices” (Inquirers’ Class) has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.

Prayer for Rector Search

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Kindness Bench at St. Paul’s on Monday, October 16

The Kindness Bench is a place to slow down… pause…. listen and if you like, do nothing. It can be a place to share news of your day, news from your heart ...your joy and your sorrows are welcome. The Kindness Bench is a no judgment zone. Singer songwriter JoAnne Spies will bring different musical instruments, poems and creative prompts as well as the time to share silence. You may choose to listen to soothing sounds or collaborate on a song, a poem or a prayer. JoAnne is an interfaith minister and may bring prayers from different traditions to share. Make time for kindness and schedule a visit. Or just amble by and have a seat.

WHEN: MONDAY, OCTOBER 16th from 2:30pm - 4:30pm

WHERE: The bench is located on the east side of the church.

Or you may see JoAnne and her instruments on one of the brightly colored chairs.

In inclement weather come inside.

Friday, October 20th 6:00 - 7:00pm

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

"Call and Response : Co-Creating with the Divine"

An interactive sound meditation concert featuring musicians

JoAnne Spies and Carol Emanuel

Enter the beauty and deep stillness of St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Listen to the resonance of the RAV drum, crystal bowl, harp and chimes

interspersed with prayers and poems.

- Every Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. – Morning Prayer on Zoom

- Every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

- Sunday, October 8, 3:00 p.m. – Blessing of the Animals

- Wednesday, October 11, 5:30 p.m. – Vestry Meeting

- Saturday, October 14, 9:30 a.m. – St. Paul’s Team serves at Lee Food Pantry

- Sunday, October 15, 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist; 10:00 a.m. – Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist

- Sunday, October 15 – Last Day to bring items for Student Care Packages

- Monday, October 16, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. – JoAnne Spies brings the Kindness Bench to St. Paul’s

- Friday, October 20, 6:00 p.m. – Concert at St. Paul’s: “Call & Response: Co-Creating with the Divine”

- Sunday, October 22, after 8 and 10 a.m. Eucharists – Forum on Rectory Renovation

- Saturday, October 28 – Diocesan Convention at UMass Amherst Conference Center (St. Paul’s Delegates: Martha Bodine, Diane Dillon, Libby Wade)

- Sunday, November 5 – All Saints Sunday – Daylight Savings Time Ends

- Sunday, November 5, 4:00 p.m. – Jazz/Folk Piano Concert at St. Paul’s with Jacob Hiser and Ananya Ganesh

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to our Ministry Intern Sharon Billetter, who has just become a Candidate for Holy Orders as a Vocational Deacon. This is a major step in the process toward ordination. St. Paul’s will continue to play a role in Sharon’s formation through the rest of this fall and winter. What a blessing her presence has been for this congregation.

Congratulations to Transitional Deacons, Misty Kiwak-Jacobs and Jimmy Pickett as they prepare to be ordained as Priests on Thursday, October 19th, 7:00 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lenox. Misty has served an internship and then her diaconate at St. John’s in Williamstown, while Jimmy has served this summer as deacon at Grace Church in Great Barrington with special responsibility for Gideon’s Garden.

Congratulations to Grace Church, Great Barrington, as they prepare to move their Sunday Worship Service from Crissy Farm to Berkshire South Regional Community Center in early January 2024. After an in-depth discernment process supported by prayers and offers of assistance from St. Paul’s vestry, Grace Church has reaffirmed its desire to be free of building ownership in order to maximize their ministry in the world.

We will continue to pray for both our neighboring congregations (Grace and Christ Trinity) as we seek to build strong and faithful ministry in the South Berkshire area.

A Webinar sponsored by Our Diocese

Monday, October 16 at 7:00 P.M. (online)

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Remains in Hospital

(Episcopal News Service) Presiding Bishop Michael Curry remains hospitalized as a precaution after his Sept. 20 surgery, and doctors have determined the mass they removed was not cancerous, according to an Oct. 2 update from The episcopal Church’s Office of Public Affairs. “Because successfully removing the mass required open surgery instead of laparoscopic, his full recovery time will be longer than originally hoped,” the update said. “Out of an abundance of caution, Bishop Curry’s doctors continue to monitor him in the hospital for a minor infection and management of his medication for atrial fibrillation. He is in good spirits and expresses his heartfelt thanks for all the prayers and well wishes during this challenging time.

Creation Season Photo Challenge

We are blessed with two photos from nature this week. The first photo is from Virgil Stucker, made on visit to Mt. Greylock. The title is “Patterns.” Virgil says this is “Nature showing us how to ‘spruce’ up.”

Our second contribution this week comes from Sharon Billetter and was also shot last Sunday. Sharon says, “This day is a true gift. Beautiful day on the bike trail.”