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The E-pistle

September 20th, 2024


A Note from Father Sam


Dear friends in Christ,


This coming week marks the end of this year’s Season of Creation. Over the last month, we have been invited to “hope and act with creation,” in the words of this year’s theme. The theme is inspired by the eighth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, when Paul writes about the relationship between the new community of Christ (whom he calls the “children of God”) and the entire creation. Let’s take a look:


For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. -Romans 8:19-25


This is a beautifully dense passage, but I am especially taken by Paul’s hope that “creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay.” The resurrection of Jesus has upended the entire created world, and there is hope for every last thing in this universe that God made. Nothing is left out of this hope. And furthermore, Paul insists that the children of God, those “who have the first fruits of the Spirit”—get to participate in this great hope. We were saved in hope, and we look forward in hope to all things being made new.


It's a profound ask, really, to be asked to hope. Especially when things in creation look bleak. Paul implies that it involves “groaning,” which doesn’t sound very fun. But sometimes hoping, in spite of bad odds, is the bravest and most faithful thing we can do. Hope can lead to action, both small and great—action that can have real impacts on the world around us. Hope can strengthen us to meet difficult moments. Above all, the posture of hope reminds us that none of this is in our hands: God created this world in love, God redeemed every bit of it in love on the cross, and God will bring it all safely home into the good future of love and life that God intends for it. For now, we get to join the whole creation in hoping—and acting—toward that future.


It’s a privilege to hope and act with you in this place. I pray that such hope may be our theme all year long, not just in this time when we are reminded of it anew.


Faithfully,

Father Sam

Sunday, September 29th, 2024

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

Holy Eucharist




O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; 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 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29, Psalm 19:7-14, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50


Serving this week, September 29 (8:00 a.m.)

Celebrant/Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte/LEM: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: David Pearson

Greeter: Jorja Marsden

Altar Guild: Jorja Marsden


Serving next week, October 6 (8:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane G. Tillman

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte/LEM: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: Vaunie Graulty

Greeter: Jorja Marsden

Altar Guild: Jennifer Carmichael


Serving this week, September 29 (10:00 a.m.)

Celebrant/Pracher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

LEM: Jorja Marsden

Lector: Kim Savery

Intercessor: Kendra MacLeod

Musician: David Smith

Greeters: Lis and Virgil Stucker

Fellowship: Patty Melville

Altar Guild: Jorja Marsden


Serving next week, October 6 (10:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane G. Tillman

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

LEM: Ginny Willcox

Lector: Frank Smith

Intercessor: Jean Rousseau

Musician: Nancy King

Greeters: Gale Page and Jim Wade

Fellowship: Lisa Alberti and Michael Flamini

Altar Guild: Jennifer Carmichael



Parish Prayer List



Those who are ill or in need of intercession

Charles, Jacob, Kathleen, Holly, Donna, Cynthia, Cindy, Lori, Elaine, Kit, David, Ann, Jessica, Heidi, Kate, Lisa, Shawn, Betty Jo, Celia, Anne, Dawn, Natalie, Bill


Those who have recently died

John Miner, friend of many in the parish

Paul Strombeck


Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

Rick, Doug, Allie, Ginger, Joan, Duncan, Bernadette, Ray, Piers, Katrina, Rich, Karen, Michael, Khali, George, Barbara, Christy, John, Anthony, Astrida


Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

Jane Tillman, Donald & Kim Savery


Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 9/29)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

Trinity Church, Ware

Global Missions Team


The Church and Wider Mission

Greater Springfield Council of Churches


Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Sun 9/29: The Church of Pakistan

Mon 9/30: Diocese of Rio de Janeiro (Brasil)

Tues 10/1: Diocese of Jebba (Nigeria)

Wed 10/2: Diocese of Jerusalem (Jerusalem & the Middle East)

Thurs 10/3: Diocese of San Joaquin (Episcopal Church)

Fri 10/4: Diocese of Johannesburg (Southern Africa)

Sat 10/5: Diocese of Jos (Nigeria)

Picturing Creation


Both pictures from Darryl Lafferty. Thank you to everyone who submitted pictures of creation this month!

Organ Pipes in the Workshop

Thank you to everyone who showed up to church last Saturday to help remove 12 pipes from our organ! We had a great time and learned a lot about the organ in the process! Thank you especially to John Bishop, our fearless leader, who coached us through removing 12 large wooden pipes, the removal of one of the organ’s windchests, and the safe placement of all of it in the trailer for transport to Maine. John is hard at work cleaning and repairing these pipes, which should be back in the organ later this fall. While working, we found some interesting artifacts, including service bulletins from 1974 and decades-old (century-old?) graffiti from choir members on the bricks of the tower wall. Thank you to Robin Montgomery, James Bodine, Vaunie Graulty, Chris Johnson, Darryl Lafferty, and Sam Vaught for your help!


Pilgrimage to the Presidency: Video series from SSJE


Each week until the General Election, the brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist are producing a different video as part of their series, “Pilgrimage to the Presidency.” Each video helps answer the question, “How can we the Church engage in the realm of politics while maintaining our integrity, our love of God and neighbor, and our commitment to the common good?” This week’s episode centers on the themes of Difference, Conflict, and Reconciliation, and features the Rev’d Richard Cogill of the University of the South, formerly of the Diocese of Cape Town, South Africa. Watch the episode and learn more here.

Blessing of the Animals October 6 at 3:00 PM


Join us in the churchyard on Sunday, October 6, at 3:00 p.m. for the annual Blessing of the Animals! In the spirit of St. Francis, we will give thanks for all of God’s creatures and offer special blessings for the animals we love dearest. All pets (cats, dogs, and anyone else!) are warmly welcome. We will also take up a collection of pet food for the Lee Food Pantry.

Mark your calendars: October 18 is Oktoberfest

“Joyous singing, bratwurst, and beer” promise to be on the menu for the annual Oktoberfest on Friday, October 18, from 6-8pm at Big Elm Brewing in Sheffield. Join friends from Christ Trinity Church, Sheffield for this annual fundraiser to raise money for our summer Appalachian Trail ministry.

St. Paul’s hosting the Berkshire Bach Society Harpsichord Festival

We are delighted to be hosting the Berkshire Bach Society’s Harpsichord Festival on September 21 and October 19. Both concerts will be at 4:00 p.m. in the Church. You can read details about the concerts on the BBS website, and purchase tickets here. Thank you to Nancy King for connecting us with BBS for these concerts!

Two Opportunities to Pray Together Each Week


Wednesday: Morning Prayer at 8:30am (Online)



Every Wednesday, a group of parishioners meet at 8:30am to pray Morning Prayer online via Zoom. All are warmly welcome to join via the Zoom link on our website. Thank you Darryl Lafferty for continuing to lead this weekly offering.


Friday: Intercessory Prayer at 8:30am (In-person)


Some may remember that several years ago, a group of parishioners met each week to pray for the needs of those on the parish prayer list. All are invited to join on Friday mornings in the church as we revive this tradition of intercessory prayer. Thank you Alice Wohl for your leadership in reviving this weekly offering.

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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: parishoffice@stpaulsstockbridge.org

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