The E-pistle

September 6th, 2024

A Note from Father Sam

Dear friends in Christ,

When we go back inside on Sunday, we will begin our annual observance of the Season of Creation. For the rest of September, we will highlight our identity as created beings, and seek to honor all of God’s creation—the cosmos, earth, and all that is in it—in our prayers and worship. At 10:00, we will use Eucharistic Prayer C, which speaks of “this fragile earth, our island home,” we will have special Prayers of the People, and we will use other prayers from the ecumenical Season of Creation resource. At both 8:00 and 10:00, our preaching will be sensitive to these themes. We will mark this season on Sunday mornings through September 29, and then cap it all off with a Blessing of the Animals on Sunday afternoon, October 6. Stay tuned for more details!

Caring for God’s creation—in the face of burgeoning ecological crises—is not an easy task. But for Christians, it begins in prayer, as we go before the Lord of all creation, asking for our daily needs, interceding for the most vulnerable, and drawing strength to do what we can to care for our earth and all of our neighbors. As we enter this season, I invite you to consider how you, in prayer and in deed, can heed God’s call to be a steward of this earth, starting right here in the community we share.

Faithfully,

Father Sam

PS: If you are a photographer and have taken pictures of beautiful things in God’s creation—plants, animals, landscapes, and more—I invite you to email them to me. I will include them over the course of the month in the e-pistle!

Sunday, September 8th, 2024

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

Holy Eucharist

Collect for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Isaiah 35:4-7a, Psalm 146, James 2:1-10, [11-13], 14-17, Mark 7:24-37

September 8 (8:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte/LEM: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: Darryl Lafferty

September 8 (10:00 a.m.)

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

Verger/Acolyte: Darryl Lafferty

LEM: Jorja Marsden

Lector: Vaunie Graulty

Intercessor: Kendra MacLeod

Musician: David Smith

Greeters: Carl Sprague

Fellowship: Vaunie Graulty

Altar Guild: Jennifer Carmichael

September 15 (8:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte/LEM: Rob Maloney

Lector/Intercessor: TBD

 September 15 (10:00 a.m.)

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane G. Tillman

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Acolyte: Kim Savery

Lector: TBD

Intercessor: TBD

Musician: Nancy King

Greeters: TBD

Fellowship: TBD

Altar Guild: Robin Race

Altar flowers this week are given by Patty Melville, in memory of the victims of 9/11.

Parish Prayer List

Those who are ill or in need of intercession

Bruce, Charles, Linda, Veronica, Jeff, Karen, Lisa, Rosalind, Jacob, Kathleen, Doug, Holly, Rick, John, Vicki, Donna, Cynthia, Eliza, Cindy, Lori, LaDawn, Elaine, Kit, David, Ann, Jessica, Heidi, Paul, Kate, John, Lisa, Shawn, Betty Jo, Celia, Anne, Dawn

Those who have recently died

LaDawn Priebe, aunt of Father Sam

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

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

Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 9/8)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

St. Peter’s Church, Springfield (The Rev’d Michael F. DeVine, Interim Rector)

Susan Olbon, Human Resources & Compliance Specialist

The Church and Wider Mission

National Episcopal Historians & Archivists

Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Sun 9/8: The Church of the Province of Myanmar

Mon 9/9: Diocese of Ilesa (Nigeria)

Tues 9/10: Diocese of Ilesa South West (Nigeria)

Wed 9/11: Diocese of North East India (North India)

Thurs 9/12: Diocese of Northern Indiana (Ep. Ch.)

Fri 9/13: Diocese of Indianapolis (Episcopal Church)

Sat 9/14: Diocese of Inhambane (Moz. & Angola)

Indoor Worship returns on Sunday!

This Sunday, September 8, we return to our regular worship schedule, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. each Sunday, indoors. 8 a.m. is Holy Eucharist, Rite One (traditional language, the quiet of early morning, and no music). 10 a.m. is Holy Eucharist, Rite Two (contemporary language, hymn singing, and organ music). We hope to see you in church this weekend!

Limited Parking Next Sunday, September 15

Next Sunday, September 15, is the annual Josh Billings Triathlon, and the biking portion comes right through Stockbridge! Parking will not be available in front of 27 Main Street (Austen Riggs), so if you usually park on that side of the intersection, plan to park instead in front of the church or in our parking lot. If you use the parking lot, be aware that there will not be access to Pine Street, so please come and go carefully using the Main Street entrance. Thank you!

Worship Leader Opportunities: Acolytes, LEMs, and more

Would you like to worship at St. Paul’s in a new way? Have you ever considered serving at the altar alongside the clergy? Starting this fall, we are hoping to expand the worship leader roles on Sunday morning. We are looking for acolytes, LEMs, and more! Acolytes carry the cross in the procession into church, help set the altar during the Offertory, and perform other liturgical tasks as assigned. Lay Eucharistic Ministers, or LEMs, serve the chalice at Communion and help the priests clean up the elements. We are also always looking for more Lectors, who read the scripture lessons, Intercessors, who lead the Prayers of the People, and Greeters, who help welcome folks to church, and bring forward the bread and wine and pass the alms basins at the Offertory. If you are interested in serving in any of these roles, please contact Father Sam or our Verger, Darryl Lafferty. Each of these roles is really quite simple, and training will be provided! Thank you for considering helping make our worship of God happen through the diverse roles we play on Sunday mornings. 

Help improve our beloved pipe organ on Sep. 21

Some parishioners may know that our pipe organ, originally built in the 1880s, has more than a few quirks. Like all old instruments, it needs regular love to keep it in shape. But did you know that parishioner and Stockbridge neighbor John Bishop is a professional organ builder and restorer? John has generously agreed to do a little work on our instrument, donating his time and labor by repairing some of the 16-foot pedal pipes, the lowest notes on the organ, at his workshop in Maine. However, he needs help getting the pipes out of the organ and into his car for the trip! If you like working with your hands and can help lift moderately heavy pipes, or if you’re interested in learning more about how pipe organs work, come over to St. Paul’s on Saturday, September 21, at 9:00 a.m. We need a small crew to get the work done, and it promises to be a fun task! Father Sam will have some snacks on hand, too. If you’re planning to come, please email Father Sam so that we know how many folks to expect. And do not worry–the organ will be playable the whole time these particular pipes are in the workshop. Thank you, John!

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!

One more Fellowship Dinner next Thursday, September 12

One of our August fellowship dinners has been rescheduled for next Thursday, September 12, and there’s room for more guests! If you would still like to attend a fellowship dinner, you can sign up here. If you are having any trouble with the online sign-up, please contact Father Sam.

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.