The E-pistle

September 8, 2023

Light and Shadow

Our first response to the challenge to submit photos of nature that show patterns of creation and represent grace and/or tranquility came from Deborah Harding, a friend of St. Paul’s. She submitted a photo by her friend Jennifer Vickers. Jennifer is a landscape designer who spent time in the Berkshires when she was younger, and she’s also a photographer, hiker, and nature lover. This is one of a series of shadow photos she made. Jennifer wrote, “When I saw my shadow in the stream against the movement of the water, the end result revealed so much more…the clear blue sky washed over the picture became magical…the woods across the stream remained realistic.”

In her book Eyes of the Heart, Christine Valtner Paintner points out that “photography is a medium that engages both light and shadow to create art….Pay attention to the play and dance of light and shadow in the images you receive as a way of tending to your own invitations to explore the light and shadow within yourself. Through this process we slowly begin to see ourselves as we really are and embrace our own wholeness.”

Our second Creation Season photo this week comes from Vaunie Graulty, who captured a moment of triumph in nature. She says of her photo of monarch butterflies sipping nectar on Joe Pye Weed: “Finally we’re on the migration path – a lovely Labor Day surprise!”

Thank you, Deborah, Jennifer, and Vaunie for sharing these photos. Each week through September and October, we’ll include one or two photos of nature in the E-pistle. If you aren’t a photographer but work in a different art medium, feel free to share a photo of a painting. If you want to include a sentence or two about your photo, that would be much appreciated. If possible, we’ll create an exhibit of all the photos at the end of October. E-mail your contribution to libby_wade@yahoo.com.

This Sunday – In the Church at 9:00 AM

Creation Collect for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the powerful who oppress and dominate Creation, so you never forsake your creatures who live in harmony with nature’s order; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit , now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for September 10: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 149, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20

Worship Team for September 10^th

Celebrant/Preacher The Rev. Libby Wade

Reader Darryl Lafferty

Intercessor Sharon Billetter

Usher/Greeter Jim Wade

Lemonade Host Patty Melville

Musician David Smith

Worship Team for September 17^th

Celebrant/Preacher The Rev. Jane Tillman

Reader Sharon Billetter

Intercessor Darryl Lafferty

Usher/Greeter TBD

Lemonade Host Martha Bodine

Musician Nancy King

Parish Prayer List

-People we pray for on Sundays: Bruce, Charles, Linda, Veronica, Jeff, Karen, Lisa, Rosalind, Estreeta, Kit, Anne, Rose, Jacob, 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

- We pray for all students, educators, and support staff, as they begin a new school year.

- We pray for Graham and Natalie Higgins as they begin married life

-Birthday: Ryleigh Fillio

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

- Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Paul’s, Stockbridge

- Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Church of Ireland

Forum after Worship This Sunday

Ministry – Mine, Yours, Ours

“We All Are One in Mission”

Our closing hymn this Sunday, September 10, says it well. “We all are called for service to witness to God’s name. Our ministries are different, our purpose is the same: to touch the lives of others by God’s surprising grace.” In the Episcopal Church, the ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons. Our roles are both distinct and overlapping. We are ministers both inside and outside the church. Shared purpose strengthens and sustains us. After worship, grab some refreshments in the Tower Room and join Sharon Billetter (deacon-in-training), Darryl Lafferty (lay minister), and Libby Wade (priest) as we share a bit about our particular calls to ministry. Libby will also touch on the ministry of bishop. We’ll also offer everyone an opportunity to hear about various ways we each can use our varied gifts through St. Paul’s this fall. Don’t miss this chance to enliven and expand our vision of ministry as followers of Christ!

Request for Help

A single mom with two children left a note in our Prayer Basket this week that she has nowhere to live. She asked for prayers, but also if anyone knows of an apartment or room for rent, she would appreciate that information. She expressed her thanks, and said she’s sorry she only speaks Spanish. I have her phone number, but I don’t speak Spanish. If you can help with resource info for her, please let me know.

- Libby

Student Names and Addresses Needed

If you have a child or grandchild away in college or graduate school, please send their name, school address, and year in school to the church office (stpaulsstockbridge@gmail.com ) so we can compile a list of recipients for our College Care Packages later this fall.

Thank You…

…Will Bodine for power washing the Rectory Fence

…Chris Marsden for clearing the edges of the roads leading to and from the parking lot

…Rob Maloney for agreeing to be acolyte in Darryl Lafferty’s place on 9/24

…Darryl Lafferty for putting together a helpfully complete description of acolyte duties

…Sharon Billetter for leading Morning Prayer on 9/20 and 9/27 while Darryl is away for the National Vergers’ Conference and a vacation

…Kim Savery for Coordinating our College Care Boxes Project this fall (more info soon)

…Treasurer John Davies and Clerk Sebastian Bonner for their detailed monthly vestry minutes and financial reports

…Our faithful Altar Guild folks who reverently prepare for Sunday worship each week

So many ways to serve.

So many gifts graciously given.

From St. Paul’s Prayer Basket – A Blessing for St. Paul’s

In addition to a poignant prayer for a relative who lost his apartment and possessions in the fires in Maui, a weekday visitor left the following blessing for St. Paul’s:

Thank you, church, for your Peace Path.

Thank you for your “You’re Unique” book walk pages.

Thank you, church, for your door with its invitational sign.

Thank you, church, for the sweet music.

Thank you, church for the prayer baskets.

Our Prayer Baskets have been in use for a year now. As I sit with the prayers of our guests in the quiet of this sacred space, I am sometimes overwhelmed by the honesty, the hurt, and the thanksgiving expressed on these small slips of paper. The goal of these prayer baskets was to offer a way to connect with God to all who enter the Church and to help us connect better with the hopes and needs of our guests. These goals are being met day by day. Libby+

Home Needed for Ferns

When we were able to worship on the front lawn this summer (far fewer Sundays than we’d hoped), these ferns beautified the front of our altar. Though the photo seems to be of one huge fern, there are actually two smaller ferns. Because they won’t survive the winter outside, we’re offering them for adoption. Could you provide a sunny winter home for them? If so, please let Libby know. With a little loving care, they will bring you great joy. A placement by the end of September would be great!

Search Committee Update

The Search Committee (David Pearson, Martha Bodine, Darryl Lafferty, Donna Gray, Robin Race, Matt Fillio, & Anne Covell – Chair) has begun its work as the next step in St. Paul’s search for a new minister. Visit our new church website and click on the rector search button for more information on the process and how potential candidates can “look” at our church. The committee will keep the congregation updated as we progress.

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.

Season of Creation

During the Season of Creation (September and October), we join with billions of Christians around the world to celebrate in prayer and action our Gospel calling to protect the Earth that God has entrusted to our care. You’ll notice a thematic emphasis on creation in our Sunday worship with Eucharistic Prayer C, Creation Collects, and often a reading from tradition as well as scripture. This liturgical material has been authorized for use in public worship in the Diocese of Western MA and almost two dozen other Episcopal dioceses. May these prayers and readings deepen our response to the living God and strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus in this critical time for all of Creation.