The E-pistle

July 19th, 2024

A Note from Father Sam

Dear friends in Christ,

Perhaps like me, you have found yourself distracted, concerned—consumed, even—by the political upheaval swirling through the news cycle of late, particularly relating to this year’s Presidential election. The alarming attempt on Donald Trump’s life, and the anxiety for many around Joe Biden’s candidacy, all in the context of a deeply divided citizenry, is enough to keep anyone up at night.

Social and political division is nothing new, but many alive today cannot remember a time when our divisions were this intense. It’s worth remembering that the Church is no stranger to division. One of the earliest controversies in the Church was how to reconcile the differences between Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians. Like Jesus, the first Christians were all Jews, but pretty soon, large numbers of Gentile (non-Jewish) converts found their way into the fold. This raised a whole host of concerns, namely, whether Gentiles ought to adopt the customs of the Jewish law. It also created divisions within the community as different leaders argued for different answers to these questions.

On Sunday, we’ll hear part of St. Paul’s answer to this division within the early Church. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul is clear:

Jesus Christ “is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.”

Paul insists that Jesus’ work of redemption on the cross has broken down the dividing wall between Gentiles and Jews. Both are part of the one new humanity that he ushered in through his death and resurrection. My friends, how can we as members of this new humanity, as sinners saved by the grace of God, proclaim this message of Christ’s peace in the fractious time we find ourselves in? How can we be agents of the reconciling love of Christ in a nation deeply, deeply divided? I will be pondering this question deeply as we hurtle toward another election season, and I invite you to join me in thought, prayer, and work, so that together we may help bring Christ’s healing peace to our community and beyond.

In the peace of Christ,

Father Sam

Sunday, July 21st, 2024

9:00 A.M.

Holy Eucharist

Collect for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

Scripture for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Psalm 23, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Serving this week, July 21

Celebrant: The Rev’d Jane G. Tillman

Preacher: The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught

Server: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: Virgil Stucker

Musician: Amanda Watroba

Greeter: Jim Wade

Fellowship: Patty Melville

Altar Guild: Tracy Johnson

Serving next week, July 28

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

Server: Darryl Lafferty

Lector/Intercessor: Bill Higgins

Musician: David Smith

Greeter: Anne Covell

Fellowship: Martha Bodine

Altar Guild: Natalie Boyce

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

Those who have recently died

John Boyce, husband of Natalie Boyce

Laura

Those who have asked for our long-term prayers

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

For the birth of Oakley Twing, son of Haley Twing

For Anson and Joud Waller, married yesterday

Those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries

Ginger Schwartz, Tracy Weston

Those preparing for Marriage or the Blessing of a Civil Marriage

Sheila Kalinowski and Robert Anderson

Those preparing for Holy Baptism

Forrest Tierney

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (Week of 7/21)

Congregations, Ministries, and Partners in Ministry

Christ Trinity Church, Sheffield (The Rev’d Erik Karas, Rector)

The Archdeacon of the Diocese, the Rev’d Jane Griesbach

The Church and Wider Mission

The United Thank Offering

National Network of Episcopal Church Employees

Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Sun 7/21: The Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Japan)

Mon 7/22: Diocese of Harare (Central Africa)

Tues 7/23: Diocese of Hawaii (Episcopal Church)

Wed 7/24: Diocese of Hereford (England)

Thurs 7/25: Diocese of S. Highlands (Tanzania)

Fri 7/26: Diocese of Highveld (Southern Africa)

Sat 7/27: Diocese of Eastern Himalaya (North India)

Don’t Forget a Lawn Chair for Outdoor Worship

Summer attendance has been fantastic, so much that we’re occasionally short on seating! If you have a comfortable and portable lawn chair, bring it along to church so that we can have plenty of seating for visitors and those who need a chair. Thank you for making our outdoor worship such a vibrant and welcoming time!

Join a Fellowship Dinner this Summer!

Would you like to deepen your relationships with fellow parishioners? Would you like meet new people at St. Paul’s over good food? If so, you are warmly invited to join one of the Fellowship Dinners hosted in the homes of parishioners this summer. There are eight dinners scheduled in the months of July and August in the various locales in which we live. Find one that works for you and sign up here. If you are having any difficulty with accessing the google doc, please call Martha (413-281-9772) and ask for help. She recently discovered that she can add names using her desktop computer, but cannot on her phone! She is happy to help you!

Questions? Contact Junior Warden Martha Bodine

For the second year in a row, St. Paul’s is sponsoring a hole at the Human to Human Golf Tournament, a new annual fundraiser to support a wide variety of ministries throughout Western Massachusetts. Father Sam would like to issue an additional challenge: this year, let’s field a team of 4 players to play the tournament! If you enjoy golfing, you can represent St. Paul’s, raise money for important work around the Diocese, and have fun all at once! You can find more information here. And don’t let the registration cost deter you—the Vestry is happy to pitch in to make any registration possible.

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.