The E-pistle

October 12th, 2023

“I baptize you

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.”

At the 10:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, October 15, St. Paul’s beautiful baptismal font will be filled with water instead of a Christmas wreath, the Paschal Candle will be lit, and two children will be presented for baptism. What a glorious end to the Creation Season we’ve been celebrating. Welcome to the household of God, Lila Jean McCormick and Bennett Edward Alphonse Littlefield! As part of this sacramental rite, St. Paul’s parish promises to do all in its power to support Lila and Bennett in their life of faith. It’s a promise we should take seriously. When Jesus was baptized, scripture says he heard these special words: “You are…beloved.” Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace attesting to the fact that we are God’s beloved, part of the family of God. Welcome to the family, Lila and Bennett!

Note that the 8:00 am. worship service will return to its normal Rite One Holy Eucharist on Sunday, October 15. Prayers will be offered for those to be baptized, their families, and their godparents.

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 15.

The items will be presented for blessing at the Offertory

and we’ll also pray for the students who will receive the packages.

Questions? Ask Kim Savery or Rob Maloney

This Sunday, October 15^th – 8 AM and 10 AM Holy Eucharist

Collect for the 20^th Sunday after Pentecost

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture for October 15^th

8:00 a.m.: Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14

10:00 a.m.: Philippians 4:1-9; Psalm 139:1-13; Matthew 2:1-14

Worship Team for October 15^th

Celebrant The Rev. Jane Tillman

Preacher The Rev. Libby Wade

Reader (8) Jorja Marsden

Reader (10) Kim Savery

Intercessor (8) Sharon Billetter

Intercessor (10) Gale Page

Acolyte (10) Gilbert McCormick

Usher/Greeter Jim Wade

Fellowship Host Tracy Johnson

Musician Nancy King

Worship Team for October 22^nd

Celebrant The Rev. Libby Wade

Preacher The Rev. Libby Wade

Reader (8) Rob Maloney

Reader (10) Martha Bodine

Intercessor (8) Sharon Billetter

Intercessor (10) Sharon Billetter

Usher/Greeter Jean Rousseau

Fellowship Host Patty Melville

Musician David Smith

Parish Prayer List

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

- For peace and an end to war, violence, and oppression in our world

- For those suffering from natural disasters

- For St. Paul’s vestry and rector candidates that all will be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit

- Outreach Ministry of the Week: Cathedral of the Beloved

- Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Stephen’s, Westborough

- Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church of Kenya

- Birthday: Faith Savery

- Anniversary: Robin and Tom Race

- Baptism: Lila Jean McCormick and Bennett Littlefield

Search Committee and Vestry Enter Next Phase

On October 11, the Search Committee presented to the Vestry a list of candidates for the position of Rector of St. Paul’s. The Vestry will now begin its process of getting to know the candidates and then enter into a time of prayerful discernment before issuing a call.

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.

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.

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.

A Message from Bishop Douglas Fisher

October 11, 2023

I write today to the all the faithful of our diocese. Like so many of you, my heart is breaking for the people of Israel and Palestine. I had an opportunity to spend time in the Holy Land a few years ago with pilgrims from our diocese and I came back home not only with a deeper appreciation for the violence and hurt that go back thousands of years, but also with faces and names of our cousins there – Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Our group had a chance to meet with the former Archbishop Suheil Salman Ibrahim Dawani at St. George’s, in East Jerusalem. He and the current Archishop, Hosam Naoum, are in my prayers. We pray, too, for the many institutions of the Diocese of Jerusalem that regularly help families in Palestine, Israel, and Jordan that have been affected by the violence.

There are no easy answers when it comes to finding peace in Jerusalem but we can all pray even as we condemn acts of violence and terrorism.

They sit in ambush in the villages;

in hiding places they murder the innocent.

Psalm 10:8

We can pray with St. Francis who travelled to this same land during the time of the Crusades, “Lord, make us instruments of your peace.”

I commend to you also the prayer that has been shared with us from American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Let's pray this faithfully until the whirlwind of war ceases and let's embody the peace for which this world longs.

Faithfully in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher

Bishop of Western Massachusetts

A LITANY FOR THE RESTORATION OF PEACE

IN THE HOLY LAND

God of peace, we pray for the people of Palestine and Israel in these perilous and dangerous times.

For all who are fearful for the safety of their loved ones and themselves, we pray that the assurance of unfailing love, even in the midst of danger, settles upon them. Shelter them from despair and protect them from harm.

For all who are wounded, we pray they find healing.

For all who have died, we pray they find rest.

For all who grieve, we pray they find comfort.

For leaders on all sides, we pray for a renewed will to lay down arms, for the strength to put the grievances and wrongs suffered by their people to rest, and for the conviction to embrace a path of reconciliation and peace that preserves the rights and dignity of all of your children.

God of mercy, help us to remember there is no border that can separate us from your great love and protection, no stone that can sound the well of your deep mercy.

God of justice, we pray with hopeful hearts that your beloved children of the Holy Land will be spared a future of sustained violence and unrest and that a recognition of the humanity of all people will prevail.

We ask all this in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

Olive branch Israel

Credit: Aaron Ovadia @Unsplash.com

- 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

- 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.