E-pistle October 21, 2022

A Message from Libby and Darryl

The approach of October 31 means that Halloween candy is all over the stores. Pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns abound. Costumes are being designed. Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays in North America! At its best it’s magical. SALT, a thought-provoking website I frequently visit, says that in Halloween’s “playful night of community-building and neighborhood-making…we might even catch a sacramental glimpse, if only for one night, of how the world is supposed to be: homes decked out in mischievous fun, doors opened to visitors of ages, a spirit of wit and excitement in the air, and simple, sweet gifts given to children—all children, not just ‘our’ children!—dressed up as heroes and villains alike. Even (especially?) in an age of pandemic, when the night’s celebration requires wisdom and special care, the joys of All Hallows’ Eve are as precious and important as ever…..At its best, Halloween amounts to a vivid portrait of what ‘neighborhood’ actually looks like. That alone is worth celebrating. And after all, what better way to honor the dead, prepare to celebrate the saints, and enter together the darkest time of the year than to embody—with equal parts creativity and joy—the ‘loving our neighbors as ourselves’ to which Jesus calls us every day?” So welcome those trick-or-treaters at your door, ooh and aah at their costumes, and give thanks for this bit of fun.

From Halloween (All Hallows Eve) on October 31, we move to celebrating the saints (the hallowed ones) on November 1, All Saints Day. Because it’s a weekday this year, our All Saints Day observance will be deferred to Sunday, November 6. On that day, we remember the “great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us, while also considering the saints we encounter in our everyday lives. As part of worship, we’ll offer prayers for all whose ashes are interred in St. Paul’s Memorial Garden and others for whom we’ve had funeral services since last All Saints Sunday, offering space for the congregation to add prayers for departed loved ones.   

This year, St. Paul’s is also offering an observance of All Souls Day on November 2. Darryl Lafferty is the officiant for Morning Prayer on Zoom each week at 8:30 a.m. On November 2, this 20-minute service will commemorate All Souls Day with a necrology, a prayerful reading of the names of those who have died. Please send names of those you would like remembered in this service to Darryl Lafferty by Tuesday, November 1^st via e-mail (darryllafferty@icloud.com).  

Sunday Worship Services

This Sunday – October 23 – 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. 

10 a.m. worship is livestreamed.  How do people access this? Do we need to put a link here?

Collect for the 20^th Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture Readings for the 20^th Sunday after Pentecost

Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14

Sunday Worship Teams (If you exchange slots with someone, please notify the Church Office as soon as possible.)

Sunday, October 16 (8 & 10 a.m.)                           

Celebrant/Preacher            The Rev. Libby Wade                   

Assisting Priest                   The Rev. Jane Tillman     

8 a.m. Reader/Intercessor Jorja Marsden                   

10 a.m. Reader/Intercessor Jean Rousseau      

10 a.m. Usher/Greeter        Jim Wade               

10 a.m. Lemonade Host      Martha Bodine

Guest Organist                     Nancy King

Sunday, October 23 (8 & 10 a.m.)

Celebrant/Preacher             The Rev. Jane Tillman

8 a.m. Reader/Intercessor    Darryl Lafferty     

10 a.m. Reader/Intercessor  Kendra MacLeod

10 a.m. Usher/Greeter         Ginny Willcox

10 a.m. Lemonade Host       The Dillons

Guest Organist                      Ron Hanft

Help Needed on Sundays

8 a.m. Readers/Intercessors for Sundays in November and December.

10 a.m. Readers/Intercessors for Sundays, November 6 and 20. Contact Libby Wade to volunteer for these slots. 



Lemonade Hosts needed for November and December. Contact Martha Bodine.

College Students – Addresses Needed

If you have a college student in your family, please send an e-mail to Libby+ (libby_wade@yahoo.com) with the student’s name and college address. Later this fall, we’ll prepare mid-term “care packages” for these St. Paul’s young adults who are away at school. It’s another way to stay connected with our community.

Parish Prayer List

• People we pray for on Sundays: Bruce, Charles, Irby, David, Nick, Melissa, Ginger, and Joan
• Long-term prayer list: Piers, Katrina, Rich, Karen, Michael, Tom, Khali, George, Doug, George, David, Barbara, Christy, John, Florence
• Our partners at Grace Church, Great Barrington, and their priest Tina Rathbone; Christ Trinity Episcopal-Lutheran Church, Sheffield, and their priest Erik Karas; the Austen Riggs community and the Riverbrook Residence
• We pray for Faith Savery as she celebrates her birthday this week; and for Robin and Tom Race, as they celebrate their anniversary.
• We pray for victims of war, violence, abuse, persecution, terrorism, and disaster at home and abroad; especially remembering those impacted by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
• We pray for the repose of the soul of Helga Kaiser, in whose memory the flowers are given.
• Outreach Ministry of the Week: Cathedral of the Beloved, Pittsfield
• Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Stephen’s, Westborough
• Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Anglican Church of Central America

Upcoming Events

+ Every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. – Morning Prayer on Zoom. 

+ Every Sunday -- Holy Eucharist in the Church

One Service Only at 9 a.m. on the 2^nd Sunday of each month

Services at 8 & 10 a.m. all other Sundays

+Saturday, October 15, 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s – Memorial Service for Helga Kaiser

+ An invitation from Christ Trinity Sheffield: Beer+Hymns+Brats Oktoberfest at Big Elm Brewery, 65 Silver St., Sheffield, 6 – 8 p.m., Friday, October 21.   Donations support the Appalachian Trail Hospitality Program.  (See flyer below)

+ Want to carpool to Worcester on Sunday afternoon, November 6, for the Rev. Sam Smith’s celebration of new ministry with All Saints Church at 4 p.m.?  Contact Jorja Marsden.

+ St. Paul’s team serves at the Lee Food Pantry on Saturday, November 12. Your contributions of non-perishable food and personal care items may be dropped off at the church near the southwest door of St. Paul’s at any time. 

+Swords to Plowshares Event, Saturday, November 12, 11:00 – 1:00 at the Guthrie Center. (See flyer below for more event about this event for which St. Paul’s is a sponsor.

+ Opportunities to work at Gideon’s Garden: Every week (Mondays, 9-12; Wednesdays, 9-12 or 2-5) harvesting produce for local food pantries, including Lee Food Pantry. Gideon’s Garden is on Division St. in Great Barrington, near Taft Farms.

Beer & Hymns & Bratwurst

And your friends from Christ Trinity Church, especially Jean, invite you to Sheffield to join us in celebrating the Appalachian Trail Ministry. You folks at St. Paul's were the most supportive visiting church to our Appalachian Trail tent in 2022. Thank you! 

John-Arthur Miller is our Hymn-meister and Nancy King will be at the keyboard. We've chosen lots of great Lutheran, Episcopal and Congregational hymns to sing,.  Jean and The Oktoberfest Music team have been refining the "hymnbook" and have found some new, very popular sing-alongs to share with you.  So please join us. Big Elm is at 65 Silver Street in Sheffield, a couple miles south of the town center.  Please let us know that you are visiting from St. Paul's so that we all get to know each other better.

St Paul's Children's Center Welcomes Fall

Forward Day by Day Devotional Booklets for November through January are available on Sundays in the church. 

Vestry Highlights from October 13 Meeting

Our calendar is reflecting how busy we are! Please make sure that you read the entire E-pistle, since it includes upcoming events. If you are interested in volunteering or need more information, contact Libby, Jorja, or Martha.

Remember the “Interest Questionnaire” that debuted at the “Second Sunday – Something More” in September? Libby shared a summary with us. First, if you did express an interest in something, you can expect to be contacted at some point soon. Some good news: Ten people are interested in participating in a meditation or centering prayer group. Plans are in the works to start up a group in January. There was interest in a number of ways to learn: Bible Study Group, Film discussion Group, Book Discussion Group, Sacred Ground Circle. Watch for details in the coming months. People also seem to want opportunities to gather for fellowship in a number of different ways – all suggestions included food and fellowship! We’re planning a gathering for newcomers soon. Finally, in the category of Serving Our Community, interest was high in the Appalachian Trail Project, the Lee Food Pantry, and Gideon’s Garden. Suggestions for other activities are being looked at. The vestry authorized a sponsorship donation for the “Swords to Plowshares” event on November 12.

Diane Dillon, vestry liaison to the Profile Committee, reported that the committee is meeting weekly. They are happy with the discussion at the October “Something More” presentation and grateful for the feedback that was given. They are moving forward on their list of tasks required for creating an inviting and realistic profile of St. Paul’s.                                                                                   

Martha Bodine, Jr. Warden

Quarterly Financial Giving Statements have been mailed. If you didn’t receive yours, please contact Jorja Marsden. Your giving enables St. Paul’s to fulfill its mission and its obligations in support of mission. Every gift is appreciated. Your vestry would be ever so grateful if those who are behind in their 2022 pledge could make every effort to catch up before the end of the year.

Ferns in Need of a Winter Home

The two ferns that were used this summer in front of our outdoor altar have flourished and grown. They’ve been residing for the last month on Libby’s front porch, but now they need a winter home. If you could take one or both, please let Libby know. 

Christmas Wreath Sale to Benefit St. Paul’s Children’s Center

This is a big fundraiser for the children at St. Paul’s Preschool. Order forms are available in church this Sunday. All order forms and money are due November 4, so that Forthill Farm has enough time to complete the wreaths. Wreaths will be available for pickup at St. Paul’s the week of December 8. 

           Balsam Wreaths with Bow $40 (24”) and $50 (30”)

           Kissing Balls with Bow and Berries $50

           Evergreen Centerpiece in Mason Jar with Bow $25

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