E-pistle November 23, 2022

Thursday, November 24, 10:30 a.m.

Celebrate Thanksgiving Day with Our Neighbors

First Congregational Church, Stockbridge

Mother Libby will preach. Clergy and lay from St. Joseph’s RC, St. Paul’s Episcopal, and First Congregational will lead worship. Offering will be equally divided among Lee Food Pantry, the Pop-Up Pantry at First Congregational, and the People’s Pantry. If you’d like to share a community Thanksgiving Meal, please bring a side dish and stay after the service. Turkey, stuffing, desserts, and drinks will be provided. The Congregational Church would like to know if you will be staying for the meal, so please take a minute to fill out the form here so they know to expect you.

Sunday Worship Services

This Sunday, November 27, worship is at 8 and 10 a.m.

Collect for the First Sunday of Advent

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture Readings for the First Sunday of Advent, November 27

Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44

Watch on Facebook

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

Sunday, November 27 (8 & 10 a.m.)

Celebrant – The Rev. Libby Wade

Preacher – The Rev. Jane Tillman

Reader/Intercessor (8 a.m.) – Torey Winn

Reader/Intercessor (10 a.m.) – Jean Rousseau

Usher/Greeter (10 a.m.) – Jean Rousseau

Lemonade Host – Carl Sprague

Sunday, December 4 (8 & 10 a.m.)

Celebrant – The Rev. Jane Tillman

Preacher – The Rev. Libby Wade

Reader/Intercessor (8 a.m.) – Rob Maloney

Reader/Intercessor (10 a.m.) – TBD

Usher/Greeter (10 a.m.) – Natalie Boyce

Lemonade Host – Ginny Willcox

If you can be the Reader/Intercessor on December 4, please contact Libby ASAP.

Parish Prayer List

People we pray for on Sundays: Bruce, Charles, Irby, David, Nick, Melissa, Ginger, Joan, Duncan, Mary, Bernadette, and Linda
Long-term prayer list: Piers, Katrina, Rich, Karen, Michael, Tom, Khali, George, Doug, George, David, Barbara, Christy, John, and Florence
Our partners at Grace Church, Great Barrington, and their priest Tina Rathbone; Christ Trinity Episcopal-Lutheran Church, Sheffield, and their priest Erik Kara; the Austen Riggs community and the Riverbrook residents and staff
Those celebrating birthdays this week, including Matt Fillio, and those celebrating anniversaries, including Helen and John Davies
Outreach Ministry of the Week: Berkshire Diaper Project
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Luke’s, Worcester
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Nippon Sei Ko Kai
We pray for our legislative and judicial institutions, and for local government, that they may use the plentiful resources they steward to care for the people of the world.
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.

Stewardship Season -- More Than Enough

Thank you to all who have returned their pledge cards for 2023! As of Monday, November 21, $38,260 has been pledged. If your card hasn’t been turned in, please do so as soon as possible, either placing the card in the offering plate or mailing it to the parish office. Extra pledge cards are available on the table at the back of the church. Together we can make a difference; and working together, what we have will be more than enough.

Advent Bible Study – Images from Isaiah – BEGINS THIS WEEK

Tuesdays 7-8 p.m. on Zoom, November 29, December 6, 13, 20.

If you are intrigued by the “swords into ploughshares” reading from Isaiah today or the image of the sculpture based on Isaiah 2:5 on the cover of today’s worship leaflet, then join Libby Wade and folks from the 3 South County Episcopal/Lutheran churches as we study this and other wonderfully evocative Isaiah passages from our Advent Sunday lectionary. Invite friends to join us. For Zoom link Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Or call:646 558 8656 (New York)

Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas is Back This Year!

On Sunday, December 4, from ~12:30-2:00 p.m., music groups from Monument Mountain Regional High School will be performing in St. Paul’s worship space. Come and enjoy the Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, and Orchestra in the warmth of the church, and then enjoy the festivities outside for this traditional Stockbridge festival.

Prayers for the Home Advent Wreath

The Advent Wreath is one of the best-known symbols of the Season of Advent that begins on November 27. It is a circle of greenery with four purple or blue candles (sometimes one of the candles is pink) in the greenery and often including a white “Christ” candle in the center of the wreath. One candle is lit on the first week of Advent and another candle is lit on each succeeding week until all four are burning. Then the Christ Candle is lit on Christmas Eve. The Advent Wreath comes to us by way of Germany and Scandinavia. It tells a dramatic story of the dark and waiting world and the dawning light that grows brighter as the weeks pass until its brilliance merges at last with the star over Bethlehem.

First Week – Hope

The Word of Isaiah: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23

O God of Isaiah, grant us, in our holy waiting, eyes that recognize the signs of your unending grace—communities of faith, good will and peace, and of Mary and her Son. Grant us, too, mouths that proclaim, “Emmanuel—God is with us, indeed!” Amen.

Second Week – Prepare

The Word of John: I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” John 1:23

O God of John, in this season of holy preparation, begin your road work in us. Raise the valleys of our guilt. Lower the mountains of our pride. Prepare in us a royal highway, straight and level, leading to the Babe at Bethlehem and beyond. Amen.

Third Week – Believe

The Word of Mary: Then Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

O God of Mary, something special began to grow within your handmaid that day. It grew and blossomed, thrived and withstood. That thing was trust—faith to be shaped by your gracious will. Bless us with such faithful abandonment to your will, O Emmanuel. Amen.

Fourth Week – Rejoice

The Word to Joseph: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20

O God of Joseph, we, like Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, began as spectators, drawn by your grace into the miracle of your birth. May we be overcome, as Joseph was, with the responsibility and joy of being included in Jesus’ family. Amen.

Christmas Eve – Incarnation

(Hymn 91). “Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light, and usher in the morning; O shepherds, greet that glorious sight, our Lord a crib adorning. This child, this little helpless boy, shall be our confidence and joy, the power of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making.”

Cathedral of the Beloved

“Everyone has a place in the circle of care.”

“When I couldn’t see straight, you saw me.”

“May I nurture what is best in me and what is best in you.”

Every Sunday in the Prayers of the People, we pray for an outreach ministry of the week. Last Sunday (and every third Sunday of the month), we prayed for Cathedral of the Beloved in Pittsfield, which is an outdoor, multi-denominational church without walls, where all people can know the joy and freedom of being loved by God.

Their mission statement says “We meet God’s people wherever we are. We weave together the strands of goodness, presence and dignity to nurture healing and connection in our community. We believe everyone is worthy of food, clean clothes, a place to share, respect and love. Their weekly work includes Sunday worship and a free meal on the lawn of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Thursday Coffee Hour at Dottie’s on North St., Laundry Love – free laundry services for families and individuals in partnership with the North Street Coin-Op, St. Stephen’s Episcopal and Zion Lutheran churches, pastoral care and counseling with referrals to nonprofit agencies, and collaboration with businesses and social service agencies.

The Rev. Jenny Gregg, an Episcopal priest, the founder and lead pastor, is assisted by Rev. Jennifer Kimball, Becky Crane, and Kate Grater, as well as many volunteers. Rev. Jenny writes that “poverty, homelessness, and isolation in our community are difficult, complex issues….We walk with our neighbors and provide opportunities for relationships, healing, empowerment, and dignity. We hope you will walk with us. Join us at any of our gatherings and please consider a financial gift. You can send a check to Cathedral at 67 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 or give online at www.cathedralofthebeloved.org. Your financial contributions offer love and hope, provide food for the hungry, offer the gift of clean clothes, and enable our staff to provide pastoral care in our community.”

Upcoming Events

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

+ Every Sunday – Holy Eucharist in the Church

1 Service Only at 9 a.m. on December 11, Services at 8 & 10 a.m. all other Sundays

+ Sundays and Christmas Eve Worship Schedule (see below)

+ Advent Bible Study on Zoom, Tuesdays 7-8 p.m. on Zoom (see article above)

+ Stockbridge Main Street Christmas, Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4. Concert by MMRHS at St. Paul’s from 12:30-2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 4.

+ Vestry Meeting, Thursday, December 8, 5:30 p.m., Parish House

+ St. Paul’s team serves at the Lee Food Pantry on Saturday, December 10. 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.

+ Sunday, December 11, 9:00 a.m., Holy Baptism of Anders Tierney and a time to honor our 2022 Food Pantry and Gideon’s Garden Volunteers.

+ Holiday Concert “Resonet In Laudibus – Resounding Joyful Praise” at St. Paul’s on Saturday, December 10, 6:00 p.m. Renaissance and Baroque Holiday Music for Crescendo Chorus and Berkshire Brass. This concert will include a free outdoor light show by artist Joe Wheaton and a pop-up hot beverage and food event outside the Red Lion Inn. Tickets for the indoor concert are available at www.crescendomusic.org. To claim a complimentary ticket on a first come, first served basis, e-mail crescendo@crescendomusic.org before December 2, state your request and mention St. Paul’s. You’ll get a confirmation and your tickets will be held at the door.

Giving for Christmas

St. Paul’s will be providing Christmas gifts to benefit a local family. This year our adoptive family has one child, a 3-year-old girl. There will be a sign-up sheet in church on Sunday or contact Matt Fillio to sign up. If you would like to take part in this project but are unable to go shopping, please email Matt, who is happy to be your personal shopper. Checks should be made out to St. Paul’s Discretionary Fund, with “Local Family Christmas” in the memo.

We ask you to place your unwrapped items in pews beside the pulpit; all gifts must be dropped off at the church by December 12. Gifts will be delivered to the organization in time for Christmas giving. We hope you’ll take part in this project as we offer support and love to our neighbors. Any questions please email or call Matt Fillio. (413-822-3759 or mcfillio@yahoo.com)

Oakes and Smith present “The Holy Moment – Holiday Candlelit Concert” on Saturday, December 17, 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s. This concert offers listeners a moment of stillness and peace during the often-hectic holiday season, a moment to touch the depths of this joyful and holy time of year. Admission is free, donations gratefully accepted.