Quenching our Thirst
On the Third Sunday in Lent we read a familiar story. (John 4:5-42) Jesus meets a down and out Samaritan woman in the heat of the day at Jacob’s well. In this encounter Jesus lets the woman know that he understands spiritual thirst, and that he has come to bring living water to those who are in need. Is there a place in your spiritual life that you experience great thirst? Have you been filled with the living water of faith? 

     This story asks us to consider what the Samaritan woman does after she meets Jesus and recognizes him as the Messiah: She becomes an evangelist, spreading the news in such a way that many become believers following her testimony. She brings them news of salvation and hope that their thirst will be quenched.

     In this time of international crisis related to a pandemic, economic uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, come to St. Paul’s to worship and give thanks for the living water Jesus brings to all who seek life with God.

Collect
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Liturgical Colors – As God has flooded the earth and sky with color, so the Church has sensed the symbolic use of color in its worship. As dominating colors in nature change with the seasons of the fourfold year, so in the Church Year there is a structured change in the colors of the Eucharistic vestments, the liturgical colors.

This sequence of liturgical colors has a principal role in Christian visual education, in teaching the Gospel through the eye. Violet, symbolic of penitence and expectation, is used in the seasons of Advent and Lent and may also be used for the offices and Masses for the dead, and on Ember and Rogation Days.

Bishop’s Pastoral Directive
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is on all our minds these days, as we pray for those affected by it and think about how we can keep each other healthy. To those ends, our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Doug Fisher, has sent out a pastoral directive in response to the pandemic. You will note that it is more restrictive than the guidelines we put in place last week, in a continuing effort to be sure we are helping stem the growth of this menace to health.

You may read the bishop’s directive here.

Lenten Book Study:
A Resurrection-Shaped Life – Thursdays in Lent, noon and 6:30 pm
St. Paul’s will join with Episcopal, Lutheran and UCC churches of the Southern Berkshires to read and discuss this intriguing new book by Jake Owensby, retired Episcopal bishop of Western Louisiana. Each Thursday, March 5 to April 2, will offer the same content noon-1:00 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the office/chapel of Grace Church (where Centering Prayer is also offered each Thursday at 5:00 p.m.). The book is available in paperback and on Kindle. A Resurrection Shaped Life. Please join us for one or every time as we explore the biblical concept of resurrection and how Jesus’ resurrection guides us daily in our lives. In preparation for the next gathering, please read chapter 4. Questions? Ask Father Sam.

Don’t do Facebook, but want to see what we post? Sign up for our “Weekly Update from St. Paul’s” or visit our website to see the “Latest News”.

Lee Food Pantry: This Sunday’s food pantry suggestions are hearty soups and tomato sauce. When you shop this week, please consider buying a few items to bring to church next Sunday, to share with those in need in our community. (Please be sure that food you bring for the pantry has not expired – we are not able to give away food beyond its freshness date.)
St. Paul’s will volunteer at the Lee Food Pantry this Saturday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m.

Altar Flowers
If you would like to honor or remember a loved one by providing altar flowers, the following Sundays are available: Aug. 16, Nov. 29 & Dec. 20. To sign up, please email stpaulsstockbridge@gmail.com and tell us the date you’d like to reserve, the wording of the announcement, and whether or not you’d like the office to order the flowers for you (cost is $60).

Worship Teams (If you exchange shifts with someone, please notify the Church Office by Thursday morning at stpaulsstockbridge@gmail.com.)

This Sunday, March 8

Celebrant:  The Rev. Sam Smith
Preacher:The Rev. Jane Tillman
8 am:Pam Drumm
10 am:Tom Skakel, Greeter
Don Temples, Usher
Vaunie Graulty, Lector
Ginny Willcox, Intercessor & Altar Guild
Vaunie Graulty & Ginny Willcox, Hospitality
Mari Enoch, Organist

Next Sunday, March 22

Celebrant/Preacher: The Rev. Sam Smith
8 am:Jorja Marsden
10 am:Tracy Johnson, Greeter
Diana French, Usher
Diane Dillon, Lector
Don Temples, Intercessor
Natalie Boyce, Altar Guild
Don Temples & Sam Smith, Hospitality
Nancy King, Organist

Parish Prayer List

  • People we pray for on Sundays: Cecilia
  • Long-term prayer list: George, Jeff, David, Doug, Barbara, Charles, ZsuZsa, Tom, Rich, Ronnie, Karen, Michael, Christy, John, George, Khali, Brian
  • Our partners at Grace Church, Great Barrington and the Rev. Janet Zimmerman; Trinity Episcopal/Christ Lutheran, Sheffield and the Rev. Erik Karas; the Austen Riggs community and the Riverbrook Residence; victims of violence, abuse, persecution and disaster at home and abroad
  • Outreach Ministries of the Week: Cathedral of the Beloved
  • Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Paul’s, Gardner
  • Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Church of England
  • Birthdays: Emma Skakel (13th)