We had expected 20-30 people might come to Crissey Farm last Sunday to worship in-person, as people begin to adjust to fewer COVID restrictions and may still experience some anxiety. Then we learned a faulty air-conditioning unit above the banquet room had caused damage and we would be limited to a much smaller area than usual. Though we worried that we wouldn’t be able to fit even 30 people into the space, we pressed ahead with plans. Rain was predicted to begin at 9 a.m. and so it did. I wondered if people would make the effort on a cold, rainy holiday weekend to come to worship. I wondered if I would measure up after months of not celebrating Eucharist and being in a space I’d not even seen in several years. Lee wondered if the Chapel keyboard would be adequate, since it wasn’t feasible yet to move the clavinova back.

Even with all those stumbling blocks, people did come – 37, in fact, while another 7 joined via Zoom, and it was wonderful. Caroline was able to add her prayer requests by unmuting herself on Zoom, and we were all able to wish her a happy 25th birthday. At the Gratitude Moment, we were blessed to hear from someone about how Grace Church folks supported her family through the last year. Our musicians noted their emotional response to hearing the congregation join in singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” on this Trinity Sunday, quietly but audibly. For me, the moments of deep emotion came when we read the Psalm in unison, rather than between priest and responder and then again as I distributed the “body of Christ” to those present in the room and offered a “prayer for spiritual communion” to those on Zoom. Our efforts at this new way of practicing inclusion are bearing fruit. As we gain experience and become more adept at live-streaming, I believe there can be even more binding together of those worshipping in-person and those worshipping virtually.

When I opened the Gospel Book to mark it for Trinity Sunday Year B (May 30, 2021), the fact that it was set on the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent in Year A (March 8, 2020) drove home just how much time has passed as the pandemic raged. Ironically, however, the Gospel for that Sunday almost 1 ½ years ago was John 3:1-17, the very same Gospel appointed for Trinity Sunday this year. How cool is that?

This week, a small group will record the Blessing of Gideon’s Garden on Friday morning. Then on Saturday morning all are invited to come to the Garden between 10 a.m. and noon to help with the spring planting. We’ll begin with a very short prayer and then go to work. It’s expected to be warm and sunny, so bring your sun screen, bug spray, sun hat, water bottle, and trowel (if you have one) and join in the fun working the soil and planting the crops that will help feed our surrounding communities over the summer and early fall. Then on Sunday, we’ll gather virtually for a Zoom-only Morning Prayer Service that will feature the video of the Blessing of Gideon’s Garden.

June 6 2nd Sunday after Pentecost – Zoom Morning Prayer including Video of Gideon’s Garden Blessing

June 13 3rd Sunday after Pentecost – In-Person & Zoom Eucharist

June 20 4th Sunday after Pentecost – Zoom Festival of Hymns

June 27 5th Sunday after Pentecost – In-Person & Zoom Eucharist Ending of a Pastoral Relationship with Interim Rector

Congratulations to Holly Murray, who will be Received into the Episcopal Church at a Diocesan Confirmation Service on Sunday, June 6, at 3:00 p.m. Forty-eight people participated in the Diocesan Confirmation Preparation Series held for the first time on Zoom this spring! Holly took part and recommends the series to others when it is offered again.

Confirmation and Reception are acts of reaffirming baptismal vows and making a commitment to those vows as members of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement (as our Presiding Bishop refers to us). This joyful gathering will be outdoors at Christ the King/Epiphany Church in Wilbraham, but attendance is very limited.

Thanks to all who submitted favorite hymns. We received more suggestions than we can use on June 20, but hope to use all your favorites in the near future. Now that the deadline for submissions has passed, your Music Director and Interim Rector will begin to weave together hymns, prayer, and scripture into what promises to be a delightful and inspiring morning worship service on June 20. Since the service will be on Zoom rather than in-person, you can sing along to your heart’s content in your loudest voice! In the words of one of our hymns (Hymnal 1982, no. 420):

Jesus calls us to fullness of life (John 10:10), yet many of us feel anything but fully alive – we may feel melancholy, distracted, anxious, or numb. In this morning retreat we will explore ways of prayer that make us available to the healing and enlivening power of the Spirit. The first part of the retreat will focus on our inner lives; the second part will focus on how our outer lives can create the conditions for experiencing what Joseph Campbell called “the rapture of being alive.” Our time together will include presentations and guided meditation, with options for solitary reflection and small group conversation. If possible, please bring a candle, Bible, and Book of Common Prayer.

The Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas serves as Missioner for Creation Care in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ. Her latest book (co-edited) is Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis. Her collection of daily meditations for Advent and Christmas, Joy of Heaven, to Earth Come Down, calls us to a practice of prayer grounded in reverence for the earth and to intentional living in harmony with the natural world. Her Website: RevivingCreation.org.

The Rev. Ted Cobden 413-528-2247

Pennie Curry        413-429-7093

Sue Gore           413-243-2273

Diocesan Compline service will continue in June, July and August with new access information. Same days, same time, same people - NEW link beginning May 31st. Please share this with your congregations, but please do not post the meeting ID or passcode on social media.

Join us on Sunday, June 13th, at 5pm on our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJD7BKJb6wQn6HrEapX2vg to learn about BIC, celebrate immigrants, and listen to talented musicians and poets! To donate to our One World Celebration please send a check to "Berkshire Immigrant Center" at 67 East Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Thank you for your support.

Begun in 2018 as a shared ministry of two Sheffield churches, First Congregational Church, UCC and Christ Trinity Church (Episcopal and Lutheran), ‘Trail Magic” is back and we’re inviting you to share it with us.

We have all the supplies, we’ll guide the set up and clean up, we’ll even bring most of the day’s food. You simply pick a day, bring four people and a $50 Big Y gift card, sit in the shade, and create a corner of kindness in the world. It’s the easiest, most rewarding, least expensive, most volunteer inclusive mini-mission trip you’ll ever do!

Our 2021 Appalachian Trail Ministry will run from June 21 – August 14. Guest Mission Days will occur on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during the season.

For more information, or to register for a 2021 one-day Mini-Mission Trip please contact Rev. Jill Graham at [email protected]

"Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863." ©JUNETEENTH.com

Join us as we celebrate the day when freedom finally reached the last enslaved persons in America. All people of faith might mark this particular moment in our history mindful that the sin of white supremacy continues to impact Black lives in our time. This diocesan liturgy is being planned by the Beloved Community Commission as an entry point for deeper engagement with the story and to gather us all for prayer on this great day. Our presider will be the Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher.

Join via YouTube and FaceBook Watch

The EfM Group based at Christ Trinity Church and including participants from Christ Trinity, St. Paul's, and Grace Church held a joyful in-person meeting for our final session of the spring season. Though we discussed Isaiah, Micah, and Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, our reflection focused on Galatians 5:22-23: "By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things." Our work for the day and for this season was summed up in this prayer attributed to Mother Theresa of Calcutta called "A Simple Path": The fruit of silence is Prayer. The fruit of prayer is Faith. The fruit of faith is Love. The fruit of love is Service. The fruit of service is Peace. Amen.

Have a great summer everyone. EfM will return after Labor Day.

--Karen Byers, Mentor

Lynn Smith, Diocesan Archivist for the Diocese of Massachusetts, extends an invitation to all who are interested in history to join the Parish Historians Group.

In the meantime, please join with others who have similar interests by contacting [email protected]. Remember, we are better together, and preserving history is not just about the past--but asking the question How can we be better than we were?

[email protected] and by phone 413-644-0022.

Kathy Clausen 413-329-1724

Rick Gore, Jr. 413-441-7036

Sue Gore 413-243-2273

Mary Anne Grammer 413-258-4212

John Cheek 413-446-8863

Dindy Anderson 413-274-3854

Anne Andrews 413-528-2766

Dutch Pinkston 413-274-6566

Cathy Haywood 413-464-6664

Holly Murray 860-977-9198

The Rev. Libby Wade is available at 270-519-6934 or [email protected].