THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK TO ORDER! |
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Get Your Tickets NOW Before They are Gone! |
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Anonymous Generosity Sits Around You Every Sunday! |
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Our congregation is filled with amazingly generous people. That is something I think we all easily see and something I give thanks for every day! But did you know that a number of our fellow parishioners regularly go much farther than what we see, giving beyond their pledge or regular Sunday giving in a way that (paraphrasing Jesus) 'their left hand doesn't know what their right hand is doing'?
These gifts come in every shape and size and at various times throughout the year. Someone will meet me in the sacristy after worship and press a couple of large bills into my hand with instructions of where they should go or just telling me to put them where I know they need to go. Sometimes the gift is an unexpected check in the mail with a note to me that says, "get whatever you know the church needs," which is how we got the new Parish Hall television. Sometimes things are bought for the church and receipts are never turned in for reimbursement. There are IRA distributions (In addition to the ones that fulfill pledges) that fund some special project like the gifts that continue to help us upgrade our streaming equipment! Then there are those who let me know they have added the church to their estate plans, at which point I always thank them AND remind them they don't have to fulfill THAT gift any time soon!
If you find yourself inspired by these stories of anonymous giving and want to pass on a little more (or a lot more) of the gifts you have first received from God, let me know. If you need ideas or a co-conspirator dressed in black to carry out your generous "schemes" I'm happy to help! These stories have absolutely inspired me over the last four years, but what they've inspired is a secret! - Pastor Erik+
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COVID cases are on the rise in South County and only about half of Berkshire County seniors eligible for a booster have gotten one. If you are one of them, please schedule yours today! Vaccinations and boosters are available to everyone at your pharmacy or through the Berkshire Health System. If you need help getting an appointment or getting a ride, let me know. For now we will continue masked, in-person worship and live-streamed worship and I will continue to monitor the situation, particularly regarding the new Omicron variant which isn't here yet but has some genetic clues that make it potentially worrisome. Vaccinations, including boosters, and masking in public are the best ways to care for yourself and your neighbor. - Pastor Erik |
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You may be aware that every year Berkshire South hosts the Shining Star supplemental gift program. Through the program, we match children in need with donors who purchase items from the child's "wish list" for the holidays. We have had an overwhelming number of applicants this year -- about 150 with another 50 children on a waitlist -- and we are appealing to the community to consider becoming shoppers. If anyone from Christ Trinity Church is interested in taking part, you can register to do so with the button below or stop by Berkshire South, where there is a display for the program in our lobby. |
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We will be taking a break from our 8:00 service during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Come join us in-person and online at 10:00 on Sunday as we light the second candle of the Advent wreath. |
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Our Next Community in Faith (a.k.a. Adult Study) Offering:
Sing Noel! An exploration of the music of Advent and Christmas
Tuesdays, November 30, December 7 & 14, 7:00-8:00 pm via Zoom
Of all the various aspects of Christmas, perhaps none is more beloved, and more reminiscent, than the music of the season. In this three-week study, we will explore together the music we love, learning not only the stories of the creation and meaning of these beloved songs, but also taking time to use them as tools for meditation. No preparation needed – just join us to talk about and pray on the music we cherish.
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There is a change of date for the Womens Bible Study group. We will NOT meet on Dec 3, as previosly announced in Seeds. We will meet on Fri Dec 17 at 1 pm at the church.
The study we are using is 'WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?' by Becky Harling. The question we will explore is: Why are you so afraid? The Bible passages we will look at are from Matthew 8:23-26; Mark 4: 35-41; John 10:1-18; and Psalm 23. Please let Imelda Muller know via email(imeldaamuller@gmail.com) if you are able to make it.
Thank you, Imelda
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EfM participants read Ruth, Esther and 1 and 2 Peter this week. In 1 Peter 2:4-5, Peter exhorts his readers, who are early Christians in remote locales, “Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” The idea of living stones, augmented by the image, * was the prompt for our theological reflection.
We long for the harmony and serenity we experience in nature and for permanence that does not exist
And we wonder if there is a straight path.
We know that we must be flexible and open to the twists and turns of our lives
We doubt that we can do this on our own
So we pray that our faith be like a rock.
AMEN
*The above image is of an installation by the artist Andy Goldsworthy at the Storm King Art Center in NY, an easy drive from our area and definitely worth the visit! https://stormking.org/
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Christ Trinity Church 413-229-8811
180 Main Street
PO Box 127
Sheffield, MA 01257
In-person worship Sundays at 10:00
We will be taking a break from our 8:00 service during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.
Previous sermons, our livestreams and great service music on:
Many photos appear on Instagram at CTCSheffieldMA and sometimes, nowhere else. Please follow us.
Questions you may have about us will probably be answered at:
If you have a loved one who you would like us to remember in our Sunday prayers, please email us Monday morning before 11:00.
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