SEEDS March 19, 2025

Tell THAT FOX that you are far from being a helpless victim

I know. I know. The fox has always gotten a very bad rap, but bear with me. I only realized last Sunday during the Gospel reading and sermon, that it may have been Jesus, himself, who gave this cunning little creature such a negative association. So let's reexamine where all this started.

In Pastor Erik's sermon, we take a look at, not one, but three foxes, starting with King Herod; then a brutal leader in 1930's Germany; then on to a man who is working to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the United States in 2025. We are going to begin with Sunday's Gospel:


Luke 13:31-35

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him,

“Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”


We don't normally present a part of Sunday's sermon in SEEDS, but to this editor and listener from the choir, it resonated very loudly. If you weren't able to be with us on Sunday, there is a link at the bottom of this article to a video of Sunday's worship service. The worship was all a part of a series of experiential sermons that we have been involved in this Lent. (This coming Sunday, we take a look at Catastrophyzing. To some, Pastor Erik Karas' sermon may seem brave or even brazen, but these are extraordinary times in which we are living, and they call for extraordinary measures and thinking outside the box. We are a very progressive. yet traditional Lutheran/Episcopal church. We definitely believe in diversity, equity and inclusion. In order to entice you to join us in person, Sunday at 10:00, or at least satisfy your curiosity by watching the YouTube video at the bottom, here's how Erik's sermon began:


A week or so ago the President gave a speech to a joint session of Congress where he declared that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion had been eliminated from the Federal Government and the country.  Recently Target announced that it would no longer support DEI initiatives.  In the late 1930’s a photographer took a picture of a large crowd giving the Nazi arm salute in Germany.  Two thousand years ago, a group of Pharisees came out to see Jesus to tell him that the king wanted to kill him.  


In each of these situations, one group of people tried to get another group of people

 To buy into the notion that THEY had complete and total control while the other group of people had absolutely no control… that they had been reduced to helpless victims.  Believing that you have absolute control or believing you have absolutely no control are what what the brain pros call “Control Fallacies” and along with other Cognitive Distortions, like the “Shoulding” we talked about last week, the Control Fallacy is another kind of Stinkin’ Thinkin’ that we are giving up for the season of Lent. 

 

They are called “Fallacies” because they aren’t true!  The fact that they aren’t true becomes immediately apparent when anyone pushes back on them even slightly.  As the president insisted in his speech that DEI had been stamped out of the Federal Government a camera cut to a close up of Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, an African American, Muslim congresswoman.  With that one camera shot the president’s attempt to sell us his Control Fallacy was shown to be exactly that… a laughable fallacy.... 


I came away from Sunday's worship service very uplifted and empowered. And I was surrounded by wonderful, open and loving people. It is so important right now to surround yourself with people with whom you can relate. Please join us this Sunday at 10:00. We can't wait to have you take a look at how we are resisting despair and fear.


Jean Chapin, Seed editor

Pastor Erik's sermon begins at 33 minutes

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion are celebrated by 3 bishops

Our Lutherpalian name is Christ Trinity Church. That's a conjoining of our two former congregations, Christ Church Episcopal and Trinity Lutheran Church. This federation between the two churches will be beautifully celebrated on March 30th when both our Episcopal bishop, Doug Fisher and our Lutheran Bishop, Nathan Pipho will preside over our worship at 10:00. Augmenting the service will be the sonorous scripture readings of our own member, Bishop Jack McKelvey. Jack retired from The Episcopal Diocese of Rochester a few years ago and is now a full-time resident of our community. Please join us for a powerful, meaningful, Lenten worship on March 30th.

Silent Film with Live Music here at Christ Trinity

April 12th at 7pm

KING Of KINGS

Cecile B. DeMille silent film with live music

by internationally acclaimed composer and pianist, Donald Sosin

in our sanctuary

Almost Spring

Spring Equinox Singing Bowl Bath

Join us for an hour long immersion in the uplifting sounds of the Himalayan and Crystal singing bowls in our acoustically-rich sanctuary.

Saturday March 22, 5:30pm. Senta, our yoga teacher, is your host.

Free. Donations gratefully received. $10.-20. suggested.

What is an AED?

The church will soon receive an AED machine (Automated External Defibrillator), to help if someone has stopped breathing or is in cardiac arrest. We would like to train a small group of people to use it (just in case!). The Sheffield Fire Company has offered to do the training for us.


The machine is fully automated, and provides real-time feedback to the user, with voice instructions to match the user's actions and pace, ensuring accurate and efficient use. The device provides clear, repetitive prompts, rephrasing and adding additional instructions as needed to enhance understanding during use.


Please let Trudy know if you are interested in being part of the team. Let's hope we NEVER have to use it!

Celebrating lives

The memorial service for our beloved Norman Hettinger is here,

Saturday, March 22 at 11:00am.

Remember that parking in the Town parking lot, behind the Mobil station, is a good option.

A Celebration of Life for a pastor who was so important in shaping us as a church:

The Rev. Randy Wilburn's service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Amherst, MA on March 29th, 2025. Visitation will be at 10:00, the Celebration of Life will be at 11:00, and a lunch to follow.

Coming up

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Shakespeare & Company

Lenox, MA

Details coming soon

Safe Church Training  2025


The Rev. Tanya Wallace, our Episcopal Diocesan Safe Church Officer, will be leading Safe Church training on the following dates via Zoom.



Please consider your commitment as space is limited in each Zoom session. Your parish will be billed for your registration. Registration closes one week prior to training date.

For full details please visit our webpage. You may register by clicking on the date of your choice below. Thank you for helping to keep our churches safe.


Tuesday, March 25 -5: 00 p.m - 8: 00 p.m (Volunteers)

Tuesday, April 1/Thursday, April 3 -5: 30 p.m - 8: 00 p.m (Clergy, Staff, Lay leader)

Wednesday, April 9 -5: 00 p.m - 8: 00 p.m (Volunteers)

Thursday, April 24 -5: 00 p.m - 8: 00 p.m (Volunteers)

Thursday, May 1- 9: 00 a.m - 2: 00 p.m (Clergy, Staff, Lay leader)

Tuesday, May 20 -5: 00 p.m - 8: 00 p.m (Volunteers)

Saturday, May 31 -9: 00 a.m - 12: 00 p.m (Volunteers)

Tuesday, June 10/Wednesday, June 11-5: 30 p.m - 8: 00 p.m (Clergy, Staff, Lay leader)

Thursday, June 19-5: 00 p.m - 8: 00 p.m (Volunteers)

Saturday, June 28-9: 00 a.m - 12: 00 p.m (Volunteers)


Lydia Rosado Office Administrative Assistant

Lrosado@diocesewma.org 413-737-4786

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From the Diocese

This spring we will be offering a four-week Zoom training for new or relatively new lay preachers. The sessions will be offered on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 pm - 7:45 beginning May13 and ending on June 3.


FACILITATOR

The facilitators of these gatherings will be the Rev. Steven Wilco, Canon to the Ordinary. Steven has worked at the national level on worship planning with the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and the Institute of Liturgical Studies. He is ex officio member of our Liturgical Commission.


FOR WHOM THIS IS OFFERED

This training is open to no more than two from a congregation. It may be that you have been raised up by the community for this ministry but have not been trained. Perhaps you currently hold a license to preach in our diocese, but you are looking to learn and grow and deepen your ministry. We hope those who participate will come willing to learn and take some risks for the sake of the gospel. 


FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO APPLY

We ask that all applicants have a conversation with their clergy and/or senior wardens before applying for this training. The standard liturgical license form must be signed and returned via email or USPS by April 30th to be eligible for training. Attn: Karen Warren

Application for Training

Finding JOY and engaging in acts of kindness

One of the ways that we tell THAT FOX that we are not helpless victims and will not fall prey to despair is by finding joy in the simple things we do. Producing Berkstock is one of the most joyful things we do for this community. Come join us in the planning of our next summer and autumn adventure.

More JOY from our photo archives:

An Episcopal/Lutheran congregation


WORSHIP SUNDAYS at 10:00


Christ Trinity Church 413-229-8811

180 Main Street

PO Box 127

Sheffield, MA 01257


In-person & Livestreamed services at 10:00 Sundays:

Facebook and our YouTube channel


Our weekly worship bulletin and questions you may have about us will probably be answered at:

ChristTrinityChurch.org


The best way to get a message to the office is via email: christtrinitychurch@gmail.com



Find Pastor Erik's sermons at Rectory Ramblings erikkaras.blogspot.com



If you have a loved one who you would like us to remember in our Sunday prayers, please email us Monday morning.


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Seeds editor: Jean Chapin