Dear Lenox Clergy Group, Pittsfield Area Council of Congregations, and South County Clergy Group,

I want to let you know about a unique opportunity for spiritual learning and growth happening on July 6 and 20: Jewish Perspectives on the New Testament.

On Friday July 6 Marc Zvi Brettler, co-editor with Amy-Jill Levine of The Jewish Annotated New Testament which has received awards and acclaim from both Jewish and Christian religious and scholarly circles, will be speaking about the book and the goals the two editors wanted to accomplish.

On Friday July 20 the conversation about this acclaimed book will continue with Rabbi Robert S. Goldstein, spiritual leader of Temple Emmanuel in Andover, MA and Father Richard Burnett, senior pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio.

Both events are from 10:30 am to 12 noon at the Church on the Hill chapel, 55 Main Street in Lenox, downhill from the main church. This is sponsored by Congregation Knesset Israel. Contact Myrna Hammerling at 413-445-4872, ext. 16; mhammerling@knessetisrael.org RSVP to her by ther day before each event.

What a great opportunity for Christians and Jews to study and learn together. Please publicize to your congregations and encourage them to come. See you there!

Rev. Natalie Shiras, Pastor
Church on the Hill

Rev. Natalie Shiras
Church on the Hill (United Church of Christ)
55 Main Street
Lenox, MA 01240
413-637-1001
fax 413-637-3395

Download the newsletter here

Ike Sturm Jazz Ensemble to play Vespers at Trinity, May 20

Trinity Episcopal Church in Lenox, a well-known venue for sacred and secular musical experiences, will present a Jazz Vespers service played by the Ike Sturm Jazz Ensemble at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 20. These musicians play regularly at Lincoln Center and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New York, where Sturm is “jazz pastor” (http://saintpeters.org/jazz). St. Peter’s has maintained a jazz ministry for decades, distinguishing it as a welcoming and open place of worship.

Sturm’s jazz brings together creative musical exploration with the quest to hear God’s voice in new ways. According to Rev. Dr. Randall K. Wilburn, interim rector of Trinity, the Jazz Vespers entwines music and worship in new ways. “Jazz changes and grows, like our experience of God. Jazz Vespers will bring a new dimension to Trinity’s traditional Romanesque chancel, gorgeous stained glass windows and richly carved wood. When people come together here for Jazz Vespers, they will be renewed.”

The Ike Sturm Jazz Ensemble’s “Jazz Mass” received 4-1/2 stars as one of Downbeat Magazine’s “Best of 2010.” His original music draws on the traditions of Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. The ensemble just returned from touring three Scandinavian countries.(http://www.ikesturm.com ).

Jazz Vespers is part of Trinity’s outreach to the community. “Our usual Outreach efforts focus on providing services or funds to our neighbors in need,” says Gail Street, long time chair of the Trinity’s outreach committee. “The Jazz Vespers lets us to share a spiritual gift.”

Reggie Cooper, Trinity’s senior warden, points out that “jazz is an expansion of Trinity’s musical footprint in the Berkshires. We hope to attract people who have never been here for a classical concert or more traditional service.”

“We hope people will come to Jazz Vespers from all segments of the community, regardless of their beliefs or affiliation with a religious organization. Music can speak to all of us, each in our own dialect,” says Wilburn.

The Jazz Vespers service is fully funded by the Trinity congregation, so offered at no cost to those who attend.

The Bishop’s Office is happy to provide occasional issues of The Parish Paper - a short [2 pages each issue] article usually involving congregational development topics applicable for leaders of 21st century congregations.

Click here to view The Parish Paper

The Diocese of Western Massachusetts’s purchase of a subscription to The Parish Paper INCLUDES

1.       Permission to provide copies to our staff and to the congregations within our jurisdiction in any of the following ways: E-mail, Postal, newspaper, newsletter, meetings, training events, and our Web site.

2.       Permission for each congregation within our jurisdiction to (a) photocopy or electronically distribute for local use as many copies as it needs, (b) post them on its Web site, and (c) quote sentences and paragraphs.

Lenox Community Easter Sunrise Service
Sunday, April 8, 2012 – 6:15am
Location: Outdoor Sanctuary, United Methodist Church of Lenox, 6 Holmes Road, Lenox

All are welcome to participate in a Easter Sunrise Service to be held at The United Methodist Church of Lenox. The service will be held in the outdoor sanctuary, a beautiful area with benches, several hundred yards from the parking lot. After the service, people are welcomed to be guests at breakfast in Fellowship Hall. For more information, call 413-445-5918.

WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK
You are invited to join us for a service of Table Communion in the Parish Hall,
Wednesday, April 4, 7pm. This is a service which marks the transition from
Passover to the First Eucharist celebrated by Christ. PLEASE BRING ONE
OR TWO CANDLES IN YOUR CANDLE HOLDERS. It will be a candlelight
service and the only illumination in the room will be our candles on the tables.
This is a unique worship experience and we encourage you to invite others.
It is a “child friendly” service and will be only one hour or less. This will be
a service which carries us into Maundy Thursday and the meaning of The
Lord’s Last Supper.

Cantilena Chamber Choir presents…

SOUL and SPIRIT concert

Sunday, April 15, 3pm

click here for more info

This Wedneday, February 29, following our 7pm Worship of Healing and Eucharist, Joe Carry
will present, “A History of the Interpretation of God’s Response to Suffering.” This is the introduction to our topic for Lent.

On March 7, Rev. Wilburn will present C.S. Lewis. “A Grief Observed and The Problem of Pain”.

In weeks to follow Rev. Elizabeth Goodman and Gail Street will present and on the last Wednesday, March 28, Rev. Wilburn will present the work of Henri Nouwen.

Each week the presentation and discussion will be no longer than 45 minutes. Bring a friend and share our learning.

HOLY WEEK April 1 – April 7

Monday – Saturday, Morning Prayer at 7am

Monday and Tuesday, Evening Prayer, 7pm

Wednesday, TABLE COMMUNION IN PARISH HOUSE, 7pm, an informal service symbolic of the transition from the Seder of Passover to Holy Communion, a child-friendly service children will enjoy. Bring your candle and candle holder so we can illuminate our worship space.

MAUNDY THURSDAY, April 5, Eucharist and Foot Washing at 7pm followed by the all night prayer vigil which ends at Morning Prayer on Good Friday

GOOD FRIDAY, April 6, 10am, Eucharist
2pm Congregations of Lenox gather at Church-on-the-Hill for the Procession of the Cross which ends at Trinity for closing reading and prayer

HOLY SATURDAY, April 7, Easter Vigil, Trinity is invited to join St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Stockbridge, MA, 8pm

EASTER SUNDAY, April 8, Festival Eucharist, 8am and 10:15am

Download the February 2012 Trinity Parish Newsletter.