weekly letter

August 29, 2007

 

Greetings to all!

 

Labor Day weekend presents an opportunity to think about our work; wherever, whenever, and whatever that work may be.  Consider these reflections as found in a discussion book for youth, Way to Live.

 

     The deepest truth about each of us is ultimately a God-truth.  God took delight in our unique creation at birth, and God longs to take delight in the ongoing creation of our lives.  This is about more than our jobs, and even about more than our work.  We are made by and for God.  We discover the blessing of our work, the blessing of the place where our "deep gladness" and the "world's deep hunger" meet, when we stay in touch with this God-truth.

     Work is one aspect of a full human life, but it is not a whole life.  We need to think about work, not in isolation but as part of a whole way to live.  Within this larger frame of reference, our work needs to meet our basic needs and contribute to our own well-being and that of other people.  Yet work is not everything.  For most of us, our work will not be written on our tombstone or remembered by friends after we are gone.  But work is important.  Work is a way of offering our gifts to others and to God.

(Nancy Pineda-Madrid)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, September 2, the Sacrament of Holy Communion:

     Genesis 1:1, 31-2:3

     Colossians 3:12-17

     Matthew 20:1-16

 

Men's Coffee - Walnut Hill men are invited to gather for coffee this Saturday, September 1, 8am, at Paneras on Richmond Road.  Feel free to stop in for as long or short a time as your schedule allows. No rsvp required.

 

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, September 2, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  Join us for conversation regarding the scripture lessons for the day.

 

Sunday Hospitality:  Walnut Hill members and friends have done a great job in providing our after worship hospitality during the summer months.  As we open the month of September, several Sundays are open including this Sunday, September 2.  If you would like to provide refreshments for this Sunday, please let us know by reply email.  Check the sign up sheet in the sanctuary foyer for opportunities later in the month.

 

In the Community:  Rabbi Harold Kushner will be at Joseph Beth Booksellers on Tuesday, September 18, 7:00pm, discussing and signing copies of his book, Overcoming Life's Disappointments.  Free tickets are available by contacting Joseph Beth Booksellers.

 

Fall Potluck:  The annual fall potluck is coming up on Sunday, September 16, after morning worship.  Mark the date on your calendar.  Some help is needed with set-up and clean-up.  Contact the church office if you would be willing to help.   

 

Thanks, news, etc...

     *Thanks to....Gene Brockopp for leading our "Sunday Conversation" and to Nell Horman for leading the children's class last Sunday; Karl and Jane Lange, Steve and Mardie Lange for providing our after worship refreshments last Sunday; Marie Masters and her helper Donna for a much-needed kitchen clean-up.

     *A new hearing assistance system is currently in use in the sanctuary.  The system is designed to enhance individual hearing aid devices.  Contact Nelson Barnes or David Sharrard with your questions and comments about this new system.

     *Athens-Chilesburg Elementary School is seeking volunteer tutors to work with school students.  Training is provided.  Contact Natalie Brown (873-6773) for more information.

 

Peace to all.

 

Mike Ward

weekly letter

August 21, 2007

 

Greetings to all!

 

Classes open this week at the University of Kentucky providing an occasion to reflect on the role of "higher education."  In his book, The Good Life, Peter Gomes considers the problems and possibilities of the "university" in cultivating moral character. Gomes serves as minister of The Memorial Church and Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard. 

 

     In a recent conversation among some of my most able and articulate undergraduate students, one of them, complaining of the poor quality of community life at Harvard, observed at least half paradoxically, "The very qualities that I recognize as essential in getting me in here are those qualities I least like in others; and since we are all alike, at least at the level of ambitious self-achievement, we do not know how to like one another or to live with one another. This place is too intensively selfish."  That is a harsh but not unjust assessment of the quality of life in college today.  What is heartening about this verdict is that at least the young people in question, because they are as clever and able as they are, recognize what is wrong.  They did not create the problem, for their academic elders did that, but they must now live with it and, with little institutional help or encouragement, manage to turn themselves into good people. Virtue is not something you were meant to lose in college.  The old college population, and many members of the present population, continue to believe that they are meant to find virtue in college and to use it as an essential ingredient for life after college.

 

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, August 26:

     Jeremiah 1:4-10

     Hebrews 12:18-29

     Luke 13:10-17

 

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, August 26, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  Gene Brockopp will moderate this Sunday's conversation. 

 

Youth (middle school and high school) are invited to gather for "Just Dinner" on Wednesday, August 22.  Contact Lauren Fouts (863-5823) for information regarding time/place and to rsvp.

 

Athens-Chilesburg Elementary (ACE) -  Walnut Hill's partnership with ACE continues this fall.  Walnut Hill folks can support education at ACE in a variety of ways including...

   *Box Tops and Labels for Education - Clip box tops or labels on participating products and bring them to the church.  We will forward them on to ACE.  See the bulletin boards in the Sanctuary and Trinity Hall for a complete listing of participating products. Go to www.boxtops4education.com/2007 for more information regarding the program and how you can earn some extra boxtops for ACE online. 

    *Printer Cartridges - You can also donate empty printer cartridges, which we will forward to ACE to support the Parent-Teacher organization.   

    *Tutoring Program - ACE is working with the Carnegie Center to establish a tutoring program for students.  Volunteer tutors are needed.  Contact Natalie Brown (873-6773) for more information.

 

In the Community:     A Vigil for Peace will be held in Phoenix Park on Monday, August 27, 8pm.  Local religious leaders will offer brief reflections.  A candlelight observance will be held in remembrance of Kentuckians who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

Thanks, news, etc...

     *Thanks to... the Ristau family for providing our after worship refreshments last Sunday;  Nelson Barnes and David Sharrard for their work installing a hearing assistance system in the sanctuary.

      *The Vestry will meet this Sunday, August 26, 10am, in Trinity Hall. 

     *Combining individual donations and a grant from the Community Fund, $347 is being sent via Church World Service to support earthquake relief efforts in Peru.

 

Peace to all.

 

Mike Ward 

weekly letter

August 14, 2007

 

Greetings to all!

 

Our family has been on vacation for the past two weeks.  While under the beach umbrella I had opportunity to read a book that surprised me a bit, a spiritual autobiography by Jane Goodall titled Reason For Hope.  In one passage Dr. Goodall, well known for her work with chimpanzees, writes of the hope she has found in the eyes of chimps and human beings alike.

 

     I truly believe that more and more people are seeing an appeal in the eyes around them, feeling it in their hearts, and throwing themselves into the battle.  Herein lies the real hope for our future; we are moving toward the ultimate destiny of our species - a state of compassion and love.  Yes, I do have hope.  I do believe we can look forward to a world in which our great-grandchildren and their children after them can live in peace.  A world in which there will still be trees and chimpanzees swinging through them, and blue sky and birds singing, and the drumbeats of indigenous peoples reminding us powerfully of our link to Mother Earth and the Great Spirit - the God we worship.  But, as I have stated repeatedly, we don't have much time.  The planet's resources are running out.  And so if we truly care about the future of our planet we must stop leaving it to "them" out there to solve all the problems.  It is up to us to save the world for tomorrow: it's up to you and me.

 

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, August 19:

     Isaiah 5:1-7

     Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2

     Luke 12:49-56

 

Sunday Conversations resume this Sunday, August 19, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  Our focus for the morning will be the Scripture lessons for the day (see above). 

 

Men's Coffee - Walnut Hill men are invited to gather for coffee on Saturday, August 18, 8am, at Paneras on Richmond Road.  Feel free to stop in for as long or short a time as your schedule allows.  No rsvp required.

 

Mission Partnership - Walnut Hill lately received a newsletter from Dr. Carol Spears, our mission partner working at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya.  Among other news Dr. Spears reports that Tenwek is moving forward with a program to establish a surgery residency at the hospital.  The goal is to begin in January (2008) with two residents.  Carol's letter contains other news, both professional and personal, regarding her recent experiences in Africa.  Check out the newsletter on the bulletin board in Trinity Hall.

 

School opens this week and next for many students.  You might wish to use the following prayer on behalf of students and teachers.

Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, and especially (name a school), that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

(from The Book of Common Prayer)

 

Thanks to all those who through their efforts and attention to details large and small maintained Walnut Hill's worship and work these last few weeks.  As St. Paul wrote, the church is not a building, place, or program; it is a people with each member employing her/his time and talents for the common good.  Thanks to all those who put their time and talents to work for the common good at Walnut Hill!

 

Peace to all.

 

Mike Ward