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
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