weekly letter

April 30, 2008

 

Greetings to all!

 

Thursday, May 1, is the Day of the Ascension of the Lord as narrated in the book of the Acts and in the Gospel of Luke (see the lessons for Sunday).  Father Thomas Keating reflects on the "grace" of the ascension.

 

     The grace of the ascension enables us to perceive the irresistible power of the Spirit transforming everything into Christ despite any and all appearances to the contrary.  In the misery of the ghetto, the battlefield, the concentration camp; in the family torn by dissension; in the loneliness of the orphanage, old-age home, or hospital ward...the light of the ascension is burning with irresistible power.  This is one of the greatest intuitions of faith.

(from Heart of the World)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, May 4, the Ascension of the Lord, Holy Communion:

     Acts 1:1-11

     Ephesians 1:15-23

     Luke 24:44-53

 

REFUGEE FAMILY ARRIVES:  An Iraqi mother and her two daughters are scheduled to arrive in Lexington on Thursday, May 1, to be begin life in their new home.  An apartment has been secured; furniture and furnishings are being gathered.  You can help by providing furniture/furnishings, being available for transportation, and other ways! Contact Nelson Barnes (255-9389 or 559-0013 or nb@nelbar.com) for more information or to volunteer.  Thanks to all who are working hard to welcome our new neighbors.

 

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, May 4, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  This Sunday's conversation will focus on "The Ascension of the Lord" (see lessons above).  Feel free to join the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee or just listen in.

 

HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS REBUILD: Walnut Hill Vestry has partnered with Grace Methodist Church (Lucedale, MS) to help equip a dormitory building to be used by volunteer workgroups engaged in ongoing post-Katrina rebuilding.  Walnut Hill's particular commitment is to underwrite the H/VAC system for the living quarters of the dormitory.  Total cost of the project is $6,000, of which the Vestry has committed $3,000 from money on hand.  Gifts toward the $3,000 balance are now being received ($650 has been received to date).  Checks may be payable to Walnut Hill Church, designated "Mississippi".  For more information regarding this project, check out the bulletin board in Trinity Hall and/or contact Lyle Hanna.

 

Recognizing Graduates:  Sunday, May 18, promises to be a special day as we will be recognizing graduates in the Walnut Hill family.  We do not want to overlook anyone.  If you know a young person or adult related to Walnut Hill who is graduating this spring (high school, college, graduate school, vocational school, etc.), please contact the church office, so that we might be sure to acknowledge them all on May 18.

 

Spring Potluck:  The spring potluck is coming on Sunday, May 18, after worship.  It is always a delicious event.  Mark the date on your calendar.  We need a volunteer(s) to help with the few, but important, arrangements for the potluck.  Please contact the church office for more information or to volunteer.

 

Thanks, news, etc...

     *Thanks to...John Ragland and Barb Waldmann-Ward for recent work on the church grounds; Mary Ann and J. W. Davis, Maggy and Bill Patterson, and Marian Congleton for providing our after worship refreshments last Sunday; Natalie Watt for working with the youth last Sunday.

     *Andy and Cindy Sigmon and Griffin Phillips visited Walnut Hill last Sunday on behalf of Cathedral Domain and Camp Burnamwood.  Thanks to a generous Sunday offering, the Domain and Burnamwood will each be receiving $1,450 from Walnut Hill to support their important ministries.

     *We celebrate with Barbara and Chris Bohmer the birth of their grandchild, Nicholas Wendell Steede, to parents Brook (Bohmer) and Scott Steede.

 

Peace to all.

 

Mike Ward