weekly letter

May 14, 2008

 

Greetings to all!

 

This Sunday, May 18, is Trinity Sunday on the church calendar.  Frederick Buechner offers some thoughts on this strange, and distinctively Christian, notion of God.

 

     The much-maligned doctrine of the Trinity is an assertion that, appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, there is only one God.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit mean that the mystery beyond us, the mystery among us, and the mystery within us are all the same mystery.  Thus the Trinity is a way of saying something about us and the way we experience God.  The Trinity is also a way of saying something about God and the way God is within God's self, i.e., God does not need the Creation in order to have something to love, because within God's self love happens.  In other words, the love God is is love not as a noun but as a verb.  The verb is reflexive as well as transitive.

     If the idea of God as both Three and One seems farfetched and obfuscating, look in the mirror someday.  There is (a) the interior life known only to yourself and those you choose to communicate it to (the Father).  There is (b) the visible face, which in some measure reflects that inner life (Son). And there is (c) the invisible power you have which enables you to communicate that interior life in such a way that others do not merely know about it, but know it in the sense of its becoming part of who they are (the Holy Spirit).  Yet what you are looking at in the mirror is clearly and indivisibly the one and only you.

(from Wishful Thinking)

 

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, May 18, Trinity Sunday:

     Genesis 1:1 - 2:4

     2 Corinthians 13:11-13

     Matthew 28:16-20

 

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, May 18, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  Our conversation this Sunday will, not surprisingly, focus on The Trinity.  Feel free to join the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee, or just listen in.

 

SPRING POTLUCK, Sunday, May 18, after worship, in Trinity Hall.  Join us for this delicious spring tradition.  Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert.

 

REFUGEE FAMILY UPDATE:  Raghad, Rania, and Zahra are settling in to their new home thanks to the hospitality and generosity of many Walnut Hill members and friends. Our most pressing current need is to find employment possibilities for Raghad. Contact Nelson Barnes (519-0013 or nb@nelbar.com) for more information.  Thanks to all who are working hard to welcome our new friends.

 

HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS REBUILD: Walnut Hill has partnered with Grace Methodist Church (Lucedale, MS) to equip a dormitory to be used by 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 ($825 has been donated 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.

 

A WEEKEND TOGETHER -  Our second annual "Weekend Together" is scheduled for June 6 - 8.  The weekend will include dinner and activities for all ages on Friday evening, activities for children on Saturday morning, Sunday School and worship for all ages continuing the theme on Sunday morning.  Speaking of theme, this year's theme is: Make a Joyful Noise: A Celebration of Music in the Life of the Church.  Mark your calendar and watch for more details.

 

Thanks to...several folks, some known only to themselves, who stepped up to help in a number of ways during last Sunday's wind and power outage (It was an interesting morning!); Linda Talbott Barnes for our after worship refreshments; Ron Johnston for leading the Walnut Hill Working Group discussion; Ruth Sharrard for hosting the Women's Guild meeting; Barbara Waldmann-Ward for gardening work around the Sanctuary.

 

Peace to all.

 

Mike Ward