Wednesday, June 18, 2008

weekly letter

June 18, 2008
 
One of the more refreshing persons on the international stage is His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  His unassuming manner, smile, and even laughter brings a certain lightness to otherwise difficult issues and times.  Consider these thoughts from His Holiness.
 
    The essence of all religions is love, compassion, and tolerance.  Kindness is my true religion.  No matter whether you are learned or not, whether you believe in the next life or not, whether you believe in God or Buddha or some other religion or not, in day-to-day life you must be a kind person.  When you are motivated by kindness, it doesn't matter whether you are a practitioner, a lawyer, a politician, an administrator, a worker, or an engineer:  whatever your profession or field, deep down you are a kind person.
     Love, compassion, and tolerance are necessities, not luxuries.  Without them, humanity cannot survive.  If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it if you have love, compassion, and tolerance.  The clear proof of a person's love of God is if that person genuinely shows love to fellow human beings.
(as found in For the Love of God)
The Scripture lessons for Sunday, June 22:
     Genesis 21:8-21
     Romans 6:1-11
     Matthew 10:24-39
 
Men's Coffee: Men are invited to gather for coffee this Saturday, June 21, 8am, at Paneras (Richmond Road).  Feel free to stop in for as long or short a time as your schedule allows.  No rsvp required.
 
Sunday Conversations regarding the lessons for the day (see above) resume this Sunday, June 22, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  Our focus for the morning will be the lesson from Genesis, "Hagar and Ishmael." Feel free to enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or just listen in.
 
Men's Dinner:  The next Walnut Hill Men's Dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, 6pm, at Joseph Beth Booksellers Cafe (private dining room).  Our special guest for the evening will be a recently arrived refugee from Iraq who has a compelling story to share about life in Iraq and his family's decision to leave their homeland for the U.S.  Use the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary, reply email, or contact Gene Brockopp to rsvp.
 
Walnut Hill Worship Book:  The provisional edition of the proposed Walnut Hill Worship Book is now in the Sanctuary for your Sunday use and review as we move toward the printing of a final edition later in the year.  Members and friends are invited, even encouraged, to examine the book and offer such comments as will be helpful in making the final edition a resource useful for years to come.  Thanks to Phil Bloomfield for his work on this project.
 
Thanks to...Ron Johnston for his leadership of the Working Group session last Sunday; Lisa Smith for her reflections regarding Walnut Hill; John Ragland, Mark Horman, and David Sharrard for their oversight of recent building and grounds projects; Irene and John Ragland, Lee and Jim Tucker for last Sunday's after worship refreshments.
 
Peace to all.
 
Mike Ward

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