July 30, 2008
Greetings to all!
Last Sunday's violence at (and against) a Tennessee church has cast an unexpected spotlight on "liberal" religion. So what response does liberal religion offer to such an experience of violence and/or other ambiguities in this world? Consider these thoughts from a Unitarian writer in a chapter titled, "Liberal Religion: Some Beliefs."
What we need for a faith is not something to hate or fear, but something to love and trust. What most of us need is to be inspired by the life we live, to be filled with a spirit of life which gets us out of bed in the morning and about our business of making the lives of the people in the world...better for our having got out of bed that morning. We need to be inspired to use whatever we have left of our own life as a gift of something precious which will never be repeated.
We have a faith that we must look at the truth of the suffering world. We do not want to look at the suffering world, and we know that we do not have to look at the suffering world. There are many ways we can divert our eyes, but we believe that we must look, and when we look, respond. We are aware of our limitations in making as full a response as we can, but despite our evasions and procrastinations we turn back again to look at the suffering world and to respond to it. That reality commands us.
Though we may differ in our faiths, we can reach out to one another when we are bruised and hurt, and even when we may not have the power to heal the wounds and restore the losses of others, we can help make those wounds and losses bearable. We show our true faith by our works, and what we do or leave undone tells more about what we believe than any creed or statement of belief.
(from Cycles of Reflection, by Robert E. Senghas)
In Memory: We are saddened to report the recent death of Walnut Hill Church Friend Frank "Skip" Dean. Services for Skip were held at Walnut Hill Church on July 24, with burial in the Walnut Hill Church Cemetery. Our ongoing sympathies and prayers are with Martha and her family.
The Scripture lessons for Sunday, August 3, the Sacrament of Holy Communion
Genesis 32:22-31
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21
Men's Coffee - Walnut Hill men are invited to gather for coffee this Saturday, August 2, 8am, at Paneras (Richmond Rd). Feel free to stop in for as long or short a time as your schedule allows. No rsvp required.
Sunday Conversations resume this Sunday, August 3, 10am, with focus on the Scripture lessons for the day (see above). You are invited to join the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee, or just listen in.
Hospitality - Hosts are needed for our after worship refreshments this Sunday, August 3. Refreshments need not be elaborate, just something simple to gather around as we fellowship after worship. Use reply email to inquire about hosting, or co-hosting, this Sunday's refreshments.
CROP WALK - The 2008 CROP WALK, an ecumenical event to support hunger relief efforts around the world, will be held at the end of September. Walnut Hill has been represented in the walk for each of the last three years, the result being over $1,000 from Walnut Hill to support hunger relief efforts. An organizational meeting for this year's walk will be held on Thursday, August 14, at Second Presbyterian Church. Use reply email or contact the church office (263-5304) if you would be willing to represent Walnut Hill at the organizational meeting.
A Ride to Church - We are currently looking for volunteers who would be willing to offer an occasional ride to church to a few of our fellow members who are no longer able to drive. Contact Mike Ward for more information about this opportunity to make our Sunday worship and fellowship accessible to those who otherwise might not be able to attend.
Thanks to all who by their service in so many ways, obvious and not so obvious, made it possible for the Ward family to enjoy a restful vacation. It is good to know that Walnut Hill's ministry is in the hands of so many good and able folks.
Peace to all.
Mike Ward
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