Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

March 25, 2009

Greetings to all!

The deaths of several California police officers presents an occasion for us to be mindful of the ever present danger faced by safety and emergency personnel.  In addition to the physical danger of their work is the emotional and spiritual strain placed upon these men and women.  In his book, God at the Edge, rabbi and law enforcement chaplain Niles Goldstein offers the following observation.

Many of today's "spirituality" teachers offer game plans and formulas for finding God in our lives.  You don't have that luxury in law enforcement work.  In the face of contract killings, gang warfare, and the ravages of smack, you won't find God out in the open.  You have to look undercover, in the shadows.  Nothing's clean in Copland.  That is the challenge of the agents I serve.  As their chaplain, it's mine, too.  Everything  there, even spirituality, is dirty business.  If God is everywhere and with us at all times - if God is truly God - then we should be able to discover the divine in the darkness as well as in the light.  For those of us whose daily lives draw us into some of those murkier regions, we just have to strain our eyes a little more. 

The lectionary passages for Sunday, March 29, the 5th Sunday in Lent:

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Hebrews 5:5-10

John 12:20-33

Men's Coffee - Walnut Hill men are invited to gather for coffee on Saturday, March 28, 8am, at Paneras on Richmond Road.  Feel free to stop in for as long or short a time as your schedule allows.  No rsvp required.

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, March 29, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  The focus for the conversation will be John 12 including some of Jesus' words and actions during Holy Week.  Feel free to join the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee, or just listen in.

Children's Choir - The Walnut Hill Children's Choir will meet for practice on Sunday, March 29, 10am.  Look for the Children's Choir in the children's chapel (weather permitting) or in the basement of Trinity Hall.  Contact Nell Horman for more details.

Women's Dinner - The next Walnut Hill Women's Dinner will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 6:30pm, at Buddy's (corner of Euclid Ave. and High St.).  Use the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer to rsvp.  Contact Natalie Watt or Dorothy Brockopp for more information.

Holy Week Calendar

*Sunday, April 5, Palm Sunday

-Sunday Conversations and Children's Choir- 10am

-Morning Worship and Holy Communion - 11am

-Sunday School for Children - 11am

-Easter Egg Hunt - after worship

*Thursday, April 9, Maundy Thursday

-Simple Meal for all ages - 6pm (bring a fruit, cheese, or bread item)

-Into the Night worship service - 7pm  (childcare provided)

*Sunday, April 12, Easter Sunday

-Easter Sunrise Service - 7am (in the Cemetery weather permitting, otherwise in the Sanctuary)

-Morning Worship and Holy Communion - 11am

Thanks to Sunday School families for providing our refreshments last Sunday, and to Lauren Fouts for coordinating the morning's activities for children.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

  

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

March 18, 2009

Greetings to all!

I recently saw a news item regarding the Dalai Lama and his lifelong advocacy on behalf of the Tibetan people, and in fact on behalf of all people.  What an inspirational world figure he is.  Consider these thoughts from "His Holiness."

We ourselves and all other beings want to be happy and completely free from suffering.  In this we are all exactly equal.  However, each of us is only one, while all other beings are infinite in number...if we try to help others as much as we can and have as few selfish thoughts as possible, we shall experience much happiness.  Our life is not very long; one hundred years at most.  If throughout its duration we try to be kind, warm-hearted, concerned for the welfare of others, and less selfish and angry, that will be wonderful, excellent; that is really the cause of happiness...So don't worry about the next life or nirvana; these things will come gradually.  If within this life you remain a good, warm-hearted, unselfish person, you will be a good citizen of the world.  Whether you are a Buddhist, a Christian or a communist is irrelevant; the important thing is that as long as you are a human being, you should be a good human being.  That is the teaching of Buddhism; that is the message carried by all the world's religions.

(from comments on "The Eight Verses on Thought Transformation")

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, March 22, the Fourth Sunday in Lent:

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, March 22, 10am, in Trinity Hall with focus on the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3).  We will watch a video dramatization of the encounter and then talk about it.  Feel free to attend and join the conversation, have a cup of coffee, or just listen in.

The Children's Choir continues to practice each Sunday morning, 10am, in the Children's Chapel (weather permitting) or in Trinity Hall.  Nell Horman is working with the children to learn music and movements for presentation later in the spring.  All children through elementary age are invited to participate.

Family Fellowship Hour Refreshments - The families of Sunday School children are bringing items for our after worship refreshments this Sunday, particularly of the picnic variety (chili, hot dogs/buns, chips, cookies, etc.)  The entire congregation is invited to enjoy these fun refreshments as usual after worship on Sunday.  There will also be some special service activities for children during Sunday School, as well as time for play after worship.  Contact Lauren Fouts or the church office (263-5304) for more information regarding these special activities and refreshments.

Women's Dinner - The next Women's Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 6:30pm, at Buddy's.  The program for the evening is "Walnut Hill Reaches Out," a roundtable discussion of ways in which Walnut Hill might reach out to the community in these difficult days.  Use the sign up sheet in the foyer to rsvp.  Contact Natalie Watt or Dorothy Brockopp for more information.

Thanks, news, etc...

*Thanks to...Lee Sturtevant and Tom Ward for providing our afterworship refreshments last Sunday;  Ruth Sharrard for faithfully providing our flowers for worship each Sunday.

 *We celebrate the birth of Alexis Brook Kelly Hanna to parents Chelsea Kelly and Brent Shelby Hanna.

*Walnut Hill Friend, William Davis Fishback, departed this life on Thursday, March 12.  Services for Bill Davis were held at the Versailles Presbyterian Church with interment in the Versailles Cemetery.

*Lilies to decorate the Sanctuary for Easter are available to be sponsored at $14/plant.  Sponsors are welcome to take their plants to enjoy at home after the Easter holiday. Contact Lee Tucker to sponsor a lily.

*The Athens-Chilesburg Elementary School 5th Grade Class Trip to Washington, DC, is ongoing this week.  As you might recall, Walnut Hill sponsored 11 children to participate in this trip.  Keep the children and their chaperones in your prayers for safety in their travels.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

 

Walnut Hill Weekly Letter

March 11, 2009

Greetings to all!

St. Patrick's Day approaches (March 17), one of the most popularly observed of the saints' days; yet, hidden beneath the shamrocks and green beer is the fascinating story of a Roman era Briton who was kidnapped to Ireland, escaped back to his home, and then later returned to Ireland with the Gospel.  He is credited with establishing Christianity in Ireland.  Regarding Patrick, June Skinner Sawyers writes:

Patrick is the most human of the Celtic saints, a deeply flawed man who delved deep within himself to emerge anew.  If he were living in modern-day America, he would have likely said that he had reinvented himself.  Like most of us, he questioned his purpose in life and occasionally pondered his own competence.  Thus, at times, he felt woefully ill prepared to handle the ongoing struggles of daily living.  And yet, he persevered - as we all must, if we wish to see the light of another day.

Perhaps Patrick's greatest gift to humanity is his selflessness.  Like the Christ figure that he admired so dearly, Patrick willingly sacrificed his own personal freedom for the sake of a greater good.  Clearly, most of us will not - cannot - relinquish what we hold most precious, but we can all do more to share the spirit of goodness that resides in us.  We can, for example, choose to offer our support to someone in need.  We can extend our love.  We can simply be there to listen.  Quite often, our presence is all that is required.  We can, in other words, choose to make a difference.

(from Praying with Celtic Saints,...)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, March 15, the Third Sunday in Lent:

Exodus 20:1-17

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

John 2:13-22

Men's Coffee: Men are invited to gather for coffee this Saturday, March 14, 8am, at Paneras on Richmond Road. Feel free to stop in for as long or short a time as your schedule allows.  No rsvp required.

Saving Jesus, video discussion series, continues this Sunday, March 15, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  Our topic for the morning is "Why Is Jesus Worth Saving," considering Jesus' and Christianity's place among the world's religions in the 21st century.  Feel free to join the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee, or just listen in.

The Children's Choir continues its Sunday morning sessions this Sunday, March 15, 10am.  Look for the choir in the Children's Chapel (weather permitting) or in the basement of Trinity Hall.  The children are practicing music and movement for a presentation later in the spring.  All children through elementary age are invited to participate.  Contact Nell Horman for more information.

Youth and Parents are invited to a brief conversation after worship this Sunday titled, "I Want To Be Included," focusing on opportunities for youth (middle school and older) to be involved, develop skills, and provide leadership in support of Walnut Hill's life and ministry.  Youth and their parents are requested to take a few minutes after worship to receive this important information.

Women's Dinner: The next Walnut Hill Women's Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 6:30 pm, at Buddy's.  In addition to a meal and good fellowship will be a roundtable conversation regarding ways in which Walnut Hill might reach out to the local community in these financially troubled times.   Use the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer to rsvp.  Contact Natalie Watt or Dorothy Brockopp for more information. 

Thanks, news, etc...

*Thanks to ... the Rawlings family, Jeannie Brewer, Ginger Martin, and John Ragland for their work last Saturday clearing ice storm debris from the cemetery grounds; Ruth and David Sharrard, Cory and Aaron Sharrard for providing our after worship refreshments last Sunday; Nell Horman for her work with the children's choir; Martha DeReamer for her work each week as required in her ongoing service as Walnut Hill's Treasurer.

*Easter is just around the corner (April 12), and with it comes the opportunity to "sponsor" a lily for our Easter sanctuary decoration.  Contact Lee Tucker if you would like to sponsor a lily for Easter.  Sponsors are welcome to take their plants home to enjoy after the holiday.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Grounds Work

Dear Friends:

As you might be aware, Grounds Chairman John Ragland has been "working overtime" to clear the debris left from this season's ice storm.  He has done a marvelous job!  All that remains now is to gather small branches, particularly in the cemetery area.  With that in mind, John has called a "Grounds Work Morning" for tomorrow, Saturday, March 7, beginning at 9:30am.  Volunteers are asked to bring leaf rakes, which will help in the gathering of these small branches.  As always, feel free to come and help out for as long or short a time as your schedule might allow.  

No rsvp is required. 

Peace,

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

March 4, 2009

Greetings to all!

In her book, The Irrational Season, Madeleine L'Engle considers a new way of observing Lent.

I used to make up lists as Lent approached, lists of small things to give up.  But then it occurred to me that if what I was giving up was something bad, it should be given up once and for all, and not just for forty days and forty nights.  There is value to giving up something which is in itself good, as an offering of love.  But now I feel that I want to do something positive, rather than something negative, for these wintry weeks. The horror of starvation all over the world makes a moderate diet obligatory at all seasons of the year.

Perhaps what I am supposed to do about Lent is to think about some things I have put off thinking about.  The Beatitudes [Matthew 5:1-12], for instance.  They have seemed to make demands on me that I'm not sure I want made.  But I have a hunch that if I stop being afraid of the Beatitudes and consider them seriously, I may discover a way of life which will not only be simpler than life usually is in New York City, but which will also be more free than life normally is for a middle class American.

As I glance superficially at these extraordinary directions they seem absurd when set against [life in] the United States of America.  Perhaps they were more possible in the smaller and simpler world of two thousand years ago.  But were Nineveh and Tyre that much different from Manhattan and Dallas?  Or Sodom and Gomorrah from Chicago and Kansas City? 

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, March 8, the Second Sunday in Lent:

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Romans 4:13-25

Mark 8:31-38

Saving Jesus, a video discussion series regarding the life and ministry of Jesus, continues this Sunday, March 8, 10am, in Trinity Hall. This Sunday's discussion focuses on "the Resurrection" of Jesus and its meaning for our life today. Feel free to join in the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee, or just listen in.

The Walnut Hill Children's Choir is back in session on Sunday mornings, 10am, in Trinity Hall. Nell Horman is guiding the children as they learn music and movement for presentation later in the spring. All children through elementary age are encouraged to participate. Feel free to contact Nell if you have questions regarding your child's participation.

The Vestry will meet this Sunday, March 8, 10am, in Trinity Hall. Please contact Sr. Warden Ron Johnston if you have business which the Vestry needs to consider at this meeting.

In the Community: Marcus Borg, well-known Jesus scholar, will be at Christ Church Cathedral, March 13 - 15, for a lecture series titled, "The Heart of Christianity." For more information regarding this event, including registration information, see the Christ Church Cathedral website (www.ccclex.org).

Thanks, news, etc....

*Thanks to...the Choir, Phil Bloomfield, Ruth Sharrard, Cory Sharrard, Nell Horman, and Joanne Hilliard for their leadership and assistance during morning worship; Nell Horman for her work with the children on Sunday morning; Joanne Hilliard, Beth and Oggie Hilliard, Sherry Warden, and Phil Bloomfield for providing our afterworship refreshments on Sunday; Tom Martin for speaking at and Gene Brockopp for coordinating last week's Men's Dinner.

*Copies of the lenten booklet, On the Road to Jerusalem:Spiritual Practices, are available in the foyer of the Sanctuary, or by request from the church office. Thanks to Lauren Fouts for preparing this helpful resource.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward