Wednesday, March 4, 2009

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

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