Wednesday, March 25, 2009

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

  

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