Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Greetings to all!

Sunday, May 31, is the Day of Pentecost, the traditional observance of the outpouring of the Spirit upon the Church.  Madeleine L'Engle reflects on the person of the Holy Spirit from her perspective as an artist, particularly a writer.

The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is the easiest of this not-at-all-easy concept for me to understand.  Any artist, great or small, knows moments when something more than he takes over, and he moves into a kind of 'overdrive,' where he works as ordinarily he cannot work.  When he is through, there is a sense of exhilaration, exhaustion, and joy.  All our best work comes in this fashion, and it is humbling and exciting.

I am convinced that each work of art, be it a great work of genius or something very small, has its own life, and it will come to the artist, the composer or the writer or the painter, and say, "Here I am; compose me; or write me; or paint me"; and the job of the artist is to serve the work.  I have never served a work as I would like to, but I do try, with each book, to serve to the best of my ability, and this attempt at serving is the greatest privilege and the greatest joy that I know.

As I understand the gift of the spirit in art, so I understand prayer, and there is very little difference for me between praying and writing.  At their best, both become completely unselfconscious activities; the self-conscious, fragmented person is totally thrown away and integrated in work, and for the moments of such work, be it prayer or writing, I know wholeness, and sunside and nightside are no longer divided.

(from The Irrational Season)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, May 31, the Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21

Romans 8:22-27

John 15:26-27; 16:4-15

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, May 31, 10am, in Trinity Hall. We will view and discuss a final segment of the video series, "Eclipsing Empire." Feel free to join the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee, or just listen in.

A Refreshment Host(s) is needed for our after-worship refreshments this Sunday, May 31. Please use reply email or call the church office (263-5304) to volunteer.

The Fruitful Life is the theme of the Weekend Together 2009 scheduled for June 5 -7. The weekend will begin with a dinner and activities for all ages on Friday evening, June 5, 6:00pm. Leading the activities for children will be Lauren Fouts. Leading the activities for adults will be JoAnne Hilliard. Activities around the theme will continue for children on Saturday morning, beginning at 9:30am, and for all ages on Sunday morning, beginning at 10am. Please rsvo for Friday evening via reply email or by calling the church office (263-5304).

Women's Dinner - The next Walnut Hill Women's Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, 6:30pm. All Walnut Hill women are invited to gather for this fellowship opportunity. Use the sign up sheet in the sanctuary foyer to rsvp.

Thanks to...David Sharrard for leading our Sunday Conversation last Sunday; John Cavendish for supplying the pulpit in Mike Ward's absence; Vestry members for providing refreshments; Lisa Smith for editing the June edition of the Walnut Hill Newsletter.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

May 20, 2009

Greetings to all!

The Memorial Day holiday is before us and with it the opportunity to recall and honor the sacrifice of men and women who have lost their lives in our nation's wars.  Regarding those wars, either at the time or later, the question often arises of whether or not "the cause was just."  Reinhold Niebuhr, one of the great theologians and social ethicists of the 20th century, reflects on how difficult the question of the "just war" can be.

Not all wars are equally just and not all contestants are equally right.  Distinctions must be made.  But the judgments with which we make them are influenced by passions and interests, so that even the most obvious case of aggression can be made to appear a necessity of defence; and even a war which is judged by neutral opinion to be wholly defensive cannot be waged with completely good conscience because the situations out of which wars arise are charged with memories of previous acts of aggression on the part of those now in defence.  This does not mean that the moralists who would refrain from all war, because the issues of any particular war are always filled with ambiguities, are right.  The very same war which fails to yield an absolutely clear case of "justice" may yet concern itself with the very life and death of civilizations and cultures.  [People] do have to make important decisions in history on the basis of certain norms, even though they must recognize that all historic norms are touched  with both finiteness and sin; and that their sinfulness consists precisely in the bogus claim of finality which is made for them.

(from The Nature and  Destiny of Man, Vol 1)

Men's Coffee - Walnut Hill men are invited to gather for coffee and conversation this Saturday, May 23, 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.

The Rev. Dr. John Cavendish, Pastor-Emeritus of Walnut Hill Church, will be in the pulpit this Sunday, May 24.  Rev. Cavendish served as Pastor of Walnut Hill Church from its re-organization in 1976 until his retirement in 2000.  

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, May 24, 10am, in Trinity Hall, with discussion of the next episode of the video series, "God and Empire."  David Sharrard will moderate this Sunday's conversation.

A Host (s) is needed for our after worship refreshments this Sunday, May 24.  Use reply email or call the church office (263-5304) to volunteer for this Sunday, May 24.  Check the sign up sheet in the foyer of the Sanctuary to volunteer for a Sunday later in the spring or summer.  Our thanks to all those who provide our after worship hospitality from Sunday to Sunday.

The Fruitful Life is the theme of our upcoming "Weekend Together 2009," June 5 - 7.  The weekend will begin at 6pm on Friday with a meal and activities.  Activities for children will continue on Saturday morning.  Sunday will include 10am activities for children and adults followed by worship at 11am.  Leading activities for children will be Lauren Fouts, Walnut Hill's Coordinator of Children and Youth Ministry.  Leading activities for adults will be JoAnne Hilliard, Personal Success Coach.  The menu for Friday's dinner is from the Good Foods Market and Cafe.  Please rsvp for Friday's meal using reply email or the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer.

Women's Dinner -The next Walnut Hill Women's Dinner will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 6:30pm at Buddy's Restaurant.  Use the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer to rsvp.  Contact Natalie Watt or Dorothy Brockopp for more information.

Eastern Kentucky Storms - Walnut Hill is currently receiving donations to assist individuals, families, and communities affected by the recent flooding in eastern Kentucky.  Our donations will be sent via the Kentucky Interchurch Disaster Recovery Program.  Donations of cash or checks may be placed in the baskets in the Sanctuary foyer.  Checks should be payable to Walnut Hill Church, designated "eastern Kentucky floods."

Thanks, news, etc...

*Thanks to ... Glenna Fay for recent plantings around the Sanctuary and Trinity Hall; Norman and Carol Drury and Mary Lee Snyder for providing the "chicken" for last Sunday's potluck and to all those who provided delicious dishes for our enjoyment; Gene  Brockopp for leading our Sunday Conversation.

*High School graduates Elise DeCamp, Dougie Hilliard, Carolyn Johnston, and Stanley Sievers were acknowledged during morning worship last Sunday. Our best wishes go with these graduates.

*Brochures describing the summer camp programs at Cathedral Domain and Camp Burnamwood are available in the foyer of the Sanctuary.  Walnut Hill Church will sponsor any Walnut Hill child or youth attending a Domain or Burnamwood summer program for one-half of the total cost.

*Planning is underway for improvements to the lighting and acoustics in Trinity Hall.  Talk with Kim Bloomfield or David Sharrard regarding the ideas being discussed.

*We will soon be conducting a regular annual review with Lauren Fouts regarding her work at Walnut Hill.  Persons with comments regarding Lauren's work are invited to contact Mike Ward at the church office (263-5304).

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Church Spring Potluck

WALNUT HILL CHURCH

SPRING POTLUCK

SUNDAY, MAY 17

AFTER WORSHIP

BRING A SALAD, SIDE DISH, OR BREAD

NO RSVP REQUIRED

SEE YOU THERE!

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

May 13, 2009

Greetings to all!

It is the "Graduation Season."  Even as I write these words, the familiar strains of "Pomp and Circumstance" are sounding in Trinity Hall for children graduating from the Walnut Hill Day School, and so it will be at the commencement exercises of various high schools, colleges, and universities over these next several weeks.  Whether or not we have students graduating this year, the season offers an opportunity for all to reflect on the important work of educating children and young people for what we hope will be a "good life."  Peter Gomes reflects on this endeavor from his perspective as a member of the faculty at Harvard University.

So, we do not turn back but we forge ahead, encouraged by a generation of young people who as never before  in modern times are prepared to lead in search for noble purpose, the truly good life, if we are prepared to help them to do so.  They do not ask us to be their friends or their pals, for they have plenty of those of their own generation, and they do not ask us to be their dictators or moral tutors; they want to be free to make their own choices, and most are prepared to live with the consequences.  They do, however, need us, and they want us to help them in formulating their choices and in acknowledging a wisdom greater than their own.  They want to take consolation and encouragement from the failures as well as from the achievements of the past, and to share the benefits of our humanity as well as our wisdom.  In short, they want us to live up to the ideals of collegiate life as sold to them by the artful prose and pictures of the admission brochures.

(from The Good Life)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, May 17, the 6th Sunday of Easter:

Acts 10:44-48

1 John 5:1-6

John 15:9-17

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, May 17, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  Our focus for the morning will be discussion of the video series, "God and Empire," featuring New Testament scholars John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg.  In the video, Crossan and Borg explore how the Christian gospel offered an alternative to the Roman Empire's way of life and understanding the world.  The gospel may still offer an alternative to "empire" living and thinking.  Feel free to join the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee, or just listen in.

SPRING POTLUCK, Sunday, May 17, immediately after morning worship.  Bring a salad, side dish, or bread.  Meat, beverage, and a special "graduation dessert" will be provided.  Don't miss this delicious Walnut Hill tradition. 

A Weekend Together 2009 is coming on June 5 - 7, including a dinner and programs for all ages on Friday evening, children's activities on Saturday morning, and Sunday morning activities and worship.  This year's theme is "The Fruitful Life."  Lauren Fouts is coordinating activities for children.  Our presenter for the adult program (Friday evening and Sunday morning) will be JoAnne Hilliard who will offer insights arising from her work as a "life coach."  Mark the dates on your individual and family calendar, and watch for more details.

Newsletter Copy -  Our spring/summer printed newsletter is currently in process.  Copy submissions are welcome.  Use reply email or contact the church office for information on submitting newsletter material to our editor, Lisa Smith.

Thanks, news, etc...

*Thanks to...Matt and Amy Trail for providing our after worship refreshments last Sunday; the Children's Choir for their Mother's Day presentation, and to Nell Horman for her work with the Children's Choir in the these recent weeks;  Gene Brockopp for leading our Sunday Conversation.

*Fifteen Walnut Hill men gathered for a meal this past Wednesday.  In addition to the meal and fellowship, they enjoyed an informative presentation by Assistant Chief of Police David Boggs.  Our thanks to Chief Boggs for his presence and to Gene Brockopp for coordinating the dinner arrangements.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Greetings to all!

Thursday, May 7, is the National Day of Prayer.  Established during the Truman administration, the National Day of Prayer presents an invitation for Americans, together and individually, to pray for our nation and its leaders.  The following prayer might serve as a starting place for your reflection.

Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage.  Make us always remember your generosity and constantly do your will.  Bless our land with honest industry, sound learning, and an honorable way of life.  Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.  Make us who come from many nations with many different languages a united people.  Defend our liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land.  When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful; and, in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail.  We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

(from the Book of Common Worship)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, May 10, the Fifth Sunday of Easter:

Acts 8:26-40

1 John 4:7-21

John 15:1-8

Men's Dinner - Walnut Hill men are invited to gather for dinner on Wednesday, May 6, 6pm, at Buddy's Restaurant. Our guest for the evening will be Assistant Chief David Boggs who will visit with us regarding the operations of the Lexington-Fayette County Police Department. 

The Children's Choir will meet on Sunday, May 10, 10am, for final practice for their Mother's Day selection, which they will present at the beginning of the worship hour. Look for choir director Nell Horman in Children's Chapel or in the basement of Trinity Hall.

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, May 10, 10am, in Trinity Hall. Our focus for the morning will be discussion of the video series, "God and Empire," based on the work of New Testament scholars Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. The

series explores how the New Testament message of the apostle Paul and others presented an alternative message and way of life to that of imperial Rome, and how that message might still call Christians to an alternate way of life today. Feel free to join the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee, or just listen in.

The Spring Potluck is coming on Sunday, May 17, immediately after morning worship. The Spring Potluck is a delicious Walnut Hill tradition and a great opportunity to spend a little extra time at table with each other. Please bring a salad, side dish, or bread. Meat, beverage, and a special "graduation dessert" will be provided. We are seeking a volunteer(s) to help with a few of the meal details. Use reply email or contact Lee Tucker or Mike Ward for more information about volunteering.

Camp Season is soon to be upon us. Walnut Hill children and youth have opportunity to attend one or both of two great camps, the Cathedral Domain and Camp Burnamwood. Schedules and applications for both camp programs are available at the church. Remember that Walnut Hill will underwrite 1/2 of the cost for any Walnut Hill child/youth attending a summer camp program at the Domain or Burnamwood.

Thanks, news, etc....

*Thanks to...Marian Congleton, Barbara Berryman, and Mary Ann Davis for providing our after worship refreshments this past Sunday; Carthel and Lisa Smith and Phil Bloomfield for their assistance serving the Sacrament last Sunday; Benjamin Horman for his service as an acolyte; Gene Brockopp for guiding our Sunday Conversation.

*The count is in for the One Great Hour of Sharing. Just over $350 was received through special gifts and the several coin collection boxes returned to the church on Easter Sunday. Our thanks to all those households participating in the OGHS. We will be sending this donation on to support disaster relief and refugee resettlement around the world.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward