Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, May 30, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversation, 10am, Trinity Hall

Was It Not Real?

The Memorial Day holiday originated as a post Civil War

observance. We will view and discuss a segment from Ken

Burns' video series, The Civil War, asking how the experience

of the Civil War might relate to our nation's other conflicts, past,

present, and future.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: Wars and Rumors of Wars

Text:  Mark 13:1-8

A report will given regarding 2010 Community Fund grants.

Nursery care and Sunday School for children.

Refreshments & Fellowship, after worship, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

May 26, 2010

Greetings to all!

Memorial Day weekend offers an opportunity to reflect on our nation's struggles and sacrifices.  

Few persons had greater occasion and capacity for such reflection than Abraham Lincoln.  

His Second Inaugural Address remains one of the most profound reflections on war in general

and the Civil War in particular.  In his book, American Gospel, Jon Meacham comments on

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address.

The eloquence of Lincoln's address can conceal the starkness of his message.  Read 

carefully, the speech is startling in its religiosity and its insistence that the events of this world

are linked to the will and mind of a God who presides outside of time and space.  Here is a 

president of the United States, waging a civil war in which his countrymen are the only

casualties, quoting the Nineteenth Psalm - "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous

altogether" - to say that an indefinite struggle would be not only divinely ordained but just,

for America was being summoned to account for its sins against the human beings it had long

enslaved.  Eleven days later, answering a congratulatory message about the speech, Lincoln

said he understood that the address was not going to be "immediately popular," but he was

confident he had done right.  "Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a 

difference of purpose between the Almighty and them," Lincoln wrote.  "To deny it, however,

in this case, is to deny that there is a God governing the world.  It is a truth which I thought 

needed to be told..."

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, May 30:

2 Samuel 1:17-27

1 Peter 2:11-17

Mark 13:1-8

Men's Coffee - Men are invited to gather for coffee this Saturday, May 29, 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 resume this Sunday, May 30, 10am, in Trinity Hall with conversation 

focused around the Memorial Day weekend.  We'll watch and talk about a segment from the 

Ken Burns Civil War series titled "Was it Not Real?"  

One Spirit, Many Gifts is the title of a three part series of Wednesday evenings in June 

(June 9, 16, 23), 6pm - 7:45pm for all ages to gather for a meal and service.  The first Wednesday,

June 9, we will gather for a cookout (burgers, hot dogs, etc) and then some service to Walnut Hill

Church.  Subsequent Wednesdays will focus on service to the Community, and to the World.

Your rsvp by reply email or by the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary will help us plan for our 

evenings together.  You may attend any or all these Wednesday gatherings as your schedule 

permits.

The Community Fund Grant Meeting was held on Sunday, May 23, to determine recipients of

2010 Grants from the Walnut Hill Community Fund.  Twenty ballots were submitted to guide 

final grant decisions.  Grant recipients and amounts will be reported on Sunday, May 30.  Thanks

to all who participated in this process.

Thanks also...to the Inquiry Team and all who participated in last week's "focus conversations" following up 

our recent  congregational survey;...to Glenna Fay, Ruth Sharrard, and Barb Waldmann-Ward for recent

work on the church flower gardens; ...to Dave Sharrard for recent building repairs;... to youth Sunday 

discussion participants for their Sunday morning planting;...to Sherry Warden and Dorothy and Gene

Brockopp for providing last Sunday's refreshments.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, May 23, at Walnut Hill Church...

Community Fund Grant Meeting, 10am, Trinity Hall

All Walnut Hill members and friends are invited to an open

meeting to discuss and decide on grant recipients from

the 2010 Community Fund.   Eight nominees have been

proposed including: Habitat for Humanity, Mission 

Lexington Dental Clinic, Friends with Flowers, Seedleaf,

God's Pantry, Haiti Earthquake Relief, Bluegrass 

Domestic Violence Program, and KY Refugee Ministries.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  A Collective Sigh

Text:  Romans 8:12-27

Nursery care and Sunday School for Children.

Focus Conversation #3, after worship, Sanctuary

Members and friends are invited to gather for conversation

regarding Walnut Hill's ministry with and to Children and Youth, 

following up on our recent congregational survey.

Nursery care will be available.

*****

Also this weekend In the neighborhood:  Walnut Hill Church has 

been invited to participate in a Pentecost Eve worship service on 

Saturday, May 22, 7pm, at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church

(corner of Tates Creek and Armstrong Mill Rd).

Focus Conversations - Part 2

May 20, 2010

Dear Friends:

Just a reminder that this evening, May 20, 7pm, at Walnut Hill Church, 

in Trinity Hall, will be a focus conversation concerning

Adult Education and Mission

including Walnut Hill's programs for adults and community outreach.

This is the second of three focus conversations to follow up our 

recent congregational survey.  The third conversation will be this

Sunday, May 23, after worship concerning "Children and Youth."

Thanks to all who are participating in these important conversations.

Peace,

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

May 19, 2010

Greetings to all!

This Sunday, May 23, is the Day of Pentecost, a day to reflect on the

person and work of the Holy Spirit.  The website Patheos invited 

bloggers to answer (in 100 words or less) the question, "How is the 

Holy Spirit at work in the world today?"   Among those responding was

Monica Coleman of the Claremont School of Theology.

when we put the gospel

to hip hop

and host u2charists,

when we share the church building

with the Korean congregation,

when we preach against homophobia

when we break bread with jews and muslims,

when the teenagers lead worship

on a regular Sunday (not just youth day)

when we invoke the ancestors

and learn from their lives,

when we live at the borders

offering water to those in the desert

harbor to those in danger

and community when we don't fit in...

it is then that we speak in tongues

The Scripture lessons for this Sunday, May 23, the Day of Pentecost:

Acts 2:1-21

Romans 8:12-27

John 20:19-23

Focus Conversations:  Members and friends of Walnut Hill Church are

encouraged to participate in any/all of the following focus conversations,

which are part of the current inquiry process at Walnut Hill.  

Wed, May 19, 7pm - Buildings and Grounds

Thu, May 20, 7pm - Adult Education and Mission

Sun, May 23, after worship - Children and Youth

(All focus conversations will be held at Walnut Hill Church.)

Community Fund Grant Meeting - An open meeting will be held on Sunday,

May 23, 10am, in Trinity Hall to determine recipients of grants from the 

Walnut Hill Community Fund.  All those present on May 23 will have a part 

in the final grant making decisions.

The Children's Choir begins practice this Sunday, May 23, 10am, in Trinity

Hall, preparing for a Sunday morning presentation in June.  For more 

information, contact Nell Horman.

A Host(s) is needed for our after worship refreshments this Sunday, May 23.

Use reply email to volunteer for this Sunday, or check the sign up sheet in the

sanctuary foyer for a Sunday later in the spring/summer.

In the neighborhood:  Walnut Hill Church has received an invitation to 

participate in a Pentecost Eve Celebration on Saturday, May 22, 7pm, at 

Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church (corner of Tates Creek and Armstrong Mill

Road).  Mike Ward will be participating in the service leadership.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, May 16, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

"Living Your Life With Awe and Reverence"

In this insightful video, Bill Moyers interviews Barry Lopez,

author, photographer, and humanist.  Lopez says that 

nature is the oldest metaphor in our story, but we think of

nature as the "other," an "it" rather than an expression of

God.  Lopez says we can be truly aware of the world we 

are living in by being a "player," not an "extra," on the stage

of life.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  " A Second Look" 

Text: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Nursery care and Sunday School for children.

Inquiry Team Presentation

The Inquiry Team will present results of the recent

Walnut Hill Church congregational survey.

SPRING POTLUCK, after worship, Trinity Hall

Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert and join us for this 

delicious Walnut Hill tradition.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

May 12, 2010

Greetings to all!

Joyce Rupp reflects on how the words we speak can heal or hurt those

around us, and where those words come from.

There have been times when I knew that what I was speaking to 

another person was a blessing of love and care.  I knew this because

my heart felt kindness and compassion.  There have also been times

when I knew that what I was speaking was causing great anguish and 

pain to another person.  At these times, my heart was also full, but it was

a fullness of anger, hurt or resentment.  I have learned to look carefully

into my heart during an emotionally charged situation before I speak

in order to search out my motivations and my desires.

It also helps to pray that my heart has a strong foundation in genuine

love. Jesus is always our model for this.  He spoke from the fullness of

his heart, and he spoke words of wisdom, care and compassion.  He 

also spoke words of challenge and conversion, but these words were

always spoken out of love.

Each night before going to sleep, it is good to reflect on the day to

recall what we have said to others and to see what kind of fullness our

heart has held.  Only one question is needed:  Did my words and 

actions today come from a loving heart?

(from Inviting God In)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, May 16:

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Acts 1:1-11

Matthew 22:34-40

Men's Coffee - Men are invited to gather for coffee this Saturday, May 15,

8am, at Paneras on Richmond Rd.  Feel free to stop in for as long or 

short a time as your schedule allows.  No rsvp required.

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, May 16, 10am, in Trinity

Hall.  Sunday Conversations include a wide range of biblical, theological,

and social topics.  Stop in on Sunday morning and join the conversation.

Spring Potluck, Sunday, May 16, after worship:  Bring a salad, side 

dish, or dessert, and join in this delicious Walnut Hill tradition. 

The Inquiry Team will be presenting the results of our recent congregational

survey during worship on Sunday, May 16.  Following their presentation, the

Team will host several focus groups according to the schedule below:

*Buildings & Grounds - Wed, May 19, 7pm, at Walnut Hill

*Adult Ed & Community Outreach - Thu, May 20, 7pm, at Walnut Hill

*Children & Youth - Sun, May 23, after worship, at Walnut Hill

Members and friends of Walnut Hill are encouraged to participate in any or

all of these focus group meetings.  Let your thoughts be heard!

In the Community:  Walnut Hill Church has received an invitation to share 

in a Pentecost Eve celebration on Saturday, May 22, 7pm, at Chapel Hill

Presbyterian Church (corner of Tates Creek and Armstrong Mill Rd).  

A reception will follow the service.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, May 9, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

"A New Reformation: Creation Spirituality and

the Transformation of Christianity"

Matthew Fox calls for a new reformation within the Christian

church.  He states that it is time for Christians to choose whom

they will follow: an angry exclusionary god or the loving open

path of wisdom.  He discusses the corruption of Christianity

since the Reformation, the effects of fundamentalism and 

power, and the church's response to the pedophile crisis.

(Childcare is available upon request.  Use reply email

to request childcare.)

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  "I Knew Your Mother"

Text: 2 Timothy 1:3-6

Nursery care and Sunday School for children.

Youth Conversation, 11am, Trinity Hall

Youth are invited to gather in the upstairs office of Trinity

Hall to view and discuss the "Nooma" video series.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

May 5, 2010

Greetings to all!

This Sunday, Mother's Day, provides an opportunity to reflect on our

lives in families.  Below are several quotes from Mother Teresa in which

she puts our family life in a world context.

"Peace and war begin at home.  If we truly want peace in the world, let

us begin by loving one another in our own families.  If we want to spread

joy, we need for every family to have joy."

"Everybody today seems to be in a hurry.  No one has time to give to 

others: children to their parents, parents to their children, spouses to 

each other.  World peace begins to break down in the homes."

"Where does love begin? In our homes.  When does it begin?  When we

pray together.  The family that prays together stays together."

(from Mother Teresa: In My Own Words)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, May 9:

Ruth 4:13-17

2 Timothy 1:3-7

John 19:25-27

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, May 9, 10am, in Trinity Hall.

Sunday Conversation topics include a wide range of biblical, theological, 

and social issues.  Feel free to join the conversation, enjoy a cup of coffee,

or just listen in.

A host (s) is needed for our after worship refreshments this Sunday, May 9.

Use reply email to volunteer for this Sunday, or use the sign up sheet in 

the Sanctuary to volunteer for a Sunday later in the spring.

The Spring Potluck is approaching on Sunday, May 16, after worship.  

Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert.  Also, a few volunteers are needed to

help with a few of the meal arrangements.  Use reply email for more 

information regarding volunteer opportunities.

The Inquiry Team will be presenting the results of our recent congregational

survey during worship on Sunday, May 16.  Following their presentation, the

Team will host several focus groups according to the schedule below:

*Buildings/Grounds - Wed, May 19, 7pm, at Walnut Hill

*Adult Ed & Community Outreach - Thu, May 20, 7pm, at Walnut Hill

*Children & Youth - Sun, May 23, after worship, at Walnut Hill

Members and friends of Walnut Hill are encouraged to participate in any or

all of these focus group meetings.  Let your thoughts be heard!

Peace to all.

Mike Ward