Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Greetings to all!

Consider these thoughts from Kentucky author Wendell Berry, from his
book Life Is A Miracle.

Overhanging all our thought and work is the question of how certain of
itself human knowledge can be.
I learned from the theologian Philip Sherrard to ask this question: If 
things are evolving, and if human consciousness is evolving along with 
everything else, where do we find a standpoint from which to understand
the whole process?
To make the same point in a more practical way, let us take that 
ubiquitous and misleading word "environment" - which, as used, proposes
that reality is composed of a creature and its surroundings.  But if, as in 
fact we know, the creature is not only in its environment but of it, and if the
relationship between creature and environment is mutually formative, and 
if this relationship is a process that cannot be stopped short of the 
creature's death, then how can we get outside the relationship in order to
predict with certainty the effects of our participation?
Religion begins with such questions.  But even reason can see that they
define the issues of propriety and scale.  If we can not know with final 
certainty what we are doing, then reason cautions us to be humble and
patient, to keep the scale small, to be careful, to go slow.

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, July 11:
1 Samuel 16:14-23
James 5:13-18
Mark 1:40-45

Men's Coffee - Men are invited to gather for coffee this Saturday, July 10,
8am, at Panera's 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, July 11, 10am, in Trinity Hall.
This Sunday's topic:  What About Grace and Miracles? Stop in and enjoy a cup
of coffee, join the conversation, or just listen in.

Special Music:  This Sunday, July 11, Mr. Jay Crutcher will present prelude,
offertory, and postlude selections on the saxophone during morning worship 
(11am).   Jay is currently studying in the Ph.D. program at the University of 
Kentucky in the area of music theory, with particular emphasis on using music 
to heal body and mind.

Summer Food Drive:  Bring non-perishable food items over the Sundays of the
summer to be part of Walnut Hill's Summer Food Drive.  Place your donations in
the big blue barrel located in Trinity Hall.  When the barrel is full, God's Pantry
will distribute the items throughout central and eastern Kentucky.

Thanks, news, etc...
*Thanks to...Doug Price for his service at the organ this past Sunday; 
Sherry Warden and Phil Bloomfield for preparing the Communion elements;
Spencer Horman, Monta Rae and Forrest Cook, Phil Bloomfield, Barbara 
and Chris Bohmer for their leadership and assistance during worship; John 
Bauer and Kathy Steinmetz for providing our after worship refreshments.
*Walnut Hill Church was lately recognized by Church World Service for 
our participation in last fall's CROP Walk, particularly for raising a combined
total of more than $750.  The CROP Walk is a national event to raise awareness
and funds for hunger relief.  Thanks to all who participated as walkers and/or 
sponsors.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward


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