Walnut Hill Church

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Greetings to all!

Tomorrow, April 1, begins the observance known as "The Triduum," the "three days."  

The Triduum guides us through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, the

Easter Vigil, and the Resurrection of the Lord.  Maundy Thursday includes the 

remembrance of Jesus' gathering with the disciples before his arrest.  In her book,

The Cloister Walk, Kathleen Norris describes the observance of Maundy Thursday

in a monastery she was visiting at the time.

The Triduum begins with the singing of the "Ubi Caritas" in the monastic refectory;

the words of the great medieval poem - "Where charity and love are found, there

is God" - set the tone for our meal and the liturgy that follows.  I know Benedictines

who could transform a meal at McDonald's into a love feast, but this is ridiculous.

"Love one another," the abbot reads from the Gospel of John.  At this moment, at 

this table, it seems possible.

After the feast, I stand with the rest of the schola in the chilly cloister walk.  As we'll

lead the procession into church, we wait there for the community to line up behind

us.  This is the night Jesus spends in the garden of Gethsemane, praying by the 

vigil light of the stars.  Near midnight, the abbot will wrap up the Eucharist in a cloth

and carry it out of the church.

Maundy Thursday at Walnut Hill, April 1, 6pm:  You are invited to gather at Walnut

Hill for a simple meal and program of reflection, "Love One Another."  Please bring

a fruit, cheese, or bread item for the meal.  Soup and beverage will be provided.  After

our meal together, adults and children will have separate activities for reflection.  We

will close the evening (around 7:30pm) with prayer and song.  

Good Friday: There are numerous opportunities for worship on Good Friday

including:

*Noon at Second Presbyterian Church

*Noon and 7pm at Christ Church Cathedral

Holy Saturday:  Spend some quiet time on Holy Saturday reflecting on the meaning of

Christ's passion and on the hope of resurrection, both for this life and the life to come.

Easter Sunday, April 4, at Walnut Hill:

*7am, Sunrise Service - We will gather in the Walnut Hill Cemetery as dawn 

breaks to bear witness to the Resurrection of the Lord.  In the case of inclement 

weather, the service will be held in the Sanctuary.

*11am, Morning Worship and Holy Communion - We will gather in the Sanctuary

for a traditional communion liturgy in celebration of Christ's resurrection.  Nursery

care and Sunday School will be available for children.

*Noon - Refreshments and Fellowship - Bring a plate of cookies for the 

refreshment table.

    -Easter Egg Hunt - Children are invited to hunt for eggs and treats on the

church grounds. Parents, please bring a basket for your child as well as a dozen stuffed

eggs to add to the hunt.

One Great Hour of Sharing: The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received

on Easter Sunday.  The OGHS supports disaster relief and refugee resettlement efforts

around the world.  If your family has been using an OGHS collection box at home,

please return it to the church on Easter Sunday.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, March 21, at Walnut Hill...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

The Boomer Generation,

and Its Impact on Religion in America

We will continue viewing and discussing a video

about the Boomer Generation (those born between

1946 - 1964), and the impact of that generation

upon religion in America.  Not only Boomers,

but also those of the generations ahead and behind 

them will find this conversation relevant to their 

experience of faith and the church.

Children's Choir Practice, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to 

gather for choir practice in anticipation of their

presentation of two songs during worship on 

Sunday.  

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: Come Out, From Death to Life

Text:  John 11:1-44

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

March 17, 2010

Greetings to all!

Appropriate for our reflection today is a portion of "St. Patrick's Breastplate,"

a traditional celtic "circling prayer" in which the worshiper surrounds

her(him)self with the presence of God, the Spirit, or Christ.

Christ to protect me today...

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

(as found in Prayer From the Heart, edited by Richard Foster)

The Scripture lesson for Sunday, March 21:

John 11:1-44

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, March 21, 10am, in

Trinity Hall.  "Sunday Conversations" cover a wide range of topics from

week to week.  Enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or just 

listen in.

The Children's Choir will gather for practice on Sunday, 10am, in Trinity

Hall.  All children through elementary age are encouraged to participate.

Also, the children will be presenting two familiar songs during the

worship hour on Sunday.  For more information, contact Nell Horman or

Lauren Fouts.

A Host(s) is needed for our Sunday refreshments this Sunday, March 21.

Refreshments need not be elaborate, just something simple to gather 

around as we fellowship after worship.  Use reply email to volunteer for

this Sunday.  Check the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary for opportunities

to host a Sunday later in the spring.

Women's Dinner:  The next Walnut Hill Women's Dinner will be held on

Wednesday, March 24, 6pm, at Buddy's Bar and Grill.  Our guest for the

evening will be the Rev. Dr. Marian McClure Taylor, Executive Director

of the Kentucky Council of Churches.  Use reply email, the sign up sheet

in the Sanctuary, or contact Natalie Watt to rsvp.

Community Fund:  We are currently receiving nominations of agencies

to receive 2010 grants from the Walnut Hill Community Fund.  $10,000 

will distributed this year.  Contact Natalie Watt or Mike Ward to make

a nomination.

Easter Lilies:  Contact Lee Tucker to sponsor an Easter Lily to 

decorate the Sanctuary for Easter Sunday.  The cost is $14/plant.  

Sponsors are welcome to take and enjoy their plants at home after 

Easter services.

Holy Week Schedule:

Sun(3/28) - Palm Sunday

-Sunday Conversations - 10am

-Morning Worship & Sunday School - 11am

Thu(4/1) - Maundy Thursday

-Simple Meal and Program - 6pm  (for all ages)

Sun(4/4) - Easter Sunday

-Sunrise Service - 7am

-Morning Worship & Sunday School - 11am

-Egg Hunt for children - Noon

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, March 14, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

The Boomer Generation,

and It's Impact on Christian Faith

Dave Sharrard will lead us in an exploration of the

impact of "the Boomers" (those born between 1946

and 1964) upon religion and the church in America.

Not only "boomers" but also those of the generations

ahead and behind them will find this conversation 

relevant to their experience of faith and the church.

Children's Choir Practice, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to 

gather for choir practice in anticipation of their 

upcoming Sunday morning presentation.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: The Cast of Characters

Text: John 9:1-41

Nursery care and Sunday School for children.

Youth Discussion, 11am, Trinity Hall

Youth are invited to view and discuss one of the

"Nooma" video series, presenting issues of faith

in a non-traditional format.

Walnut Hill Church Survey

WALNUT HILL CHURCH SURVEY

Building on the Past and Present to Envision the Future

Thanks to all those who have taken a few moments to

complete the Walnut Hill Church Survey.  If you are among

those persons, THANK YOU!

If you have not yet completed the survey, please take a

few moments to do so (by March 14) using the link below:

http://www.walnuthillchurchky.org/survey.html

This survey is the first step in a process of identifying our 

past and present strengths, and building from those strengths

for the future.  Your responses are vital to that process.

Thank you,

The Inquiry Team

Sunday at Walnut Hill

This Sunday, March 7, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Believing the Bible in a Global Context

(video and discussion)

Philip Jenkins, Ph.D., distinguished professor of 

history and religious studies at Penn. State University,

speaks on "Believing the Bible in a Global Context."

Jenkins looks at the Bible from an African perspective 

and describes the ongoing evolution of Christianity 

while responding to the question, "Shall the 

fundamentalists win?"

Children's Choir Practice, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to 

gather for choir practice in anticipation of a Sunday 

morning music presentation later in the spring.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: The Sacrament on a Hillside

Text: John 6:1-15

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Nursery care and Sunday School for children.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

March 3, 2010

Greetings to all!

Sometimes in the middle of Lent, or in the middle of life, the journey
can seem a bit wearying. Ann Weems reflects on this experience in a
reflection titled, "Come Unto Me."

When the journey gets too hard, when we feel depleted, when our
compassion turns into complaining, when efforts toward justice and
mercy seem to get us nowhere, it's time to remember the humility part
- that it is God who has made us and not we ourselves; that the
saving of the world or even one part of it is not on our shoulders.
It is then we can come unto him, and he will give us rest. With rest
we'll remember what it is we are about.
(from "Kneeling in Jerusalem")

The scripture lesson for Sunday, March 7, the Third Sunday in Lent,
the Sacrament of Holy Communion:
John 6:1-15
(We continue our Lenten journey through the Gospel of John.)

SUNDAY CONVERSATIONS continue this Sunday, March 7, 10am, in Trinity
Hall. Our focus this Sunday will be a video presentation by the noted
Jesus scholar Marcus Borg. Feel free to enjoy a cup of coffee, join
the conversation, or just listen in.

CHILDREN'S CHOIR practices continue this Sunday, March 7, 10am, in
Trinity Hall. The children are working toward an upcoming Sunday
morning presentation. All children through elementary age are
encouraged to participate.

WALNUT HILL CHURCH SURVEY - Be sure to participate in the Walnut Hill
Church Survey, the first step in our current inquiry to discern Walnut
Hill's present strengths and future dreams. You may complete the
survey online at www.walnuthillchurchky.org/survey.html or you may
complete and return a paper copy of the survey (copies available by
request from the church office). Either way, we hope you will
participate in this and other activities related to the inquiry
process as we build on the past and present to envision the future.

CHILE EARTHQUAKE - Our readers are certainly aware of the recent and
ongoing tragedy in Chile. Persons attending Walnut Hill this Sunday,
March 7, will have opportunity to donate toward relief efforts via
Church World Service. For information regarding the efforts of Church
World Service in Chile, visit www.churchworldservice.org.

EASTER LILIES - Easter will be here soon, and with it comes the
opportunity to sponsor lilies for the decoration of the Walnut Hill
Sanctuary. Cost of sponsorship is $14/plant. Sponsors are welcome to
take and enjoy their plants at home after the Easter holiday. Contact
Lee Tucker to sponsor a lily for Easter.

THANKS TO...David Sharrard for his service at the organ this past
Sunday; Spencer Horman and Garrett Rea for their service as acolytes;
Lyle and Mary Diane Hanna for their assistance during worship; Whitty
and Grant Rea for our after worship refreshments; Nell Horman for her
work with the children's choir; Gene Brockopp for moderating our
Sunday Conversation; Cory Sharrard for volunteering in the Sunday
School over the Sundays of February; the Inquiry Team for their
ongoing work.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Church Survey

WALNUT HILL CHURCH SURVEY:

Building on the past and present to envision the future

A process is beginning at Walnut Hill Church to look back on

our accomplishments, identify our present strengths, and dream

of our future.  To accomplish this task, the Vestry has appointed

an Inquiry Team to survey our members and friends for their 

desires and dreams for the future of Walnut Hill.

The Walnut Hill Church Survey is the first step in this process

of discovery.  Use the web link below to take the Walnut 

Hill Church Survey online:

  http://www.walnuthillchurchky.org/survey.html

If for any reason it is inconvenient for you to take the survey

online, paper copies will also be made available for your use.

Whether online or by paper, please complete the survey by

March 14.

In addition to this survey, we will also be having focus groups

where we can come together to have discussions about our

future.  We hope that you will complete a survey and participate

in one of the focus groups.  We want everyone to have the 

opportunity to participate in this process.

Sincerely,

The Inquiry Team:

Sherry Warden

Ruth Sharrard

Thomas Rawlings

Lyle Hanna

Amy Dunavant

Nelson Barnes