Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Greetings to all!

In his book, Here and Now, Henri Nouwen reflects on the notion that "joy" 

is a "choice."

It might sound strange to say that joy is the result of our choices.  We often

imagine that some people are luckier than others and that their joy or sorrow

depends on the circumstances of their life - over which they have no control.

It is important to become aware that at every moment of our life we have an

opportunity to choose joy.  Life has many sides to it.  There are always 

sorrowful and joyful sides to the reality we live.  And so we always have a 

choice to live the moment as a cause for resentment or as a cause for joy.  It is

in the choice that our true freedom lies, and that freedom is, in the final analysis,

the freedom to love.

It might be a good idea to ask ourselves how we develop our capacity to

choose for joy.  Maybe we could spend a moment at the end of each day and 

decide to remember that day - whatever may have happened - as a day to be

grateful for.  In so doing we increase our heart's capacity to choose for joy.  And

as our hearts become more joyful, we will become, without any special effort,

a source of joy for others.  Just as sadness begets sadness, so joy begets joy.

Communion Sunday - The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be served 

during morning worship this Sunday, August 1, 11am.

Hosts Needed - Sunday refreshment hosts are needed for the following 

Sundays, August 1 & 8.   Remember that Sunday refreshments need not be

elaborate, just something simple to gather around after worship.  Use reply

email to volunteer for either Sunday August 1 or August 8.

Preaching  over the next several Sundays will include:

Sunday, August 1 - the Rev. Dr. David Sharrard

Sunday, August 8 - the Rev. Dr. John Cavendish

Sunday, August 15- the Rev. Dr. David Sharrard

Sunday Conversations will be on summer break during the month of August.

Look for Sunday Conversations to resume on Sunday, September 5, 10am.

Inquiry Team Reports - The Walnut Hill Inquiry Team has issued its 

recommendations to the Vestry.  Check out the Walnut Hill Church website,

www.walnuthillchurchky.org (select "Inquiry Team Recommendations" tab), for

a summary of the Inquiry Team report.  Thanks to the Inquiry Team for their

good work.

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.

Watch Your Mail for two important items soon to arrive in your postal mail box 

including the August/September edition of the Walnut Hill Newsletter, and mid-year 

contribution statements.

Thanks to...Mary Lee Snyder and Artie Antrim for providing last Sunday's 

refreshments; Rachel Childress, Executive Director of Lexington Habitat for 

Humanity, for her visit to Walnut Hill; Lisa Smith for her work as editor of the 

Walnut Hill Church Newsletter (print version); Virgil Proffitt for his  work maintaining 

Walnut Hill's contribution and other financial records.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, July 25, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

"Who Needs Organized Religion?"

Today, when people are increasingly inclined to describe 

themselves as spiritual but not religious, Sunday's video 

considers the value of organized religion.  The presenters

also address a related question:  "Are all religions of 

equal value?"  You are invited to come and enjoy a cup of

coffee, join the conversation, or just listen in.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  A Look in the Mirror

Text:  James 1:22-25

The Inquiry Team will report their summary recommendations.

A 2010 Community Fund Grant will be presented to 

Lexington Habitat for Humanity.

Nursery care and Sunday School for Children.

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Greetings to all!

The value of "organized religion" is subject to some doubt these days.  Kathleen 

Norris offers a few thoughts on the subject.

Many say these days that they can't find God in church, in "organized"

religion.  I don't find that surprising.  Churches can be as inhospitable as any

other institution.  What does surprise me is that people will often claim that sitting 

alone under a tree or on a mountaintop is the ultimate religious experience, much 

superior to being with other people at all.  It may be pleasant, if a bit lonely.  It 

may even be private, if you happen to own the mountaintop; otherwise you have

to worry about what happens when someone else shows up.

Joining a church is not like joining a hobby club; you will find all sorts of 

people there, not all of whom will share your interests, let alone your opinions.  

But there is a vast difference between the giant abstraction called "Organized"

Religion and religion as people actually live it.  Ruben Martinez...states, "I am a

practicing Catholic because I believe in the strength of communities of faith and,

especially, in the role of ritual as a unifying force that allows people to transcend

narrow individualism and reach out to strangers who mirror our own visage: that

moment of the Holy Mass when we turn to our neighbors and offer 'Peace be with

you.'"

(from Amazing Grace)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, July 25:

2 Kings 5:1-19

Acts 17:16-34

Mark 10:38-41

Men's Coffee:  Walnut Hill men are invited to gather for coffee this Saturday, 

July 24, 8am, at Paneras on Richmond Road.  Feel free to stop in for as long or

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

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, July 25, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  The

topic for this Sunday's conversation:  Who Needs Organized Religion?  Come and

enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or just listen in.

Community Fund Grant - Rachel Childress, Executive Director of Lexington 

Habitat for Humanity, will be visiting Walnut Hill Church on Sunday, July 25, to 

receive a 2010 Community Fund Grant to Habitat.

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.

Sunday Hospitality - Thanks to all our recent Sunday refreshment hosts, most 

recently Monta Rae and Forrest Cook, and Dorothy Paull.  Just to 

let you know we 

have a couple open Sundays upcoming, particularly Sundays,  

August 1 and 8. 

If you would like to volunteer for either of these two Sundays, you

may do so via reply 

email or via the sign-up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, July 18, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

How Can We Love Practically Anybody?

In this video, presenters consider both the calling and the challenge

of Jesus' words, "Love your neighbor as your self."  Does that 

mean loving him, her, and them?  How can we possibly love 

everyone, and what does it mean to love them? 

Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or just listen in.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  The Better Choice

Text:  Luke 10:38-42

Nursery care and Sunday School for children.

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Greetings to all!

Madeleine L'Engle describes a summer walk to "the brook."  Hopefully we all have

such a place to which we can walk, whether on foot or in our thoughts.  Enjoy the 

walk!

It's a ten-minute walk to the brook.  I cross the lawn and go through the willow tree

which splashes its fountain of green down onto the grass, so that it's almost 

impossible to mow around it...I wade through the clover of the large pasture.

After the pasture is traversed, I walk through a smaller pasture which has been let

go to seed because of all the rocks, and is now filled with thistles.  Then there is a

stone wall to be climbed...Once I'm over the stone wall, the terrain changes.  I step

into a large field full of rocks left from glacial deposits; there are many apple trees

which, this summer, are laden with fruit...Then the path becomes full of tussocks

and hummocks; my legs are etched by the thorns of blackberry brambles and 

wild roses. Earlier this summer the laurel burst from snow into fire, and a few weeks

later we found a field of sweet wild strawberries.  And then there are blueberry

bushes, not very many, but a few, taller than I am and, to me, infinitely beautiful.

I go to the brook and my tensions and frustrations are lost as I spend a happy

hour sitting right in the water and trying to clear it of the clogging debris left by a 

fallen tree.

(edited from A Circle of Quiet)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, July 18:

Amos 8:1-12

Colossians 1:15-28

Luke 10:38-42

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, July 18, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  The topic

for this Sunday: How Can We Love Practically Anybody?  Feel free to enjoy a cup of coffee, 

join the conversation, or just listen in.

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.

A printed newsletter is in process for publication at the end of July.  Contact the

church office by replay email or by phone (263-5304) if you would like to submit

an article for this edition of the Walnut Hill Newsletter.  Special thanks to our 

newsletter editor, Lisa Smith.

The Vestry will meet this Sunday, July 18, 9:30am, in Trinity Hall.

Camp Season:  Ben Horman is at Cathedral Domain this week.  Keep Ben and other

campers in your prayers for a safe and fun week.  Remember that Walnut Hill

provides 50% scholarship to all Walnut Hill children/youth attending programs at 

either Cathedral Domain or Camp Burnamwood.

Thanks to....Doug Price for his service at the organ and Jay Crutcher for his 

special music presentations this past Sunday;  Anne Atchison, Marian Congleton, 

and Mary Ann Davis for our after worship refreshments.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, July 11, at Walnut Hill Church

Sunday Conversation, 10am, Trinity Hall

"What About Grace and Miracles?"

In this video, presenters discuss the signs of grace in

our lives, with particular attention to those experiences

that might be described as "miraculous."  How does

grace manifest itself in your life?  How do you 

incorporate the experience of miracle into your view

of the world?  

Come and enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation,

or just listen in.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  "A Healing Church"

Text:  James 5:13-18

Special music presentations by Mr. Jay Crutcher, 

saxophonist.

Nursery care and Sunday School for children.

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

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

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, July 4, at Walnut Hill Church

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

"How Do We Right the Wrong?"

In this video, theologians, writers, and others discuss the role

of faith and the church in addressing the serious issues facing

our nation and world.  What are the most pressing social 

issues of our time? How does your faith affect the way you 

view and respond to those issues?  What should religious

institutions be doing about them?

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: "And Justice for All"

Text: Micah 6:6-8

The sacrament of Holy Communion will be administered.

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children.

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.