Greetings to all!
One of the more sobering opportunities during Lent is the invitation
to consider one's mortality, which is usually measured in the
chronological years available to us on this earth. Consider this
reflection by Henri Nouwen.
I have always been very conscious of my clock-time. Often I ask
myself, "Can I still double my years?" When I was thirty I said: "I
can easily live another thirty!" When I was forty, I mused, "Maybe
I am only halfway!" Today I can no longer say that, and my question
has become: "How am I going to use the few years left to me?"
All these concerns about our clock-time come from below. They
are based on the presupposition that our chronology is all we have
to live. But looked upon from above, from God's perspective, our
clock-time is embedded in the timeless embrace of God. Looked
upon from above, our years on earth are not simply chronos but
kairos - another Greek word for time - which is the opportunity to
claim for ourselves the love that God offers us from eternity to
eternity. And so our short lives, instead of being that limited amount
of years to which we must anxiously cling, become that saving oppor-
tunity to respond with all our hearts, souls, and minds to God's love
and so become true partners in the divine communion.
(from Here and Now)
The Scripture lessons for Sunday, April 3, the 4th Sunday in Lent:
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Men's Coffee: Men are invited to gather for coffee this Saturday, April 2,
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, April 3, 10am, in
Trinity Hall. Our focus for the day is "Jesus In and Through the Gospels."
Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or just listen in.
Children's Choir practice continues this Sunday, April 3, 10am, in
Trinity Hall. All children through elementary age are invited to join the singing
on Sunday mornings as the children work toward a presentation on
Palm Sunday, April 17. Contact Nell Horman for more information.
Host(s) needed - A host(s) is needed for our refreshments after worship this
Sunday, April 3. Let us know by reply email if you would like to host (or co-
host) our refreshments this Sunday. Or check the sign up sheet in the
Sanctuary foyer for available Sundays later in the spring. Thanks to all
our refreshment hosts including Kathy Steinmetz and John Bauer who
hosted last Sunday.
2011 Community Fund Grant nominees are now being received. All
Walnut Hill members and friends are invited to nominate agencies and
organizations to receive some part of $10,000 available through this
year's Community Fund. Nomination deadline is April 1. Grant recipients
and amounts will be determined at an open meeting in May. You may
submit a nomination by reply email or by contacting any Vestry member.
Japan Relief - Thanks to your generosity, $617 is on its way to aid the
people of Japan via Church World Service. Thanks to all who gave
extra in recent weeks to make this outreach possible. Check out
www.churchworldservice.org for more information about the disaster
and the relief efforts of Church World Service and its partner agencies.
Peace to all.
Mike Ward
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