Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Greetings to all!

   In their book, Way to Live, Dorothy Bass and Don Richter address teens 
regarding their particular work as "students."  As the new school year opens,
what advice might we offer to the students of our acquaintance?

   You can learn quite a bit from what you do at school.  You learn that success
requires effort on your part.  If you pay attention, you can discover the world's
deep hungers in the stories you read in English class, the problems you 
encounter in biology, or the issues you discuss in social studies.  Maybe you
will have a teacher who shares her deep gladness with you and encourages
you to discover your own.  You also can learn what a difference your attitude
makes in everything you do.

   Good grades don't come just because you put in the time; you also have to
take responsibility for really learning the material.  To succeed in school you
need to develop the ability to judge how much you know and what you need 
to study.  Instead of studying primarily to make respectable grades, you begin
to notice and study more seriously the ideas within each subject area that you
are genuinely curious about.  School work is tremendously important in 
shaping what you future work will be. But - surprise! - that distant outcome 
depends on your ability to focus on what you are doing now.

   Your own curiosity can become a powerful energy source for this work.  All
subjects won't interest you equally, but certain ones will capture your attention.
Get into it!  The more responsibility you take for your own learning, the more
you will enjoy schoolwork.  Jumping through someone else's hoops gets old
and boring pretty fast.
(from Way to Live)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, August 21:
Exodus 1:8 - 2:10
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13 - 20

Men' Coffee -  Men are invited to gather for coffee and conversation each 
Saturday morning, 8am, at Paneras on Richmond Road.  Feel free to stop by
for as long or short a time as your schedule allows.  No rsvp required.

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, August 21, 10am, in Trinity Hall.
Sunday Conversations include a wide range of topics from week to week.
Come and enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or just listen in.

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children are available every Sunday 
morning during the 11am worship hour.  As children return to school after 
their summer vacation, be sure to include Sunday School as part of their 
education.

The Big Blue Barrel is now 2/3 full, which is great!  Let's top it off by
Labor Day, so that its contents might go to work on behalf of our neighbors
around the Bluegrass.  Bring your non-perishable food items on Sunday
mornings.  You will find the big blue barrel just inside the double doors 
entering Trinity Hall.

2011 Community Fund Grants - We will be presenting the first of several
Community Fund grants this Sunday, August 21, during morning worship,
as we welcome a guest from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).  
Come and learn about CASA's important work and celebrate Walnut Hill's
support of that work.

Thanks to all those who, in various forms of service at Walnut Hill, made it 
possible for the Wards to be away for a couple weeks of vacation and visits 
with family.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward



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