Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, May 1, at Walnut Hill Church

Sunday Conversations, 10 am, Trinity Hall

The Starting Point - The Resurrection Experience

In this video presentation and conversation, we will consider

the foundational place of the "resurrection of Jesus" in the 

Christian scriptures, and how those scriptures can only be 

properly understood with the resurrection in view.  

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

just listen in.  Nursery care will be available.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - The Easter Octave

Text - John 20:19-31

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

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, April 27, 2011

Greetings to all!

Stormy weather has been unrelenting in recent weeks.  Many 

communities have experienced property damage, injuries, and 

fatalities.  In addition to supporting relief efforts, we do well to

keep our neighbors in our prayers.

God of earth and sky: recent days remind us of nature's power.

We pray for communities and persons who have been in the 

path of the storms.  Comfort the grieving, heal the injured, and give

patience and strength to those cleaning up and repairing the 

damage.  Make us one with those who have endured so much,

as we hope they would be one with us if the suffering were ours.  

We pray this in the name of Christ, who bids us to love our neighbors 

as we love ourselves.  Amen.

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, May 1, the 2nd Sunday of Easter:

Acts 2:14, 22-32

1 Peter 1:3-9

John 20:19-31

(The Sacrament of Holy Communion)

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

Saturday, April 30, 8am, at Paneras 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, May 1,10am, in Trinity 

Hall.  This Sunday we will engage some Easter reflection on 

Jesus' death and resurrection.   Come and enjoy a cup of coffee,

join the conversation, or just listen in.

Sunday School lessons continue for children this Sunday, May 1, during

the worship hour.  Children through elementary age are dismissed to

Trinity Hall for Sunday School after our opening hymn and prayers.  With 

May 1 being a Communion Sunday, middle and high school youth are 

invited to remain in the Sanctuary for the worship service and sacrament.

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS):  If you have not already done so, you 

are invited to return OGHS home collection boxes to Walnut Hill this Sunday, 

May 1.  Your OGHS offerings will be added to others and sent on their way 

to support disaster relief and refugee resettlement around the world.

Spring Potluck, Sunday, May 15, after worship:  Mark the date on your 

calendar, and plan to share in this "delicious" Walnut Hill tradition.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward  

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, April 24, at Walnut Hill Church

Easter Sunrise Service, 7am, Cemetery

We will gather in the Walnut Hill Cemetery for an informal service

of Morning Prayer to celebrate the good news of the Risen Christ.

In case of inclement weather, the service will be held in the 

Sanctuary.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon -  A Divine Aftershock

Text - Matthew 28:1-10

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Nursery care and Sunday School for children.

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Each household is invited to bring one (1) item for the refreshment 

table.

One Great Hour of Sharing

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received on Easter

Sunday to support disaster relief and refugee resettlement around

the world.  OGHS collection boxes may be returned to the church

on Easter Sunday.

*****

Please note that the 10am "Sunday Conversations" discussion 

program is dismissed for Easter Sunday.  "Sunday Conversations"

will resume on May 1.

Walnut Hill Weekly Letter

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Greetings to all!

Thursday marks the beginning of the Triduum (Three Days) approaching

Easter.   Kathleen Norris recalls her experience of the Triduum while 

visiting a monastery, including her recollection of Maundy Thursday, the 

night of Jesus' Last Supper and arrest.

   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..."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 choir in the chilly cloister walk.

As we'll lead the procession into church, we wait 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...and carry it out of the church.

(from The Cloister Walk)

Maundy Thursday, April 21, 6pm, Simple Meal & Program - All ages are 

invited to join us for a simple meal in Trinity Hall as we gather to observe 

the beginning of the Triduum.  After our meal together, adults will gather in 

the Sanctuary for a sacred reading and singing of Jesus' passion, while 

children enjoy their own activities appropriate to the day.  The evening will

conclude by 7:30pm.  Please use reply email or call the church office 

(263-5304) to indicate your plans to attend.

The schedule for Sunday, April 24, the Resurrection of the Lord

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

Cemetery for an informal service of Morning Prayer.  In case of inclement

weather, the service will be held in the Sanctuary.

*Morning Worship & Holy Communion, 11am, Sanctuary - We will gather

in the Sanctuary for traditional liturgy and sacrament celebrating the

Resurrection of the Lord.  Nursery care and Sunday School for children

will be available.

*After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall -  All are invited to gather for 

refreshments and fellowship as we share the good news of this special 

day.   Please bring one (1) item for the refreshment table.

One Great Hour of Sharing - If you have been collecting the OGHS offering

at home during Lent, please bring your collection boxes to Walnut Hill on

Easter Sunday.  We will gather the offering and send it on its way to support

disaster relief and refugee resettlement around the world.

Sunday Conversations - Our 10am "Sunday Conversations" program will be

dismissed for Easter Day.  "Sunday Conversations" will resume on May 1.

Thanks to all who helped to make Palm Sunday a wonderful occasion at 

Walnut Hill including the Bishop's visit, Worship and Communion, the 

children's music presentation, the Easter Egg Hunt, a full Sunday School,

and a bountiful refreshment table.  There were too many folks involved to name

everyone, so we simply must say, "Thanks to all!"

A Blessed Easter to All.

Mike Ward

This Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, April 17, at Walnut Hill Church

Sunday Conversation, 10am, Trinity Hall

Conversation with Bishop Sauls

Episcopal Bishop Stacy Sauls will be visiting with us on Sunday,

April 17. Bishop Sauls' visit provides us a special opportunity for 

some informal conversation regarding the Christian faith, the 

state of the Church in general, and the Episcopal Church in 

particular.  Feel free to bring your questions.

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children are invited to gather for music and singing in final 

preparation for their presentation this Sunday during worship.

Contact Nell Horman for more information.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  Palm Sunday

Text:  Matthew 21:1-11

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Bishop Stacy F. Sauls preaching.

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children.

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Easter Egg Hunt, Noon, Church Grounds

Children are invited to hunt for eggs on the church grounds 

after worship.  

Households of participating children are asked to bring 1 dozen

eggs stuffed with candy/treat.

In case of inclement weather, the rain date for the Egg Hunt is

April 24.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Greetings to all!

This Sunday, April 17, we enter Holy Week.  Ann Weems' poem,

"Holy Week," offers an overview of the days ahead.

Holy is the week...

Holy, consecrated, belonging to God...

We move from hosannas to horror

with the predictable ease 

of those who know not what they do.

Our hosannas sung, our palms waved,

let us go with passion into this week.

It is a time to curse fig trees that do not yield fruit.

It is a time to cleanse our temples of any blasphemy.

It is a time to greet Jesus as the Lord's Anointed One,

to lavishly break our alabaster

and pour perfume out for him

without counting the cost.

It is a time for preparation...

The time to give thanks and break bread is upon us.

The time to give thanks and drink the cup is imminent.

Eat, drink, remember:

On this night of nights, each one must ask,

as we dip our bread in the wine,

"Is it I?"

And on that darkest of days, each of us must stand

beneath the tree

and watch the dying

if we are to be there

when the stone is rolled away.

The only road to Easter morning

is through the unrelenting shadows of that Friday.

Only then will the alleluias be sung:

only then will the dancing begin.

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, April 17, Palm Sunday:

Isaiah 50:4-9

Philippians 2:5-11

Matthew 21:1-11

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

April 16, 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, April 17, 10am, in 

Trinity Hall.  Come and enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation,

or just listen in.

Children's Choir: Children through elementary age are invited to an

hour of music and singing at 10am, April 17, as they make final

preparations for their presentation during worship that morning.  

Contact Nell Horman for more information.

Egg Hunt:  Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held after worship 

this Sunday, April 17.  Households of participating children are asked

to bring a dozen Easter Eggs stuffed with candy treats.  Contact Lauren

Fouts for more information.

Maundy Thursday, April 21, 6pm:  All ages are invited to a simple meal 

and program on Thursday, April 21, in observance of Jesus' "Last Supper"

with his disciples.  Please rsvp via reply email or the sign up sheet in the 

Sanctuary foyer. 

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, April 10, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Jesus in the Gospel of Mark:  Passion and Death

In this video presentation and  conversation we will consider the 

ways in which the Gospel of Mark presents Jesus as the mysterious

Son of God who can do mighty works yet experiences human 

suffering. Mark is generally considered to be the earliest gospel, 

ending so abruptly that later editors added to it. 

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

Children's Choir Practice, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to gather for music 

and singing in preparation for a presentation later in the spring.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

Sermon:  Genius or Insanity?

Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14

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, April 6, 2011

Greetings to all!

Easter is approaching on the horizon, and with it all those words about 

resurrection, which many persons find difficult to understand, much less 

accept.  Madeleine L'Engle shares some thoughts about "resurrection."

There are too many books which affirm resurrection now and can't quite

believe in resurrection after death.  Resurrection now is indeed important

for resurrection then, but resurrection now means little if after death there

is nothing but ashes to ashes and dust to dust.  [God]...will not create 

creatures able to ask questions only to be snuffed out before they can 

answer them.  There is no pragmatic reason why any of my questions 

should be answered, why this little life should not be all; but the joyful God

of love who shouted the galaxies into existence is not going to abandon 

any iota of his creation...

So let there be no question:  I believe in the resurrection of Jesus of 

Nazareth as Jesus the Christ, and the resurrection of the body of all creatures

great and small, not the literal resurrection of this tired body, this broken

self, but the body as it was meant to be, the fragmented self made new; so 

that at the end of time all Creation will be One.  Well:  maybe I don't exactly

believe it, but I know it, and knowing it is what matters.

(from The Irrational Season)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, April 10, the 5th Sunday in Lent:

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Romans 8:6-11

John 11:1-45

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, April 10, 10am, in 

Trinity Hall.  Our focus for the day is "Jesus In and Through the Gospels,"

this week focusing on the Gospel of Mark. Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join 

the conversation, or just listen in.

Children's Choir practice continues this Sunday, April 10, 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.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:  Holy Week will soon be upon us.  Keep the 

following opportunities in mind.

Sunday, April 17, Palm Sunday

-10am - Sunday Conversations & Children's Choir

-11am - Morning Worship and Holy Communion - with Bishop Stacy

Sauls preaching and presiding at the Sacrament

-Noon - Refreshments and Children's Egg Hunt

Thursday, April 21- Maundy Thursday

-6pm - Simple Meal and Program (all ages) - Please rsvp via reply

email or the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer.

Sunday, April 24 - Easter Sunday

-7am - Easter Sunrise Service - in the Cemetery (In case of inclement

weather, the service will be held in the Sanctuary.)

-11am - Morning Worship and Holy Communion

-Noon - Refreshments and Fellowship - (Bring one item for the 

refreshment table.)

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, April 3, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Jesus and the Torah

In this video presentation and  conversation we will consider the 

ways in which the Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the Lord

and Teacher of the Church.  Matthew is often described as the

"Gospel of the Church" and is the most widely used gospel in

Christianity. 

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

Children's Choir Practice, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to gather for music 

and singing in preparation for a presentation later in the spring.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Sermon:  A Different Question

Text: John 9:1-5

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children.

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.