Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Greetings to all!

The Labor Day weekend is upon us and with it the opportunity to reflect on 
the work we do.  Spiritual teacher and writer, Eckhart Tolle, reflects on our
experience of work.

   I have met teachers, artists, nurses, doctors, scientists, social workers,
waiters, hairdressers, business owners, and salespeople who perform their
work admirably without any self-seeking, fully responding to whatever the
moment requires of them.  They are one with what they do, one with the Now,
one with the people or the task they serve.  The influence such people have
upon others goes far beyond the function they perform.  They bring a 
lessening of the ego in everyone who comes into contact with them.  Even
people with heavy egos sometime begin to relax, let down their guard,
and stop playing their roles when they interact with them.  It comes as no
surprise that those people who work without ego are extraordinarily 
successful at what they do.  Anybody who is one with what he or she does
is building the new earth.
(from A New Earth)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, September 4, Labor Day Sunday.
   Exodus 20:8-11
   2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
   Matthew 20:1-16

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, September 4, 10am, in 
Trinity Hall.  In the spirit of Labor Day, our conversation will focus around 
"The Work We Do."  Come, enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation,
or just listen in.

The Big Blue Barrel will be available in Trinity Hall for one more Sunday,
September 4, to receive your donations of non-perishable food items.  Let's
top off the barrel before its contents are distributed to our neighbors 
throughout central and eastern Kentucky.

Hurricane Irene traveled up the east coast last weekend leaving all 
sorts of damage and disruption in its wake.  Persons attending worship 
at Walnut Hill this Sunday (09/04) will have opportunity to respond via our 
ecumenical partners at Church World Service.  Checks may be payable
to Walnut Hill Church, designated "Hurricane Irene."

The Fall Potluck is coming on Sunday, September 18, immediately after 
morning worship.  Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert, and your appetite.
Volunteers are needed to help coordinate a few of the meal details.  Use 
reply email to inquire about volunteering.

In the Community - "Drawing Together" -  Community artists of all ages 
are invited to create artwork symbolizing unity, peace, and cooperation as we 
mark the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.  Artwork should be submitted 
on standard 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper and will be displayed as part of an 
interfaith gathering on Sunday, September 11, 7pm, at the Robert F. Stephens 
Courthouse in Lexington.  Use reply email to request more information. This 
event is sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance of the Bluegrass and the Central KY 
Council for Peace and Justice.  

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Friday, August 26, 2011

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, August 28, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Reflections by Richard Rohr

We will view and discuss a video presentation by Richard Rohr.

Richard Rohr began his religious vocation as a Franciscan brother, later
ordained to the priesthood.  He is a founder of the New Jerusalem 
Community (Cincinnati) and the Center for Catholic Action and 
Reflection (Albuquerque), a writer, and a teacher on subjects including
the Scripture as liberation, integrating action and contemplation, 
eco-spirituality, and the Enneagram. 

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

Contact the church office (263-5304) to request childcare.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Who...Me?
Text - Exodus 3:1-15

Grant Presentation - Mission Lexington Dental Clinic

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Fellowship, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

*****

The Big Blue Barrel is available just inside the double doors 
entering Trinity Hall to receive your donations of non-perishable
food items.

Parents of elementary age children are invited to gather for a very
brief meeting after worship to learn about the possibility of their
children serving as acolytes on Sunday mornings.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Greetings to all!

The late Jesuit priest and spiritual teacher, Anthony DeMello, was known
for his thought provoking and often humorous parables, including one
titled, "The Song of the Bird."

   The disciples were full of questions about God.  Said the master, "God is
the Unknown and the Unknowable.  Every statement about God, every 
answer to your questions, is a distortion of the truth." 
   The disciples were bewildered.  "Then why do you speak about God at
all?"
   "Why does the bird sing?" said the master.

   Not because it has a statement, but because it has a song.

   The words of the scholar are to be understood.  The words of the master 
are not to be understood.  They are to be listened to as one listens to the
wind in the trees and sound of the river and the song of the bird.  They 
will awaken something within the heart that is beyond all knowledge.

(from The Song of the Bird)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, August 28:
   Exodus 3:1-15
   Romans 12:9-21
   Matthew 16:21-28

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, August 28,  10am, in 
Trinity Hall.  Our focus for conversation will be a video presentation by
Catholic priest and spiritual teacher, Richard Rohr.  

Acolytes:  Parents of children in mid to late elementary school are invited
to gather after worship this Sunday, August 28, for a very brief meeting
regarding their children's possible service as acolytes on Sunday mornings.
Acolyte service is a good first step of Sunday morning leadership for 
children.

2011 Community Fund Grants:  We began grant distributions last Sunday
with a visit from Ms. Lindsey Brady representing Court Appointed Special 
Advocates.  We continue grant distributions this Sunday with a visit from
Rev. Chris Skidmore representing Mission Lexington Dental Clinic.

The Big Blue Barrel is now 3/4 full!  Let's top it off by Labor Day, so that
its contents can go to work on behalf of our neighbors in central and 
eastern Kentucky.  Bring your non-perishable food items this Sunday or
next, and place them in the big blue barrel, just inside the double doors
entering Trinity Hall.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Friday, August 19, 2011

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, August 21, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

This Sunday we continue our discussion around video presentations
by Father Richard Rohr and others.  Come enjoy a cup of coffee,
join the conversation, or just listen in.

(Contact the church office, 263-5304, to request childcare.)

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - One Birth as an Act of Resistance
Text - Exodus 1:8 - 2:10

Grant Presentation to CASA of Lexington

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

*****

The Big Blue Barrel continues to be available to receive your donations
of non-perishable food items.  Look for the barrel just inside the double
doors entering Trinity Hall.  Once filled, God's Pantry will deliver the 
barrel's contents to our neighbors throughout central and eastern Kentucky.

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