Friday, December 30, 2011

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, January 1, at Walnut Hill Church

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

The Epiphany of the Lord

Sermon - What's the Trouble?
Text - Matthew 2:1-12

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.

Bring one (1) item to share for the refreshment table.

*****

Sunday Conversations program resumes next Sunday,
January 8.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Greetings to all!

December 28 is observed in some traditions as the "Feast of the
Holy Innocents," recalling Matthew's story of King Herod violently seeking
to kill the newborn Jesus, with the result being the deaths of many children 
in Bethlehem.  It is, perhaps, the shadow side of Christmas, a sobering 
reminder of how children often bear the brunt of adult actions in families,
in nations, and in the world. If we can bear to be mindful of this day, it 
provides an occasion for us to reflect on, pray for, and commit ourselves 
to the well-being of children in our homes and around the world.  In 
that spirit, consider the following prayer.

Great God,
guard the laughter of children.
Bring them safely through the perils of childhood,
so they may live the promises you give.
Do not let us be so preoccupied with our plans
that we fail to hear their voices,
or pay attention to their special vision of the truth;
but keep us with them,
ready to listen and to love,
even as in Jesus Christ you have loved us,
your grown-up and sometimes wayward children.  Amen.
(adapted from the Book of Common Worship)

In Memory:  Martha Moore departed this life on Friday, December 23.  
Martha and her late husband Tom were long time members of Walnut Hill 
Church.  Services and burial for Martha will be held at Walnut Hill Church 
and Cemetery on Thursday, December 29, 11am.  Keep Martha's children, 
Jane Lee and John, in your prayers.

The scripture lessons for Sunday, January 1, the Epiphany of the Lord:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
(The sacrament of Holy Communion)

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children will be provided during 
worship this Sunday, January 1.

After worship refreshments this Sunday, January 1, will be of the 
spontaneous variety.  You are invited to bring one (1) item for the 
refreshment table.  Regular after-worship hospitality will resume on
Sunday, January 8.

Sunday Conversations program is dismissed for this Sunday, 
January 1.  Sunday Conversations will resume at 10am, Sunday,
January 8.

Thanks to all who attended our Christmas Eve service and contributed
to the Innkeeper's Offering.  Over $800 was received to support the
Salvation Army's services to homeless women, children, and families.

Happy New Year to all!  

Mike Ward



 

Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas Weekend at Walnut Hill Church

This weekend, December 24 - 25, at Walnut Hill Church...

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, CHRISTMAS EVE, 5PM

"Lessons, Carols, and Candlelight"

We will gather as a "church family" to read the Christmas stories,
sing the carols, assemble the creche, and light the candles of the
season.  This service is for all ages.


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM

Morning Worship and Holy Communion

Sermon:  A Lasting Christmas Gift
Text:  John 1:1-18

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children.


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTMAS DAY, NOON

After Worship Gathering

All are invited to share refreshments and fellowship.

Bring one (1) item to share for the refreshment table.

*****

A Christmas Greeting:

Walnut Hill recently received a "You Tube" Christmas greeting 
from the Lexington Street Voice Council and the Community Inn,
which Walnut Hill has been supporting through our
"sandwich ministry."  You can access the greeting via the link 
below.



Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Greetings to all!

Ann Weems offers a poetic reflection on "The Christmas Spirit."

The Christmas spirit
   is that hope
which tenaciously clings
   to the hearts of the faithful
   and announces
in the face
   of any Herod the world can produce
   and all the inn doors slammed in our faces
   and all the dark nights of our souls
   that with God
all things still are possible,
   that even now
unto us
   a Child is born!

(from Kneeling in Bethlehem)

Christmas Weekend Schedule:
Sat, Dec 24, 5pm - "Lessons, Carols, and Candlelight" -  All ages
are invited to join in this "church family" gathering as we read the 
stories, sing the carols, assemble the creche, and light the candles to
welcome the Christ-child.
Sun, Dec 25, 11am - Morning Worship and Holy Communion -
Nursery care and Sunday School will be available for children.

Christmas Sunday Refreshments - Our refreshments for Christmas
morning will be very informal.  Feel free to bring one plate of cookies
to share for our after worship fellowship on Christmas Day.

Sunday Conversations are dismissed for Christmas Day and 
New Year's Day.  Sunday Conversations will resume on Sunday, 
January 8, 10am, in Trinity Hall.

Thanks to all who participated in this season's Giving Tree program.
With your generosity Walnut Hill was able to provide gifts to the children
and adults of three Lexington families as well as providing grocery
gift cards for Christmas dinner fixings.

The Innkeeper's Offering will be received on Christmas Eve to 
benefit the Salvation Army in its work of providing shelter to homeless
women, children, and families.  Checks may be payable to Walnut
Hill Church, designated "Innkeeper's Offering."

Lost and.....Found(?)...A couple items were recently reported lost including...
*a man's brown felt hat with a feather in the band, lost this past week
 in Trinity Hall
*a small digital camera, lost a few Sundays ago in the Sanctuary.
Use reply email to let us know if you happened to see either of these items.

Merry Christmas!

Mike Ward

Friday, December 16, 2011

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

The Christmas Story:  One Story or Two?

We will "unpack" the Christmas story to discover its multiple sources and 
meanings.  To put it simply, there is more to the story (ies) than we might 
first expect.  With this new understanding will come a deeper appreciation 
for what the original Christmas storytellers were trying to say about God,
the world, Jesus, and us.

Nursery care for children available upon request.  Use reply email or 
contact the church office to request nursery care.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sermon:  A Study in Contrast
Text:  Luke 1:26-38

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children.

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

*****

The Giving Tree
Persons participating in the Giving Tree program are requested to 
return their ornaments and gifts by this Sunday, December 18.  Thanks
for sharing Christmas joy with our neighbors!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Greetings to all!

Along about this time in the Advent season, Mary takes center stage.  
I have long appreciated Kathleen Norris' reflections on "Virgin Mary,
Mother of God."

I used to feel [some] dissonance whenever I heard Mary described
a both Virgin and Mother; she seemed to set an impossible standard
for any woman.  But this was narrow-minded on my part.  What Mary
does is to show me how I [or anyone] can be both virgin and  mother.
Virgin to the extent that I remain "one-in-myself," able to come to 
things with newness of heart; mother to the extent that I forget myself
in the nurture and service of others, embracing the ripeness of 
maturity that this requires.  This Mary is a gender-bender; she could
do the same for any man.
(adapted from Amazing Grace)

The Scriptures for Sunday, December 18, 4th Sunday of Advent:
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, December 18, 10am,
in Trinity Hall.  Our focus for the morning, "The Christmas Story: Is
It One Story, Or Two?"  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the 
conversation, or just listen in.

The Giving Tree: Persons participating in the Giving Tree program
are asked to return their Giving Tree gifts and ornaments by this
Sunday, December 18.  Thanks for helping to make a child's and
family's Christmas a joyful one!

Christmas Weekend Schedule:
Saturday, Dec 24, 5pm - "Lessons, Carols, and Candlelight"
for all ages.
Sunday, Dec 25, 11am - Morning Worship and Holy Communion,
nursery care and Sunday School for children.

Thanks to adult leaders, parents, grandparents, and most of all, the
children and youth, for the special Christmas presentation last Sunday
morning, and thanks to our hosts and "party-goers" for a delightful
Christmas gathering last Sunday afternoon. It was a joy-filled day!

Peace to all.

Mike Ward



Friday, December 9, 2011

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, December 11, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Reflections by Richard Rohr

Our conversation will focus around brief video presentations by 
Richard Rohr, Franciscan priest and founder of the New Jerusalem
Community (1971) in Cincinnati and the Center for Action and 
Contemplation (1986) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he 
currently serves as Founding Director.

Children's Choir & Pageant Practice, 10am, Trinity Hall

All children and youth are invited to gather at 10am for a final 
practice in preparation for Sunday's Christmas presentation.  All
children participating in the pageant are requested to be present
for this practice.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  Party Time!
Text:  Isaiah 61:1-11

Children's Christmas Pageant

WALNUT HILL CHRISTMAS PARTY, 3PM, 1202 DELONG PLACE

Bring an hors-d'oeuvre item and join us for this festive occasion!





Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Greetings to all!

Today, December 7, is the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Among the many reflections on that event, consider this one from a former
Navy chaplain regarding the solemn work of burying the dead (over 2,400).

The honor guard lined up on two sides of a large trench.  The firing squad
and the bugler on the third side of the trench and three chaplains on the 
fourth side of the trench - a Protestant, a Catholic, and a Jewish chaplain.
If the faith of the individual was known, that chaplain stepped forward and
conducted the interment.  If the faith of the deceased was not known, or if
the deceased was unknown, as was the case in many instances, all three
chaplains stepped forward.  A brief scripture, acceptable to all, was read
and then each chaplain offered a prayer in the English, in the Latin, and
in the Hebrew.  It was the [intention] of burial that every man [might] have
in death what had been his choice in life.  As one of the chaplains later
wrote, "The God of the universe heard the prayers of us all."

Pearl Harbor changed America.  Pearl Harbor changed the military.  The
war changed the chaplaincy.  The chaplaincy came forth with a new 
stature at the end of the war.  The war changed the religious community
of America.  Many will say that the ecumenical movement was born in 
chapels where people of all faiths sat down next to each other.  They had
never done this before - sang hymns, and prayed and listened to a chaplain
whose faith they didn't know, but yet, were spiritually enriched.  Three
chaplains working together - pluralistic cooperation.  That had so seldom
happened before.
(Captain Dave Chambers, USN retired, from the transcript of an address to 
the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, December 1991,
as found on website bluejacket.com)

The scripture lessons for Sunday, December 11, 3rd Sunday of Advent.
Isaiah 61:1-11
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, December 11, 10am,
in Trinity Hall (upstairs office).  Sunday Conversations include a wide 
range of topics from week to week.  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join 
the conversation, or just listen in.

Children's Choir and Pageant Practice will be held this Sunday,
December 11, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  All children are invited to be part 
of this special Walnut Hill tradition.  The Christmas Presentation and
Pageant will follow during the morning worship service (11am).

THE WALNUT HILL CHRISTMAS PARTY  will be held this Sunday, 
December 11, 3pm, at 1202 Delong Place.  Bring an hors-doeuvre item.
This gathering is intended for adults.

ACE Trip - We are currently receiving donations in support of the Athens
Chilesburg Elementary School Fifth Grade Class Trip to Washington, DC.
Walnut Hill has committed to sponsor 10 children at $530/each.  Your gift, 
in any amount, is welcome.  Make your check payable to Walnut Hill Church,
designated "ACE Trip."

Christmas Eve/Day at Walnut Hill Church:
Sat, December 24, 5pm - "Lessons, Carols, and Candlelight" for all ages.
Sun, December 25, 11am - Morning Worship and Holy Communion,
nursery care and Sunday School for children.

Men's Coffee - Walnut Hill men are invited to gather for coffee each Saturday
morning, 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.

Thanks to all hosts, cooks, and diners who brought the ingredients together
for a delicious and delightful Christmas Potluck last Sunday!

Peace to all.

Mike Ward
 

Friday, December 2, 2011

This Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, December 4, at Walnut Hill Church

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Compassion

We will discuss the concept of "compassion" as it is found across religious
traditions.  What might be the possibilities of and barriers to compassion?
Beginning our conversation will be a video presentation by Faisal Abdul
Rauf, a Muslim imam, who explores the concept of compassion as found
in the Qur'an, the stories of Rumi, and the lives of Jesus and Muhammad.

Children's Choir Practice, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to gather for music and 
singing in preparation for next week's Christmas season presentation.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  Our Unpleasant Jobs
Text:  Mark 1:1-8
The Sacrament of Holy Communion 

Nursery care and Sunday School for children (Christmas Pageant practice).

CHRISTMAS SEASON POTLUCK, Noon, Trinity Hall

Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert and join us for this delicious 
Walnut Hill tradition!