Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Greetings to all!

This week brings our Exploring Our Spirituality (EOS) season to a close.  
The season's final week reminds us that the spiritual journey is an ongoing, 
indeed lifelong, process.  I am reminded of the story of Brother Lawrence, 
the 17th century monk who, after years of formal practices, discovered that 
the spiritual life is really quite simple, namely practicing a sense of God's 
presence in all areas of life, including the monastery kitchen, Lawrence's 
regular work assignment.  Brother Lawrence wrote...

I have quit all forms of devotions and set prayers except those to which 
my state obliges me. And I make it my business only to persevere in God's 
holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention and a general 
fond regard for God, which I may call an actual presence of God; or, to 
speak better, an habitual, silent, and secret conversation of the soul with 
God, which often causes in me joys and raptures inwardly, and sometimes 
also outwardly so great that I am forced to use means to moderate them, 
and prevent their appearance to others.
(from Practicing the Presence of God, Second Letter)

The Scripture lesson for Sunday, November 18...
John 15:1-8

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, November 18, 10am, in 
Trinity Hall.  Our conversation focus for the morning will be "Tracking Our
Spiritual Journey."  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or
just listen in.

Children's Choir: Children through elementary age are invited to gather
for music and singing this Sunday, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  The children are
working toward a Sunday morning presentation during the holiday season.

Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship, Sunday, November 18, 7:00 pm, 
Gethsemane Lutheran Church (2185 Garden Springs Drive).  Walnut Hill 
members and friends are invited to an ecumenical gathering in observance 
of Thanksgiving.  An offering (cash and non-perishable food items) will be 
received to benefit God's Pantry. 

Thanksgiving Stuffing - Walnut Hill is providing the stuffiing (a.k.a. "dressing")
for the Nathaniel Mission Community Thanksgiving Dinner.  About 400 
people will be served, requiring about 125 pounds of stuffing.  You can
sponsor a pan of stuffing for $20.  Also, we need a few volunteers to help
with delivering the stuffing on Tuesday (11/20).  Use reply email to 
inquire about sponsoring a pan of stuffing or helping with the delivery.

Thanks to all who contributed toward Walnut Hill Church's response to 
Hurricane Sandy, a total of $1,107.  Visit www.cwsglobal.org/sandy  for links to 
videos and other information describing how Walnut Hill's gifts are being used.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward


No comments: