Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, December 30, at Walnut Hill Church...

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - "Let Your Servant Depart in Peace"

Text - Luke 2:22-40

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

(Bring a plate of cookies or other leftover Christmas treats.)_

*****

Sunday Conversations will resume on January 6.

Walnut HIll Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Greetings to all!

We continue our reflection on the event of Jesus' birth with thoughts 

from Frederick Buechner.

   For better or worse, it is a truth that, for twenty centuries, there have

been untold numbers of men and women who, in untold numbers of

ways, have been so grasped by the child who was born, so caught up

in the message he taught and the life he lived, that they have found 

themselves profoundly changed by their relationship with him.  And

they have gone on proclaiming, as the writers of the Gospels 

proclaimed before them, that through the birth of Jesus a life-giving

power was released into the world which to their minds could have

been no less than the power of God himself.  This is the central truth

that Matthew and Luke are trying to convey in their accounts of the

Nativity.  And it was a truth which no language or legend seemed too

extravagant to convey.  What the birth meant - meant to them, to the

world - was the truth that mattered to them most and, when all is said

and done, perhaps the only truth that matters to anyone.

(from Listening to Your Life)

The scripture lessons, for Sunday, December 30...

1 Samuel 2:18- 20, 26

Colossians 3:12-17

Luke 2:25 - 40

Men's Coffee - Walnut HIll men are invited to gather for coffee on 

Saturday mornings, 8am, at Paneras on Richmond Rd.  Feel free to stop

by for as long or short a time as your schedule allows.  No rsvp required.

Sunday Conversations will be on holiday break this Sunday.  Look 

for Sunday Conversations to resume on Sunday, January 6.

Morning Worship will be held at its usual 11am time this Sunday,

December 30.  Nursery care and Sunday School will be available for

children.

Sunday Refreshments this Sunday, December 30, will be an opportunity 

to share your leftover holiday goodies.  Bring a plate of whatever holiday treat

you have available and would like to share with the church community.

Christmas Eve brought a full Sanctuary of Walnut Hill members, friends,

and visitors.  Thanks to all who attended and to many who contributed

toward the Innkeeper's Offering, a total of $821, to support the provision of

shelter and other services for homeless children, women, and families.

Thank you to all those who by words, cards, and gifts shared the good

spirit of this season with the Ward family.  We are grateful for all these 

expressions of holiday cheer, and we are grateful for the Walnut Hill 

community.

Merry Christmas!

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, December 23, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Christmas...According to Luke

We will explore Luke's perspective on the Christmas story and 

discover the particular messages contained therein.  To read

Luke's story in advance of our conversation, see Luke 1 - 2.

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

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  Like Mother, Like Son

Text:  Luke 1:39-56

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

(a "birthday party" for Jesus)

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

*****

And on Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve...

Carols and Candlelight, 5pm, Sanctuary

All ages are invited to a service of readings, carols, and

candlelight.  Younger children will be invited to assemble

the Christmas creche.  The "Innkeeper's Offering" will be

received to support the Salvation Army's ministry of shelter

to homeless children, women, and families. 

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Greetings to all!

   When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother

of one who would lead the people, her response was understandable, 

"How can this be...?"  To which the angel replied, "The power of the Most High 

will overshadow you; therefore the child will be called Son of God." Kathleen 

Norris reflects on the word "therefore."

   The angel's "therefore" seems alarmingly significant, the seed of what

Christian theologians have for well over a thousand years termed the

scandal of the Incarnation.  It also resonates with my own life.  When a 

place or time seems touched by God, it is an overshadowing, a sudden

eclipsing of my priorities and plans.  But even in terrible circumstances and

calamities, in matters of life and death, if I sense that I am in the shadow of

God, I find light, so much light that my vision improves dramatically.  I know

that holiness is near.

   And it is not robed in majesty.  It does not assert itself with the raw power

of empire (not even the little empire of the self in which I all too often reside),

but it waits in puzzlement, it hesitates.  Coming from Galilee, as it were, from

a place of little hope, it reveals the ordinary circumstances of my life to be

full of mystery, and gospel, which means "good news."

(from the essay "Incarnation" as found in Amazing Grace)

 

The scripture lessons for Sunday, Dec 23, the 4th Sunday of Advent...

Micah 5:2-5

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-55

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, Dec 23, 10am, with our topic 

being "Christmas...according to Luke."   We will explore Luke's perspective 

on the Christmas story.  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, 

or just listen in.

"A Birthday Party" for Jesus will be held during the 11am hour Sunday 

School this Sunday, December 23, at Walnut Hill.  All Sunday School 

children are invited.  As presents, the children are invited to bring warm

hats/gloves that will be donated to neighbors needing them.  Walnut Hill Youth 

(middle and high school) are welcome to help with these festivities.

Christmas Eve at Walnut Hill - All ages are invited to gather at 5:00pm on 

Monday, December 24, for a service of lessons, carols, and candlelight.

Walnut Hill Cookbooks are available for your last minute Christmas gift giving. 

 Look for copies in the Sanctuary foyer and in Trinity Hall.

Thanks...

...to all who contributed toward our Christmas Giving Tree program.

A "sleigh" full of gifts have been delivered to two Lexington families (4 adults 

and 9 children).

...to all who sponsored poinsettias, provided plant cuttings, and helped in 

decorating the Sanctuary for Christmas.  

...to all who attended the annual Walnut Hill Christmas Party, with special 

thanks to our hosts, Mary Ann & J.W. Davis.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, December 16, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Christmas ... According to Matthew

This Sunday and next we will explore the Christmas narratives

as found in Matthew and Luke, discovering their points of 

agreement and difference as well as the messages they were

trying to convey to their first readers and to us.  To read 

Matthew's story ahead of our conversation, see Matthew 1 - 2.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - The Perfect Choice

Text - Matthew 1:18-25

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

Walnut Hill Christmas Party, 3pm, 993 Turkey Foot Rd

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

Walnut Hill tradition.

*****

"Giving Tree" ornaments and gifts are due back at Walnut Hill

this Sunday, December 16.

Walnut Hill Cookbooks are available for your holiday season

purchase.  Look for copies in the Sanctuary foyer.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Greetings to all!

We are drawing ever closer to Christmas and our attention turns toward 

the stories of Jesus' birth as found in Matthew and Luke.  New Testament 

theologian, Marcus Borg, offers a contemporary interpretation of those 

ancient stories.

With their stories of Jesus' conception by the Spirit, both Matthew and

Luke affirm that what happened in Jesus was not simply "of the flesh,"

but also "of God"- that is, "of the Spirit."  Both powerfully express the

ancient theme of light coming into darkness, Matthew with the star

shining as a beacon to the wise men, Luke with the glory of God 

appearing in the night sky as the angels sing to the shepherds.  The

decision of the Christian church in the fourth century to celebrate

Jesus' birth at the time of the winter solstice expresses this symbolism

perfectly (at least in the Northern Hemisphere):  he is born at the time

of deepest darkness, and his birth is the coming of the light.  Or, to put

it even more compactly, Jesus is the light in our darkness.

(from Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time)

The scripture lesson for Sunday, Dec. 16, the 3rd Sunday of Advent.

Matthew 1:18-25

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, December 16, 10am, in

Trinity Hall.  Our topic will be "Christmas...According to Matthew," the

first of two Sundays talking about the Christmas narratives in Matthew

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

listen in.

THE WALNUT HILL CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARTY will be held this

Sunday, December 16, 3pm - 5pm, at 993 Turkey Foot Road.  Bring an

hors-d'oeuvres item.  This gathering is intended for adults.  Watch for

more information via an email on Thursday. Don't miss this festive Walnut 

Hill tradition!

"Giving Tree" gifts and ornaments are due back at Walnut Hill Church 

this Sunday, December 16, so that they can be distributed in time for 

Christmas.  Thanks to all who are participating in this local outreach.

We will be decorating the Sanctuary for Christmas and doing other 

holiday preparations at Walnut Hill this Saturday morning, December 15.  

If you would like to help, use reply email or call the church office (263-5304) 

for more information.

"Carols and Candlelight," a worship service for all ages, will be held

on Monday, December 24, 5pm, at Walnut Hill Church.

A Service of Ordination and Consecration installing the Very Rev.

Douglas Hahn as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington will

be held this Saturday, December 15, 11am, at Christ Church Cathedral.

Visit www.diolex.org for more details.

Walnut Hill Cookbooks are still available for your Christmas season

giving.  Copies are $10/each.  Look for cookbooks in the Sanctuary foyer

and in Trinity Hall.

 

Thanks to all the children, youth, and adults who worked together to 

present a delightful pageant at Walnut Hill this past Sunday morning.  

Thanks also to the youth who brought caps, gloves, and scarves to their

Sunday evening Christmas party.  These items will be donated to the 

Catholic Action Center for distribution to their guests.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, December 9, at Walnut Hill Church....

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Every Person's Rights

On the eve of Human Rights Day (Dec 10), we will explore the

"Universal Declaration of Human Rights," the adoption of which

on December 10, 1948, established Human Rights Day.  Have

we made progress toward the ideals expressed therein?  To 

review the declaration ahead of time, visit...

www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml

Pageant Practice, 10am, Trinity Hall

All children and youth are requested to gather in Trinity Hall to

don their costumes and/or practice their parts for the children's

Christmas presentation.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - In Real Time

Text - Luke 3:1-6

Walnut Hill Christmas Pageant

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Youth Christmas Party, 5:30pm, 341 Albany Road

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to the Wards' for

a celebration of the season.  Use reply email or call 263-5304

for more information or to rsvp.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Greetings to all!

I was recently reminded of some thoughts regarding Christmas offered by 

Charles Dickens as spoken by the character "Fred," Scrooge's nephew, in

the novel, A Christmas Carol.  Fred is defending his appreciation for 

Christmas in response to Scrooge's charge that Christmas offers no "profit."

"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I

have not profited, I dare say ... Christmas among the rest.  But I am sure I

have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come around - apart

from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging

to it can be apart from that - as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable,

pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when

men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely,

and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers

to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.  

And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my

pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say,

God bless it!"

IN MEMORY - SHIRLEY N. RILEY

Walnut Hill Church member Shirley Riley departed this life on Monday,

December 3.  Services for Shirley will be held at Walnut Hill Church on

Friday, December 7, 10:00 am.  Visitation will be held at Kerr Brothers

(Harrodsburg Rd) on Thursday, December 6, 5:00 - 8:00 pm.

The scripture lessons for Sunday, December 9, the 2nd Sunday of Advent:

Malachi 3:1-4

Philippians 1:3-11

Luke 3:1-6

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, December 9, 10am, in the

upstairs office of Trinity Hall.  Our focus for the morning will be "Human

Rights Day," which happens to fall on December 10. 

Pageant Practice -  All children and youth participating in the Walnut 

Hill Christmas Pageant are asked to gather at 10am, December 9,

in Trinity Hall.  The children will don their costumes and practice their

parts in anticipation of their presentation during the worship hour.

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to a Walnut Hill Church Youth

Christmas Party on Sunday, December 9, 5:30pm, at 341 Albany Road.

Use reply email or call the church office for more information.

The Walnut Hill Christmas Party (for adults) will be held on Sunday,

December 16, 3pm, at 993 Turkey Foot Road.  Bring an hors-d'oeuvres

item.  

Poinsettias - We are currently welcoming sponsors for Walnut Hill's

Christmas poinsettias, which will be used to decorate the Sanctuary.

Plants are $20/each.  Poinsettia sponsors are welcome to take their

plants home after the season is complete.

The Walnut Hill Church Cookbook is available for purchase at $10/copy.

The cookbook contains recipes from current members and friends as 

well as some from Walnut Hill's "saints."  Cookbooks are available in the

foyer of the Sanctuary and Trinity Hall.

Thanks to all who picked up ornaments from the "The Giving Tree."  

Please return your ornaments, with the suggested gift, by Sunday, 

December 16.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward