Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, September 2, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Remember the Sabbath Day...

The 4th Commandment is usually associated with "blue laws"

and other restrictions on personal freedom.  Yet, might it have

been an early piece of law intended to protect laborers?  On 

this Labor Day weekend, we'll talk about the 4th Commandment

and what relevance it, and other scriptures, might have regarding 

labor issues of today.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  An Opportunity to Work

Text:  Matthew 20:1-16

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, August 29, 2012

Greetings to all!

As I write, Hurricane Isaac is lashing the Gulf coast, particularly 

New Orleans, with wind, surf, and rain.  It is a good day to pray

for those in the path of the storm.

Gracious God:  As the wind blows, the surf pounds, and the rain falls, 

be with those who have fled their homes, and with those who have 

sheltered in place.  Protect emergency responders who answer calls 

for help in the storm.  Strengthen those who operate pumps, guard 

levees, and patrol the streets.  When the wind and water have passed, 

grant peace to those who have lost loved ones or property, encouragement 

to those cleaning up their homes and neighborhoods, and endurance 

to those who bring aid to victims.  All this we ask in the name of the One 

who stilled the storm.  Amen.

For opportunities to offer financial gifts in response "Isaac", visit the

Church World Service website ( www.churchworldservice.org ) or other

relief agency sites.

In Memory:  Walnut Hill member Thomas M. Ward departed this

life on Thursday, August 23.  Services for Tom were held on 

Sunday, August 26, at Pisgah Presbyterian Church, where Tom 

served as Pastor from 1965-1969.  Peace be with Tom's wife, Lee,

as well as with his children and grandchildren

The lectionary scripture lessons for Sunday, September 2:

Song of Solomon 2:8-13

James 1:17-27

Mark 7:1-23

Sunday Conversations continue on Sunday, September 2, 10am, 

in Trinity Hall.  Our conversation for Sunday, inspired by the 

Labor Day holiday, will focus on issues related to "work".  Watch the 

Friday update for more details.

Community Inn:  A new sign up sheet has been posted for 

Walnut Hill's 4th Sunday "Sandwich Ministry" at the Lexington 

Community Inn.  Check the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer

for "Sandwich Ministry" details and opportunities.

The Hope Center:  We continue our summer gathering of travel/trial

size toiletries (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc) for guests at the

Hope Center.  You may place your donated items in the collection

box located in the Sanctuary foyer.

Fall Potluck:  The Fall Potluck is coming on Sunday, September 16,

immediately after morning worship.  Bring a salad, side dish, or 

dessert, and enjoy this delicious Walnut Hill tradition.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, August 26, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

How Big Is Your God?

We will view and discuss a video presentation by Father

Paul Coutinho who brings an Eastern influence to Western

spirituality.  If your experience of God has become static and

predictable, Coutinho invites you to believe that God is 

bigger, much bigger, than you imagine.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  Bigger Than This House!

Text:  1 Kings 8

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children.

After Worship Gathering,  Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Youth Gathering, 5:30pm, at Walnut Hill

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather for

fellowship and activities.

*****

A memorial service for Walnut Hill member Thomas Ward

will be held on Sunday, August 26, 3pm, at Pisgah 

Presbyterian Church (Woodford County).

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Greetings to all!

In his book, How Big is Your God?, Paul Coutinho shares a

story.

   With Christmas coming, Grandma was out shopping for gifts

for her grandchildren.  While she was at the toy store going 

through her list and carefully selecting gifts, she noticed a

small homeless girl outside wistfully looking into the store.

Grandma's heart went out to this little girl.  She invited her 

into the store and asked her to pick out a gift for herself.  As

they walked out of the store, the little girl held Grandma's 

hand and looked into her kind eyes and asked, "Are you God?"

Grandma, somewhat embarrassed and somewhat touched,

said, "No, my dear, I am not God."  "Then who are you?"

continued the little girl.  Grandma thought for a moment and

said, "I am a child of God."  The little girl, fully satisfied and

smiling, said, "I knew there was a connection."

   The little girl in the story had given Grandma a wonderful

Christmas gift that day - a gift better than any gift Grandma

would ever give or receive for the rest of her life.  She 

realized her true identity as a child of God.

The scripture lessons for Sunday, August 26...

1 Kings 8:22-43

Ephesians 6:10-20

John 6:56-69

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

each Saturday morning, 8am, at Paneras on Richmond Rd.

No program, just coffee and conversation.  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 26,

10am, in Trinity Hall.  Our focus for the day will be a video 

presentation, How Big Is Your God?, by Paul Coutinho.

A Host (s) is needed for our after worship refreshments this

Sunday, August 26.  Use reply email to volunteer for this 

Sunday or check the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer

to host a Sunday later in the summer/fall.

Youth (middle & high school) are invited to gather for activities 

at Walnut Hill this Sunday afternoon, August 26, 5:30pm.

Thanks to all those who participated in our exploration and

celebration of older adult ministry this past Sunday, including

those who contributed to a Walnut Hill donation ($572) to 

Faith In Action: Elder Outreach.  For more information about

volunteering or receiving services through Faith in Action,

see www.fiaky.org or call 859-230-4801.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, August 19, at Walnut Hill Church...

CELEBRATING MINISTRY 

WITH AND TO OLDER ADULTS

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Talking Together About Aging

Professor Graham Rowles (University of Kentucky) will be our resource 

person as we talk together about the challenges and opportunities of aging, 

and how the church might support and encourage persons living through 

those challenges and opportunities.

(nursery care provided for children)

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  To The Very Last Day

Text:  Deuteronomy 34:7

Introduction to Faith in Action: Elder Outreach

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments, fellowship, and opportunity

for individual conversation with Prof. Rowles.

Faith In Action Orientation, 12:30pm, Sanctuary

Ms. Allison Marcum (Program Coordinator, F.I.A.) will offer a one-hour

introduction/orientation to Faith In Action.  This will be an ideal opportunity

for anyone interested in volunteering for, or simply learning about, this 

important community ministry.   Nursery care will be available for children.

(We will have ample refreshments to see your "appetite" through the

after worship program.)

 

JOIN US FOR ALL OR PART OF THIS SPECIAL DAY!!

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Greetings to all!

This Sunday, August 19, we will focus on our ministry with and to persons

experiencing the challenges and opportunities of aging.  Among the 

challenges is that of isolation, often occasioned by declining health or 

limited mobility.  This challenge presents an opportunity for the community

to offer the ministry of presence.  Consider this story told by Mother 

Teresa about an old man she met during a visit to Australia. In the midst

of helping a local community of sisters clean the man's house...

...I discovered a beautiful lamp covered with dust.  Only God knows how 

many years had passed since he last lit it.  I said to him, "Don't you light

your lamp?  Don't you ever use it.?"  He answered, "No.  No one comes

to see me.  I have no need to light it.  Who would I light it for?"  I asked,

"Would you light it every night if the sisters came?" He replied, "Of course."

From that day forward the sisters committed themselves to visiting him

every evening.  We cleaned the lamp, and the sisters would light it every

evening.  Two years passed.  I had completely forgotten that man.  He 

sent this message: "Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues

to shine still."  I thought it was a very small thing.  We often neglect small

things.

(from In The Heart of The World)

*****

In Memory:  Wilma Nelson Friesen, a member of Walnut Hill Church,

departed this life on August 9, 2012.  Services and burial were held at 

Walnut Hill Church and Cemetery on August 13, 2012.  For the complete

obituary, see www.milwardfuneral.com.  

*****

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 - "AN AGING MINISTRY"

This Sunday, August 19, promises to be an enlightening, challenging, 

and inspiring day as we explore the challenges and opportunities of ministry 

in the context of "aging."  Graham Rowles (UK Sanders Brown Center 

on Aging) and Allison Marcum (Faith in Action: Elder Outreach) will be our

special guests.  Our schedule for the day includes:

*10am - Sunday Conversations - Prof. Rowles will be our resource 

person as we discuss ways in which Walnut Hill might support and 

encourage persons experiencing the challenges and opportunities of aging.

*11am - Morning Worship - Our worship will offer theological reflection on

ministry in the context of aging, including celebration of such ministry.  We

will receive a brief introduction to "Faith In Action: Elder Care."

*Noon - After Worship Gathering - Prof. Rowles will be available for 

individual conversation as we enjoy our traditional after worship hospitality.

*12:30pm - Faith In Action Orientation - Ms. Marcum will lead a one-hour

orientation to Faith In Action for persons interested in exploring this 

opportunity for ministry.

Join us for all or part of the day's activities!

*****

A host(s) is needed for our after worship refreshments this Sunday, August 19.  

Use reply email to volunteer for this Sunday's hospitality, or check the sign up 

sheet in the foyer to host a Sunday later in the summer or fall.

*****

Thanks to all those whose service and leadership made it possible for the 

Ward family to be away over these last two Sundays!

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Greetings to all!

The whole world is watching the Olympic Games in London.  The competitive 

pressure for the athletes must be enormous.  How does one handle that kind 

of pressure?  Michael Jordan, a member of the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team," 

recalled a lesson learned in the pressure of competition a decade earlier.

We had just called our last timeout in the NCAA Championship game against 

Georgetown in 1982.  [Coach Smith] was getting ready to draw up a play for the 

final shot when he stopped.  He looked up and said,  "I love these games.  

They're fun because they make you think."  There we were in the heat of the battle, 

and he's able to smile and laugh softly to himself.  Then he said, "This is fun."  

It was like a kid playing a kid's game.  Every time I was in that situation, I thought 

about those words:  "This is fun."

(from For the Love of the Game as found in Way to Live)

Preaching for the next two Sundays at Walnut Hill will be:

*August 5 - The Rev. Dr. David Sharrard, Walnut Hill member and 

Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Care & Counseling, Lexington Theological

Seminary.

*August 12 - The Rev. Dr. Gerard Howell, former Chaplain of the 

Lexington-Fayette County Dentention Center, and former Pastor of Central

Baptist Church, Lexington.

Morning Worship, Sunday, August 5:

*Sermon - "First Tool of Living Inside Out: Turning Pain into Power."

*Texts - Matthew 6:25-27; 7:13-14;  16:24-28

*The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Sunday School and Nursery Care continue each Sunday morning during 

the 11am worship hour.  Be sure to include Sunday School as part of your 

child's summer activities.

Sunday Conversations will be dismissed for the next two Sundays.

Sunday Conversations will resume on August 19, 10am. (see below)

Dr. Graham Rowles, U.K. professor and associate director of the Sanders 

Brown Center on Aging, will be our special guest on Sunday, August 19.  

Prof. Rowles will visit with us for our Sunday Conversation (10am) regarding 

the challenges and opportunities that individuals face as they age and ways 

that congregations can support and encourage people in their aging. We

will also have opportunity to learn more about Faith In Action, a volunteer

organization whose mission is to improve quality of life and help older 

adults live independently.  A brief orientation regarding Faith in Action 

will be offered after the worship service for those interested in possible 

service as a Faith in Action volunteer.  Plan to be with us!

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather on Sunday, August 12,

5:30pm, for a light meal and activities, including planning for the school 

year ahead.  Contact Lauren Fouts for more information.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward