Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

An Epistle of Straw...

So the reformer, Martin Luther, described, in rather derogatory

terms, the Epistle of James, that little book of wisdom hidden 

toward the end of the New Testament.  What was Luther's 

problem with this letter, and why might the early church have

exhibited much wisdom by including it among the Christian

scriptures?  We will survey this often overlooked writing.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: It's Not About Us

Text:  Mark 9:38-41

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

CROP Walk, 3pm, Second Presbyterian Church

All ages are invited to participate in the 3-mile CROP Walk

through downtown Lexington to raise awareness and funds

for hunger relief locally and around the world.  You may

participate by walking with the Walnut Hill team or by 

sponsoring a walker.  Meet at Second Presbyterian Church.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Greetings to all!

We crossed the autumnal equinox this past weekend as the earth makes 

its regular journey around the sun, tilting back and forth as it goes.  We are

mostly unaware of all this movement except as the days grow shorter or 

longer and as the weather changes from season to season.  Dorothy Bass 

reflects on the human response to the turning of the seasons.

Our home is a planet where the days begin to grow longer in the northern 

hemisphere just as Christmas arrives.  Six months later, they start growing 

shorter again.  Spring comes to every clime, however different it may appear  

in Norway, New Zealand, and Ecuador, and so does autumn.  Human beings 

respond by elaborating on nature's turnings: in every age and place, we 

develop seasonal rhythms of planting and reaping, of fasting and feasting, 

of letting go and starting afresh.  These rhythms run through the days and the 

weeks, stitching them together until they come full circle over the course of the year.

(from Receiving the Day)

Dinner & Program - Walnut HIll men and women, and guests, are invited 

to gather for dinner on Thursday, September 27, 6:30pm, at the Bronte Bistro 

at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.  Our special guest for the evening will be 

State Rep. Kelly Flood (75th District) who will talk with us about her experiences 

in state government as well as engage in conversation with us about this political 

season. RSVP via reply email.  Walk ins welcome. 

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

September 30.  Use reply email to inquire about hosting this Sunday, or

check the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer to host a Sunday later in the

fall.  Thanks to all our after worship hosts!

The CROP Walk is coming on Sunday, September 30, 3:00pm, at Second 

Presbyterian Church.  The CROP Walk is an ecumenical event to raise funds 

for hunger relief locally and around the world. You may join the Walnut Hill 

effort by walking (3 miles) with the WHC team or by sponsoring a walker.

All ages are welcome!  For more information about the Greater Lexington

CROP Walk, go to   http://lexcropwalk.blogspot.com/ .

EXPLORING OUR SPIRITUALITY  (EOS) will begin soon.  EOS is a program of 

small group meetings, Sunday morning conversations, and individual activities 

intended to deepen one's spiritual experience. Small group registration is now 

open.  Use reply email to inquire about participating in a small group this fall.

Thanks to the Walnut Hill youth for preparing over 100 sandwiches that were

distributed at the Lexington Community Inn last Sunday evening.  The youths'

service as "Sandwich Ministers" was part of their Sunday evening experience at 

the "WHC Evening Shelter."  Ask them about their experience. For more information 

about homelessness in Lexington, go to www.thefaceofhomelessness.info .   

Ecumenical Sunday will be observed at Walnut Hill Church on Sunday, October 7.

Our guest for the day will be Dr. Jean Hawxhurst, Superintendent of the Frankfort

District of the KY United Methodist Conference, and a leader in ecumenism at 

the local, regional, and national level, including service as Secretary of "Churches

Uniting In Christ"  ( http://churchesunitinginchrist.org/ ).  Ecumenical Sunday 

activities will include conversation with Dr. Hawxhurst (10am), morning worship and 

Holy Communion (11am), and our traditional after worship refreshments (Noon).  

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Stages of Faith

We will talk about stages of faith/spiritual development as 

proposed by James Fowler and Scott Peck.  Where do we 

find ourselves along the continuum, and how might faith 

stages theory help us in our own faith/spiritual development?

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  A Marvelous Photo-op!

Text:  Mark 9:33-37

Child Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Youth Meeting, 5:30pm, Trinity Hall

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

a meal and activities.  Sunday's program will focus on 

"homelessness" including a movie clip, role playing,

service project, and a "special" meal.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Greetings to all!

The human mind can, in one moment, be the source of our most 

inspiring imaginations and dreams, and in the next moment be the

source of our most burdensome worries and doubts.  Henri Nouwen

reflects on the always active mind.

Our minds are always active.  We analyze, reflect, daydream, or 

dream.  There is not a moment during the day or night when we are

not thinking.  You might say our thinking is "unceasing."  Sometimes

we wish that we could stop thinking for a while; that would save us

from many worries, guilt feelings, and fears.  Our ability to think is a

great gift, but it is also a source of great pain.  Do we have to be

victims of our unceasing thoughts?  No, we can convert our 

unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer by making our inner 

monologue into a continuing dialogue with our God, who is the

source of all love...Let us break out of our isolation and realize that

Someone who dwells in the center of our beings wants to listen

with love to all that occupies and preoccupies our minds.

(adapted from Bread for the Journey)

In the Community:  In observance of the International Day of Peace,

The Interfaith Alliance of the Bluegrass invites all people to gather

and pray for one day of "ceasefire" in our world.  This prayer gathering 

will be held on Thursday, September 20, 7pm - 8:15pm, at Woodland 

Christian Church (530 East High Street).

The lectionary lessons for Sunday, September 23:

Proverbs 31:10-31

James 3:13 - 4:8

Mark 9:30-37

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, September 23, 10am,

as we explore "stages of faith."  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the

conversation, or just listen in.

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather at Walnut Hill

this Sunday afternoon, September 23, at 5:30pm.  

Dinner & Program - Walnut HIll men and women, and guests, are

invited to gather for dinner on Thursday, September 27, 6:30pm, 

at the Bronte Bistro at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.  Our special guest

for the evening will be State Rep. Kelly Flood (75th District) who 

will talk with us about her experiences in state government as well

as engage in conversation with us about this political season.

RSVP via reply email, the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer, or

by phone to church office (263-5304).

Exploring Our Spirituality (EOS) will begin in late September.  EOS is

a program of small group meetings, Sunday morning conversations, 

and individual activities intended to deepen one's spiritual experience.

Small group registration is now open.  Use reply email to inquire about

participating in a small group this fall.

The CROP Walk is coming on Sunday, September 30, 3:00pm, at

Second Presbyterian Church.  The CROP Walk is an ecumenical 

event to raise funds for hunger relief locally and around the world.

You may join the Walnut Hill effort by walking with the WHC team

or by sponsoring a walker.

Firewood - Walnut Hill has lately taken down a couple trees on the

church property along the driveway.  You might have seen the cut 

wood stacked there.  This wood is free for the taking.  Help yourself!

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

 

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

FALL POTLUCK!!

Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert.

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Thoughts in the Presence of Fear

Shortly after 9-11, 2001, Wendell Berry composed twenty-seven

"Thoughts in the Presence of Fear."  We will talk about these

"Thoughts" in light of the 9-11 anniversary and other recent 

events.  To read Berry's "Thoughts" ahead of time, check out

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/214 .

You can hear/see Berry's twenty-seven "Thoughts" on the KETKY 

channel Friday evening, Sept 14, at 7pm.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: Breakthrough to Peace

Text:  Matthew 5:9

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

FALL POTLUCK, Noon, Trinity Hall

Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert and join in this delicious

Walnut HIll tradition.

*****

The Vestry will meet at 10am in Trinity Hall, upstairs office.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Greetings to all!

Education has been in the news lately, from university enrollments to

big city teacher strikes.  Meanwhile, the work of teaching and learning 

goes on, formally and informally, around the country and around the 

world.  From a child in the classroom to an older adult in her own study, 

the opportunity to learn is ever present.  Parker Palmer reminds us that

one of the prerequisites of learning in any setting is to create internal 

"space" for receiving new information and truth.  

If we are to open a space for knowing, we must be alert to our fear

of not knowing and to our fearful tendency to fill the learning space.

First, we must see that not knowing is simply the first step toward 

truth, that the anxiety created by our ignorance calls not for instant

answers but for an adventure into the unknown.  If we can affirm the

search for truth as a continually uncertain journey, we may find the 

courage to keep the space open rather than packing it with pretense.

Second, we must remember that we not only seek truth but that truth

seeks us as well.  When we become obsessed with our own seeking,

we fill the space with methods and hypotheses and reports that may

be mere diversions.  But when we understand that truth is constantly

seeking us, we have reason to open a space in which truth might

find us out.

(from To Know As We Are Known)

The lectionary scriptures for Sunday, September 16...

Proverbs 1:20-33

James 3:1-12

Mark 8:27-38

FALL POTLUCK - Join us this Sunday, September 16, immediately

after worship, for our traditional Fall Potluck.  Bring a salad, side

dish, or dessert, and your appetite.  Meat and beverage will be 

provided.

Dinner & Program - Walnut HIll men and women, and guests, are

invited to gather for dinner on Thursday, September 27, 6:30pm, 

at the Bronte Bistro at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.  Our special guest

for the evening will be State Rep. Kelly Flood (75th District) who 

will talk with us about her experiences in state government as well

as engage in conversation with us about this campaign season.

RSVP via reply email, the sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer, or

by phone to church office (263-5304).

Exploring Our Spirituality (EOS) will begin in late September.  EOS is

a program of small group meetings, Sunday morning conversations, 

and individual activities intended to deepen one's spiritual experience.  

Watch for more details.

Last Call for Recipes - This is the final call for recipes to be included

in our upcoming Walnut Hill cookbook, which will feature dishes that

we have enjoyed together at potlucks, holiday gatherings, and our 

our regular after worship fellowship.  Use reply email to submit your

recipe.

The CROP Walk is coming on Sunday, September 30, 3:00pm, at

Second Presbyterian Church.  The CROP Walk is an ecumenical 

event to raise funds for hunger relief locally and around the world.

You may join the Walnut Hill effort by walking with the WHC team

or by sponsoring a walker.

Firewood - Walnut Hill has lately taken down a couple trees on the

church property along the driveway.  You might have seen the cut 

wood stacked there.  This wood is free for the taking.  Help yourself!

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, September 9, at Walnut Hill Church

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

The Gospel in Seven Words

Editors of the Christian Century magazine recently asked

several of its regular writers and contributors to summarize

the Christian message in seven words or less.  We will talk

about some of their responses, and maybe even offer a few of

our own.  To view some of the responses in advance, go to

www.christiancentury.org/7words .

Welcome to the Table, 10am, Trinity Hall

This introduction to the Sacrament of Holy Communion is

offered for middle-school age and older youth who are not

quite ready for Confirmation but are ready to begin sharing

the Sacrament of Holy Communion with their families and 

the congregation.  Meet in the upstairs office of Trinity Hall.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  Changing Our Minds

Text:  Mark 7:24-30

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, Trinity Hall

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

meal and activities.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Greetings to all!

With the Labor Day holiday and the national political conventions (soon)

behind us, the campaign season is now fully upon us.  Several years 

ago the Kentucky Council of Churches issued a "Statement on Campaign

Ethics" including a variety of recommendations for ordinary citizens, 

such as...

*help each other understand the unique value of each vote...

*be as informed as possible prior to voting in any election...

*avoid political decisions based on single issues...

*seek out a variety of sources of information about the issues and the

candidates...

*seek a larger view of what actions will benefit the common good...

*broaden one's understanding of "self-interest" to include the welfare of 

neighbors...

*be aware of the affiliations of contributors to political campaigns and

their particular aims... 

For the full text of the KCC's "Statement on Campaign Ethics" including 

recommendations for citizens, candidates, media, and religious 

organizations, see www.kycouncilofchurches.org , click on "Advocacy," 

then "Council Statements," then "Campaign Ethics."

The lectionary scriptures for Sunday, September 9...

Proverbs 22:1-23

James 2:1-17

Mark 7:24-37

"Welcome to the Table", an introduction to the Sacrament of Holy

Communion, will be offered this Sunday, September 9, 10am, in Trinity

Hall (upstairs office).  This program is intended for middle school (and above)

age children/youth who are not quite ready for Confirmation but are ready to 

share in the Sacrament with their families and the congregation.

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, September 9, 10am, in 

Trinity Hall.  This Sunday's conversation is titled, "The Gospel in Seven

Words," from a recent article in The Christian Century.  Come enjoy a 

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

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather at Walnut Hill this 

Sunday, September 9, 5:30pm, for a meal and activities.

THE FALL POTLUCK is coming on Sunday, September 16, immediately

after morning worship.  Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert (and your

appetite!).  Meat and beverage will be provided.

Dinner and Program - We are currently finalizing plans for a Men's &

Women's Dinner and Program for Thursday evening, September 27.  

Mark the date on your calendar, and watch for more details.

Exploring Our Spirituality (EOS) will begin in late September.  EOS is

a program of small group meetings, Sunday morning conversations, and

individual activities intended to deepen one's spiritual experience.  Small

group sign up begins this Sunday, September 9.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward