Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, March 31, Easter Sunday, at Walnut Hill Church...

THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

Easter Sunrise Service, 7am, Cemetery/Sanctuary

   We will gather in the spirit of the disciples who went to the cemetery

early on Sunday morning and found the tomb to be empty.  

   Weather permitting, we will gather in the cemetery.  In case of 

inclement weather, we will gather in the sanctuary.

   After the service, all are invited to enjoy some breakfast refreshments 

in Trinity Hall.

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Perspectives on the Resurrection

   We will review the several gospel witnesses to the Resurrection of

the Lord exploring their shared witness and distinct perspectives.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - An Idle Tale

Text -  Luke 24:1-12

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.

   (Please bring one item for the refreshment table.)

Easter Egg Hunt, Noon, Church Grounds/Sanctuary

   Children are invited to hunt for eggs scattered around the church 

grounds.  In the case of inclement weather, the hunt will be held in the 

sanctuary.  Parents and others are invited to bring one dozen stuffed eggs 

(candy or prize) for the hunt.  Also, be sure the children bring their baskets 

for hunting. 

*****

One Great Hour of Sharing - The One Great Hour of Sharing offering

will be received on Easter morning.  Bring your home collection boxes.

Baskets will be available to receive cash and check donations.  Make

checks payable to Walnut Hill Church.  The OGHS supports disaster

relief and refugee resettlement.  For more information regarding the

OGHS, visit   www.onegreathourofsharing.org .

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Greetings to all!

   In his book, Eternal Life, Hans Kung, the sometimes controversial 

Catholic theologian, considers the importance of the Easter message 

in the Christian tradition.  While doing so, he summarizes that message:

   With all its difficulties, the [Easter] message emerges from something

quite simple and aims at something quite simple.  And in this respect 

the different primitive Christian witnesses...are unanimous despite all 

the discrepancies and inconsistencies of the diverse traditions.  The 

Crucified lives forever with God - as obligation and hope for us.  The 

people of the New Testament are sustained, even fascinated, by the 

certainty that the one who was killed did not remain dead, but is alive, 

and that the person who clings to him and follows him will likewise live.  

The new, eternal, life of this One becomes a challenge and a real hope 

for all.  No new dogma is proclaimed here, but there is a new call to 

discipleship, to die with Christ and to rise with him...

*****MAUNDY THURSDAY, MARCH 28

Before reaching the joyful proclamation of Easter, we are invited to travel 

the path of Christ's passion.  With that path in mind, join us for...

Evening Prayer - Thursday, Mar 28, 7pm, in the Sanctuary.

We will call to mind the breaking of bread, the garden, the arrest, and the 

scattering of the disciples.   (Nursery care and activities will be provided 

for children.)

*****EASTER SUNDAY, MARCH 31

Then join us on Sunday, Mar 31, to celebrate the Resurrection of Lord.

7:00am - Easter Sunrise Service - We will gather in the Walnut Hill 

Cemetery in witness to the Risen Christ.  Dress for the outdoors.  In case 

of rain, the service will be held in the Sanctuary.

10:00am - Sunday Conversations - We will review the Easter narratives

and talk about what the Easter message means for us today. 

11:00am - Morning Worship & Holy Communion - traditional liturgy 

and sacrament celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord.

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children.

Noon - After Worship Gathering - All are invited to gather for Easter 

fellowship.  Bring one item for the refreshment table.

Noon - Easter Egg Hunt - Children are invited to hunt for eggs scattered 

around the church grounds. Parents and others are invited to bring 

one dozen stuffed eggs (candy or prizes) to add to the hunt. 

*****

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received on Easter Day.

You may bring your OGHS coin boxes to Walnut Hill.  Baskets will be available

for cash and check donations.  The OGHS supports disaster relief and 

refugee resettlement around the country and around the world.  For more

information regarding the OGHS, visit  www.onegreathourofsharing.org .

*****

Please note that Children's Choir will not meet on Easter Sunday.

*****

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, March 24, at Walnut Hill Church...

PALM SUNDAY & ANNUAL EGG HUNT

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Palm Sunday: Piety or Protest

We will explore the story of Palm Sunday, asking whether it was

a spontaneous celebration, pious procession, or planned 

protest.  We will also explore our own experiences of public

demonstrations and protests.

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children and youth are invited to gather for music and singing

in anticipation of a Sunday morning presentation later in the 

spring.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  Did You Hear the Echo?

Text:  Luke 19:28-40

Children's Procession of the Palms

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Walnut Hill Egg Hunt, Noon, Church Grounds

Children are invited to hunt for candy and prize eggs hidden

around the church grounds.

Parents (and others) are requested to bring 1 doz. stuffed

eggs (candy or fun prize) to be used for the hunt.

Children should dress warmly and have a basket for

collecting eggs.

As long as the weather is dry, the hunt will go on as scheduled.

In case of rain, the hunt will be postponed till March 31.

Youth Gathering, 5:30pm, Trinity Hall

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

and activities.  This Sunday we will be working on Walnut Hill's

Earth Day display.  Parents interested in helping with this project

are welcome (though not required) to attend.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Greetings to all:

This Sunday (Mar 24) is Palm Sunday on the church calendar, the opening 

of Holy Week.  As is Holy Week, so too Palm Sunday is an occasion of 

contrasts including joy and sorrow, welcome and rejection, defeat and victory, 

to name a few. Anne Weems' poem, "Holy Week," suggests the variety of 

experiences ahead of us.

Holy is the week...

Holy, consecrated, belonging to God...

We move from hosannas to horror

with the predictable ease

of those who know not what they do.

Our hosannas sung,

our palms waved,

let us go with passion into this week.

It is a time to curse fig trees that do not yield fruit.

It is a time to cleanse our temples of any blasphemy.

It is a time to greet Jesus as the Lord's Anointed One...

It is a time of preparation...

The time to give thanks and break bread is upon us.

The time to give thanks and drink the cup is imminent...

And on that darkest of days, each of us must stand

beneath the tree

and watch the dying

if we are to be there

when the stone is rolled away.

The only road to Easter morning

is through the unrelenting shadows of that Friday.

Only then will the alleluias be sung;

only then will the dancing begin.

(as found in Kneeling in Jerusalem)

The scripture lessons for Sunday, March 24, Palm Sunday...

Acts 16:16-40

Luke 19:28-40

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, March 24, 10am, in Trinity 

Hall.  Our focus for the morning will be Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.  Was 

it a spontaneous occurrence, a religious observance, or a political 

demonstration?

Children's Choir - Children, elementary age through youth, are invited to 

gather in Trinity Hall on Sunday, Mar 24, 10am, for music and singing.

Holy Week is coming.  Keep the following special activities in mind:

*Sun, Mar 24 - Palm Sunday: Children's procession of the Palms 

during worship and Egg Hunt after worship.  Parents (and others) are 

invited to bring one dozen stuffed eggs (candy or simple prize) for the 

hunt.

*Thu, Mar 28 - Maundy Thursday - Evening Prayer at 7pm for

adults; nursery and activities for children.

*Sun, Mar 31 - Easter Sunday - Sunrise Service at 7am; Morning

Worship and Holy Communion at 11am.

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather this Sunday, Mar 24,

5:30pm - 7:00pm, to continue working on an Earth Day festival display.  

Parents are welcome to help.  Pizza will be served at the meeting.  Let

us know by reply email if youth and/or a parent(s) will be attending, so

that we can have plenty of pizza available.

Lilies - As is our custom, the Sanctuary will be decorated with lilies on

Easter Sunday.  If you would like to sponsor a lily for the Sanctuary, you

may do so at $15/plant.  Lily sponsors are invited to take their plants 

after worship on Easter Sunday and enjoy them at home.

The Good Earth, an ecumenical Earth Day festival, will be held at

Walnut Hill Church on Sunday, April 21, 4pm - 7pm.  We will need plenty 

of help providing hospitality to visitors from several participating 

congregations.  Mark the date on your calendar. Watch for more details.

EXPLORING OUR SPIRITUALITY (EOS) is ongoing offering a variety of 

opportunities for your participation including...

*Sunday Conversations (10am) and Morning Worship (11am) around 

the EOS themes.  Join us any Sunday you are able.

*Home Activity flyers with suggestions for individual and family activities.  

Pick up a weekly flyer in the Sanctuary foyer.

*Small Groups meeting on Sunday evenings, Monday evenings, and 

Thursday mornings.  

Use reply email to inquire about EOS activities.

Thanks to all who by ongoing or special service made it possible for 

the Wards to enjoy some family time this past Sunday!

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

  

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, March 17, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

A Place at the Table

We will view a brief segment from the video, A Place at the

Table, concerning hunger in the U.S..  With the video and various

scriptures in mind, we will discuss how the issue of hunger

relates to the general theme of "justice" (and "injustice).

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children and youth are invited to gather for music and singing

in preparation for a Sunday morning presentation later in the 

spring.

Confirmation Study, 10am, Trinity Hall

High School Youth will gather for confirmation study.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Active Love: Breaking Free from the Maze of Injustice

Text - Luke 10:25-37

The Rev. Dr. David Sharrard preaching

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Weekly Letter Extra

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Dear Friends:

My apologies for an additional item in your inbox, but I promised

our ecumenical neighbors at Pax Christi Catholic Church to share

with you an invitation, and I forgot, so please know that you are

invited to ... 

The Awakening 

- (a lenten service in the praise worship style)

Wednesday, March 13 (tonight), 6:30pm  

- (service runs 30 - 45 minutes)

Pax Christi Catholic Church, 4001 Victoria Way

- (corner of Victoria Way and Man-O-War Blvd)

Simple soup supper follows for all who would like to stay.

Thanks for your patience with this extra email item.

Peace,

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Greetings to all!

The EOS season (see below) invites us to some reflection this week 

around the theme of "justice."  A few years back, the Kentucky Council of 

Churches published a policy statement titled, "A Call for Justice," which 

might be useful for this reflection:

     God's justice requires that all persons have equal access to God's

gifts and that no partiality or preference of any kind be given to any

person or groups of persons.  There is always an element of grace and

mercy behind the "justice" that God brings.  It assures not just what is

deserved, but more than what is deserved; and mercy is always offered 

to all equally.  "Injustice" is always seen as taking more than one's "fair" 

(equal) share at the expense of someone else...

     We believe that God's intent for justice in creation will not finally be

resisted.  We covenant to be faithful and obedient to this vision of a

world where justice reigns and to work intentionally and immediately

toward achieving it.  We pray for the strength and freedom to carry out

bold and creative acts of justice in our world.

(for the full text, visit www.kycouncilofchurches.org, click on "Advocacy,"

then "Council Statements," then  "Call for Justice.")

The scripture lessons for Sunday, March 17, the 5th Sunday in Lent:

Luke 10:23-37; 11:37-54

Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-60; 16:16-24

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, March 17, 10am, in Trinity 

Hall.  The focus of this week's conversation will be our and others' 

experience of "justice" and "injustice."

Children's Choir - Children, elementary age through youth, are invited 

to gather in Trinity Hall on Sunday, 10am, for music and singing.  

EXPLORING OUR SPIRITUALITY (EOS) is underway offering a variety of 

opportunities for your participation including...

*Sunday Conversations (10am) and Morning Worship (11am) around 

the EOS themes.  Join us any Sunday you are able.

*Home Activity flyers with suggestions for individual and family activities.  

Pick up a weekly flyer in the Sanctuary foyer.

*Small Groups meeting on Sunday evenings, Monday evenings, and 

Thursday mornings.  

Use reply email to inquire about EOS activities.

Holy Week is coming.  Keep the following special activities in mind:

*Sun, Mar 24 - Palm Sunday: Children's procession of the Palms 

during worship and Egg Hunt after worship.  Parents (and others) are invited 

to bring one dozen stuffed eggs (candy or simple prize) for the hunt.

*Thu, Mar 28 - Maundy Thursday - Evening Prayer at 7pm for

adults; nursery and activities for children.

*Sun, Mar 31 - Easter Sunday - Sunrise Service at 7am; Morning

Worship and Holy Communion at 11am.

Lilies - As is our custom, the Sanctuary will be decorated with lilies on

Easter Sunday.  If you would like to sponsor a lily for the Sanctuary, you

may do so at $15/plant.  Lily sponsors are invited to take their plants 

after worship on Easter Sunday and enjoy them at home.

The Good Earth, an ecumenical Earth Day festival, will be held at

Walnut Hill Church on Sunday, April 21, 4pm - 7pm.  We will need plenty 

of help providing hospitality to visitors from several participating 

congregations.  Mark the date on your calendar. Watch for more details.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, March 10, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversation, 10am, Trinity Hall

Transformation: Inside and Out

We will view and discuss a video presentation by Richard Rohr 

as he talks about spiritual transformation and the "12 Step"

process (AA).  It seems we all might be living with an addiction

from which we need to be free. 

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children and youth are invited to gather for music and singing

in preparation for a presentation later in the spring.

Confirmation Study, 10am, Trinity Hall

High School Youth are invited to an exploration of what it means 

to answer Jesus' invitation ... "Follow me!"    

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: Beginning With The End In View

Text:  Luke 4:14-21

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.  This Sunday's activities include planning

for the Earth Day festival coming up on April 21.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Greetings to all!

I've been thinking this week about "transformation," from transformation

of the self to transformation of the society.  Unitarian minister and writer,

Robert Senghas, offers some thoughts about "a transforming religion."

     A transforming religion is a way of living in which we open ourselves

to change and growth, even though that way may be difficult or painful.

A transforming religion is one in which we as individuals go through

transformation into new persons.  It asks that we open ourselves to life,

whatever that may bring, rather than live by trying to hang on to what

we can.

(from Cycles of Reflection)

The scripture lessons for Sunday, March 10, the 4th Sunday in Lent.

Luke 4:14-21; 9:1-6, 10-17

Acts 5:12-39; 6:1-7

The EOS Season, "Discipleship," is ongoing through March.  You can 

participate by attending Sunday Conversations and/or Sunday Morning 

Worship, by using a weekly home activity flyer (available in the Sanctuary 

foyer), and/or by participating in an EOS small group.

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, March 10, 10am, in

Trinity Hall.  Our topic for the day will be, "Transformation: Inside and

Out."

Children's Choir:  Children and youth are invited to gather for music

and singing this Sunday, March 10, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  The young

people will be learning music for presentation later in the spring.

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather this Sunday

evening, March 10, 5:30pm, in Trinity Hall for a meal and program.  

We will begin planning Walnut Hill's activity booth for the upcoming 

Earth Day festival (see below).

Egg Hunt: The annual Walnut Hill Egg Hunt is scheduled for Sunday,

March 24, immediately after morning worship.  Children through

grade 4 are welcome to hunt.  Parents (and others) are asked to 

bring 1 dozen stuffed eggs (either candy or simple prize) to be shared 

for the hunt.

The Good Earth, an ecumenical Earth Day festival, will be held at

Walnut Hill Church on Sunday, April 21, 4pm - 7pm.  We will need plenty 

of help providing hospitality to visitors from several participating 

congregations.  Mark the date on your calendar. Watch for more details.

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

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

stop in for as long or short a time as your schedule allows.  No rsvp

required.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Activities as Scheduled March 3

Sunday, March 3, 8:15am

Dear Friends,

It's a snowy morning at Walnut Hill, but mostly powdery,
so activities are ongoing as scheduled this morning
including:

10:00am - Sunday Conversations & Confirmation Study
11:00am - Morning Worship & Holy Communion
Noon - After Worship Gathering

Conditions may be different at your home, so please
use your good judgment as to whether you should be out
and about.

Peace,

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, March 3, at Walnut Hill Church

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

"No Man (or Church) Is An Island"

We will use selections by Thomas Merton and Ruth Isabel

Seabury to explore the possibilities created by the experience 

of community with fellow human beings and fellow followers of 

Christ.   As Merton writes, "every other [human being] is a piece 

of myself."  As Seabury writes, "a congregation is never just an 

audience."

Confirmation Study, 10am, Trinity Hall

High School Youth are invited to an exploration of what it means 

to answer Jesus' invitation ... "Follow me!"    

Use reply email or contact the church office (263-5304) for

more information regarding confirmation at Walnut Hill.  

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Supper Time

Text - Luke 22:24-27

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.