Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, September 29, at Walnut Hill Church ...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Tattoos, Tradition, and Grace

We will view a portion of an interview with Nadia Bolz-Weber,

a Lutheran pastor and a leading voice in the emerging church 

movement.  To borrow a recent phrase, "This is not your

parents' Lutheran Church," or is it?  To view the interview in

advance, visit Nadia Bolz-Weber .

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  A Reason for Hope

Text:  Jeremiah 32:1-15

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

*****

CROP Walk, 2nd Presbyterian Church, 3pm

All ages are invited to walk to raise awareness and funds

for hunger relief near at home and around the world.  Walnut

Hill will sponsor any WHC member or friend walking with

the Walnut Hill team.  Registration begins at 3pm.  The 

walk begins promptly at 3:30pm.  If you are unable to 

participate in the walk but would like to sponsor the Walnut

Hill team, simply make your cash or check donation this

Sunday at Walnut Hill.  For more information regarding the

CROP Walk, visit   Lexington CROP Walk  .

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Greetings to all!

The events of this past weekend have drawn our attention to the

great continent of Africa, particularly the nation of Kenya.  Africa

has experienced more than its share of conflicts and troubles, but

it also possesses deep cultural and spiritual traditions.  Consider 

this prayer arising from Nandi, a highland region in Kenya.

O God, turn your ear to hear me.  Protect my children and my

cattle, and even if you are weary, please be patient and listen to

my prayer.  Under the dark cloak of night, the splendor of your

world sleeps on, invisible to us.  And when your sun moves 

across the sky each day, I continue to pray to you.  May the spirits

of our departed ancestors, who can still exercise their influence

on us, keep guard over us, from their places beyond the earth.

(from An African Prayer Book, edited by Desmond Tutu)

The scripture lessons for Sunday, September 29:

*Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15

*1 Timothy 6:6-19

*Luke 16:19-31

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, September 29,

10am, in Trinity Hall.  Sunday Conversations include a variety of

topics from week to week.  Watch the Friday update for details 

regarding this Sunday's conversation.

The 2013 Lexington Area CROP Walk will be held on Sunday,

September 29, 3pm, at 2nd Presbyterian Church.  This

intergenerational event supports hunger relief efforts locally

and around the world.  Walnut Hill will sponsor any WHC

member who walks with the Walnut Hill team.  For more 

information regarding the CROP Walk, visit CROP Walk Info.

EXPLORING OUR SPIRITUALITY (EOS), season four, is 

coming in October.  This season's theme, Entering the School

of Your Experience, invites exploration and practice of 

contemplative living.  Small groups are planned for Sunday 

evening, Monday evening, and a weekday morning.  Use 

reply email for more information.  

ACE Trip Sponsorship:  Once again Walnut Hill is sponsoring

students to participate in the Athens Chilesburg Elementary

School 5th Grade trip to Washington, DC.  This year's trip will 

take place in October.  Walnut Hill has committed to sponsor 

5 students ($534/each) who otherwise would not have the 

financial means to do so.  Contributions toward this sponsorship 

are welcome.  Make checks payable to Walnut Hill Church, 

designated "ACE Trip."

In the community:

*The Interfaith Alliance of the Bluegrass will hold its 

annual meeting and dinner on Thursday, October 17, at 

Central Baptist Church.  Keynote speaker will be the Rev.

Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, former General Secretary of the

National Council of Churches, co-author of the Charter for 

Compassion, and chair of the Global Peace Initiative for 

Women. Tickets are $20/person.  For more information, contact

tiabg.info@gmail.com.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

www.walnuthillchurchky.org

 

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, September 22, at Walnut Hill Church...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Three Short Videos

We will view and discuss three short videos offering glimpses

of human creativity, empathy, and mercy.  The video titles:

Giving, Empathy, and Touch Wood in a Forest with Bach.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - You're Fired!

Text -  Luke 16:1-8

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, Trinity Hall

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

service as "Sandwich Ministers," making sandwiches for

guests at the Lexington Community Inn.  

*****

Colorado Flooding - Persons attending Walnut Hill this

Sunday will have opportunity to contribute toward flood

relief via Church World Service.  Cash donations and

checks payable to Walnut Hill Church are welcome. For

information regarding the Church World Service response

to the Colorado flooding, visit   CWS Colorado Report .

The Vestry will meet this Sunday, 9:30am, in the 

upstairs office of Trinity Hall.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Greetings to all!

Two tragedies have captured the nation's attention this week.  

While different in origin and scope, both events call for our 

compassionate response.  Consider this prayer...

God of compassion:  you observe human events, and weave

out of terrible happenings wonders of goodness and grace.  

Surround those who have been shaken by tragedy with a sense

of your present love, and hold them in faith.  Though they feel

lost in grief, may they find you and be comforted; through Jesus

Christ, who died, but who lives within and among us.  Amen.

(adapted from The Worshipbook)

The scripture lessons for Sunday, September 22:

Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Luke 16:1-13

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, September 22,

10am, in Trinity Hall.  We will view and talk about three brief

videos from around the world that invite reflection on human creativity, 

empathy, and mercy.

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

Sunday, September 22.  Use reply email to inquire about

hosting this Sunday's refreshments, or check the sign up sheet

in Trinity Hall to host a Sunday later in the fall. 

Walnut Hill Youth are invited to gather on Sunday, September 22,

5:30pm.  The youth are serving as Walnut Hill's "Sandwich 

Ministers" this month by preparing sandwiches for guests at the

Lexington Community Inn.

The 2013 Lexington Area Crop Walk will be held on Sunday,

September 29, 3pm, at 2nd Presbyterian Church.  This

intergenerational event supports hunger relief efforts locally

and around the world.  Walnut Hill will sponsor any WHC

member who walks with the Walnut Hill team.  For more 

information regarding the CROP Walk, visit CROP Walk Info.

Responding to Tragedy:  What can we do in response to the

tragedies of violence and natural disaster that struck our 

nation this week?  Below are two opportunities...

*Walking Away from Violence, a "prayer walk" for safe 

neighborhoods will be held this Sunday, Sept 22, 5pm, at Imani 

Baptist Church on Georgetown Road.  Use reply email for more

information.

*Church World Service is receiving contributions toward

immediate and long term response to the flooding in Colorado.

Persons attending Walnut Hill this Sunday will have opportunity

to contribute.  For information regarding the situation and CWS

response, visit  CWS Colorado Report. 

Thanks to all who helped make last Sunday's Fall Potluck and 

Celebration of Service a festive and meaningful occasion including

those who coordinated the meal, prepared service posters, brought 

delicious dishes, and shared the festivities.  Service posters will be 

on display again this Sunday, after which the information on them 

will be gathered into a directory of service opportunities.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, September 15, at Walnut Hill Church...

Fall Potluck &

Celebration of Service

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Service as Spiritual Practice

In his article, Service as Spiritual Practice, Roger Walsh

explores the notion of service as found in a variety of religious

traditions.  We will talk about the article as well as our own

thoughts about the importance of service in the spiritual life.

To read the article in advance, visit Service as Spiritual Practice.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  From Volunteers to Servants

Text:  Luke 17:7-10

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

Fall Potluck, Noon, Trinity Hall

Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert (and your appetite), and 

join in this delicious Walnut Hill tradition.

Celebration of Service, Noon, Trinity Hall

You are invited to bring a poster (large or small, simple or

elaborate) celebrating a service opportunity (organization)

that you would like to share with others.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Greetings to all!

For many, September 11 is a day of painful memory, recalling

an event of destruction and loss of life.  Some have sought to

transform that memory by using the day to focus on service in 

the spirit of those who offered their lives trying to help others.  

When I think about service, the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., 

come to mind.

Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.  You

don't have to have a college degree to serve.  You don't have

to make your subject and verb agree to serve.  You don't have

to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve.  You don't have to

know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve.  You don't have to

know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.

You need only a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.

(from The Drum Major speech)

The scripture lessons for Sunday, September 15...

Isaiah 42:1-4

Philippians 2:1-11

Luke 17:7-10

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, Sept 15, 10am, 

in Trinity Hall.  Our topic for this Sunday will be, Service as

Spiritual Practice.  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the 

conversation, or just listen in.

THE FALL POTLUCK is this Sunday, September 15, immediately

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

and join us for this delicious Walnut Hill tradition!

Celebrating Service!  Many Walnut Hill folks serve others

through volunteer organizations in Lexington and beyond. We 

would like to celebrate such service by inviting you to prepare a 

simple poster describing a service organization through which

you serve others.  Posters will be displayed in Trinity Hall during 

our Fall Potluck, and the information from them will be gathered 

into a "service directory."  This is an excellent opportunity to publicize 

service organizations and invite others to support them.

The 2013 Lexington Area Crop Walk will be held on Sunday,

September 29, 3pm, at 2nd Presbyterian Church.  This

intergenerational event supports hunger relief efforts locally

and around the world.  Walnut Hill will sponsor any WHC

member who walks on the Walnut Hill team.  For more 

information regarding CROP, visit CROP Walk Info.

In the neighborhood:

*Walking Away from Violence, a 7-week series of Sunday 

afternoon "prayer walks" for safe neighborhoods, is ongoing

this Sunday and next (9/15 & 22).  The walks (3.4 miles) begin

at 5pm at Imani Baptist Church on Georgetown Road. Several

Walnut Hill youth and adults participated in the walk on Sept 8.

*The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection will host 

a concert to benefit "Living Waters for the World," which provides

clean water for communities around the world.  The concert 

features the local band, The Mercy Men.  Tickets are $25/each.

For more information, visit www.resurrectionky.org.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, September 8, at Walnut Hill Church ...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Remembering 9-11

As the 9-11 anniversary approaches next week, so too come

the calls to "remember" that event.  What does it mean to 

"remember" an event like 9-11?  What sort of remembering

is helpful, or not helpful?   How might remembering the past

 affect our present and future? 

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

listen in.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  Breaking the Cycle

Text:  2 Kings 6:8-23

Prayers for Peace

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

*****

Walking to End the Violence, 4pm, 341 Albany Road

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to join us as we

walk (3.4 miles) with the members and neighbors of Imani 

Baptist Church to "end the violence" in neighborhoods along

Georgetown Street.  Use reply email for more information.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Greetings to all!

As our nation's leaders consider and debate the U.S. response to

the latest mid-east crisis, a particular calling of the faith community

is to "pray for peace."  But what does it mean to pray for peace?  

Thomas Merton, writing decades ago on the occasion of a different 

crisis, offered some challenging thoughts about what it means to 

pray for peace.

When I pray for peace I pray to pacify not only [our enemies] but

above all my own nation and myself.  When I pray for peace, I

pray to be protected not only from [others] but also from the folly

and blindness of my own country.  When I pray for peace, I pray

not only that the enemies of my own country may cease to want

war, but above all that my own country will cease to do the things

that make war inevitable.  In other words, when I pray for peace

I am not just praying that [our enemies] will give up without a

struggle and let us have our own way.  I am praying that both

we and [they] may somehow be restored to sanity and learn how

to work out our problems, as best we can, together instead of

preparing for global suicide.

(adapted from Passion for Peace)

The Scripture lessons for Sunday, September 8...

2 Kings 6:8-23

1 Timothy 2:1-4

Matthew 26:47-56

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, September 8,

10am, in Trinity Hall.  Our conversation for this Sunday is titled

"Remembering 9-11."  We will ask what our faith brings to such

remembering.

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

September 8.  Remember that refreshments need not be elaborate,

just something to gather around as we enjoy fellowship after

worship.  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

fall.

Walnut Hill Youth (middle and high school) are invited to join in 

this Sunday, Sept 8, as we participate in The Walk 3.4, a community 

initiative of the Imani Baptist Church.  The Walk 3.4, is a series of 

walks along Georgetown Road to "pray for" safe neighborhoods for 

all residents of Lexington.  Use reply email to request more information.

The Fall Potluck is coming on Sunday, Sept 15.  Bring a salad, 

side dish, or dessert.  Meat and beverage will be provided.  We 

are currently seeking a volunteer(s) to help coordinate various 

aspects of the meal.  Use reply email for more information.

Celebrating Service!  Many Walnut Hill folks serve others

through volunteer organizations in Lexington and beyond. We 

would like to celebrate such service.  Persons currently serving in 

this way are invited to prepare a simple poster board describing their

service.  Poster boards will be displayed in Trinity Hall during our 

Fall Potluck (Sept 15), and the information from them will be gathered 

into a "service directory."  This is an excellent opportunity to publicize 

service organizations and invite others to support them.

The Lexington CROP Walk is scheduled for Sunday, Sept 29, 3pm,

at 2nd Presbyterian Church in Lexington.  The CROP Walk is an

ecumenical and intergenerational event intended to raise awareness

and money in support of hunger relief efforts locally and globally.  

Watch for more information.

Peace,

Mike Ward