Greetings to all!
One of the mysterious aspects of "joy" is the possibility of experiencing joy in the
midst of sorrow, even anguish. In his book, My Bright Abyss, Christian Wyman
describes through poetry a surprising moment of joy experienced while looking
out a window shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Wyman remarked about
the poem, "I wrote the poem one day out of anguish, emptiness, grief - and it
exploded into joy."
From a Window
Incurable and unbelieving
in any truth but the truth of grieving,
I saw a tree inside a tree
rise kaleidoscopically
as if the leaves had livelier ghosts.
I pressed my face as close
to the pane as I could get
to watch that fitful, fluent spirit
that seemed a single being undefined
or countless beings of one mind
haul its strange cohesion
beyond the limits of my vision
over the house heavenwards.
Of course I knew those leaves were birds.
Of course that old tree stood
exactly as it had and would
(but why should it seem fuller now?)
and though a man's mind might endow
even a tree with some excess
of life to which a man seems witness,
that life is not the life of men.
And that is where the joy came in.
The scripture lesson for Sunday, March 16...
Psalm 130
Sunday Conversations continue this Sun, Mar 16, 10am, in Trinity Hall. During
Lent our conversations continue to be guided by the theme, Traveling Your Road
to Joy, with this week's focus being, "Waiting for Joy Through Sorrow and Anguish."
The Children's Choir continues its spring season of gatherings for music
and singing this Sunday, March 16, 10am, in Trinity Hall. All children through
elementary age are invited to attend. The children's choir is practicing music for
presentation around Easter.
Youth (middle and high school) are invited to share in leading worship this
Sunday, March 16. Speaking and non-speaking parts are available. Use
reply email to inquire about a leadership part for your youth. Participating
youth are asked to be at Walnut Hill at 10am this Sunday.
Exploring Our Spirituality (EOS) is ongoing through Sunday, April 6. This season's
theme is "Traveling Your Road to Joy." You can participate in EOS by...
*attending Sunday Conversations (10am), which will focus on EOS
themes.
*attending Sunday worship (11am), which will focus on EOS themes.
*participating in an EOS small group. Use reply email or call the church
office (263-5304) to inquire about participating in an EOS small group.
Sermon recordings during the EOS season are available on the Walnut Hill
Church website by visiting the link, "sermon recordings" .
Help Wanted! Walnut Hill Church is currently seeking to fill two part-time staff
positions:
-Nursery Caregiver - 2hrs/week, Sunday mornings
-Youth Activity Leader - 5 - 10 hrs/week, Sundays
Complete position descriptions are available online via these links:
Nursery Caregiver and Youth Activity Leader. Feel free to recommend
candidates or invite candidates to contact the church office (263-5304).
One Great Hour of Sharing - A Lenten practice for many households is
participation in the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). The practice is a
simple one. Place a collection box on the dining table of your home. Each
day when your household gathers for a meal, each member of the household
places a coin in the box. Bring the box to Walnut Hill on Easter Day, and
it will be added to others to provide disaster relief and refugee resettlement
around the world. You can enhance your OGHS practice by focusing on a
different country each day in your mealtime prayer and/or conversation.
OGHS collection boxes are available at Walnut Hill, or feel free to make your
own. For more information regarding the OGHS, visit OGHS .
Peace to all.
Mike Ward
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