Friday, November 28, 2014

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Isaiah: The Voice of Advent

The oracles of Isaiah permeate the Advent season.
We begin a series of Sunday Conversations exploring
those oracles for their meanings then and now.  This
Sunday's conversation focuses on Isaiah 64:1-9.

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary school age are invited to
gather for music and singing in preparation for the 
children's Christmas presentation on Dec 14.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon:  Staying Awake
Text:  Mark 13:24-37

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.
Bring a plate of your leftover holiday treats for the 
refreshment tables.


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Tuesday, November 25, 2014*

Greetings to all!

Monday night's events in Ferguson, Missouri, and across the country,
echo around us as the nation prepares to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Those events do not negate the occasion to be thankful for our shared
life as a nation, but they remind us that our prayers of thanksgiving are
linked to our prayers of confession, supplication, and petition for our
life as a people.  With this mind, consider this prayer for your 
Thanksgiving reflection ...

Great God of all nations:
Thank you for this land, which we call home,
Its abundance, its opportunities, its freedoms, its ideals.
We are grateful for the blessings we share as a people.
As we pray with thanksgiving, we also pray with hope,
That division might be healed, inequity lessened,
Generosity expanded, and justice experienced by all.
We commit ourselves to these ends,
And we ask your guidance and grace to meet them,
For the blessing of all people, and for the glory of your Name.
Amen.

The scripture lessons for Sun, Nov 30, the First Sunday of Advent:
Isaiah 64;1-9
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37

Sunday Conversations continue this Sun, Nov 30, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  
Watch the Friday update for details regarding this Sunday's conversation 
topic.

Children's Choir:  Children through elementary school age are invited to 
gather for music and singing this Sun, Nov 30, 10am, in Trinity Hall, as 
they prepare for their Christmas season presentation.

Bring one (1) plate of your Thanksgiving leftovers to share for our after 
worship refreshments this Sunday, November 30.  

The Thanksgiving Stuffing/Dressing is in the oven (80 pounds in 4 ovens 
to be exact). The stuffing/dressing will be delivered to the Nathaniel Mission 
this afternoon for their Community Thanksgiving Dinner.  Thanks to all our 
stuffing/dressing sponsors, as well as our warming/delivery team, and to 
Critchfield Meats for their partnership in this community outreach.

The Giving Tree will be up at Walnut Hill this Sunday, Nov 30. Each 
ornament on the tree represents one gift for a child/youth here in Lexington.  
Feel free to pick up an ornament, purchase a gift, and return the gift 
(and ornament) to Walnut Hill by Sunday, December 21.

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON POTLUCK is scheduled for Sun, December 7
immediately after morning worship.  Bring a salad, side dish, or dessert.   
Meat and beverage will be provided.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mike Ward


*The Weekly Letter is being sent a day early this week due to the 
Thanksgiving holiday.






Friday, November 21, 2014

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

THE SUNDAY OF CHRIST THE KING

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Judgment

We will explore the notion of "judgment" as found in the
scripture and ask what, if any, relevance it still has for us
today.

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children (through elementary school age) are invited to
gather for music and singing in anticipation of their
Christmas season presentation.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - The Shepherds
Text -  Ezekiel 34

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 will focus
on preparing for the youth Christmas presentation.

Thanksgiving Worship, 5:00pm, Central Baptist Church

All are invited to gather for an ecumenical Thanksgiving
worship, 5pm, at Central Baptist Church ( corner of 
Wilson Downing Rd and Nicholasville Rd, across from
Fayette Mall).  This service is sponsored by the southside
ecumenical cooperative, of which Walnut Hill is a member.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Greetings to all!

I have been impressed by the response of the parents of the young
man recently executed by terrorists.  Their grief is obvious, and so too
their grace.  I do not know their religious affiliation, but whatever it
might be, their public presence is an inspiration to all those, including
me, who wonder if it is possible to meet hatred with love, violence
with peace, evil with good.   Consider this brief portion of their
public statement as a call to prayer for people of all faiths, including
us.

"...We ask for people to continue to pray for the safe return of all captives
being held unjustly and all people being oppressed around the
world, and especially for the people of Syria, a land our son loved."

The lectionary texts for November 23, the Sunday of Christ the King:
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Ephesians 1:15-23
Matthew 25:31-46

Sunday Conversations continue this Sun, Nov 23, 10am, in Trinity
Hall. Our conversation topic for this Sunday will be "Judgment," as in
the "The Last Judgment."  Watch the Friday update for more details.

Children's Choir continues this Sun, Nov 23, 10am, in Trinity Hall.
Children through elementary age are invited to gather for music
and singing in anticipation of their Dec 14 children's Christmas 
presentation.

A HOST(S) is needed for our after worship refreshments this Sunday,
Nov 23.  Use reply email to volunteer for this Sunday, or visit the
online sign-up sheet to view and volunteer for Sundays upcoming.

Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship, Sun, Nov 23, 5pm, at Central 
Baptist Church (corner of Wilson Downing Rd and Nicholasville Rd, 
across from Fayette Mall):  This service is sponsored by the southside 
ecumenical cooperative, of which Walnut Hill Church is a member 
congregation.

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather for a meal and
activities on Sun, Nov 23, 5:30pm - 7pm.  This Sunday evening, the
youth will be working on their parts for the upcoming Christmas
program.

Advent Wreath:  The Advent Wreath is a special part of worship at 
Walnut Hill.  We are currently seeking families, couples, and individuals 
who might like to lead this simple, but meaningful, part of our worship 
on the Sundays of Advent (Nov 30, Dec 7, 14, 21).  Use reply email to 
volunteer for a Sunday and/or to get more information.

Kroger Community Rewards Program:  Walnut Hill Church is now 
registered to benefit from the Kroger Rewards Program, by receiving 
donations from Kroger based on shoppers using the Kroger plus card.  
Visit Community Rewards for more information and/or to enroll your 
card to benefit Walnut Hill.  For your information, Walnut Hill's rewards
program number is 46525.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward



Friday, November 14, 2014

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Whatever is true...think on these things

In Philippians 4:8 we find a list of "virtues" upon which we are 
encouraged to focus our minds.  What are these virtues, and 
what is the value of thinking about them?

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary school age are invited to gather 
for music and singing in preparation for their Christmas season 
presentation.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - "Rejoice ... Always"
Text - Philippians 4:1-23

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Grace to all and Peace!

    "Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those
who live according to the example you have in us."
In his Letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul is bold to invite 
his readers to "imitate" him in living the life of faith.  We might not 
be quite so bold as to "invite" others to imitate us, but the truth is that 
people do observe us, and they learn from what they see.  We are 
all "role models" for others, which is not intended to make us self-
conscious in our living, even less to suggest that we should "act out" 
our lives rather than authentically live them as we are. 
   Nevertheless, our lives are not lived in isolation; rather, we live in 
community with others.  What we do affects and influences those 
around us.  Being conscious of that reality will not make us perfect 
in our living, but it might help us at times to choose to be our best 
selves, to our own and others' benefit. 

The scripture lesson for Sunday, November 16...
Philippians 4:1-23

Sunday Conversations continue this Sun, Nov 16, 10am, in Trinity 
Hall.  Our topic for conversation this Sunday: "Thinking About These
Things."  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or just
listen in.

The Children's Choir continues to meet this Sun, Nov 16, 10am, in
Trinity Hall.  Children through elementary age are invited to gather 
for music and singing in anticipation of their Christmas presentation 
on December 14.  

The Congregation of Walnut Hill Church held its annual meeting
this past Sun, Nov 9.  Among the business items the congregation
approved the budget for 2015.  Summary and detail copies of the
budget are available in the Sanctuary foyer or by request from the 
church office (263-5304).

Exploring Our Spirituality (EOS) continues this Sunday with the 
beginning of our Week 6 focus, "Rejoice in the Lord Always" (Phil 4:1-23).  
You can participate in EOS in a variety of ways including...
-attendance at Sunday Conversations (10am) and Morning Worship (11am).
-participation in an EOS Small Group.  Small Groups are meeting on 
Sunday evenings, Tuesday evenings, and Thursday mornings. 
-individual exploration using the EOS workbook.  Use reply email or 
contact the church office to request a workbook, or check out the online 
version at  Fall 2014 Workbook .

Thanksgiving Worship:  Walnut Hill members and friends are invited
to gather with our neighbors for an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship
on Sunday, November 23, 5pm, at Central Baptist Church (at the corner
of Wilson Downing Rd and Nicholasville Rd, across from Fayette Mall).

In the Community:  The Catholic Action Center is seeking volunteers 
to help with their community Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day, 
4 - 7 pm, at Central Christian Church. Visit www.godsnet.info for more 
information and/or to volunteer.

Kroger Community Rewards Program:  Walnut Hill Church is now 
registered to benefit from the Kroger Rewards Program, by receiving 
donations from Krogers based on shoppers using the Kroger plus card.  
Visit Community Rewards for more information and/or to enroll your 
card to benefit Walnut Hill.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Friday, November 7, 2014

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, November 9, at Walnut Hill Church ...

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Citizenship

Twice in Paul's letter to the Philippians he uses a word that
roughly translates to our word "citizenship"   (1:27 & 3:20).
What might that word have meant to Paul, and what might it 
mean to us, in regard to the spiritual life?  As a prelude to our 
conversation, you might want to catch a glimpse of some cities 
from Paul's day as found in a video excerpt from Eclipsing Empire .

Children's Choir, 10 am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to gather for 
music and singing in anticipation of their Christmas season
presentation.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Beyond a Curriculum Vitae
Text - Philippians 3:1-21

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

Congregational Meeting, Noon, Sanctuary

The annual meeting of the congregation will be held on
Sunday, November 9, immediately after worship, in the
sanctuary.  Business of the congregational meeting includes
the election of vestry members, presentation of the 2015
church budget, and action on the pastor's terms of call.

Youth Gathering, 5:30pm, Trinity Hall

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

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Grace to all and Peace!

On this post-election day, ordinary folks and experts alike are counting
the gains and losses.  The experience of "gains and losses" is not limited 
to politics, but rather is an inevitable part of the human experience.  
Henri Nouwen offers some thoughts about the "losses" of our lives.

   Better to mourn your losses than to deny them.  Dare to feel your
losses.  Dare to grieve them.  Name the pain and say, "Yes, I feel real
pain, real fear, real loss; and I am going to embrace it.  I will take up
the cross of my life, and accept it."  To grieve is to experience the pain
of your life and face the dark abyss where nothing is clear or settled,
where everything is shifting and changing.  To fully grieve is to allow
your losses to tear apart feelings of false security and safety and lead
you to the painful truth of your brokenness and dependence upon 
God alone.  Finally, you come to the point where you honestly can say:
"Yes, yes, yes!  This is my life, and I accept it."
(as found in Spiritual Formation)

The scripture lesson for Sunday, November 9...
Philippians 3:1-21

Sunday Conversations continue this Sun, Nov 9, 10am, in Trinity
Hall.  Our conversation will be prompted by this week's EOS text,
Phil. 3:1-21.  Watch the Friday update for more details.

Children's Choir:  Children through elementary age are invited to
gather for music and singing this Sun, Nov 9, 10am, in Trinity Hall,
as they practice for their Christmas season presentation.

THE ANNUAL MEETING of the congregation of Walnut Hill Church
will be held Sunday, Nov 9, immediately after worship, in the 
Walnut Hill Sanctuary.  Items of business include the election of
Vestry members, presentation of the 2015 church budget, and action
on the Pastor's terms of call for 2015.  All Members and Friends of
Walnut Hill Church are encouraged to attend.

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather at Walnut Hill
this Sun, Nov 9, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, for a meal and activities.

Exploring Our Spirituality (EOS) continues this Sunday with the 
beginning of our Week 5 focus, "Past, Present, and Future," Phil 3:1-21.  
You can participate in EOS in a variety of ways including...
-attendance at Sunday Conversations (10am) and Morning Worship (11am).
-participation in an EOS Small Group.  Small Groups are meeting on 
Sunday evenings, Tuesday evenings, and Thursday mornings. 
-individual exploration using the EOS workbook.  Use reply email or 
contact the church office to request a workbook, or check out the online 
version at  Fall 2014 Workbook .

Looking Ahead:  Be sure to include these dates on your calendar...
*Sun, Dec 7 - Christmas Season Potluck, after worship
*Sun, Dec 21 - Christmas Party, 3 - 5 pm

The Good Giving Challenge, an online charitable campaign hosted
by the Bluegrass Community Foundation, began this week and is 
ongoing through Dec 12.  Visit www.bggives.org to learn about and
support dozens of nonprofit organizations including several well-known
to Walnut Hill such as the Kentucky Council of Churches, Mission
Lexington, and Reading Camp.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward