Walnut Hill Church: March 2014

Friday, March 28, 2014

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

EXPLORING OUR SPIRITUALITY, SPRING 2014

TRAVELING YOUR ROAD TO JOY

Week Five - "The Joy of Doing God's Will in Me"

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Living Water

We will explore the story of "Jesus and the Samaritan

Woman" as found in the Gospel of John (ch. 4). The

story provides a great example of Jesus as teacher

and John as storyteller, and along the way we might

even get a sip of "living water."

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: The Joy of God's Will

Text: John 4:31-38

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

******

The Children's Choir will not meet this Sunday, March 30.

Children's Choir will resume on April 6.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Greetings to all!

We continue our EOS season reflection on "joy," this week focusing

on the relationship between joy and the "will of God." Consider these

thoughts from our EOS guide, Thomas Merton.

It is God's love that speaks to me in the birds and streams; but also,

behind the clamor of the city, God speaks to me in His judgments,

and all these things are sent to me from God's will.

If these seeds would take root in my liberty, and if God's will would

grow in my freedom, I would become the love that God is, and my

harvest would be God's glory and my own joy...

...in all that happens, my one desire and my one joy should be to

know: "Here is the thing that God has willed for me." In this God's

love is found, and in accepting this I can give back God's love to

God and give myself with it to God. For in giving myself I shall find

God, and God is life everlasting.

(adapted from New Seeds of Contemplation)

The scripture lesson for Sunday, March 30 ...

John 4:31-38

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.

Sunday Conversations continue this Sun, Mar 23, 10am, in Trinity

Hall. This focus for our conversation this Sunday will be the story

of "Jesus and the Samaritan Woman" as found in the Gospel of

John chapter 4.

The Children's Choir will not meet this Sunday, Mar 23.

*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), focusing on EOS themes.

*attending Sunday worship (11am), focusing 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).

Holy Week Schedule: Holy Week will be upon us before we know it.

Keep these opportunities in mind.

*Sun, Apr 13, Palm Sunday

-Sunday Conversations, 10am

-Children's Choir, 10am

-Morning Worship, 11am, children's music presentation and

procession of the palms

-Easter Egg Hunt, after worship

*Thu, Apr 17, Maundy Thursday

-Evening Prayer and Communion, 7pm (nursery care and

activities for children)

*Sun, Apr 20, Easter Sunday

-Easter Sunrise Service, 7am (an outdoor service)

-Morning Worship and Holy Communion, 11am

-After Worship Refreshments (bring a plate of cookies)

In the Community: The Kid's Cancer Alliance is planning its annual

"Indian Summer Camp" for children/youth with cancer. Each summer's

camp has a theme. This year's theme recalls the fun that kids of all ages

have playing board games. Toward that end, the camp planners are

seeking board games of all sorts to be used for decorating and playing.

If you have a board game (in good condition) in your closet that you would

like to donate, simply bring it to Walnut Hill over the next few weeks, and it

will be put to good (fun) use.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Friday, March 21, 2014

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

EXPLORING OUR SPIRITUALITY, SPRING 2014

TRAVELING YOUR ROAD TO JOY

Week Four - "A Joy that Tastes God"

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Celebrating God and Life

We will begin with poetry leading into conversation of how we

are living life and how our living can be a celebration of both

God and life.

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to gather for

music and singing in preparation for a Sunday morning

presentation later in the spring.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: It's Poetry After All

Text: Psalm 34:1-10

Nursery Care and Sunday School for children and youth

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 at

Walnut Hill for conversation, activities, and a "sacramental

meal" around the theme of homelessness.

*****

The Vestry will meet at 9:30am in the upstairs office of

Trinity Hall.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Greetings to all!

This week's EOS reflection focuses on abundance and contentment

in the spiritual life and life in general. Along those lines, consider

these thoughts by Chérie Carter-Scott.

One of the most common human fears is scarcity. Many people are

afraid of not having enough of whatever it is they need or want, and

so they are always striving to get to some point in the future when

they finally have enough. They fool themselves into believing that

one day they will have everything "all set" - they will have all the

money they need, all the possessions they desire, all the love they

crave, all the success they strive for. But is anything ever really

enough? Did anyone ever really arrive "there"?

Scarcity consciousness arises as a result of what I call the "hole-in-

the-soul syndrome." This is when we attempt to fill the gaps in our

inner lives with things from the outside world. But like puzzle

pieces, you can't fit something in where it does not naturally belong.

No amount of external objects, affection, love, or attention can ever

fill an inner void. The void can only be filled by looking within. You

already have and are enough; revel in your own interior abundance

and you will never need to look elsewhere.

(from If Life is a Game, These are the Rules)

The scripture lesson for Sunday, March 23 is...

Psalm 34:1-10

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, Mar 23, 10am, in

Trinity Hall. The conversation for this Sunday is suggested by this

week's EOS focus, "A Joy that Tastes God."

The Children's Choir continues its spring season of gatherings for

music and singing this Sunday, March 23, 10am, in Trinity Hall. All

children through elementary age are invited to attend. The children's

choir is practicing music for presentation later in the spring.

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

March 23. 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 spring.

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

this Sun, Mar 23, 5:30pm, for activities related to serving our neighbors,

particularly by making sandwiches for guests at the Lexington Community

Inn.

*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), focusing on EOS themes.

*attending Sunday worship (11am), focusing 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).

The Vestry will meet this Sunday, March 23, at 9:30am, in the upstairs

office of Trinty Hall.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Friday, March 14, 2014

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

EXPLORING OUR SPIRITUALITY, SPRING 2014

TRAVELING YOUR ROAD TO JOY

Week Three - "Waiting For Joy..."

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Can Joy and Grief Coexist?

We will view and discuss a video presentation by Nancy Berns,

a sociologist who has both studied and experienced the possible

coexistence of joy and grief. To view the video ahead of time,

visit "Beyond Closure" .

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to gather for music

and singing. The children are practicing music for a presentation

later in the spring.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: Waiting...

Text: Psalm 130

Youth serving in worship leadership.

Nursery and Sunday School for Children.

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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

Friday, March 7, 2014

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

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

EXPLORING OUR SPIRITUALITY, SPRING 2014

TRAVELING YOUR ROAD TO JOY

Week Two - "The Joy of Being Human"

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

To be human is ...

We will tap into our own experience of being human to complete

the sentence above and talk about what it means to be a

human being. Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation,

or just listen in.

Children's Choir, 10am, Trinity Hall

Children through elementary age are invited to gather

for music and singing in anticipation of a presentation later

in the spring.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon: Discovering Our Humanity

Text: Mark 1:12-13

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

dinner and activities. We will be practicing parts for

leading worship on Sunday, March 16.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, March 5, 2013

Greetings to all!

Lent begins today with the traditional observance of Ash Wednesday.

No doubt Lent has some negative associations in the minds of many, but

viewed more positively, Lent is simply a season for reflecting on one's

humanity, its possibilities and limitations, its challenges and opportunities,

its sorrows and joys. Thomas Merton wrote...

The mere fact of my humanity should be an everlasting joy and delight.

To take joy in that which I am made to be by my Creator is to open my

heart to restoration by my Redeemer. It is to taste the first fruits of

redemption and restoration. So pure is the joy of being human that those

whose Christian understanding is weak may even take this to be the joy

of being something other than human - an angel or something. But God

did not become an angel. God became human.

(adapted from Dancing in the Water of Life)

Ash Wednesday services(including the imposition of ashes) are

available throughout Lexington including...

*Christ Church Cathedral at Noon and 7pm

*Second Presbyterian Church at 7pm

The Scripture lesson for Sunday, March 9...

*Mark 1:12-13

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

Trinity Hall. Guided by our EOS season, this Sunday's conversation

focuses around something of which we are all experts, "Being Human."

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

The Children's Choir begins its spring season of gatherings for music

and singing this Sunday, March 9, 10am, in Trinity Hall. All children through

elementary age are invited to attend. The choir will be practicing music for

presentation around Easter.

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather this Sunday, March 9,

5:30pm, in Trinity Hall. In addition to our usual meal, we will be working

on parts for leading worship on Sunday, March 16. There will be parts for

all youth who would like to participate.

Exploring Our Spirituality (EOS) began this week and continues through

April 6. This season's theme is "Traveling Your Road to Joy." You can

participate in EOS by...