Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Greetings to all!

This Saturday, July 18, is the Walnut Hill Cycling Ride, an opportunity for the 
Walnut Hill congregation to extend hospitality to the cyclists who will visit our 
grounds that day, as well as to arriving refugee families who will receive bicycles 
purchased through the event proceeds.  While we might not immediately think of 
it, hospitality is a basic Christian practice. 

   Think of a time when you have felt truly welcomed.  Maybe it was coming home 
after a long time away.  Maybe someone took you in when you were far from home.  
Relive those feelings for a moment.  Feel that warmth again; see those smiles and 
feel those arms embracing you.  What a gift it is to be welcomed.
   Hospitality, true hospitality, is emotionally powerful. It touches something very deep 
within us - our profound human longing to feel accepted, to belong, to be loved, to 
feel safe, to be valued and respected.
   Hospitality is not something to be proclaimed; it must be lived. Hospitality is both a 
spiritual discipline and an expression of spiritual health…Hospitality is love in action.
(from Religious Hospitality: A Spiritual Practice…by Peter Morales)

The Walnut Hill Cycling Ride is coming on Saturday, July 18. Registration opens at 
8am.  Open road rides (15, 25, 40 miles) begin at 8:30am.  A "Fun Ride" for families 
and novice riders begins at 9am. Helmets are required for all cyclists.  A complimentary 
brunch will be served beginning at 10am. Donations will be received to help provide 
bicycles for refugee families.  Use reply email to request more  information. See you 
Saturday.

A Ride Preparation Meeting will be held on Friday, July 17, Noon, at Walnut Hill.
Feel free to join us as we do some arranging of Trinity Hall and other final event
details.

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, July 19, 10am, in Trinity Hall. Our
conversation topic will be, "Listening As a Virtue," beginning with a video featuring
Krista Tippett, host of the NPR program On Being.

Sunday Hospitality - Opportunities abound for hosting our Sunday after worship 
gatherings for the second of half the summer.  Check the online sign up or the 
traditional sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer to host a Sunday upcoming.

Thanks to all who supported our recent Big Blue Barrel food drive.  The results
are in, and the Walnut Hill congregation donated 228 pounds of food, which is
on its way, via God's Pantry, to neighbors throughout central and eastern Kentucky. 
Visit www.godspantry.org for more information about hunger and hunger relief in
central and eastern Kentucky.

Hope Center Items - Remember as you are traveling or shopping this summer
that Walnut Hill is receiving travel size toiletry items (soap, toothpaste, etc) for
our neighbors who might need them.  Place items in the collection box in the 
Sanctuary foyer.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

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