Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Greetings to all!

I happened upon the following story told by Mother Teresa.  Perhaps it has some 
application for our personal and/or public lives today.

   One time I wanted to do something special for our sisters.  I sent out a newsletter 
to each one of them, to each community, suggesting that each one write down what
she thought was beautiful in her sisters and her community.  I asked that each sister
send her answer to me. A thousand letters arrived.  Just imagine!  I had to sit down 
and read each one, making a list of each community and all the sisters.  Later I 
returned the letters to the communities.  The sisters were surprised that someone
would notice such beautiful things in them - that there was someone who was able
to see them.  All of this fostered a beautiful spirit of love, understanding, and sharing.

   I feel that we too often focus on the negative aspects of life, on what is bad.  If we
were more willing to see the good and the beautiful things that surround us, we would
be able to transform our families.  From there, we would change our next-door 
neighbors and then others who live in our neighborhood or city.  We would be able to
bring peace and love to our world, which hungers so much for these things.

(from In The Heart of The World)

The scripture lessons for Sunday, August 30…
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Psalm 45
James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-23

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, August 30, 10am, in Trinity Hall.
We continue our Living the Questions series with this Sunday's topic: "Creation
Stories."  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or just listen in.

Parents/Grandparents of Walnut Hill children/youth are invited to gather this 
Sun, Aug 30, 10am, in the Sanctuary for conversation regarding how the church
and the family can support each other in the important work of nurturing faith in
our children and youth.  

A Host(s) is needed for our after worship refreshments this Sun, Aug 30. Use 
reply email or visit the online sign up sheet to volunteer for this Sunday or another
Sunday later in the fall.  

Praying for Creation:  Walnut Hill members and friends are invited to a service
of prayer in celebration of Creation on Tues, Sept 1, 7 pm, at St. Andrew 
Antiochian Orthodox Church (1136 Higbee Mill Rd). We will share a prayer
for the blessing of the new church year, and we will pray together an Orthodox
liturgy, the Akathist, in Praise of God's Creation. This service is sponsored by the 
Southside Ecumenical Cooperative, of which Walnut Hill is a member, in response 
to Pope Francis' call to a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept 1 
to correspond with the opening of the church year in the Orthodox tradition.

Kroger Community Rewards:  August is "re-enrollment" month for the Kroger 
Community Rewards program.  Persons participating in the program must renew 
the designation for the "rewards" generated by their shopping.  
Visit  www.Kroger.com/communityrewards  to renew your participation or to begin 
participating for the first time.  Walnut Hill's organization number is  46525 .  
Walnut Hill has received over $500 in community rewards since the program 
began in late 2014.  Contact the church office (263-5304) if you have questions 
about or need any assistance (re)enrolling in the rewards program. 

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

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