Greetings to all!
Christmas has finally arrived and with it the opportunity to celebrate
God's love for us and our love for each other. So what actually
happened that night/day in Bethlehem? Consider these thoughts from
Frederick Buechner.
Who knows what the facts of Jesus' birth actually were? As for
myself, the longer I live, the more inclined I am to believe in miracle,
the more I suspect that if we had been there at the birth, we might
well have seen and heard things that would be hard to reconcile with
modern science. But of course that is not the point, because the
Gospel writers are not really interested primarily in the facts of the
birth but in the significance, the meaning for them of that birth, just as
the people who love us are not really interested primarily in the facts
of our births but in what it meant to them when we were born and
how for them the world was never the same again, how their whole
lives were charged with new significance. Whether there were ten
million angels there or just the woman herself and her husband,
when that child was born the whole course of history was changed.
That is a fact as hard and blunt as any fact … And in terms of faith,
much more must be said because for faith, the birth of the child into
the darkness of the world made possible not just a new way of
understanding life but a new way of living life.
(as found in Listening to Your Life)
Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve, at Walnut Hill Church…
*5pm - Lessons and Carols for All Ages - We will gather in
the Sanctuary for a celebration including scripture, carols, and
candlelight. Flameless candles will be used for this service.
*9pm - Evening Prayer Fireside - We will gather around the
fireplace in Trinity Hall for a quiet, guided reflection on the meanings
of Christmas using scripture, prayer, familiar carols, and candlelight.
Arrive a few minutes early for some hot cider and cookies.
The Innkeeper's Offering will be received on Christmas Eve to
support the Salvation Army's ministry sheltering women, children,
and families. Cash and checks payable to Walnut Hill Church are
welcome.
Men's Coffee - Walnut Hill men are invited to gather each Saturday
morning at 8am at Paneras on Richmond Road for coffee and
conversation. Feel free to drop by for as long or short a time as
your schedule allows. No rsvp required.
Sun, Dec 27, the 1st Sunday of Christmastide…
*10am, Sunday Conversations - "Is that in the Bible?" We
will visit some well-known sayings and ask, "Is that in the Bible,
or perhaps from somewhere else?"
*11am, Morning Worship - Nursery care and Sunday School
for children.
*Noon, After Worship Gathering - Bring a plate of your
"leftover" Christmas goodies.
Looking into the New Year…
*Sun, Jan 3 - The Observance of Epiphany, Holy Communion
*Sun, Jan 10 - Dabney Parker, KY Refugee Ministries, will visit
with us (10am) regarding refugee resettlement and how Walnut Hill
might participate.
*Sun, Jan 10 - Long Range Planning Forum (3pm - 5pm), a
community conversation regarding ideas and recommendations
arising from the Long Range Planning process.
Thanks to all who helped make last Sunday's Christmas Party
a festive occasion! More than 40 persons attended this grand
Walnut Hill tradition.
Due to the holiday schedule, the regular Friday update will be
sent on Saturday this week.
Merry Christmas!
Mike Ward
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