Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, January 31, at Walnut Hill Church…

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Living the Questions

We resume our Living the Questions video discussion

series with the topic:  "Practicing Resurrection."  Does 

believing in the resurrection of Jesus require the notion

that his physical body was resuscitated?  What does

resurrection mean for the living of our lives today? We 

will talk about these, and related, questions this Sunday.

"The Bible - God's Book", 10am, Trinity Hall

Children thru elementary age are invited to this four week

exploration intended to make the Bible more familiar and 

accessible to them.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Knowing When to Quit

Text - Luke 4:16-30

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Youth Gathering, 6pm, Chili's Restaurant

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather for 

dinner together at Chili's restaurant (Richmond Rd).

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Greetings to all!

This past Christmas I received as a gift a book titled, A Book of Hours, which invites the 

reader to stop what he/she is doing several times each day (Dawn, Day, Dusk, Dark) to 

engage a few minutes of reading, prayer, reflection, and silence.  These "hours" echo the 

more formal and elaborate "hours" of prayer engaged by monastic communities.  I have 

only been "successful" praying all four hours once or twice since I started. Nonetheless,

I have been surprised by how much I have become aware of the hours and how I have 

enjoyed a few minutes to step out of the business of the day to  pray, reflect, and be quiet.  

I recommend the practice of "keeping the hours," whether your keeping the hours includes 

formal prayers or simple silence, to catch up with yourself, and to be reminded of who and 

why you are.

The scripture lessons for Sunday, January 31…

Jeremiah 1:4-10

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Luke 4:16-30

Sunday Conversations resume this Sun, Jan 31, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  We continue 

our Living the Questions video discussion series.  This week's topic: "Practicing the 

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

"God's Book: The Bible" resumes this Sun, Jan 31, 10am, in Trinity Hall, for children 

through elementary age.  This four week series will make the Bible more accessible 

and usable for children. Parents/grandparents are welcome to sit in on the classes. 

Nursery care is available for younger siblings.

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather for a meal this Sun, Jan 31, 6pm, at 

Chili's on Richmond Road.

The "Souper" Bowl is coming to Walnut Hill on Sun, Feb 7, Noon.  Bring your appetite

and a donation to support hunger relief efforts in central and eastern Kentucky.  We are

also looking for soup chefs who would like to donate a pot of soup for the occasion.

The Souper Bowl is sponsored by the Walnut Hill youth.

Telling Your Life Story - David Sharrard is offering an opportunity for Walnut Hill 

members and friends to explore a life review during Lent.  A life review is a process 

through which people share their life journey and faith stories, helping them find meaning 

and affirm their lives.  Five sessions are anticipated during Lent (days/times to be 

announced).  Use reply email or talk to David for more information and/or to indicate your 

interest in participating.

An Online Library of Walnut Hill Church history is available on the church website at

 http://walnuthillchurchky.org/WHC-History/ .  Check it out!

Hospitality - Opportunities to host our after worship gathering are available via the 

online sign up sheet  .  Thanks to all our after worship hosts!

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

All activities this Sun, Jan 24, are subject to change

based on weather and road conditions.  An email

will be sent and posted to the church website, and

a voice message will be posted on the church phone

(263-5304) by 9am Sunday morning with updated 

information, cancelations, etc.

This Sunday, January 24, at Walnut Hill Church …

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Living the Questions

We continue our Living the Questions video discussion

series with the topic:  "Practicing Resurrection."  Does 

believing in the resurrection of Jesus require the notion

that his physical body was resuscitated?  What does

resurrection mean for the living of our lives today? We 

will talk about these, and related, questions this Sunday.

"The Bible - God's Book", 10am, Trinity Hall

Children thru elementary age are invited to this four week

exploration intended to make the Bible more familiar and 

accessible to them.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - A Living Sanctuary

Text - 1 Peter 2:1-10

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Youth Gathering, 6pm, Chili's Restaurant

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather for 

dinner together at Chili's restaurant (Richmond Rd).

Ecumenical Worship, 7pm, Pax Christi Catholic Church

Walnut Hill members and friends are invited to an ecumenical

worship gathering, 7pm, at Pax Christi Catholic Church (corner

of Victoria Way and Man-O-War) in celebration of the Week

of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Greetings to all!

January 18 - 25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  Established in the 

early 20th century, the WPCU celebrates the unity of the Body of Christ, the 

Church, and invites the Church to a week of reflection around a shared theme. 

The 2016 WPCU theme is "Proclaim the Mighty Acts of the Lord," based on 

1 Peter 2:9 - 10, in which the apostle tells the early Church that by the power 

of the gospel they have become God's people, with the particular calling to 

proclaim the "mighty acts" of God.  From the beginning of creation, through 

the history of Israel and the story of Jesus, even still today, God is doing mighty 

acts in, around and through God's people, the Church.  By our words and deeds,

we bear witness to what God has done, is doing, and will do in the world. The 

Church's unity across boundaries of denomination, race, nationality, and culture 

is itself one of those mighty acts.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity includes an ecumenical worship 

service on Sunday, January 24, 7pm, at Pax Christi Catholic Church. This

service is sponsored by the southside ecumenical cooperative, of which

Walnut Hill is a participating congregation.  The service will include members

and clergy from the participating congregations as well as regional church

leaders.

The scripture lesson for Sun, Jan 24, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity…

1 Peter 2:9 - 10

Sunday Conversations continue this Sun, Jan 24, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  

We continue our Living the Questions video discussion series.  This week's

topic: "Practicing the Resurrection." Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the 

conversation, or just listen in.

"God's Book: The Bible" continues this Sun, Jan 24, 10am, in Trinity Hall, 

for children through elementary age.  This four week series will make the 

Bible more accessible and usable for children. Parents/grandparents are 

welcome to sit in on the classes. Nursery care is available for younger siblings.

Telling Your Life Story - David Sharrard is offering an opportunity for

Walnut Hill members and friends to explore a life review during Lent.  A

life review is a process through which people share their life journey and

faith stories, helping them find meaning and affirm their lives.  Five sessions

are anticipated during Lent (days/times to be announced).  Use reply email

or talk to David for more information or to indicate your interest in participating.

SNOW PLAN - In case of inclement weather this Sunday, or any Sunday,

that might affect our scheduled activities, an email will be sent and posted to 

the church website by 9am Sunday morning providing the status of scheduled 

events. A voice message containing schedule information will also be available 

by 9am via the church phone (263-5304).

An Online Library of Walnut Hill Church history is available on the church 

website at http://walnuthillchurchky.org/WHC-History/ .  Check it out!

Hospitality - Opportunities to host our after worship gathering are available 

via the online sign up sheet  .  Thanks to all our after worship hosts!

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

  

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, January 17, at Walnut Hill Church…

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Living the Questions

We return to the Living the Questions video discussion

series with the topic:  "Being a Progressive Christian."

Why is it that in regard to religion "we have always done

it this way" seems to take precedent over new ways of

being and doing?  What does it mean to "live the faith"

in the 21st century?  We will talk about these, and related,

questions this Sunday.

"The Bible - God's Book", 10am, Trinity Hall

Children thru elementary age are invited to this four week

exploration intended to make the Bible more familiar and 

accessible to them.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - The Sentinels

Text - Isaiah 62:1-12

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Greetings to all!

This Monday, January 18, is the Martin Luther King, Jr, Holiday. Consider 

these words of Dr. King regarding "religion."

A religion true to its nature must also be concerned about man's social 

conditions.  Religion deals with both earth and heaven, both time and 

eternity.  Religion operates not only on the vertical plane but also on the 

horizontal.  Its seeks not only to integrate man with God but to integrate 

man with man and each man with himself.  This means, at bottom, that 

the Christian gospel is a two-way road.  On the one hand, it seeks to 

change the souls of men and thereby unite them with God; on the other

hand, it seeks to change the environmental conditions of men so that the 

soul will have a chance after it is changed.  Any religion that professes to 

be concerned with the souls of men and is not concerned about the slums 

that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social 

conditions that cripple them is a dry-as-dust religion. Such a religion is the

kind the Marxists like to see - an opiate of the people.

(as found in The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr)

The scripture lessons for Sunday, January 17…

Isaiah 62:1-5

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

John 2:1-11

Sunday Conversations continue this Sun, Jan, 17, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  

We return to our Living the Questions video discussion series.  Come enjoy 

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

"God's Book: The Bible" continues this Sun, Jan 17, 10am, in Trinity Hall, 

for children through elementary age.  This four week series will make the 

Bible more accessible and usable for children. Parents/grandparents are 

welcome to sit in on the classes, and nursery care will be available for 

younger siblings.

MLK, Jr, Holiday - A variety of activities and observances are available

regarding the MLK, Jr, Holiday including on Monday, January 18…

*10am - Freedom March through downtown Lexington, beginning

at Heritage Hall.

*11am - Commemorative Program in the Heritage Hall auditorium,

with featured speaker, Danny Glover.

*2:30pm - Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom at the Kentucky Theater.

All of these events are free and open to the public.  For more information,

visit www.uky.edu/mlk .  Walnut Hill Church is a contributing sponsor of the 

MLK, Jr, Holiday celebration.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is next week, in observance of 

which the Southside Ecumenical Cooperative (including Walnut Hill) is

sponsoring an ecumenical worship service on Sunday, January 24,

7pm, at Pax Christi Catholic Church.

An Online Library of Walnut Hill Church history is available on the church 

website at http://walnuthillchurchky.org/WHC-History/ .  Check it out!

Hospitality - Opportunities to host our after worship gathering are 

available via the online sign up sheet  .  Thanks to all our after worship

hosts!

Outreach Opportunities:  We would like to hear your thoughts and/or

personal interest in either, or both, of the following…

*Walnut Hill sponsoring a refugee family during 2016.

*Walnut Hill sponsoring a mission trip during 2016.

Use reply email to send your thoughts, questions, etc.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, January 10, at Walnut Hill Church…

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Refugee Resettlement

Ms. Dabney Parker (KY Refugee Ministries) will be our guest

to discuss refugee resettlement globally, including the current

Syrian refugee crisis, as well as locally, including how Walnut

Hill Church might participate in resettling refugees from various

nations arriving in Lexington.

"The Bible - God's Book", 10am, Trinity Hall

Children thru elementary age are invited to this four week

exploration intended to make the Bible more familiar and 

accessible to them.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Who We Are

Text - Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Reaffirmation of Baptism

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

Community Conversation, 3pm, Trinity Hall

Walnut Hill members and friends are invited to gather for

conversation arising from the current long range planning

process.  This Sunday's conversation will focus on church 

governance, the cemetery, and the church's relationship with 

the day school.  Nursery care will be available for young children.

Youth Gathering, 3pm, Trinity Hall

Youth (middle and high school) are invited to gather for

activities.  Note the time change to make it more convenient

for parents who might be attending the planning conversation.

******

Midwest Flood Relief - Persons attending Walnut Hill this

Sunday will have opportunity to contribute toward relief

assistance for those affected by recent flooding along the

Mississippi River.  Cash and checks payable to "Walnut Hill

Church" are welcome.

A Community Conversation

Dear Walnut Hill Members and Friends:

You are invited to a community conversation this 

Sunday, January 10, 3:00pm - 5:00pm, at Walnut 

Hill Church. Nursery care for young children will 

be provided.

The topics of this Sunday's conversation will include 

church governance, the cemetery, and the church's 

relationship with the day school.

The Long Range Planning Team will present ideas, 

recommendations, and goals gathered and developed 

over the last several months. You are invited to share 

your responses, questions, and ideas.

Two more conversations (dates to be announced) will 

be held to include buildings, grounds, and a final

wrap-up before formal presentation to the Vestry and

congregation.

We hope to see you Sunday afternoon!

Peace,

Mike Ward

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Greetings to all!

This Sunday (Jan 10) we observe the Baptism of the Lord, an under 

appreciated occasion in the life of Jesus.  Marcus Borg comments 

on its significance…

At some point in his life Jesus must have become a religious seeker 

and embarked upon a religious quest.  This is the most obvious 

explanation of one of most certain facts we know about him:  In his 

late twenties or around the age of thirty, he left Nazareth and became 

a follower of a wilderness prophet named John.  We do not know 

whether this decision was the result of a gradual nurturing or the 

product of a more dramatic and sudden religious experience.  But 

something led him to leave conventional life behind and go out to the 

wilderness to become a follower of John the Baptizer … it is in 

connection with John that Jesus' personal story became public history.

(from Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time)

The scripture lessons for Sun, Jan 10, the Baptism of the Lord…

Isaiah 43:1-7

Acts 8:14-17

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sunday Conversations continue this Sun, Jan 10, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  

Our topic will be "Refugee Resettlement."  Dabney Parker, from KY 

Refugee Ministries, will be our guest to talk with us about refugee 

resettlement in general, including the Syrian refugee crisis, and how Walnut 

Hill might be involved in refugee resettlement locally.

"God's Book: The Bible" begins this Sun, Jan 10, 10am, in Trinity Hall, 

for children through elementary age.  This four week series will make the 

Bible more accessible and usable for children. Parents/grandparents are 

welcome to sit in on the classes, and nursery care will be available for 

younger siblings.

A Community Conversation will be held this Sun, Jan 10, 3pm - 5pm, 

in Trinity Hall to discuss questions, ideas, and recommendations arising 

out of the current planning process. This Sunday's conversation will focus 

on Walnut Hill's governing structure, the Walnut Hill Cemetery, and the 

church's relationship with the Walnut Hill Day School.  

Sunday Sermon Recordings are available via the Walnut Hill Church

website at the following link:  sermon recordings .

A Walnut Hill Mission Trip?  We have heard some conversation lately 

regarding the possibility of a Walnut Hill mission trip to some location, 

nearby or more distant.  If this idea intrigues you, let us know by reply email, 

and we will be sure to include you in that conversation.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, January 3, at Walnut Hill Church…

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Sunday Conversations 10am, Trinity Hall

Jesus and Paul

We will explore the similarities and differences between the

thoughts and teachings of Jesus and Paul.  Some suggest

that Paul transformed the religion of Jesus into a religion

about Jesus.  What do you think, and what difference does

it make?

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Light in Darkness

Text - Matthew 2:1-12

The celebration of Holy Communion

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for refreshments and fellowship.