Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Greetings to All!

The Labor Day holiday provides an occasion to reflect on the work we do, whether paid or

unpaid, with our hands or our minds, in our homes, offices, factories and fields.  Consider 

these thoughts from Thomas Merton…

The requirements of a work to be done can be understood as the will of God. If I am 

supposed to hoe a garden or make a table, then I will be obeying God if I am true to the 

task I am performing.  To do the work carefully and well, with love and respect for the nature 

of my task and with due attention to its purpose, is to unite myself with God's will in my work.  

In this way I become His instrument.  God works through me …  Unnatural, frantic, anxious 

work, work done under pressure of greed or fear or any other inordinate passion, cannot 

properly speaking be dedicated to God, because God never wills such work directly.  God 

may permit that through no fault of our own we may have to work madly and distractedly, 

due to our sins and to the sins of the society in which we live.  In that case we must tolerate 

it and make the best of what we cannot avoid.  But let us not be blind to the distinction 

between sound, healthy work and unnatural toil.

(as found in A Book of Hours)

The lectionary texts for Sunday, September 4…

Jeremiah 18:1-11

Philemon 1 - 21

Luke 14:25-33

Prayer for the Care of Creation - Walnut Hill members and friends are invited to a liturgy

of prayer for the care of creation on Wednesday, August 31, 6:30pm, at St. Andrew Orthodox

Church (1136 Higbee Mill Rd).  This service is sponsored by the South Lexington Ecumenical

Cooperative and hosted by the St. Andrew congregation.

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, September 4, 10am, in Trinity Hall. Sunday's 

conversation will feature a video titled, "The Dancing God."  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join 

the conversation, or just listen in.

The Walnut Hill Choir returns on Sunday, September 4, for our celebration of Holy Communion.  

This might be a good time to add your voice to the Walnut Hill Choir.  Use reply email if you 

would like more information, or simply arrive at 10am for Sunday morning practice/warm up.

Hosts are needed for our after worship refreshments for upcoming Sundays including this

Sunday, September 4.  Use reply email or visit the online sign up sheet to host a Sunday during

the fall season. 

Fall Potluck- The Fall Potluck is coming on Sunday, September 18, Noon, in Trinity Hall.  Bring 

a salad, side dish, or dessert and join us for this delicious Walnut Hill tradition.

The 2016 CROP Walk is scheduled for Sunday, September 25, 3pm, at Second Presbyterian 

Church.  All ages are invited to be part of the Walnut Hill team as we walk three miles through 

downtown to raise awareness and dollars for hunger relief in Lexington and around the world.

Exploring Our Spirituality Through Prayer is the theme of a day-retreat to be held at Walnut 

Hill Church on Saturday, October 15, 9am - 3pm. Mark the date on your calendar and watch for 

more details.

Nursery Caregiver Opening - Walnut Hill is currently seeking an individual to serve as a 

Sunday morning nursery caregiver (10:30am - 12:30pm).  Candidates must be at least 18 years 

of age and pass a criminal background check.  Contact the church office (263-5304) for more 

information or to refer a possible candidate.

Kroger Community Rewards - August is re-enrollment month for the Community Rewards 

program through which Walnut Hill has received over $1,000 in the past year.  Participants 

must re-enroll and designate Walnut Hill to continue receiving the benefit of your shopping.  

Visit "Community Rewards" or call 800-576-4377 to re-enroll or to enroll for the first time.  

Walnut Hill Church's organization number is 46525. Contact the church office if you have any 

questions regarding your participation.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

An Autumn of Hospitality

Dear Walnut Hill Members and Friends:

The Labor Day weekend signals the traditional beginning of the autumn season.  I hope that your autumn will include Sunday mornings at Walnut Hill for worship and fellowship.  With that in mind, this special email is being sent to invite you to visit Walnut Hill's online refreshment sign up sheet and to host one Sunday during the autumn season.    Please note that we have openings beginning this Sunday, September 4.

Here is the link:  Online Refreshment Sign Up

If you prefer, you can navigate to the sign up sheet via the Walnut Hill Church website,  www.walnuthillchurchky.org .  ( select the tab "After Church Food Reservations")

When you get to the page, the process is quite simple:

*Select a Sunday that works for you, and click on "edit".

*Find your name in the dropdown box and select it

*If others are working with you, you can type their names in the "comments" box.

*Click "submit."

If you do not see your name in the dropdown box, that simply means we did not have your email on file at the time the list was created.  Let us know, and we will update it.  In the meantime, you can sign up by selecting "new" in the dropdown box and typing your name in the comments section.

If you have any questions or problems using the online sign up, simply let us know by reply email.  Also, you can still sign up via the traditional sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer.

Let me take this opportunity to remind us all how important the after worship gathering is for our life together at Walnut Hill as it provides opportunity for us to make and deepen acquaintances and friendships.

Let me also say that the after worship refreshments need not be elaborate, just something simple to gather around for our fellowship.

Please take a moment to select a Sunday, so that we might all enjoy an Autumn of Hospitality!

Thanks to all our hosts!

Peace,

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, August 28, at Walnut Hill Church…

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

What Do You See When You Look At Me?

"What do you see" when you see a "veiled" woman in public:

a person of faith, an oppressed woman, a potential terrorist,

something/someone else? We'll view a video and talk about 

our responses to this increasingly common sight in our culture.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Guests and Hosts

Text - Luke 7:1, 7-14

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for fellowship and refreshments.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Greetings to all!

A few days from now (Aug 28) is the anniversary of the "March on Washington," featuring 

Martin Luther King, Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech.  In his book, The Magnificent Defeat, 

Frederick Buechner remembered the event.

In 1963 I went on that famous March on Washington, and the clearest memory that I have 

of it is standing near the Lincoln Memorial hearing the song "We Shall Overcome" sung by 

the quarter of a million or so people who were there.  And while I listened, my eye fell on 

one very old man, with a face like shoe leather and a sleazy suit and an expression that 

was more befuddled than anything else; and I wondered to myself if, quite apart from the 

whole civil-rights question, that poor old bird could ever conceivably overcome anything.  He 

was there to become a human being.  Well, and so were the rest of us.  And so are we all, no 

less befuddled than he when you come right down to it.  Poor old bird, poor young birds, every 

one of us. And deep in my heart I do believe we shall overcome some day, as he will, by God's 

grace, by helping the seed of the kingdom grow in ourselves and in each other until finally in all 

of us it becomes a tree where the birds of the air can come and make their nests in our branches.  

That is all that matters really.

The lectionary texts for Sunday, August 28…

Jeremiah 2:4-13

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, August 28, 10am, in  Trinity Hall.  The title of 

our conversation for this Sunday is "What Do You See When You Look At Me?"  Watch for more 

details in our Friday update.

Louisiana Flood Relief - Thanks to your generosity, Walnut Hill is sending $500 to support 

relief/rebuilding efforts in the wake of flooding in south Louisiana.  Our support will go to the 

area via Episcopal Relief and Development.  Visit Episcopal Relief for more information and/or 

to  make an individual donation.

Nursery Caregiver Opening - Walnut Hill is currently seeking an individual to serve as a 

Sunday morning nursery caregiver (10:30am - 12:30pm).  Candidates must be at least 18 years 

of age and pass a background check.  Contact the church office (263-5304) for more information 

or to refer a possible candidate.

Prayer for the Care of Creation - Walnut Hill members and friends are invited to a liturgy

of prayer for the care of creation on Wednesday, August 31, 6:30pm, at St. Andrew Orthodox

Church (1136 Higbee Mill Rd).  This service is sponsored by the South Lexington Ecumenical

Cooperative and hosted by the St. Andrew congregation.

Kroger Community Rewards - August is re-enrollment month for the Community Rewards 

program through which Walnut Hill has received over $1,000 in the past year.  Participants 

must re-enroll and designate Walnut Hill to continue receiving the benefit of your shopping.  

Visit "Community Rewards" or call 800-576-4377 to re-enroll or to enroll for the first time.  

Walnut Hill Church's organization number is 46525. Contact the church office if you have any 

questions regarding your participation.

SAVE THE DATE - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 - On Saturday, October 15, Walnut Hill will 

host a day-retreat titled, Exploring Our Spirituality Through Prayer.  This retreat will be both 

informative and experiential.  Watch for more details.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

  

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, August 21, at Walnut Hill Church…

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Gospel of Doubt

Join us for conversation this Sunday as we explore the 

presence of doubt in the life of faith.

 

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - She Stood Up Straight

Text - Luke 13:10-17

Nursery Care and Sunday School for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for fellowship and refreshments.

*****

Louisiana Flood Relief - Persons attending Walnut Hill 

this Sunday will have opportunity to contribute toward 

relief efforts on behalf of those affected by recent flooding

in south Louisiana.  Cash and checks payable to

Walnut Hill Church are welcome.  Donated funds will be 

sent to the area via Episcopal Relief & Development.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Greetings to all!

The Olympic Games provide not only an opportunity to enjoy the incredible skills of 

athletes from around the world, but also to be reminded of the importance of physical 

fitness and activity for ordinary persons. In his book, Fitness Is Religion, Ray Kybartas 

uses religious metaphors to talk about fitness.  His concluding paragraph is titled,

"Keep the Faith."

In the first chapter of this book I wrote that the nature of our daily work and existence 

is written on our physiques; that the imprint of a sedentary lifestyle can be read in one's 

posture, gait, and carriage…It is a lesson we must learn.  We cannot live only in our 

minds, or only in our bodies. There is a high price to pay for a disintegrated life.  An 

integrated person - body, mind, and spirit - is the goal of fitness.  You cannot care for 

your physical body if you do not nurture your mind and spirit, too.  In this book I have 

relied on religious metaphors to convey many of the ideas and concepts that are central 

to my philosophy of fitness.  If you are a religious person, I hope you will make fitness part 

of your spiritual regimen. If you are not a religious person, I hope you will acknowledge the 

connection between your psyche and your body.  Either way - whatever your commitment - 

fitness is the key to a long and satisfying life.  Get on the journey to fitness - and keep the 

faith!

The scripture lessons for Sunday, August 21…

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Hebrews 12:18-29

Luke 13:10-17

Sunday Conversations continue on Sunday, August 21, 10am, in Trinity Hall.  Our focus 

for this Sunday's conversation will be "The Gospel of Doubt."  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, 

join the conversation, or just listen in.

Nursery Caregiver Opening - Walnut Hill is currently seeking an individual to serve as

a Sunday morning nursery caregiver (10:30am - 12:30pm).  Candidates must be at least

18 years of age and pass a criminal background check.  Contact the church office (263-5304) 

for more information or to refer a possible candidate.

Louisiana Flooding - Gulf coast areas of Louisiana have experienced tremendous rain

and flooding in recent days.  Disruption, damage and loss of life have been significant.

Persons attending Walnut Hill this Sunday, August 21, will have opportunity to donate

to support relief efforts for affected communities and persons.  Cash and checks payable

to Walnut Hill Church will be accepted.  Donated funds will be sent to the area via

Episcopal Relief and Development. 

Kroger Community Rewards - August is re-enrollment month for the Community Rewards 

program through which Walnut Hill has received over $1,000 in the past year.  Participants 

must re-enroll and designate Walnut Hill to continue receiving the benefit of your shopping.  

Visit "Community Rewards" or call 800-576-4377 to re-enroll or to enroll for the first time.  

Walnut Hill Church's organization number is 46525. Contact the church office if you have any 

questions regarding your participation.

Trinity Hall Update - Work continues in the basement of Trinity Hall to prepare classroom 

and storage space to be shared between the church and the weekday school.  Feel free to 

stop by and have a look at the work in progress. 

SAVE THE DATE - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 - On Saturday, October 15, Walnut Hill will 

host a day-retreat titled, Exploring Our Spirituality Through Prayer.  This retreat will be both 

informative and experiential.  Watch for more details.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

 

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, August 14, at Walnut Hill Church…

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

The Good Life

What makes for a good life?  What makes us healthy

and happy as we live our lives?  We will discuss three

important lessons for living a long, fulfilling, good life.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - The Race That Is Set Before Us

Text - Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2

The Sacrament 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.

****

The Vestry will meet at 10am in the upstairs office of

Trinity Hall.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Greetings to all!

Our family has just returned from a couple weeks vacation at the Outer Banks (NC),

and so we face the familiar challenge of all those who return to the "real world" after 

some time away. In her classic book, Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh finds 

wisdom in "selective" shell hunting, in which one picks up only a few shells rather than 

as many as can be stuffed into one's pocket.

For the natural selectivity of the island I will have to substitute a conscious selectivity

based on another sense of values - a sense of values I have become more aware of

here.  Island-precepts, I might call them if I could define them, signposts toward

another way of living.  Simplicity of living, as much as possible, to retain a true

awareness of life.  Balance of physical, intellectual and spiritual life.  Work without

pressure.  Space for significance and beauty.  Time for solitude and sharing. Closeness

to nature to strengthen understanding and faith in the intermittency of life: life of the

spirit, creative life and the life of human relationships. A few shells.

School begins today in Fayette County and other communities.  Consider the following 

prayer as you see activity around the schoolhouse this week:

Almighty God, we beseech Thee with Thy gracious favor to behold our universities,

colleges and schools, that knowledge may be increased among us, and all good

learning flourish and abound.  Bless all who teach and all who learn, and grant that 

in humility of heart they may ever look unto Thee, who art the fountain of all wisdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

(from the Walnut Hill Worship Book)

The lectionary readings for Sunday, August 14….

Isaiah 5:1-7

Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2

Luke 12:49-56

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, August 14, 10am, in Trinity Hall.

Sunday Conversation topics vary from week to week.  As we like to say, come enjoy

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

The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated this Sunday, August 14,

during Morning Worship.  

Sunday Hospitality - Thanks to all our hosts over these recent Sundays who have

provided hospitality for members, friends and visitors, including our visiting worship

leaders. The remaining Sundays of August, including this Sunday, August 14, are

open for your hospitality.  Use reply email or check the online sign up sheet to host

a Sunday upcoming.

Trinity Hall Update - Work continues in the basement of Trinity Hall to prepare 

classroom and storage space to be shared between the church and the weekday 

school.  Feel free to have a look at the work in progress on Sunday. 

Kroger Community Rewards - August is re-enrollment month for the Community

Rewards program through which Walnut Hill has received over $1,000 in the past

year.  Participants must re-enroll and designate Walnut Hill to continue receiving 

the benefit of your shopping.  Visit "Community Rewards" or call 800-576-4377 to 

re-enroll or enroll for the first time.  Walnut Hill Church's organization number is 46525.  

Contact the church office if you have any questions regarding your participation.

Thanks to all whose leadership and service made it possible for the Ward family

to enjoy a couple weeks of vacation and family time.  More than 20 persons took

on specific tasks that made it possible for Walnut Hill's ministry to continue without

interruption.  Thanks to all!

Peace to all,

Mike Ward