Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, July 2, at Walnut Hill Church…

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

Too Much To Ask?

We will explore the story of the "Sacrifice of Isaac,"

( Genesis 22:1-18 ) and ask, "Does there come a time

when it is ok to say "no," even to God?  To prepare for

this conversation, you might want to read the article,

"A Nasty Little Tale."

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

The Sermon - A Cup of Cold Water

Text - Matthew 10:40-42

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Nursery Care and Faith Development for Children/Youth

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for fellowship and refreshments

*****

Hope Center - Remember that during the summer months

we are collecting travel-size toiletry items for the Hope Center.  

Look for the collection box in the Sanctuary foyer.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Greetings to all!

At its recent meeting the Vestry endorsed the suggestion of a Walnut Hill 

member that the church respond to the current crisis in South Sudan, 

which has been experiencing civil war, drought and famine. In addition 

to an immediate response supporting food shipments to the region, Walnut 

Hill will be looking to establish an ongoing connection with direct relief

and outreach "on the ground" in the area.  Watch for more details. In

the meantime, consider learning more about the complicated history of 

the region (try this BBC article for a start) and commit the place and its 

people to your prayers, such as this prayer arising from the native Dinka 

tradition, which expresses both the suffering and the hope of the people 

of South Sudan:

God has turned his back on us;

the words of men have made him angry.

And yet he will turn around again.

God has turned his back on us.

We are the children of our Maker

and are not afraid that he will kill us.

(from An African Prayer Book, collected by Desmond Tutu)

The scripture lessons for Sun, July 2, the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time:

Genesis 22:1-14

Romans 6:12-23

Matthew 10:40-42

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, July 2, 10am, in Trinity

Hall.  Sunday Conversation topics vary widely from week to week.

Watch the Friday update for details regarding this Sunday's conversation.

Your Ideas Welcome - Speaking of Sunday Conversations, we would be

pleased to receive your ideas regarding possible conversation topics, 

whether they be ideas for a single conversation or a series, whether they

be Bible based or current events.  Use reply email to share your ideas,

and watch for your "topic" to show up soon.

Sunday Hospitality - Visit the online sign up sheet to view Sundays

available for you to host our after worship gathering including this Sunday,

July 2.  You may, of course, also visit the traditional sign up sheet in the 

Sanctuary foyer. Thanks to all our Sunday hosts.

The Walnut Hill Bike Ride is coming on Sat, July 15.  Activities include

open road rides, a closed road "family ride" on Walnut Hill Road, brunch,

music and more.  Mark your calendar and plan to join us.  There will be 

plenty of opportunities to volunteer.  Proceeds benefit Kentucky Refugee 

Ministries. For more information visit Walnut Hill Bike Ride .

Hope Center Supplies - When you are traveling, or preparing to travel, 

this summer, don't forget that we are collecting travel size toiletry items 

(bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc) for the Hope Center.  Place your 

items in the collection box in the Sanctuary foyer.

Supporting Walnut Hill Church - Conversation is currently ongoing

regarding making it possible for Walnut Hill members and friends to 

support the church with credit card donations via the Walnut Hill Church

website.  Your thoughts, questions, ideas and concerns (via reply email)

would be welcome. 

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

 

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, June 25, at Walnut Hill Church…

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

The Future of the Church

We will view and discuss a conversation featuring

Richard Rohr, N.T. Wright, and Brennan Manning

as they discuss the future of Christianity and the

Church.

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - An Ancient Soap Opera

Text - Genesis 21:1-21

Nursery Care and Faith Development for Children/Youth

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for fellowship and refreshments.

*****

SMILE - Stop by the courtyard after worship to have

your photo taken for inclusion in the upcoming church

pictorial directory.

Hope Center - During the summer months we are

collecting travel-size toiletry items for our neighbors

at the Hope Center.  Look for the collection box in

the Sanctuary foyer.

The Vestry will meet this Sunday, 9:30am, in the

upstairs office of Trinity Hall.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Greetings to all!

Today, June 21, is the summer solstice, the beginning of astronomical

summer and the "longest day" of the year in the northern hemisphere.

Consider these thoughts about the rhythm of the seasons.

Happily, our home is a planet where the days begin to grow longer in

the northern hemisphere just as Christmas arrives.  Six months later,

they start growing shorter again.  Spring comes to every clime, however

different it may appear in Norway, New Zealand, and Ecuador, and so

does autumn.  Human beings respond by elaborating on nature's

turnings:  in every age and place, we develop seasonal rhythms of

planting and reaping, of fasting and feasting, of letting go and starting 

afresh…Within the rhythms that encircle a year lived in Christian faith,

season also follows season.  The natural tilts and turns of the northern

hemisphere, where the Christian seasons of faith originated, set the

stage:  Easter follows the vernal equinox, Christmas the winter solstice.   

But the larger motions that govern these seasons belong to the story of 

God - a story in which nature is present but one that nature did not write.

Even though this story began before time itself and reaches beyond the

end of time, it is a story that has room in its narrative for each individual

who encounters it in the present day.  Within the Christian practice of

living through the year, the gift of time becomes a means of entry into

this story, a mysterious opening into participation in the life of God.

(from Receiving the Day by Dorothy C. Bass)

MUSIC IN THE CHURCH - Readers are invited to visit this link,

Music in the Church, to read an essay by our Organist/Music Director,

Angela Hurley, as she shares reflections regarding church music.  This 

is the first of several essays regarding church music that Angela will 

share with us over the summer.  Even as we are blessed by Angela's 

ministry of music on Sunday mornings and other occasions, it is good 

to read some of the thoughts guiding its selection and presentation.

The scriptures for Sunday, June 25, the 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time…

Genesis 21:8-21

Romans 6:1-11

Matthew 10:24-39

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, June 25, 10am, in

Trinity Hall.  Come enjoy a cup of coffee, join the conversation, or

just listen in.  Watch the Friday update for more information regarding

this Sunday's conversation.

SMILE - Stop by the courtyard after worship this Sunday and have your

photograph taken for inclusion in the church pictorial directory to be

published later this summer.  You may also submit a photo for inclusion

in the directory.  Use reply email for more information.

The Walnut Hill Bike Ride is coming on Sat, July 15.  Activities include

open road rides, a closed road "family ride" on Walnut Hill Road, brunch,

music and more.  Mark your calendar and plan to join us.  There will be 

plenty of opportunities for volunteering. Your business may also sponsor 

the event.  Proceeds benefit Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Use reply email 

to request more information or visit Walnut Hill Bike Ride .

Summer Camp - It is not too late for your child/youth to attend one of

numerous camps being offered this summer at Cathedral Domain or

Camp Burnamwood.  Visit the preceding links for more information, and

remember that Walnut Hill will sponsor 1/2 of the cost for any Walnut Hill 

child/youth attending a Domain or Burnamwood program.

Hope Center Supplies - When you are traveling, or preparing to travel, 

this summer, don't forget that we are collecting travel size toiletry items 

(bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc) for the Hope Center.  Place your 

items in the collection box in the Sanctuary foyer.

Sunday Hospitality - Visit the online sign up sheet to view Sundays

available for you to host our after worship gathering.  You may, of

course, also visit the traditional sign up sheet in the Sanctuary foyer.

Thanks to all our Sunday hosts.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

  

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, June 18, at Walnut Hill Church…

Sunday Conversation, 10am, Trinity Hall

Our Father/Mother who art in heaven…

We will visit the ongoing conversation about God as

Father and/or Mother.  Does it really make a difference?

You can preview the conversation by reading two

articles: "Why We Call God Father" and

"Why Inclusive Language is Still Important." 

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Father Abraham and Mother Sarah

Text - Genesis 18:1-15

Nursery Care and Faith Development for children/youth

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for fellowship and refreshments.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Greetings to all!

As we approach Father's Day, consider these thoughts on "family" as offered

by Frederick Buechner…

It is not so much that things happen in a family as it is that the family is the

things that happen in it. The family is continually becoming what becomes of

it.  It is every christening and every commencement, every falling in love,

every fight, every departure and return.  It is the moment at breakfast when

for no apparent reason somebody gets up and leaves the table.  It is the

sound of the phone ringing in the middle of the night or the lying awake hours

waiting for it to ring.  It is the waves pounding the boardwalk to pieces and

the undercurrents so deep beneath the surface that you're hardly aware of

them. A family is a web so delicately woven that it takes almost nothing to

set the whole thing shuddering or even to tear it to pieces.  Yet the thread

it's woven of is as strong as anything on earth … It is within the fragile yet 

formidable walls of your own family that you learn, or do not learn, what the 

phrase human family means.

(as found in Whistling In The Dark)

The scripture lessons for Sun, June 18, the 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time…

Genesis 18:1-15

Romans 5:1-8

Matthew 9:35 - 10:8

Sunday Conversations continue this Sunday, June 18, 10am, in Trinity

Hall.  Watch the Friday update for details regarding this Sunday's 

conversation.

The Walnut Hill Bike Ride is coming on Sat, July 15.  Activities include

open road rides, a closed road "family ride" on Walnut Hill Road, brunch,

music and more.  Mark your calendar and plan to join us.  There will be 

plenty of opportunities for volunteering. Your business may also sponsor 

the event.  Proceeds benefit Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Use reply email 

to request more information or visit Walnut Hill Bike Ride .

Thanks and congratulations to the Walnut Hill Mission Team for their

good work in Estill County over this past weekend.  Sixteen Walnut Hill

adults and youth did home repair and landscaping, footbridge repair and

construction, and painting. They encouraged a single mother, shared a

vibrant community life, and enjoyed Saturday evening in downtown Irvine.  

Be sure to ask them about their experience.  Thanks also to those

several volunteers who took care of things at Walnut Hill while the team

was away.  Their leadership made it possible for Walnut Hill to worship

and serve in two places at one time.

Summer Camp - It is not too late for your child/youth to attend one of

numerous camps being offered this summer at Cathedral Domain or

Camp Burnamwood.  Visit the preceding links for more information, and

remember that Walnut Hill will sponsor 1/2 of the cost for any Walnut Hill 

child/youth attending a Domain or Burnamwood program.

Hope Center Supplies - When you are traveling, or preparing to travel, 

this summer, don't forget that we are collecting travel size toiletry items 

(bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc) for the Hope Center.  Place your 

items in the collection box in the Sanctuary foyer.

In the Community - A Grand Night For Singing, a musical revue featuring 

over 100 UK and community performers is scheduled for June 16 - 18. 

This year's Grand Night performers include Walnut Hill's Mary Diane Hanna.  

Visit www.ukoperatheatre.org for more information.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, June 11, at Walnut Hill Church …

TRINITY SUNDAY

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - Doubting, Believing, Loving

Scripture Readings - Psalm 8 ,  Matthew 28:16-20

Preaching - The Rev. Kristy Ehlert

Nursery Care and Faith Development for Children/Youth

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for fellowship and refreshments.

*****

*Sunday Conversations discussion is dismissed for this

Sunday.  Look for Sunday Conversations to resume next

week.

*Directory Photographs - Stop by the courtyard after

worship to have your photo taken for the upcoming

Pictorial Directory to be published later this summer.

*Hope Center - We are collecting "travel size" toiletry

items (bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc) for the

Hope Center.  Look for the collection box in the Sanctuary

foyer.

Walnut Hill Church Weekly Letter

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Greetings to all!

This weekend a team from Walnut Hill will travel to Estill County for a few days 

of community, fellowship, worship, and yes, service. Our team (16 persons) looks 

very much like our congregation in its variety of ages, skills and perspectives.  

We will have an opportunity to experience "being church" in a different way than 

usual.  Will we change the world by this experience? Maybe not, but perhaps 

some seeds of change will be planted within others and, more importantly, 

within ourselves.  Keep the team in your prayers that the experience might be a 

blessing to those with whom they serve, to the team members and to our entire 

congregation.

The lectionary texts for Sunday, June 11, Trinity Sunday…

Genesis 1:1 - 2:4

Psalm 8

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Matthew 28:16-20

Supplying the pulpit this Sun, June 11, at Walnut Hill will be the Rev. Kristy Ehlert. 

The Rev. Ehlert is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament of the Presbyterian 

Church (USA) and a staff chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington.

SMILE! Stop by the courtyard after worship this Sunday and have your photo taken 

to be part of our new Pictorial Directory to be published later this summer. Photos 

will be taken this Sunday and Sunday, June 25.  You may also submit a photo. Use 

reply email for more information.

Hope Center Supplies - When you are traveling, or preparing to travel, this summer,

don't forget that we are collecting travel size toiletry items (bar soap, shampoo,

toothpaste, etc) for the Hope Center.  Place your items in the collection box in the

Sanctuary foyer.

HVAC Replacement - We recently had to replace one of the four HVAC units

serving Trinity Hall.  The old (15+ years) unit failed and the cost to repair it made

replacement the better option.  Such unexpected expenses happen from time to

time, and they make us grateful for the Building Fund, from which this expense was 

paid.  Your special gifts to the "Walnut Hill Church Building Fund" enable us to be 

prepared for inevitable events/expenses like this one.  

In the Community - A Grand Night For Singing, a musical revue featuring over 

100 UK and community performers is scheduled for June 9 - 11 and 16 - 18. This

year's Grand Night performers include Walnut Hill's Mary Diane Hanna.  Visit

www.ukoperatheatre.org for more information.

Peace to all.

Mike Ward

Sunday at Walnut Hill Church

This Sunday, June 4, at Walnut Hill Church…

THE DAY OF PENTECOST

Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall

One Jesus, Four Stories

We will explore four different proclamations about Jesus 

that were present in the days of the early church. How 

might they help us in fashioning our own personal 

proclamation about Jesus?

Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary

Sermon - The Language of God

Text - Acts 2:1-21

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Nursery Care and Faith Development for Children

After Worship Gathering, Noon, Trinity Hall

All are invited to gather for fellowship and refreshments.

*****

Photographs are being taken for the new pictorial

church directory to be published later this summer.

Stop by the courtyard and have your photo taken this

Sunday.

*****

A Brief Team Meeting will be held after worship for

all those participating in the Walnut Hill Mission 

experience.