Greetings to all!
This coming Sunday (Dec 31) we will accelerate the church calendar a bit
by reflecting on the story of the Magi (a.k.a. the Wise Men/Three Kings),
which is traditionally observed on January 6, Epiphany. The Magi's visit
to honor the newborn Jesus is set against King Herod's intentions to kill
him, providing contrasting images of power. Donald Senior comments…
In blunt terms, Matthew draws a contrast between the deadly use of
power by King Herod and the life-giving power that would be exercised
by Jesus…In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus will teach his disciples to love
the enemy and to refrain from returning violence for violence. The power
of Jesus would be exercised in healing, in confronting injustice, and in
liberating those gripped by demonic forces…In a world with so many
examples of destructive power bent on dehumanizing and dividing the
human family, the challenge of the gospel has seldom had more
importance. The Magi appear in Matthew 2 bringing their lavish gifts for
the newborn king of the Jews and offering the church bold opportunities
for proclaiming the gospel in today's world.
(as found in the journal Interpretation)
*The lectionary texts for the Epiphany of the Lord…
New Year's Eve - Bring a plate of your "holiday leftovers" to share for
our after worship gathering on Sunday, December 31. We will help you
dispose of these leftover treats in festive fashion.
Being Christian is the title of a book by Rowan Williams, former Archbishop
of Canterbury, exploring four essential aspects of the Christian experience:
Baptism, Bible, Eucharist and Prayer. We will be talking about Williams' book
over the Sundays of January, beginning Sunday, January 7. Contact the
church office to pick up a copy of the book for your reading and reflection.
Kits - The Walnut Hill Sunday School is gathering supplies for Church
World Service Hygiene Kits and School Kits. These kits are distributed
in communities affected by natural disasters. Visit Hygiene Kits and/or
School Kits for a list of eligible items. Bring items to Walnut Hill over the
next several weeks. The kits will be assembled and shipped in January.
End-of-Year Giving - Thanks to numerous persons who have made
special end-of-year contributions to support Walnut Hill's life and ministry.
Remember that end-of-year gifts must be in-hand or post marked to the
church by December 31 to count toward your 2017 tax liability.
What do the films The Matrix, The Truman Show, Man of Steel, Dogma,
Dark City, Altered States, Star Trek V, Avatar, Pi, Pleasantville and
Out on a Limb have in common? They will all be part of our Sunday
(10am) conversations in Lent, starting Feb 18. Between now and then
you might want to search your dvd bin or your online streaming service
and refresh your memory of them.
Thanks to all who helped Walnut Hill "keep Christmas well" including party
hosts and guests, pageant singers, actors and readers, "Giving Tree" and
"Innkeeper's Offering" donors, poinsettia sponsors and Sanctuary decorators,
worshippers and well-wishers. Indeed, it has been a "good Christmas" at
Walnut Hill!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Mike Ward
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