Weekly Email

January 17, 2020: Sunday Conversation, 10am, Trinity Hall   King’s Life and Legacy   We talk about our recollections of Martin Luther King, Jr’s life, as well as his legacy for the nation, the world, and us. (Nursery Care available for young children) Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary   Sermon - Servant Songs Text -Isaiah 49:1-7 Faith Formation, 11am, Trinity Hall   Nursery Care and Classes for Children/Youth Theme - Come and See: Encountering Christ Scripture - John 1:29-42 continuing work on…

January 15, 2020: Monday, January 20, is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, an annual occasion to revisit Dr. King’s life and work, and how they continue to inform us today. This year’s observance seems particularly timely in light of recent racial, religious, and political tensions.  Consider these thoughts from Dr. King… When an individual is no longer a true participant, when he no longer feels a sense of responsibility to his society, the content of democracy is emptied.  When…

January 10, 2020: THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall The Baptism of Jesus We will explore text traditions, in the gospels and beyond, that reveal the early church’s questions about the baptism of Jesus.  What might the early church’s questions suggest about Jesus’ baptism, and our own? Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary Sermon - A Watershed Moment Text - Matthew 3:13-17 Reaffirmation of Baptism Faith Formation, 11am, Trinity Hall Nursery Care and Classes for Children/Youth After Worship Gathering,…

January 8, 2020: This Sunday, January 12, is the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord, the second of three stories associated with Epiphany (see lessons below). As an event in Jesus’ life, to paraphrase the New Testament scholar John Dominic Crossan, “That Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River is one of the surest things we know about both of them.”  The remembrance of Jesus’ baptism has long been an occasion to recall our own baptism, which…

January 7, 2020 Happy New Year!  What a wonderful season of hospitality we have recently enjoyed including the Christmas Potluck, Christmas Party, “holiday leftovers” Sunday, and others.  With the holiday season past, winter seems to set in, but shared hospitality can keep the holiday warmth alive. In that spirit, take a moment to visit the online sign up sheet and reserve a Sunday to share the warmth of hospitality with Walnut Hill friends and guests by hosting one of our after worship…

January 3, 2020: EPIPHANY SUNDAY Sunday Conversation, 10am, Trinity Hall “…and they worshiped him” Worship was the response of the magi upon finding the child, Jesus.  Was worship something they experienced, or was it something they did, or both? What about us?  What does it mean to worship? Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary Sermon - Seeing Stars Text -Matthew 2:1-12 The Sacrament of Holy Communion Faith Formation, 11am, Trinity Hall Nursery Care and Classes for Children/Youth Sunday’s Theme:  Light/Darkness, Word/Silence Scripture - John 1:1-18…

December 31, 2019: The “holiday season” continues as we move through New Year’s Day and on toward “Epiphany” (Jan 6).  We will observe/celebrate Epiphany at Walnut Hill on Sunday, January 5.  Three stories come into view during the Sundays of Epiphany including the visit of the magi,  the baptism of the Lord, and the transformation of water into wine.  Each story “manifests” the new work of God in Jesus.  Having just remembered the birth of Jesus, we are now invited…

December 27, 2019: THE FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall Unpacking the Creation Care Collage We’ll unpack  the twenty-six images of the Creation Care Collage, which you might have seen on the recent Creation Care holiday card.  We’ll learn what the “artist” had in mind, and discuss how the collage might help in our reflection upon and appreciation of God’s creation. Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary Sermon - Remembering the Children Text - Matthew 2:13-23 Faith Formation, 11am, Trinity Hall Nursery Care…

December 24, 2019: As I think about Christmas and the questions of “fact” that we like to ask about the story of Jesus’ birth, and other stories about Jesus, I am reminded of the following reflection by 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…

December 20, 2019: THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT CHRISTMAS COMMUNION Sunday Conversation, 10am, Trinity Hall   Christmas in the Gospels   We continue our exploration of “Christmas in the Gospels” as we visit John’s house.  You might want to read the beginning of John’s Gospel, often referred to as John’s “Prologue” (John 1:1-18) in advance of our conversation. Use reply email to request a study guide for Sunday’s conversation. Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary   Sermon - Who’s Is Your Favorite?…