Walnut United Methodist Church

Sunday, October 30 marks the beginning of our 2023 Stewardship Campaign, “Healing After Loss.” We’ll spend the next four weeks reflecting on preparing our congregation for healing and growth for 2023.

And don’t worry, it’s not all about raising money for our church. The stewardship campaign series is meant to be about you too. It’s about healing and growing for you as an individual, after a couple years of feeling anxious, confused, and fragmented. It’s about how to get your zhuzh back—financially, spiritually, physically, emotionally—all of it. Let us remember that God gave us the gift of life not just so we can live it but so we can live it abundantly (John 10:10). God doesn’t want us to just survive, but to THRIVE. 

Below is the calendar for the stewardship campaign. On the final Sunday, November 20th, we’ll be invited to come forward with the enclosed pledge card, to mark our financial commitment towards our church’s continual healing and growth. Though the pledge card only marks your financial commitment, please let us know if there is an area of the church where you would like to offer your leadership and time. Our heart and service tithes are just as integral to our church’s health and growth.

Services at 10 a.m. every Sunday. A vibrant children’s program and nursery are always offered.

Sunday, October 30: Pastor Lydia preaches on God’s view of money and how it can transform how we use it, make it, and share it. All of us (both kids and grown-ups are also invited to wear our Halloween costumes to church if you’d like. After the service, as is custom at Walnut UMC, we’ll collect donations for an outreach ministry, which for this year is Pastor Krista’s nonprofit ministry, Friends of Padhar Schools. 

Sunday, November 6: Some of the youth will share their dreams for our church and what they need to grow in their faith. It is also All Saints’ Sunday so we will remember those who transitioned from this life to life eternal this past year.

Sunday, November 13: Manny Dan, our Finance Committee Chair, and Carol Coy, our Lay Leader to Annual Conference, will share a little bit about where our money goes and where we want to go as a congregation in the upcoming year. 

Thanksgiving Sunday, November 20: Louisa and Arnie Amezcua will share about how this congregation has been instrumental for their family and growth. This is also the Sunday where we will be invited to bring our pledge cards to church. We will celebrate the end of the campaign with a Thanksgiving potluck after church! 

All are welcome! Every Sunday at 10 a.m. A vibrant children’s and nursery program are always offered.

Sunday, September 11: Back to School Sunday (Kids are invited to bring their backpacks, where they’ll be blessed during the Children’s Time.)

Sunday, September 18: The Rev. Denyse Barnes, Director of Justice and Compassion Ministries of the California Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church, will be our guest preacher. 

Sunday, September 25: Fall Equinox. Let us set our intentions as we prepare for the new season of harvest and giving thanks. 

Sunday, October 2: Blessing of the Animals! Bring your animal companion to church this morning so we can bless them and celebrate their loving companionship. 

Saturday, October 8: Come out to the Walnut Family Festival, where our church will have a booth! 

Sunday, October 9: How Do We Love Where We Live? 

Sunday, October 16: Laity Sunday! Today, we remember and celebrate who really make the church—the laity. 

Sunday, October 23: Ivy Rogers, Pastor Lydia’s daughter, will be baptized. The Rev. Cathie Capp, Senior Pastor of University United Methodist Church of Irvine, will be our guest preacher and officiate the baptism.

Vacation Bible School is BACK! Instead of mornings, it will be an all-family program that takes place every Wednesday evening in July from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. That means both parents and kids between the ages of 3 and 12 are welcome! This will be a chance for parents to have a wonderful spiritual bonding time with their children as well as other adults.

The program theme this year is “Discovery on Adventure Island” and it includes dinner, activities, crafts, music, Bible stories, and more!

Registration is now open! Register at https://walnutumc.mycokesburyvbs.com

On this sixth Sunday of Easter, we focused on one of the pivotal moments in the life of the early church–when Simon Peter has a vision that all are included in God’s family, not just the Jews (Acts 11:1-18). How does this vision have relevance for us today when there are so many divisions, even within the United Methodist Church? Tune in to reflect and worship together with us.

The choir performed “His Name is Wonderful,” “O, Lord Hear My Prayer,” and “When the Storms of Life are Raging.”

Many thanks to Louisa Amezcua who was our liturgist, Michaela Hill who recorded the service, and Grace Amador who was the pianist.

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

To tithe to our congregation to support and strengthen our ministries: https://rb.gy/p4trbx

On this fifth Sunday of Easter, we had the pleasure of welcoming our District Superintendent, the Rev. Dr. Siosaia Tu’itahi as the preacher. He delivered a moving sermon about the kind of love Jesus asks of us based on John 13:31-35.

Many thanks to Carol Coy who was liturgist, Emily and Carroll Martin who led the children’s time, Austin Lei who served as acolyte, Michaela Hill who recorded the service, Grace Amador who was the pianist, and of course, the choir!

The choir performed “His Name is Wonderful,” “O, Lord Hear My Prayer,” and “Blest Are They.”

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

To tithe to our congregation to support and strengthen our ministries: https://rb.gy/p4trbx

On this Mother’s Day, the New Testament lectionary passage was about a woman who died and her community mourned her loss. Based on the passage, the only things we know about her was that she was beloved and that she made clothes for her community. Pastor Lydia explored the significance of handmade items in our lives and we had the privilege of hearing one another share stories of certain handmade gifts in our lives.

The choir performed “His Name is Wonderful,” “O, Lord Hear My Prayer,” and “Canon of Praise.”

Many thanks to Manny Don who was our liturgist, Michaela Hill who recorded the service, and Grace Amador who was the pianist.

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

To tithe to our congregation to support and strengthen our ministries: https://rb.gy/p4trbx

On this third Sunday of Easter, we encountered the passage where Jesus reappears to his disciples once again, this time, on the beach. His disciples have gone back to their former professions as fishermen, not knowing what to do now that their leader has died. And in their aimlessness, Jesus gives them (and us) a new call. But what if that new call sounds burdensome? Tune in to learn how to deal with that feeling.

The choir performed “His Name is Wonderful,” “O, Lord Hear My Prayer,” and “Let Us Break Bread Together.”

Many thanks to Jay Swartz who was our liturgist, Michaela Hill who recorded the service, and Grace Amador who was the pianist.

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

To tithe to our congregation to support and strengthen our ministries: https://rb.gy/p4trbx

On this second Sunday of Easter, we focused on the gospel passage where Jesus appears to his disciples after his crucifixion. They are terrified and feel betrayed. In their turmoil, Jesus meets them and offers them peace and empowerment. Where in our lives are we terrified and need peace and empowerment? Tune into the service to reflect and receive Jesus’ enlivening breath of life.

The choir performed “Open Our Eyes, Lord,” a sung Amen, and “Love Is Our Theme.”

Many thanks to Michael Peeler who was our liturgist, Andreya Custodio who recorded the service, and Grace Amador who was the pianist.

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

To tithe to our congregation to support and strengthen our ministries: https://rb.gy/p4trbx

Christ is Risen! Hallelujah! Tears welled up as we remembered that it had been three years since we last celebrated Easter in-person as a congregation. As such, this service felt especially celebratory. Pastor Lydia preached on the gospel passage that describes women finding an empty tomb (Luke 24:1-12). The reactions of Jesus’ followers run the gamut in this passage, from unbelief to instant belief to instant curiosity, which is to be expected. Yet, God invites us through this passage to start seeing not only with our minds and eyes, but to start seeing with the eyes of our hearts. When we do this, we will truly know and understand what it means to be a people of resurrection.

The choir performed “Open Our Eyes, Lord,” a sung Amen, and “Then Came the Morning.”

Many thanks to Don Driftmier who was our liturgist, Andreya Custodio who recorded the service, and Grace Amador who was the pianist.

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

To tithe to our congregation to support and strengthen our ministries: https://rb.gy/p4trbx

On Palm Sunday, we waved palms and prepared our hearts for Holy Week. Pastor Lydia preached on the gospel passage where Jesus processes into Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowds spontaneously create a royal procession for him. Have there been spontaneous events in your life that seemed divinely orchestrated? Tune in to reflect…

The choir performed “Open Our Eyes, Lord,” a sung Amen, and “Festival of Palms.”

Many thanks to Louisa Amezcua who was our liturgist, Andreya Custodio who recorded the service, and Grace Amador who was the pianist.

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

To tithe to our congregation to support and strengthen our ministries: https://rb.gy/p4trbx