Walnut United Methodist Church

08/31/2026

Dear Church,

What a meaningful last day of August we shared together yesterday.

Our sanctuary was filled with music, joy, and the gifts of so many members of our church family.

We began with a wonderful choral introit, “This Little Light of Mine,” sung by sisters Annalise and Julianna Amezcua. Later, Collin Gran shared “What a Wonderful World” through American Sign Language, offering another beautiful expression of worship.

We were also grateful to welcome Pastor Miguel deGuzman, who reminded us through Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:11—“encourage one another and build each other up”—of just how deeply we need one another. His message invited us to think about the people who have encouraged us along the way and about our own calling to be people who strengthen, affirm, and care for those around us. Christian community is not simply about gathering in the same room; it is about intentionally becoming the kind of people who help one another keep going.

Following the sermon, David Shen offered a beautiful piano solo of “Romance de Amor.”

And wow—all of our special musical and artistic offerings this morning came from our young people! What a gift to witness them sharing their talents with our church and helping lead all of us in worship.

Thank you so much to the rest of our worship leaders for the morning:
-Jeff Chamlee for serving as liturgist
-Collin Gran for serving as acolyte
-Sophia Hill for leading the children's time
-Mikaela Hill for recording the service
-Nico Marucut for being our accompanist
-Jackie Navarro and Stacy Manfredi for hosting coffee hour today

What a meaningful way to celebrate the very last day of August toge...

08/24/2026

Yesterday, we marked the beginning of a new school year by gathering around our students and educators, blessing them for all that lies ahead—the learning, growing, friendships, challenges, surprises, and joy still to come.

Our morning was made even richer by two wonderful soloists: Marissa Mendoza, who sang “Nothing But the Blood,” and Elainah Wu, who shared “Bless God.” Their music brought such warmth and spirit to our worship.

And how fitting that the lectionary brought us Mark 2:21–22, where Jesus talks about new w**e needing new w**eskins. Pastor Lydia reflected on those seasons when the old ways of understanding God, ourselves, our relationships, or even the world around us can no longer hold who we are becoming. Growth can be exhilarating, but it can also ache—because sometimes becoming new means releasing what once felt familiar and secure. The invitation is not simply to cling more tightly to what has always been, but to trust that God may be making room in us for something new.

Many thanks to the rest of our worship leaders for the morning!
-Jenelle Henderson for serving as liturgist
-Hugh Rogers for serving as acolyte
-Mikaela Hill for recording the service
-Nico Marucut for being our accompanist
-Sandy Woolley and Carroll Martin for serving coffee hour!

To tithe to our congregation and strengthen our ministries, you can now use Zelle! Our Zelle giving email is [email protected]

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

We marked the beginning of a new school year by gathering around ou...

08/18/2026

What a meaningful and uplifting service we shared today! Throughout August, we have the joy of hearing special musicians from our congregation share their gifts and bless us through music. Our introit, “My Jesus, I Love Thee,” was tenderly offered by Hannah Gultom on violin and Evita Sadimin on piano. For special music, Hannah Gultom and Yanto Gultom sang “The Heart of Worship / Here I Am to Worship,” and “Pastor Mike and Friends” offered “Master, the Tempest Is Raging” as our sung response.

Pastor Lydia reflected on the striking and thought-provoking story of the Canaanite woman, whose courage and persistence invite us not to shrink when our worth is questioned, but to know our own sacred worth and to extend to ourselves the same love, care, and tenderness we so readily offer to others.

What a meaningful and uplifting service we shared today! Throughout...

08/08/2026

And that’s a wrap! ✨ KPOP Church Camp flew by, and did we LIGHT IT UP. We danced, enjoyed delicious KPOP-inspired foods, made new friends, laughed a whole lot, and learned what it means to live as the light of the world. What a joyful few days together! 💫

08/03/2026

What is your name? A simple question, but a complicated one, too. Some of us may have even tried on a different name at some point, hoping we could become someone else—or escape the parts of ourselves we did not know how to love.

This longing appears throughout the Bible, even in the story of Jacob, one of the great patriarchs of our faith. Jacob spent much of his life striving, grasping, and trying to secure a blessing he was not sure he could receive as himself. But after wrestling through the night, he emerged with a new name, a new identity, and a deeper understanding of who he was.

If you have ever struggled with who you are or longed to become someone new, tune in to this worship service and discover how transformation begins not by running from ourselves, but by courageously wrestling with God, our past, and the truth of who we are becoming.

As we begin the month of August, we feel the season beginning to shift as families wrap up their summer adventures and prepare for a new school year. Additionally, our choir takes their well-deserved annual August break and we have the joy of hearing special music from gifted members of our congregation. Marc Dorrell sang “Surely the Presence” as our introit, and Margery Don offered a beautiful rendition of “He,” accompanied by Manuel Don on guitar.

It was also Communion Sunday, when we blessed the sacrament of Holy Communion and received once again God’s gifts of grace, love, forgiveness, and new life.

Many thanks to the rest of our worship leaders:

-Don Driftmier for serving as liturgist
-Nathaniel Christian for serving as acolyte
-Charlotte Hill for recording the service
-Nico Marucut for being our accompanist
-The Chamlee and Henderson Families for serving coffee hour!

To tithe to our congregation and strengthen our ministries, you can now use Zelle! Our Zelle giving email is [email protected]

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

August has arrived! We can feel the season beginning to shift as fa...

07/27/2026

On this final Sunday of our sermon series, “Summer Camp Lessons,” we put into practice the promises we so often make through tearful end-of-camp goodbyes: “I’ll keep in touch. I’ll write.”

In an age of texting, emailing, and instant communication, letter writing can feel like a lost art. Yet writing letters—and journaling to preserve our memories—does something meaningful for both our minds and our souls. Tune in to reflect, learn, and grow with us!

Our choir fully embraced the camp spirit in their Western outfits, singing “A Place in the Choir” as the introit, “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy” as the anthem, and “Kum Ba Yah” as the sung response.

Many thanks to the rest of our worship leaders:

-Jackie Navarro for serving as liturgist
-Bailynn Morris for serving as acolyte
-Tania and Henry Chiu for the beautiful flowers on the altar in honor of Henry's birthday
-Mikaela Hill for recording the service
-Nico Marucut for being our accompanist
-Lou Diaz, Joe Diaz, Naila Lapus, Rhea Salta, Jumi Adolfo, and Yoly Damian for providing the delicious treats for coffee hour!

To tithe to our congregation and strengthen our ministries, you can now use Zelle! Our Zelle giving email is [email protected]

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

On this final Sunday of our sermon series, “Summer Camp Lessons,” w...

07/20/2026

Our joyful summer sermon series, Summer Camp Lessons, continued yesterday with favorite camp songs. The choir sang “Down by the Bay” as the introit, “Give Me Oil in My Lamp” as the anthem, and “Kumbaya” as the sung response.

Yesterday's sermon, “Stargaze,” was for anyone who has ever wrestled with the question Why?—why suffering exists, why difficult things happen, or why you are facing this particular hardship. While there may be no easy answers, this sermon offers a wider perspective and an invitation to wonder, learn, and grow.

Throughout this summer series, we are stepping outdoors, stretching our perspectives, and opening ourselves to a more expansive way of seeing God, ourselves, and the world.

Many thanks to the rest of our worship leaders for the morning!
-Don Driftmier for serving as liturgist
-Annalisa Amezcua for serving as acolyte
-Jeff Chamlee for the beautiful flowers on the altar in honor of summer
-Mikaela Hill for recording the service
-Nico Marucut for being our accompanist
-Chris and Cynthia Green for providing the delicious treats for coffee hour!

To tithe to our congregation and strengthen our ministries, you can now use Zelle! Our Zelle giving email is [email protected]

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

Our joyful summer sermon series, Summer Camp Lessons, continued thi...

07/13/2026

Yesterday, we continued our summer sermon series, "Summer Camp Lessons." An integral part of summer camp is the afternoon nap. Did you know that naps restore alertness, strengthen learning, improve our moods, and support physical performance? A nap can even save a life, as it did for Elijah in this morning’s passage. In our culture of 24/7 stimulation where the internet never sleeps, do you let your body, mind, and soul get the restoration it needs? Tune in to reflect and grow.

The choir blessed the service this morning with "Make Me a Servant" as the introit, "Psalm of Quietness" as the anthem, and also, in the spirit of our Summer Camp series, "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore."

Many thanks to the rest of our wonderful worship leaders for the morning:
-Jeff Chamlee for serving as liturgist
-Collin Gran for serving as acolyte
-Juliet Ibergs for the beautiful flowers on the altar in honor of July birthdays
-Mikaela Hill for recording the service
-Nico Marucut for being our accompanist
-Sandy Woolley and Julie Fisher for providing the delicious treats for coffee hour!

To tithe to our congregation and strengthen our ministries, you can now use Zelle! Our Zelle giving email is [email protected]

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

An integral part of summer camp is the afternoon nap. Naps restore ...

07/06/2026

Coming just one day after the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we reflected on the gift of freedom and what it means to continue working for the freedom of those who are still not free at yesterday's Sunday service.

This connected beautifully with our summer sermon series, “Summer Camp Lessons,” and Sunday’s theme: “Leave It Better Than You Found It.” Tune in for an uplifting and thought-provoking time of worship.

It was also Communion Sunday, so if you are watching from home, feel free to grab a piece of bread and some juice so you can receive Communion remotely.

Thank you to the choir for blessing our worship with “Make Me a Servant” as the introit, “I Love the Mountains” as the anthem, and “Kum Ba Yah” as the sung response.

Many thanks to the rest of our worship leaders for the morning:
-Don Driftmier for serving as liturgist
-Bailynn Morris for serving as acolyte
-Mikaela Hill for recording the service
-Nico Marucut for being our accompanist
-And Stacy Manfredi and Jackie Navarro for providing the delicious treats for coffee hour!

To tithe to our congregation and strengthen our ministries, you can now use Zelle! Our Zelle giving email is [email protected]

CCLI Copyright and Streaming License: 20197516 & 20197509

This Sunday was a meaningful time of worship. Coming just one day a...