Opening Our Gates (04/08/22)

Published: Fri, 04/08/22

Opening Our Gates (04/08/22)

On Palm Sunday

(Extracts From Rev. Geoffrey Howard)

Through the guidance [of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg] we can see the true spiritual significance of the Lord's riding into Jerusalem as the "King of Israel."

We are taught that whenever the Lord is depicted as a "King," the government of what is Divinely true is meant.

"Israel," on the other hand, means the person of the church, the person who desires to make room in their heart for the Lord to enter. We prepare a way for the Lord when we take delight in seeking the laws of order for the sake of improving our motives and the quality of our lives.

When we are in a state like this, the Lord may enter to become the King of His spiritual Israel. When viewed in this light we may see the Lord's entry into Jerusalem not as the triumphant moment of a great leader, but rather as a representative picture of the supremacy of the truth. That the Lord rules universally according to the terms of the Divine truth. It is preserved in the Word for our use.

The Lord Jesus Christ enters into our lives as our King as we lay our thoughts, our mental clothing, before the court of His unchanging Divine truth. Similarly, our inmost perceptions, represented by the branches of palm, should be laid open to the same scrutiny.

Our thoughts/our perceptions, then, should both be cast before the way of the King. They should be tested and tried to see if they are worthy, to see if they are acceptable in the sight of the Lord. In this way we open the gates of our mind to the entry of the Lord as our spiritual King.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS SUNDAY (04/10/22)

SRC Holy Week Events:

Palm Sunday

We kick off Holy Week this Sunday with our Palm Sunday service. Thank you to Dave Synnestvedt, Louise Rose, Claudia Wood-Osmus and others who helped decorate the chancel and ready the chapel overall for this special occasion.

We will have a processional of palm branches at the beginning of the service which will be laid at the foot of the chancel, inviting us to picture in our minds the scene of the Lord's Triumphal Entry into the Jerusalem.

Good Friday

Then on April 15th at 7pm we will have our service commemorating Good Friday, complete with readings from the account of the end of the Lord's earthly life interspersed with contemplative music - culminating in the opportunity to share the Lord's Supper together.

Easter Sunrise Service

We will have our first outdoor service of my tenure Easter morning at 7am. (We will send more details on this next week). It will be a simple service with readings from the Easter story and an opportunity for some singing, followed by hot cross buns and coffee in Friendship Hall.

Easter Traditional Service

We will have our traditional Easter celebration in the Chapel at 11am, which will include the opportunity to offer flowers, fruit, and non-perishable food items in a processional at the opening of church.

Hope you can join us for each of these worship opportunities during this special season of the year.

From the "Weeding Committee":

Our Path of Faith weeding efforts will commence Saturday, April 23rd from 6:30 - 8:30am. For more information, contact Kerry or Susan Cooper - (520) - 903 - 7980.

From the Property Manager:

Thank you to those who have donated toward the fan and shade screens.
This will primarily cover the outdoor fan unit for the gazebo. Now we will need electrical workup and install. We will keep you posted on progress!

From the Casto Family:

Thank you to donors thus far to the “Dan Pendleton memorial fund .” Your donations are hard at work!

Notice the new Desert Hopseed bushes around the gazebo. In time, they will take on shapes of their own and grow larger.

Thank you again, the Casto kids

BLESSINGS ON YOUR WEEKEND!

Your church home for partnering with the Lord and each other in the practice of cultivating spiritual growth and choosing heavenly joy

www.sunrisechapel.org

Office 520-298-1245

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