The Joy of Spiritual Caring - part 6 |
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The Joy of Holding Hope Hope is important. That's an understatement! What would life be without hope?! Even the word "hopeless" has a very challenging ring to it. And the more that is at stake, the more important hope is. I can hope to
acquire something relatively inconsequential, such as a certain make and model of car, but I won't be heartbroken if it doesn't happen. Holding hope for a significant change in a difficult long-term relationship can feel much more important. Hoping for just the right a certain job after years of education and training is a lot more significant. And What are you hoping for?
This
series, "The Joy of Spiritual Caring," is an effort to help us take a spiritual growth task and apply it in two ways - first to ourselves individually and secondly extending it outwardly in ways to show care to others. I hope you can come and participate! There is a saying, "By ourselves, we are each a drop, but together we are an ocean." Let's enjoy showing each other care and be part of the ripple of passing it along.
Arizona Mountain Camp Planning Meeting - last Sunday Here's the brief report:
Eight very interested adults met after the luncheon last Sunday to start brainstorming plans for a camp experience next year. We have a bunch of ideas, and the next step is to do some research.
Several people are going to research possible locations.
We have a volunteer cook!
One thought is to have one camp oriented to children and a different camp at a completely different time for adults. We are looking for more thoughts and input about this idea.
There is energy for having a
child-oriented camp in the summer during school vacation - meaning May, June, or July.
With love and respect, Nathan
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UPCOMING CHURCH ACTIVITIES: 11 am
Sunday Worship Service 12:00 pm Luncheon - Everyone Welcome!
MONDAY 8/7/2017 11 am Tai Chi Class in Friendship
Hall
TUESDAY 8/8/2017 6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group
WEDNESDAY 8/9/2017 9:30 Worship Team meeting in Pastor's office THURSDAY 8/10/2017
11 am Tai Chi Class in Friendship Hall 6:30 pm New Church Foundations Class #1
7 pm Women's Group. Contact Elise G, Betsy G, or Kelly W for location 11 am Sunday Worship
Service 12:00 pm Luncheon - Everyone Welcome!
Upcoming Small Group opportunities |
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New Church Foundations Series This 7-week series of small group classes highlights the main teachings of our church, and helps give insight into what the New Church movement and the global organization is all about. This is also highly recommended for introduction to baptism and membership in
our church.
Open to anyone whether you are a recent newcomer or long-time member who wants a refresher.
One of the things I love about this course is the questions people bring!! It’s an opportunity to ask and discuss any question, no matter how basic.
My plan is to offer this series on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:00 pm at the church starting August 10 for seven weeks. I am happy to provide a video conference option for anyone who wants to participate remotely. Contact me to express your interest or discuss timing.
Study Group
of Topics from Swedenborg Hey there! Are you interested in digging a little deeper into the teachings based on Swedenborg's works? I am looking for folks who want to join with me in an open group for anyone who wants to study and discuss more about Swedenborg's theological works. We will use different resources,
depending on the interests of the group. Two online resources will be episodes of Curtis Childs' "OfftheLeftEye" broadcasts and Jonathan Rose's "Spirit and Life Bible Study" classes. Date and time to be determined by discussion with interested participants. Contact me to tell me your interest and timing preference. ~Nathan
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Readings/Lessons for this Sunday |
The Birth and Rescue of Moses
Exodus 2:1-10
Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him
no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one
of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
“Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the
water.”
Arcana Celestia 2338
Temptations involve feelings of doubt regarding the Lord's presence and mercy, and also regarding His salvation. The evil spirits who are present with people at such times and who are the cause of temptation do all they can to infuse a negative outlook, but good
spirits and angels from the Lord in every way disperse that doubting attitude, all the time preserving a feeling of hope and in the end strengthening an affirmative outlook.
Arcana Celestia 2694
"Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the child where he is." This signifies the hope of help. This is evident from the signification of "fear not," as being not to despair; for
when fear is taken away, hope is present.
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Helping people experience heavenly joy through spiritual growth www.sunrisechapel.org
nathan@sunrisechapel.org Office 520-298-1245
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