Masks in Our Spiritual Lives |
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Every mask has a story behind it. We wear so many throughout our lives for various reasons. Some are just for fun. Others can protect us physically or hide something sinister. And there are many stories in the Bible about masks and disguises. With Halloween coming up and other traditions that involve masks, such as Dia de los Muertos, All Souls Day, and the All Souls Procession happening next Sunday, we'll explore this topic with a focus on a few key teachings from the Bible and Swedenborg.
Bring your masks to church this
Sunday This Sunday, I invite everyone - all ages - to bring a mask to church. Any kind of mask... the more the merrier!
If you have more than one, that's even better! These masks will serve as a visual aid for the children's talk as well as for the sermon. Every mask has a story behind it. Children's Talks on the 23rd
Psalm I'm delaying the final talk about the 23rd Psalm until next Sunday! Instead, this Sunday I'll invite the children to think about the wonders of masks.
Fundraiser Concert -
Eduardo Costa - November 12 at 2:30 pm Once again we are welcoming the public to Eduardo's awesome live classical guitar concert - here at Sunrise Chapel. Although Eduardo plays regularly at other local venues throughout the year, and he has concerts out of town, Sunrise Chapel is his exclusive venue for Tucson concerts. He is billing this as his best concert ever! Set aside Sunday, November 12 for a wonderful afternoon concert starting at 2:30 pm.
Reminder: Our well-loved, annual, outdoor live nativity - the Path to Bethlehem - will be held on the first Saturday of December. That's December 2,
2017. About 5 weeks away! Please set aside that date for this very special public event.
WANTED: HOMEMADE COOKIES FOR THE PATH TO BETHLEHEM In honor of our “Cookie Lady,” Fran Blaesing, we are continuing the tradition of offering homemade goods to everyone who attends this special event. If you want to
contribute to this fun service project (either with baked goods or funds towards supplies) talk with Cheri Reynolds.
With love and respect, Nathan |
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
11 am Sunday Worship Service - Bring your masks! 12:00 pm Luncheon - Everyone Welcome! 1 pm Private Baptism in the Chapel
MONDAY 10/30/2017 11 am Tai Chi Class in Friendship Hall 2 pm Swedenborg Study Small Group
TUESDAY 10/31/2017 6:30 pm Bereavement Support
Group
WEDNESDAY 11/1/2017 9:30 am Worship Team meeting THURSDAY 11/2/2017
11 am Tai Chi Class in Friendship Hall 7 pm
Women's Group. Contact Elise G, Betsy G, or Kelly W for location
SATURDAY 11/4/2017
8:30 am and other times Board Webinar for Treasurers Mtg
SUNDAY 11/5/2017
9:30 am Invest in Spiritual Wealth (see below) - in Library 11 am Sunday Worship Service 12:00 pm Luncheon - Everyone Welcome!
The Front "Monument" Garden will get an overhaul |
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With our "patio" garden transformed into a lovely, shaded sitting area, one of our Boy Scouts is now making plans to refresh the front garden where the "monument" is. The plans are being tuned, but ideas include removing some rocks and dirt and resculpting the area, installing new irrigation, adding butterfly-friendly plants and shrubs, even creating a basin for passive water harvesting and a short
path to add to the rest of the paths on the property. A work day is set for Saturday, November 4, during which many Boy Scouts and their parents will converge on the site to help with this transformation.
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Invest in Spiritual Wealth NEXT SUNDAY AT 9:30 |
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A Small Group Presentation by Michael Brown
Sunday, November 5 from 9:30-10:45 AM
in Sunrise Chapel Library
We have the means to be spiritually wealthy. Webster's says the original definition of wealth was “well-being.” The Bible and the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg teach us how to increase our spiritual well-being -- spiritual wealth. You will receive
your own copy of “A Guide to Spiritual Wealth.” It will be our guide for a discussion about how we are blessed by the spiritual wealth in our lives. |
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Small Group Study of Topics from Swedenborg - Mondays at 2 pm |
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WE ARE STILL MEETING WEEKLY! Join us for a fascinating look at various spiritual topics. Each video is packed with material for discussion. Our
resources are video podcasts by two friends, Curtis Childs and Jonathan Rose. These two (and their amazing support team) are producing great programs to spread really helpful information from a Swedenborgian perspective (1) about how to handle life’s ups and downs and (2) about understanding the Bible.
Each Monday we view parts of an episode from Curtis Childs’ You Tube Channel called “offTheLeftEye”. We hit pause many times throughout each meeting to share questions and ideas with each other. It's really educational and also just fun.
Each video is fast-paced, information-packed, down-to-earth at the same time as being uplifting and
“spiritual.” He has so many thought-provoking shows on different topics and
of various lengths of time. Currently we are focusing on a few of these episodes.
Join the study and fun! Weekly meetings on Monday at 2 pm at Sunrise Chapel. ~Nathan
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Readings/lessons for
Reflection |
1 Samuel 28:8 Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
2 Corinthians 11:14 Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Proverbs
26:24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
Your Facial
Expressions From Matthew 6 Jesus said, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will
not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Beware of Certain Masks From True Christianity
590 Some people can use their faces and words to masquerade as angels of light, both among people in this world and after they die. A dark spirit can live behind a bright face, and a raging spirit can lie behind soothing words. They cannot be detected in this world, because here their spirit is not visible; it is covered over with a mask, like the one a comic actor wears on
stage. Therefore, my friend, know people for what they are, not by their mouth but by their heart—that is, not from what they say but from what they do. The Lord says, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly as predatory as wolves. Recognize them by their fruits”.
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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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