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What part of your self can you control? A new year has begun. A new chapter in our lives. Some
people take this kind of event as a prompt to start fresh on some new goals or to revive some old goals. But really... any time is a good time to initiate positive change. And any significant change involves self control. Let's look at some of the ins and outs of the effort to control self, and the opposite tendency for the self to want complete control.
Memorial Service - Celebration of Life for Janna Excell Today (Saturday) was a very busy day for Elise and me. We were very much
wrapped up in preparing for and hosting a celebration of life for Janna Excell at Sunrise Chapel. It was so heartwarming to have 95 people from far and wide attend and participate. Janna was/is very much loved in the Tucson community. She has been a spiritual light for many, many people who have suffered through crises and bereavement. Several people spoke at the service who have known her for decades, including Frank Rose who first met her in 1984. So many more stories could have been told and
in fact were told in the social time afterwards in Friendship Hall.
A plaque in Janna's honor was installed in the Memorial Garden just before the service. "Janna Excell - Surrounded by Angels November 27, 2017"
New things to do in this new calendar year Thinking back over several years on what we have accomplished, and looking forward to what's in store, I'm excited about this new year together
as a church! We have a lot to offer and a lot to do. For instance, we start a fresh Journey of Spiritual Growth at the end of January - on the very important topic of FORGIVENESS - and right after that 5-week series, we host a booth at the amazing Festival of Books on Choosing the Joy of Spiritual Growth. And every day, something significant is happening at "the church with the heavenly view" - whether it
be a small group, a meeting, a worship service, counseling, a wedding, a celebration of life, or some other service to the community. Sunrise Chapel is an active place for supporting spiritual growth in all sorts of practical ways. And I appreciate every person's involvement!
Thinking of you with love and respect,Nathan |
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
11 am Worship Service 12:00 pm Luncheon - Everyone Welcome! TUESDAY 1/16/2018 6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group
WEDNESDAY
1/17/2018 9:30 am Worship Team meeting
11 am
Tai Chi 7 pm Women's Group - contact Elise Gladish for details
11 am Worship Service 12:00 pm Luncheon - Everyone Welcome! 12:45 pm Board of Directors Meeting
New Journey of Spiritual Growth Starting Soon! |
We start PRACTICING FORGIVENESS on Sunday, January 28! Well, actually, you can start forgiving anytime, but that's when we'll learn about it in church services and small
groups.
This could be our best Journey program yet. Thank you to our good friends at New Church Outreach for putting it together. Some congregations did this course in the Fall. As is our custom, we are taking it up in the Winter, with our final session just before the weekend of the Tucson Festival of Books (in
March).
Books are on order, and we will start organizing small groups to meet weekly starting the week of January 28. The Thursday night Women's group is already planning to engage in the topic.
Questions about groups? Contact Elise or me
- Nathan.
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New daily devotional for a new
year |
Our friend Bronwen Henry from New Church Outreach has this announcement about a new book written by a colleague of mine - Derek Elphick:
I'm happy to announce our newest book: "Daily Bread 365 Readings & Inspirations for Living Well" by Rev. Derek Elphick. Available to order online today at www.newchristianresources.org
In 1999 I was in England and came across an old leather bound daily reader of Bible quotes and quotes from the Writings (I think it was called "All the Year Round"). Though I loved this book, the translations were challenging for me. Then in 2007, I was talking with Derek Elphick at an outreach training event and he
mentioned his interest in developing a daily reader. I was so thrilled to hear this and told him I'd help him produce it when he finished it. I'm grateful he worked so diligently on this for years...and here we are! Perfect timing as a gift for Christmas and you can start reading in the New Year.
As Derek writes, “My
prayer is that you will find something to help you experience the daily care, comfort, hope and insight that the Lord provides in His Word. Whether you are in between errands, on a lunch break, waiting at a doctor’s office, finishing your day or having a morning quiet time, I warmly invite you to engage the ideas here with an openness for how the Lord will lead you today.”
Daily Bread is available to purchase at www.NewChristianResources.org for $19.99.
With gratitude, Bronwen Henry
Program Manager New Church Journey
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Reading for Reflection on this Sunday's
topic |
Paul Teaches Self-control
Titus
2:2,6
Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech.
Who or What is in Control?
Divine Providence 136, 145, 146 (parts)
It is generally recognized that what is outside us cannot control what is inside us, but that what is inside can control what is outside. The reason is that what is inside is like a master and what is outside is like a servant. Can anyone be forced to believe and to love? We can no more be forced to believe than we can be forced to think what we do not think. We can no more be compelled to love than we can be compelled to intend what we do not intend. We are human because of our inner thought, which is actually the human spirit.
Therefore, it follows that we are compelling ourselves when we force our outer thought processes to consent, or to accept the pleasures of our inner desires, the benefits that arise from our caring. An example may help. Suppose we have felt pleasure in cheating and in undetected theft, but we see and inwardly admit that these are sins and therefore want to refrain from
them. When we refrain, a battle between the inner self and the outer self begins. The inner self is full of desire for honesty, while the outer self still enjoys cheating. Because this pleasure is diametrically opposed to the pleasure of honesty, it does not go away unless it is forced to; and the only way it can be forced is through fighting against it. Once the battle is won, the outer self comes into that love-filled delight in honesty that is true caring. Gradually thereafter our pleasure in
cheating becomes distasteful to us. It is much the same with other sins. The hardest battle of all, though, is with our love of being in control because of our sense of self-importance. If we overcome this, we have no trouble overcoming our other evil loves, because this is the head of them all. “Blessed is everyone who hears the Word of God and keeps it.”
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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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