This Sunday we start "Practicing
Forgiveness" |
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Forgiveness can seem hard and complicated If you feel hurt by someone or by something that happened, you might also feel angry, confused, betrayed, dishonored, or unloved. A hundred other
thoughts and feelings might run through your head and heart. Some of them linger, often for years. Where does forgiveness fit into this picture?
This Sunday, we'll start a series on the subject of forgiveness, with an emphasis on implementing it, giving it a new try, practicing it. Our first topic is "Why forgive?" ...in other words, what does the Lord teach us about the reasons forgiveness is even a good idea. What is the benefit of forgiving? What's the use?
I am really looking forward to these church services and to the small
groups that will be meeting during the next 6 weeks. I believe this topic is timely and important for us to work on individually and as a church in order to turn our lives over the the Lord's lovingly wise will for us.
Small groups starting! See below for more info!
Being
in a small group is part of building spiritual community. Our small groups are starting this week for Practicing Forgiveness.
Small groups are educational, enriching, reflective, and fun. If you haven't tried participating, I encourage you to consider it. If the schedule of groups doesn't meet your needs, contact me or Elise. There may be others who would like to gather at a different time. Thinking of you with love and respect, Nathan |
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
9:15 am Practicing Forgiveness Small Group at the
church 11 am Worship Service Practicing Forgiveness #1 "Why Forgive?" 12:00 pm Potluck Luncheon to support Arizona Mountain Camp - Everyone Welcome! 12:30 pm Board of Directors
Meeting TUESDAY 1/30/2018 6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group
WEDNESDAY 1/31/2018 9:30 am Worship Team meeting
9 am - 3 pm Life Line Medical Screening in Friendship Hall 11 am Tai Chi Yang 24 (afternoon TBD) Practicing Forgiveness Small Group at the
church 6:30 pm Global Chant in the Chapel (first and third Thursdays each month) 7 pm Women's Group - Practicing Forgiveness: contact Elise Gladish for details
9:15 am Practicing Forgiveness Small Group at the
church 11 am Worship
Service Practicing Forgiveness #2 "Forgiving Others" 12:00 pm Luncheon - Everyone Welcome!
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 have arrived! We are starting to organize small groups to meet weekly starting the week of January 28. Books cost $12 each. No charge to participate in a group. Contact Elise if you need financial help.
* Sunday Morning small group will be led by Michael Brown starting Jan. 28 at 9:30 am.
* An evening small group meeting to be held at 7 pm is being planned for either Tuesday or Wednesday night at the church (day to be finalized), led by Mike Villeburn starting this
week. Please talk with Mike for more details.
* An afternoon small group meeting is being planned for Thursdays at the church, led by yours truly starting Feb. 1 (exact start time to be determined). Please talk with Nathan for more details.
* The Thursday night Women's group is starting on Thursday Feb. 1 at 7 pm. The first meeting is at the home of Claudia O. Contact Elise Gladish for any details.
Questions about groups? Contact Elise or me - Nathan.
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Teen Ministry Brainstorming Meeting this Sunday during the
luncheon |
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This Sunday during our luncheon, anyone interested is invited to a fresh brainstorming meeting about our TEENS! There is energy and interest in scheduling activities to bring our teens together in ways that will be fun, educational, and
useful.
Elise is helping to facilitate this meeting. If you cannot attend but are interested, just let her know in order to stay in the loop!
~Nathan |
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Life Line Screening is once again using Friendship Hall for personal health assessments on Thursday, February 1. Here is some information about what they offer and how you can register. (Pre-registration is
required.)
One of the health assessments offered is the "6 for Life Health Assessment." It measures your risk of developing 6 chronic diseases, including heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, diabetes, COPD and lung cancer. A customized report will determine which risk factors contribute most to your disease risk and are within your control to change. Finger-stick blood tests along with biometric measurements are included with this assessment.
These are separate from our vascular screenings.
Sunrise Chapel will be hosting a Life Line Screening preventive health event on Thursday, February 1,
2018.
Register for any of the various screenings they offer by calling 1-888-653-6441 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle or text the word circle to 797979 to schedule your appointment. Take control of your health. Knowledge is empowering. |
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Reading for Reflection on this Sunday's
topic |
A Prayer of David
Psalm 86:1-7
Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant,
Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
Love and Be
Merciful
Luke 6:27-28, 32-36
Jesus said, “To you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you,
what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is
merciful."
Why Angels Forgive
Apocalypse Explained 556 - Swedenborg
Internal people, such as the angels of heaven are, do not desire the retaliation of evil for evil, but from heavenly charity they forgive. For they know
that the Lord protects all who are in goodness against the evil according to the goodness in them, and that He would not protect them if they were inflamed with enmity, hatred, and revenge on account of evil done to them, for these deflect protection.
"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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