This Sunday we continue "Practicing
Forgiveness" |
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This Sunday we conclude this series on forgiveness with a celebration Forgiveness is both simple and complex. Sometimes it's easy to forgive or accept
forgiveness, other times heavy burdens seem to keep us stuck in unwillingness or resentment. Whether they are self-imposed or put up by others, it can still be hard to navigate around them. But there is such relief and blessing in experiencing and sharing forgiveness. Let's celebrate that this Sunday! Join together for a time of reading, reflection, prayer, upbeat music, and general appreciation for the Lord's gift of forgiveness.
Holy Supper
Toward the end of our Sunday church service, you are
invited to participate in this practice, this sacrament, as an outward sign of gratitude for the gift and the promise of experiencing forgiveness, through the Lord's inspiration.
Small Groups After this Sunday we are concluding this series of small groups. However, we are also starting up new groups on other topics of spiritual growth. See below for more info. I can't underscore enough how much I appreciate the value of our small groups. We put down our phones, sit comfortably together in a circle, and look at each other from our heart. We share insights and
experiences in ways that are helpful to ourselves and to each other. So much good work is being accomplished, and people are also getting to know each other better and building spiritual community. Way to grow!
New Groups Forming for Spiritual Growth Tasks Once this Journey program on Forgiveness concludes, I encourage everyone to continue in a small group or to join in. At the Tucson Festival of Books (see below) we will be inviting people who come to our booth to sign up for a small group to focus on the Spiritual Growth Tasks in the new "card deck" (see below).
* Wednesday nights starting March 14 at 6:30-8:00 pm in the Chapel, led by Frank
Rose. * Thursday afternoons starting March 15 at 3:00-4:30 pm in the Chapel, led by Nathan Gladish. * Monday evenings starting March 19 at 5:30-7:00 pm at the Ada Peirce McCormick Building on the U of A
campus. Please contact me if you are interested in meeting there.
The Celebration of Life for Billy Graham
I just watched the tender memorial celebration for this very famous man. It was a heart-felt tribute. There were readings from the
Bible, prayers, songs, testimonies, and calls to action - all the features of any service that Mr. Graham would have led. I especially loved hearing the personal, down-to-earth sharing by his children about some special memories of their father and mother. Even though I was aware of his ministry growing very significantly during my lifetime, I really don't know much about the man, but I appreciate his very consistent, loud-and-clear message - for everyone to develop your
own personal relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen, brother!
Father & Son Art Show at the Contreras Gallery
Frank & Owen Rose welcome all to see their latest display of work at this gallery near the corner of 6th Street and 6th Avenue downtown. Mar 3-31 at 110 E 6th Street, TucsonReception this Saturday, Mar. 3 from 6-9 pm
Thinking of you all with love and respect,
Nathan
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
9:30 am Practicing Forgiveness Small Group in the Library
11 am Worship Service Practicing Forgiveness #6 "Celebration" + Holy Supper
12:45 pm Serve More People Team Meeting
MONDAY 3/5/2018
11 am Tai Chi Basics Friendship
Hall 6:30 pm Bereavement Support
Group 7 pm Practicing Forgiveness Small Group in the
Library
WEDNESDAY 3/7/2018 9:30 am Worship Team meeting
11 am Tai Chi Yang 24
3 pm Practicing Forgiveness Small Group in the
Chapel 7 pm Women's Group - Practicing Forgiveness: Contact Elise Gladish for
location 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Tucson Festival of Books BOOTH
254
SUNDAY 3/11/2018
9:30 am - 5:30 pm Tucson Festival of Books BOOTH 254 11 am Worship Service
12 noon Luncheon
Current Journey of Spiritual Growth! |
People are saying this is such an important topic, and the text is packed. The groups are going well!
There is no tuition or registration fee to participate in a group, though donations are certainly welcome. Contact Elise to get your copy of the book
($12).
We started PRACTICING FORGIVENESS on Sunday, January 28! The small groups are very enriching. Our final Sunday of this series will be March 4.
Thank you to our good friends at New Church
Outreach for putting it together. Some sister congregations did this course in the Fall. Others are doing it at the same time as we are. Our final Sunday of the series (March 4) is timed for the weekend just before the Tucson Festival of Books. GROUPS * Sunday Morning small group is now being led by Steve G. at 9:30 am in the church library. (The original leader, Michael B., has a conflicting appointment.)
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Tuesday evening small group meeting is being held at 7 pm at the church (Library), led by Mike Villeburn. Please talk with Mike for more details.
* Thursday afternoon small group is meeting at 3 pm in the main Chapel (small group room), led by yours truly. Please talk with Nathan for more
details.
* Thursday night Women's group meets at 7 pm at various women's homes. Contact Elise Gladish for any details.
Questions about groups? Contact Elise or me - Nathan.
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Next Weekend! The Amazing Tucson Festival of
Books |
Find out MORE and booth two-fifty-FOUR
This Year's Booth #254
COME VISIT US AT THE TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS - Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11. We will continue promoting Choose Joy Now and the Joy of Spiritual Growth! NEW! FACE PAINTING!
For the first time Christine Morey will be FACE PAINTING in our booth!
We will also share the booth with author Frank Rose!
And we welcome Michelle Chapin from
Bryn Athyn, PA to support our efforts. Michelle works in our headquarter's Office of Outreach and is totally on board with spiritual growth groups. Last year one of her colleagues, Sasha Silverman, came out for the Festival and it was great. It's fun to share the love with others who love this work. Questions? Contact me, Elise Gladish, Kelly Woofenden, or Frank
Rose.
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Readings for Reflection on this Sunday's
topic |
Joseph's Brothers Ask for Forgiveness
Genesis 50:15-21
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what
you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being
done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
What Forgiveness Looks Like
Secrets of Heaven 9448-9449 - Swedenborg
Forgiveness of sins is being able to be maintained by the Lord in a loving goodness and in religious truth and to be withheld from evil and falsity. Proceeding to shun evil and falsity and to turn against it is repentance. Neither of these is possible, though, unless we have been given new life by the Lord through being reborn, because both
belong to the new life.
The indications that our sins have been forgiven are as follows: We take pleasure in worshiping God for his sake, in serving our neighbors for their sake, and therefore in doing good for the sake of good and believing truth for the sake of truth. We do not want to earn credit for any neighborly love or faith. We shun and spurn wickedness, such as acts of enmity, hatred, revenge, inhumanity, adultery, and in short, violation of any kind against God or our
neighbor
"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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