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Last Saturday's annual Path to Bethlehem was wonderful!
So many friendly guests expressed appreciation!
“We have never felt the Christmas spirit so profoundly.”
“We all got into the Christmas spirit.”
“It was moving. See… we had to get out our kleenex!”
“The darkness of your five* acres standing apart from the city, the lighting and decorations of the Five Pageants or Christmas Story Settings, and all the actors and actresses took us away from the busy world and back to a new world two thousand years ago.” (*four acres actually)
“We come every year. I’m so glad I saw your road sign today.”
“Wow, what an impressive production! I had no idea!”
Everything went smoothly for our 15th annual Christmas Greeting to our community.
All our actors were great, even the ponies and sheep! Our greeters and guides were outstanding. The sets, lighting, technology all worked flawlessly. And there was such a warm and friendly reception in Friendship Hall with our amazing helpers, Christmas music, and hoards of delicious cookies and refreshments.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this the best ever!
We welcomed at least 190 "guests" in 20 groups, many of whom were first-timers!
We had at least 71 volunteers helping in so many different ways.
This event takes all the volunteer help we can get and then some, and I value each of your contributions of time, talent, and treasure!
THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!
OUR "PATH" OFFERS SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL, AND I AM PROUD OF EVERYONE FOR SHOWING UP AND MAKING IT HAPPEN!
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This Sunday is the Second Sunday in Advent
Last Sunday, I talked about HOPE. This Sunday we'll look at PEACE. And I'm especially eager to focus on a beautiful prophecy in Isaiah about a stump. That's right, a tree trunk in the ground. Isaiah's message from many years before the Lord's birth was that a shoot would grow up from a stump. And it is a reference to the birth and life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lots more coming up and going on - see below for details!
Thinking of you all with love and respect,
Nathan
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
11 am Worship Second Sunday of Advent!
6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group (in the small room of the Chapel)
WEDNESDAY 12/12/2018
9:30 am Worship Team meeting
1 pm Bible Study - Gospel of Luke
4:30 pm TEEN TIME plus Campus Cleanup afterwards
SUNDAY 12/16/2018
10 am Music rehearsal
11 am Worship Third Sunday of Advent!
Christmas Church
Services
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Sunday, December 23 at 11 am
The Fourth Sunday of Advent: LOVE
Monday, December 24 at 5 pm
Christmas Eve Family service
Monday December 24 at 7 pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight service
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Weekly Bible Study:
1 pm Wednesdays |
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Open group - everyone welcome
Wednesdays from 1-2 pm
Each Wednesday, "rain or shine." Dive into the details of the Gospel story from Luke's perspective. It's amazing how much there is to talk about in just a couple of verses! The Bible is the most important and fascinating book in the world. The teachings of Swedenborg say the Bible story has layer upon layer of
spiritual meaning. We will go at the group's pace, taking questions and comments as they come up. It's a study, not a lecture.
Anyone welcome. We meet in the small room off the lobby of the main Chapel.
Bring a Bible, bring a friend.
~Nathan
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Fundraising Gala Friday February 8, 2019 |
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Location: La Mariposa
Activity: Dinner + Musical Entertainment + Auction fundraising event!
NEW INFORMATION:
Preparations continue. Here is a photo of the After 7 Band. They will be our featured musical entertainment for the evening. They are a local band, most of them from one talented family, who sing and play a variety of tunes, including some beautifully harmonious a capella pieces. Upbeat, fun, and lively!
The idea of this event is to provide a fun, social evening, including a meal, entertainment, and an auction of goods and services that a broad audience will bid on. This kind of event is not only fun,
but it can also be morale-boosting as we work together on a common project. It can also be an opportunity to welcome friends and others who appreciate Sunrise Chapel.
It will take collaboration and lots of planning to pull it off.
Put a big star on your calendar for Friday February 8, 2019. Consider it a big "date night" or some special event with family and friends. It's gonna be great! ~Nathan
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Please consider Sunrise Chapel in your year-end charitable giving
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Every church organization has many financial obligations, but the most important thing your gift supports is a the opportunity to gather locally to develop meaningful relationships with the Lord and one another. Sunrise Chapel relies on the generosity and dedication of donors to keep the various uses and ministries going.
When you give an unrestricted gift to Sunrise Chapel's General Operating Fund, you are supporting this spiritual community as well as our down-to-earth efforts to serve more people.
Thank you for considering Sunrise Chapel in your charitable giving
If you write a check, make it to Sunrise Chapel.
The PayPal button here takes you to an option for either a one-time or a monthly donation.
Thank you from our Treasurer, Bill Smith
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Readings for this
Sunday's Church Service
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Isaiah 11:1-6
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—
and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
Romans 15:7-9, 12-13
Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written in Isaiah:
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
A Prophesy of Peace
Secrets of Heaven 3696—Emanuel Swedenborg
In Isaiah 11, “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”
This refers to the Lord and to the state of peace existing in His kingdom. 'They will lie down together' stands for their being unable to be infested by anything evil or false.
In David, “I will lie down and sleep, and will awake again, for Jehovah sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, who set themselves against me round about.” (Psalms. 3:5, 6)
'Lying down and sleeping' stands for a state of serenity and security.
In the same author, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, because You, O Jehovah, alone make me dwell with confidence.” (Psalm 4:8)
And in the same author, “He will make me to down in green pastures; He will lead me to still waters; He will restore my soul.” (Psalm 23:2, 3)
From these places it is evident that a state of peace and serenity is described by 'lying down', and that 'lying down in that place' means the serenity of the state.
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Your church home for partnering with the Lord and each other in the practice of cultivating spiritual growth and choosing heavenly joy www.sunrisechapel.org nathan@sunrisechapel.org Office 520-298-1245 |
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