The Joy of Spiritual Growth series
|
|
|
#1 in a Series on the Joy of Spiritual Growth
We are gearing up to share our unique program of spiritual growth with all who visit our booth at the Tucson Festival of Books on March 2 & 3. So, this Sunday I'll start a series of worship services focusing on some of the tasks in the program that are featured in the Task Card Deck. This first one is based on task #13 EXPLORING THE LEVELS OF YOUR HOUSE. Our mind is like a house with different levels or
stories. In fact, I love the use of the word story for level, since every mental degree comes with its own stories - some better than others! Let's climb the stairs for a "home tour" to explore this analogy from the perspective of the Word and our experience.
LOVE OVER EGO SERIES
This year's Journey program is concluding as our small groups finish up their meetings. I do love the opportunity to meet in these settings. It is so enriching and nurturing to study the Word together, pray, share our insights and stories with each other. Thank you to everyone who participated! And THANK YOU to our leaders - Steve Gladish (Sunday morning), yours truly
(Wednesday afternoon), Mike Villeburn (Wednesday night), Kelly Woofenden (Thursday night Women's Group).
Coming up! - The Tucson Festival of Books March 2-3
In just one week we'll have another opportunity to share our Choose Joy task cards and the whole Spiritual Growth program to the world of Festival goers on the University of Arizona campus. This year our booth number is 224 and Frank Rose will have a separate booth right next door at 225.
Next Holy Supper - March 3
Our every-other-month service of the Holy Supper sacrament will be held on Sunday, March 3.
A Visit from Bishop Peter Buss, Jr and his wife, Teresa
March 9 & 10
Please welcome Peter and Teresa Buss for a visit to Sunrise Chapel the weekend of March 9 & 10. He is visiting in his role as Assistant Bishop and as the incoming Executive Bishop when Brian Keith retires this summer.
Two meetings scheduled on Saturday:
1. A Board meeting is being planned for Saturday morning, March 9,
2. A meet-and-greet for anyone and everyone in the mid afternoon at the Osmus' home.
If you want to meet with Peter on your own or organize a small group meeting with him, this is your chance! He is very interested in getting to know as many folks here as possible in the time he's here.
You can let me know if you want to meet with him, or contact him directly on his cell phone at 215-480-2546
Also, Peter and I will collaboratively lead the Sunday morning church service on March 10. And there will be time for visiting during the luncheon and afterwards on Sunday afternoon.
With love and respect,
|
|
|
THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
4:30 pm Teen Talk Small Group
SUNDAY 2/24/2019
9:30 am Small Group - Final meeting for Love Over Ego
10 am Music rehearsal
11 am Worship - Stair Climb
12 noon AZ MT CAMP LUNCHEON
MONDAY 2/25/2018
11 am Tai Chi class (Basic)
6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group
WEDNESDAY 2/27/2019
9:30 am Worship Team
1 pm Wednesday afternoon FINAL small group on Love Over Ego, Nathan Gladish, leading
11 am Tai Chi (Yang 24)
7 pm Women's Group - Contact Elise Gladish for details
4:45 pm Teen Talk Small Group
9:30 am - 5:30 pm BOOTH 224 AT TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
SUNDAY 3/3/2019
9:30 am - 5:30 pm BOOTH 224 AT TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
10 am Music rehearsal
11 am Worship
+ Holy Supper
New Spiritual Growth
Groups
|
|
|
New Series of Sunday Talks featuring Spiritual Growth Tasks:
First one on February 24: Task card #13 Exploring the Levels of Your House
New Weekly Small Groups featuring Spiritual Growth Tasks:
Wednesday afternoons 1:00 to 2:00 pm in the Chapel, starting March 13 for 6 weeks, led by Nathan Gladish
Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8 pm in the Chapel, starting March 13 for 8 weeks, leader Frank Rose, co-leader Judith Keane.
Thursday evenings 7:00 to 8:30 pm Women's Group in homes, starting March 7 for 6 weeks, led by Elise Gladish and Kelly Woofenden.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introducing basic watercolor techniques
Friday, March 15 from 2 to 4 pm in Friendship Hall.
No materials or experience required. $20
Sign-up with Frank Rose
|
|
|
Our
current "Journey of Spiritual Growth"
|
|
|
We completed the Sunday series last Sunday, and the small groups are celebrating their accomplishments. I am grateful for everyone's participation in our church services, in the small groups, and also individually. There is so much food for thought in the Biblical stories of Daniel and in the pages of our text. Thank you to the authors, Sasha Silverman and John Odhner and the team at
New Church Outreach for taking us on this Journey of Spiritual Growth.
LOVE OVER EGO
Small Group options:
Sunday mornings at 9:30 am in the Chapel Library
Wednesday afternoons at 1:00 pm in the Chapel
Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm in the Chapel
Thursday nights at 7:00 pm (Women's Group) in various homes
Overview of Topics:
Week 1: True Identity
Choosing to respond from our higher nature, rather than from ego.
Week 2: Intention Over Expectation
Coming to a situation with a desire to love and serve, rather than expecting to be served.
Week 3: Confidence Over Arrogance
Staying centered and present, even in highly charged situations.
Week 4: Humility Over Shame
Accepting that we are imperfect, and learning from our mistakes.
Week 5: Contentment Over Materialism
Appreciating this moment, instead of constantly seeking “more.”
Week 6: Love Wins (Wrap-up and celebration)
Navigating hard times with prayer, and belief that God’s love is the most powerful force.
|
|
|
Readings for this
Sunday's Church Service
|
Jacob Dreams of a Stairway
Genesis 28:10-17
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and
your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel.
What Jacob’s Dream Means
Secrets of Heaven §1453
After his dream, Jacob said, “’This is nothing but the house of God, and this the gate of heaven.’ And he called the name of the place Bethel.”
Here Bethel symbolizes a knowledge of heavenly things. We ourselves are “Bethel”—which means “God’s house”—and the “gate of heaven” when we achieve the heavenly qualities we have learned about. While we are being reborn, the knowledge of spiritual and heavenly qualities initiates us into the process; but when our rebirth is complete, our initiation is complete, and the spiritual and heavenly attributes we have learned about become ours.
The Mind is Like a House with Stairs
True Christianity §395
The human mind is divided into three regions. From our highest region we focus on God; from our second or middle region we focus on the world; and from our third or lowest region we focus on ourselves. Because our mind has this structure, it can be lifted up or can lift itself up to focus on God and heaven; it can be spread out or spread itself out in every direction to focus on the world and its nature; and it can be lowered down or can lower itself down to focus on the earth and
hell.
When these three categories of love are properly prioritized in us, they are also coordinated in such a way that the highest love, our love for heaven, is present in the second love, our love for the world, and through that in the third or lowest love, our love for ourselves.
The human mind is also like a three-story house with stairs that provide transitions between levels... People for whom these three categories of love have been prioritized in the right way can go up or down whenever they want. When they go up to the top floor, they are like angels among the angels there. When they go down to the middle floor, they are like angelic people with the people there. When they go even farther down, they
are like worldly people with the demons there - they give the demons instructions, confront them, and tame them.
“Blessed is everyone who hears the Word of God and keeps it.”
.
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
