Concluding a 6-week Series on the Book of Daniel
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Week 6 - Love Wins
This Sunday will be our final story from the book of Daniel - about the meaning of Daniel's experience in the lion's den as it applies to our theme of love over ego. Daniel is saved by the Lord and an angel who shuts the mouths of the lions. Spiritually we are safe from evil when we humbly receive the Lord's love through angels.
SMALL GROUPS
I love our small groups. Everybody I've talked to about them loves them, too. We are studying the Word together, learning from each other's reflections and insights, and getting to know one another in a spirit of community building. What a joy and an important feature of our church. THANK YOU to our leaders - Steve Gladish (Sunday morning), yours truly (Wednesday afternoon),
Mike Villeburn (Wednesday night), Kelly Woofenden (Thursday night Women's Group).
Next up - The Tucson Festival of Books March 2-3
In just two weeks 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.
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Fundraising Gala Success! Last Friday February 8
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What a fun and successful fundraiser at a beautiful venue - La Mariposa Resort on Houghton Rd
Dinner was delicious!
Musical entertainment by After 7 was delightful!
Silent auction and raffles were abundant!
Thank you to everyone for the collaborative and enjoyable way you all rallied to work together on this!
We had a total of 74 diners, including members, friends, in-town guests not otherwise active in our congregation, and out-of-town guests from as far away as Massachusetts!
Many volunteers helped in so many ways
Many donors generously provided over 100 auction or raffle items and/or funds
Together, we all climbed a steep learning curve for a rather complicated event with a lot of moving parts
Net of funds raised before the event: approx $5,000
Net of funds raised during the event: approx $5,000
Thank you for your generous support of Sunrise Chapel. ~Nathan
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
4:30 pm Teen Talk Small Group
SUNDAY 2/17/2019
9:30 am Small Group #6 Love Wins
10 am Music rehearsal
11 am Worship - #6 Love Wins (Wrap up and Celebration)
MONDAY 2/18/2018
11 am Tai Chi class (Basic)
6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group
WEDNESDAY 2/20/2019
9:30 am Worship Team
1 pm Wednesday afternoon small group on Love Over Ego, Nathan Gladish, leading
7 pm Wednesday evening small group on Love Over Ego, Mike Villeburn, leading
11 am Tai Chi (Yang 24)
7 pm Women's Group - Small group session on Love Over Ego
4:45 pm Teen Talk Small Group
SUNDAY 2/24/2019
11 am Worship
12 noon LUNCHEON
12:45 Board Meeting
Our
current "Journey of Spiritual Growth"
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We are near the end of this segment of our Journey of Spiritual Growth. This Sunday we will conclude with the final story in the book of Daniel. Small groups will conclude in the next week or so, depending on each group's preferences.
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
Love Over Ego offers a 6-week program for people to come together and learn how to access their higher selves, even in challenging situations.
Weekly 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.
The program workbook includes meditations, discussion questions, and daily readings to help participants bring the power of the story’s message into their own lives. The themes of Love Over Ego will also be featured in our youth programs with amazing array of projects and activities accompanying each of the
Biblical stories.
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Readings for this
Sunday's Church Service
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Daniel in the Lions’ Den
from Daniel 6:1-28 (parts)
Because of Daniel’s exceptional qualities, king Darius planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct, but they were unable to do so. Finally they said, “We will never find any basis for charges against Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
So the governors said to the king: “The satraps, advisers and governors have agreed that the king should issue an edict that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, O king, put the decree in writing so it cannot be altered.” So Darius put it in writing.
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home. And in his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem, he knelt down three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before God, as was his custom. Then the administrators found Daniel praying. So they went to the king and said: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands. Then they said to the king, “Daniel, still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
Then the men went to King Darius and said “Remember, no decree that the king issues can be changed.” So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” A stone was laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his signet ring.
At the first light of dawn, the king hurried to the lions’ den. He called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel answered, “My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me.”
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. No wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Then King Darius wrote to all the nations “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.” So Daniel prospered.
When Goodness Wins
Divine Providence §284
When we are being reformed, goodness and evil are brought face to face. Then a clash occurs, a battle that is called a temptation if it is severe.
If it is not severe, though, it happens like the fermentation of wine or beer. If the goodness wins, then the evil and its distortion are moved to the sides much as dregs settle to the bottom of bottles. The goodness comes to be like a wine that has become vintage wine after fermentation, or beer that has become clear. If the evil wins, though, then the goodness and its truth are moved to the sides and become murky and dark like half-fermented wine or half-fermented beer.
The comparison with fermentation is based on the fact that in the Word, yeast means the falsity that comes from evil, as it does in Hosea 7:4 and Luke 12:1
“Blessed is everyone who hears the Word of God and keeps it.”
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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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