Can we experience joy even when we feel helpless?
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This is a hard one, but very important
In part 5 of this series on Finding Joy, I want us to look into joy as it relates to helplessness. It is a timely subject in light of last Saturday's violence in El Paso and Dayton (and any other place for that matter). People have expressed such helplessness in the face of these tragedies. How can we hold any joy at the
same time?
The above photo of simple wildflower petals is a nod to our helplessness. We have so little control over the growth and development of a single flower, or for that matter the direction of the wind, or even the budding of a human relationship. In fact, helplessness in many situations is a relief. Thank You, Lord, that we are not in control of everything. That would be a much different
problem!
But as people striving to mature spiritually and as a church community, we are called to sort out this paradox of control vs helplessness. And could there even be joy in or from some experiences of helplessness?
One of my favorite authors in modern psychology, Martin Seligman, did a major study which turned into a book called "Learned Helplessness." His position is that we humans often condition ourselves, albeit subconsciously, to feel helpless. We learn to feel helpless, which leads to negative attitudes about our own ability to change. It's not our only option, but it is a very common one. The
question I want to explore this Sunday is how can we turn that around and recondition ourselves to learn optimism and maybe even experience some joy in spite of helplessness?
I hope you can come! Thanks for reading. And if you want to share your thoughts with me about the topic ahead of time, just reply to this email or text or call me. I'd love to hear from you!
This series: The word "joy" seems like a pretty exceptional experience, but the Lord clearly says he wants us to experience it fully - which I take to mean all the time. A tall goal, for sure. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John
15:11
Arizona Spiritual Growth Foundation Planning Meeting - This Saturday at 3 pm
Last Sunday, thanks to Kelly Woofenden our current leader of this Foundation, Elise, Judith, Sammie, Kelly, and I met to continue discussing projects related to the Spiritual Growth small group program. We also decided to meet again this Saturday at 3 pm to dig a little deeper into planning one or more outreach efforts to local clergy and other leaders to introduce them to our approach. If you value your previous participation in this effort and want to support
serving more people, please join us this Saturday. We'll meet in the church library.
Sunday School news
As you may have heard, our Sunday school teacher, Lauren, is having real success in expanding her face painting business, which has necessitated her stepping down as our weekly Sunday school teacher. Most of her gigs are on weekends and many are out of town. We miss her and wish her the best.
Thank you to Margo and Lissette for stepping up to provide something new! They are working together and with the children to find out what our current kids want and need, in order to make the Sunday morning experience enjoyable, educational, creative, and community-building.
Anybody want to study the Bible? <crickets>
Hmm. I guess I need to rethink the offer to hold a mid-week Bible study. I have enjoyed the time, but it's been a little lonely! If you're interested, let me know and I'll be happy to help arrange something.
Our livestreaming experiment continues
Thank you for your patience as we continue to learn by doing. Click the link below to go to our You Tube channel where you can find archived services as well as watch the service live on Sunday at 11. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments or suggestions!
A new large screen TV monitor for lyrics and slides
Thank you to the Glencairn Foundation for the funds to purchase the 75" TV/monitor now installed in our chapel. It replaces the aging and temperamental ceiling projector and provides a much sharper, more beautiful image. Thanks also to Ken Lee for help with installing it and to Bob Youens for operating the slide shows each Sunday
New granddaughter coming out soon!
I will let you know when our granddaughter is born. Elise is with our daughter and her husband now. All is well; just waiting, expectantly, so to speak!
With love and respect,
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Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash
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NEW! Our own Little Free Library
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Thanks to Chip Mullins for designing and constructing a Little Free Library and installing it in our parking lot last Saturday! This will be another way to serve more people. You are welcome to “take a book or leave a book.”
And thanks to Judith Keane for her support and encouragement of this project and to Nikos Casto for help with installation.
Thanks also to Élise Gladish for her long-held interest in this project. She loves books so much, especially children's books, that almost every time she sees a Little Free Library she takes a photo of it. She has quite a collection of photos. It has been a dream of hers to have such a feature on Sunrise Chapel’s property. ~Nathan
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THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
11 am Worship Service - Nathan Gladish "Finding Joy #5"
12 noon LUNCHEON
MONDAY 8/12/2018
11 am Tai Chi class (Basic)
6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group
WEDNESDAY 8/14/2019
THURSDAY 8/15/2019
11 am Tai Chi class (Yang 24)
Women's Group - Contact Elise Gladish for details
FRIDAY 8/16/2019
6 pm Teen Time with the Pastor
SUNDAY 8/18/2019
10 am Music rehearsal
11 am Worship Service
12 noon Luncheon
Service Projects to
help people in our community
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Thank you to Judith Keane and Betsy Gladish for organizing these activities!
Judith and Betsy are getting back into facilitating some Community Service Projects again!
Current projects include:
DONE! Installation of a brand new "Little Free Library" on Sunrise Chapel - Friday August 2
Donations of hats and sunscreen for the homeless this Sunday and next
Sandwich making for distribution to the homeless - Friday August 23 @ 9 am at Sunrise Chapel
Sandwich making (especially for kids to help) - Saturday October 12 @ 9 am at Sunrise Chapel
Packing bags for the homeless - Women’s Group project - date TBD
If you are interested or have an idea for a project please call Judith 520-390-4112.
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A Reading for
this Sunday's 11 am Worship Service
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A New Testament Story of Helplessness and Power
Mark:17-27
A man in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
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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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