The Fourth Sunday of Advent - Joy!
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Christmas Song Fest this Sunday
This Sunday we will sing Christmas songs selected by our members and friends. We will hear some reflections on the lyrics and also learn from people about why the songs are special to them. It's a way of adding meaning to our celebration of Christmas!
And each Sunday we are lighting a candle to emphasize four important spiritual qualities that the Lord's birth invites us to think about - HOPE, PEACE, LOVE, and JOY.
Psalm 81:1-2
Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the timbrel,
play the melodious harp and lyre.
Christmas Decorations in Memory of Loved Ones
Thank you to everyone who donated towards the lovely decorations gracing our chancel this season - several trees and a "bouquet" of poinsettias.They shout "Merry Christmas!"
And thank you also to our generous doll mother for providing an amazing life-like baby to help us imagine the wonder and innocence of the real Jesus born into this world.
CHRISTMAS EVE
Tuesday, December 24:
5 PM Family Service with refreshments after
8 PM Candlelight Vespers Service
Wednesday, December 25:
5 PM Informal Service at the home of Frank and Louise Rose
Next Sunday, December 29, Frank Rose will lead the regular, 11 AM church service
Thank you to our Pastor Emeritus for offering to conduct the church service while Elise and I are taking a little break to be with family.
Next Holy Supper service - January 5, 2020
Start the New Year with a reflective opportunity to think about your overall spiritual life, where you have come so far, and what you want to accomplish in the coming months.
With prayers for blessings this Christmas,
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Christmas church services
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Christmas-oriented church services - Sunrise Chapel
Sunday, Dec. 1 - Innocence and Vulnerability part 1
Sunday, Dec. 8 - Day after the Path to Bethlehem
Sunday, Dec. 15 - Innocence and Vulnerability part 3
Sunday, Dec. 22 - Favorite Christmas Hymns & Carols
Tuesday, Dec. 24 - 5 pm Family-oriented Christmas Eve service
Tuesday, Dec. 24 - 8 pm Candlelight Christmas Eve service
Wednesday, Dec. 25 - 5 pm NOTE! This informal "living room" service will be held at Frank and Louise Rose's home.
Please RSVP to Frank or Louise so they know how many chairs to set up. (If you don't know their contact information, call or write to me - Nathan)
Sunday, Dec. 29 - Post-Christmas service led by Frank Rose (at Sunrise Chapel)
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THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT SEASON - JOY!
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG SERVICE
10 am Music rehearsal
11 am Worship Service - Nathan Gladish, preaching
12 noon Luncheon
MONDAY 12/23/2018
No Tai Chi class today (resumes January 6)
TUESDAY 12/24/2019
CHRISTMAS EVE! Merry Christmas!
5 pm Family Christmas Eve Service
8 pm Candlelight Vespers Service
WEDNESDAY 12/25/2019
CHRISTMAS DAY! Merry Christmas!
5 pm Informal Christmas Service at the home of Frank & Louise Rose
THURSDAY 12/26/2019
No Tai Chi class today (resumes January 2)
FRIDAY 12/27/2019
No Teen Time at the church this week
SUNDAY 12/29/2019
FINAL SUNDAY OF 2019 - LIGHT & DARKNESS
10 am Music rehearsal
11 am Worship Service - Frank Rose, preaching
12 noon Luncheon
A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR DONATION DOUBLED!
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Just two weeks ago, a generous remote supporter of Sunrise Chapel who became aware of our year-end financial challenge offered to double anyone's year-end contribution to our general operating fund up to a total of $4,000! This is a fantastic offer. With your local help, this match could easily help us meet our year-end financial goal.
The donor's wish is that "as many people as possible invest in the success of Sunrise Chapel's efforts." Your donation to the operating fund, small or large, will be important in meeting our obligations.
Our treasurer, Bill Smith, can now swipe credit cards in the church office, or you can go to the Donate page on sunrisechapel.org or go directly to the church's PayPal account .
Thank you for supporting Sunrise Chapel.
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Readings for this Sunday's 11 am
Worship Service
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Bible Selections about Joy and Music
Psalm 98:4-6
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Psalm 100:1-3
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Matthew 2:1-2; 7-10
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
King Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
True Christianity §746 Swedenborg
One morning in heaven, I observed some angels awakening to hear the girls and young women singing from the houses surrounding the public square... The newcomers to heaven were intensely moved and affected by the sweetness of the song. Deep within their joyful response they became aware of a profoundly satisfying sense of bliss, which elevated and refreshed their joy.
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Livestream and Archive Videos of our 11 am
Worship Services
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Thank you to our volunteers in the sound booth every Sunday for helping make our livestream happen. We are finding that it is a long learning curve to get all the sound levels tuned, so thank you for your patience. And please give me input based on your listening experience.
If you subscribe to our YouTube channel, you can get an alert when we go live on Sunday morning. If you bookmark the link in your favorite browser, you can also easily view any available archived service anytime.
There is really no substitute for worshiping together in person with all the nuances of community, personal connection, and interaction, but modern technology does provide a great window into the experience.
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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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