Welcome the presence of the Lord into daily challenges
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This Sunday is the start of our new series on the Biblical story of Gideon: "Growing Through Challenges"
Our first small group of this 4-part series starts this Sunday morning at 9:15, led by Kelly Woofenden, in the church Library. Come get started on this new "journey" of spiritual growth.
Part one is about the presence of the Lord in Gideon's life and in our lives. At first Gideon is surprised that the Lord has made Himself known to him at all, since he considers himself so unworthy. But God works with each person He has created. How have you experienced God's presence in your life? And what can we do individually and collectively to experience God's presence more
and more? Come and let's explore this together!
New Small Groups start THIS Sunday, February 2!
“Growing Through Challenges” is the name of our new Journey Spiritual Growth program starting this Sunday morning. The first small group is at 9:15 Sunday morning in the church Library. Other groups start Wednesday afternoon and Thursday night. See below for details
SOUPS for Super Bowl Sunday, February 2
Cheer for our favorite luncheon team - our Kitchen Ministry! - as they prepare us for the big game with a variety of soups and salads. This Sunday in Friendship Hall.
Planning Fundraisers - this Sunday after the luncheon
Scroll to the bottom for a note from our treasurer, Bill Smith. Join him this Sunday, Feb. 2 after the luncheon to brainstorm and plan fundraisers for this year.
A New Resource for Online Small Groups
See below for details on a new program called The Grand Human Project, created recently by our Central Office of Outreach. The name is a reference to a concept in the Writings of Swedenborg that teaches how everyone in the world - and in heaven - is part of a grand system of interaction similar to the connection of each of the cells in a human body. This resource is to help connect people around
the world who are interested in the teachings of Swedenborg.
With love and respect and prayers for many blessings,
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New Small Group Series starting the week of February 2
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"Growing Through Challenges" - a New Church Journey Program
Welcome to a new year and a new opportunity to gather in small groups around an important topic related to our spiritual growth!
This series will explore the life experience of facing challenges. We will gather insight and wisdom from the Bible, from Swedenborg's works, and from each other about how to grow through challenges.
What will this series focus on?
Life is rarely without its hardships. Sometimes challenges can feel like weights bearing down, making it difficult to move. So, how can we better prepare ourselves for these overwhelming times?
This 4-week series explores the Biblical story of Gideon, a young man who was called on by the Lord to overcome many challenges. Through his example of patience, hard work, and faith, we too can access the tools to come out stronger on the other side.
Week 1 (February 2) - The Presence of the Lord
Week 2 (February 9) - The Peace of the Lord
Week 3 (February 16) - The Power of the Lord
Week 4 (February 23) - The Praise of the Lord
A choice of group times
Sunday mornings at 9:15 led by Kelly Woofenden and Michael Brown in the church Library BEGINS THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Wednesday afternoons at 2:00 led by Nathan Gladish INCLUDING an online option in the church Vestry (off the lobby of the Chapel)
Thursday nights at 7:00 led by Elise Gladish and other women at the Women's Group in various homes
Interested? Intrigued? Can't wait?
Talk with the leader of the group you are interested in or to Élise or Nathan
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A New Resource for Online Small Groups
I am thrilled to announce a new online platform for "virtual" small groups and community building with people associated with our church and Swedenborg around the world. Check out the Grand Human Project the purpose of which is "To create and sustain communities of people bringing spirituality to life based on the writings of
Emanuel Swedenborg." It was just launched in January by our church headquarters' Office of Outreach after months of planning and hard work. I am excited by the potential of this online venue for increasing the sense of belonging for many people especially those who are unable to gather in a group in one physical location.
Join me and a few others online for a 30-minute Thursday morning meditation group
I'm tickled to say I was the first participant in the first online group started three weeks ago Thursday morning. The group I joined is a 4-week series on meditation that meets from 10-10:30 am Mountain Time, led by Sasha Silverman. If you want to join me, let me know and I'll help you with the technology! Start here by signing up to the Grand Human Project platform. After that you'll be able to sign up for any group offered (including the meditation group).
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THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
11 am Worship Service - Nathan Gladish, preaching
"Growing Through Challenges" #1 The Presence of the Lord
12 noon Luncheon - SOUPS on Super Bowl Sunday
12:30 pm Meeting to plan fundraisers (Library)
MONDAY 2/3/2020
11 am Tai Chi class - Friendship Hall
TUESDAY 2/4/2020
6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group in the Chapel
WEDNESDAY 2/5/2020
9:30 am Worship Team meeting
THURSDAY 2/6/2020
10 am Meditation Group (in person or online) See above
FRIDAY 2/7/2020
4:30 pm Teen Time with the Pastor at the church
SUNDAY 2/9/2020
11 am Worship Service - Nathan Gladish, preaching
"Growing Through Challenges" #2 The Peace of the Lord
12 noon Luncheon
What is your Sweet Spot for volunteering?
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This year, I am ramping up efforts to invite more people to volunteer in ways that enrich your life and the life of our church. I encourage everyone to invest some of your time and talent in supporting the smooth operation of our church organization for the sake of making it a place to welcome all into spiritual community. Some tasks are BIG, others are relatively
small and infrequent, but each one is important.
Our teachings say the church on earth is intended to be an image and likeness of heaven. Heaven is not a spiritual retirement home. It is people happily working together, being useful for the common good. The more the merrier!
What could become YOUR volunteer sweet spot this year?
A few categories and tasks looking for volunteers:
Facilitate and/or host a small group for our upcoming Journey program in February THANK YOU KELLY W and ELISE G! Anyone else?
ORGANIZE STUFF
Revive and maintain the Name Tag Ministry (during the Sunday luncheon) THANK YOU TO SANDI M for offering to restart this practice!
Change the outdoor road sign letters (weekly or as needed)
Custodian of our Little Free Library - THANK YOU TO JUDITH K for continuing to help with this!
SECRETARIAL TYPE TASKS
Tidy up and file office records
Post prayer requests by email (from your home)
PREP & CLEAN UP
Bring a food item for monthly Camp luncheon (last Sunday of the month)
Kitchen ministry
Luncheon cleanup THANK YOU SUE C AND RIKI N! The more the merrier!
Put out the blue recycling containers every other week - THANK YOU CAROL W!
PLANTS (INDOOR OR OUTDOOR)
Indoor plant care and watering
Weed & water outdoors
CHILDREN
Help with Nursery or Sunday School
PROVIDING A WARM WELCOME
Become a "Connector" for guests and newcomers
Decorate the chancel (occasionally or regularly)
Indoor decorating for various holidays
Does one of these speak to you?
Talk with Elise or me for more information or referral to others with similar interests.
Thank you to everyone who already volunteers!
It is heartwarming to witness all the energy and enthusiasm that you all share.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, dear reader! There are many ways to get involved either regularly or occasionally. There is something for everyone!
~Nathan
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Readings for this Sunday's 11 am
Worship Service
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Judges 6:12-16
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”
...And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
Matthew 18:20
Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.
John 16:33
In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart! I have overcome the world.
True Christianity §774 (Swedenborg)
The Lord is constantly present with every human being, the evil as well as the good. No one would be alive if the Lord were not present. Only when we let Him in, however—that is, believe in Him and do what He commands—does He come in.
Sacred Scripture §78 (Swedenborg)
The Lord is present with us and connected to us through the Word, since the Lord is the Word. It’s as if he speaks with us in it.
Secrets of Heaven §904 (Swedenborg)
The Lord speaks with everyone, for whatever we will and think that is good and true is from the Lord. ...Every good and true thing the angels inspire is from the Lord, so the Lord is continually speaking with us, but quite differently with one person than with another….
The presence of the Lord is first possible with us when we love our neighbor. The Lord is present in love; and to the extent that we have love, the Lord is present, and to the extent that the Lord is present, He speaks with us.
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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. ~ Nathan
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS!
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Planning for fundraisers
This Sunday, February 2, after the luncheon, join our treasurer, Bill Smith, to consider plans for several fundraisers this year. The meeting will be in the church library. The goal is to have one fun fundraiser each quarter, with the first one tentatively scheduled for the weekend of March 28-29. If you love Sunrise Chapel, consider being involved with fundraising
efforts.
Want to donate with a credit card or electronically? 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 . You don't need a PayPal account to use a credit card of your choice.
Thank you for supporting Sunrise Chapel!
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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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