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Whether it's in a family setting, a small group, or a nation, we have a deep heart hunger to belong
Anytime is a good time to increase a healthy sense of belonging. This weekend is timely as our country puts some attention on the progress of social change initiated by Martin Luther King Jr. Our Sunday church service will focus on the changes in our minds, hearts, and behaviors that are useful to encourage belonging. There is truth in the call to "be the change you want to
see."
If you make new year's resolutions, how are you doing?
The first two Sundays of this year, I talked about making small habit changes that could potentially bring about big changes over time. So far, I'm happy to say that I've kept up my own personal small habit changes, and I find it very satisfying! If you're interested in additional practice tips and resources, I recommend the approach by James Clear, who wrote Atomic Habits. You can learn more at
www.jamesclear.com
Whether I am working on a new habit of decluttering or rising above impatience, I find his tips helpful on how to implement and sustain small, incremental changes.
Chili Cookoff - this Sunday, January 19
This month, instead of Bill's "world famous" home made spaghetti, the luncheon will feature delicious chili made by several people. Come find out which is "the best"!
New Small Group Program in February!
“Growing Through Challenges” See below for details!
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 has just been launched this week 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 a group in one central location.
And I'm tickled to say I was the first participant in the first online group started on 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!
With love and respect and prayers for many blessings,
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New Small Group Series starting 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 and 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
Expect to have a choice of several groups at different times of the week, including an online option. More details to come!
Interested? Intrigued? Can't wait?
Talk with Élise or Nathan
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THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
11 am Worship Service - Nathan Gladish, On Belonging
12 noon Luncheon Chili Cookoff!
MONDAY 1/20/2020
HAPPY MLK DAY!
11 am Tai Chi class - Friendship Hall
TUESDAY 1/21/2020
6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group in the Chapel
WEDNESDAY 1/22/2020
9:30 am Worship Team meeting
FRIDAY 1/24/2020
4:30 pm Teen Time with the Pastor at the church
SATURDAY 1/25/2020
2 pm Private Celebration of Life in the Chapel
3 pm Private Reception in Friendship Hall
SUNDAY 1/26/2020
11 am Worship Service - Nathan Gladish, preaching
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
ORGANIZE STUFF
Revive and maintain the Name Tag Ministry (during the Sunday luncheon)
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
Put out the blue recycling containers every other week - THANK YOU TO CAROL W for taking this on!
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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Jesus Invites Belonging
John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer
call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."
A Spiritual Home for Everyone
Divine Providence §67 (Swedenborg)
The constant effort in divine providence is for each of us to become a heaven in form and therefore an image of the Lord. Further, since this is accomplished by means of the desire for what is good and true, it is for us to become that desire. This, then, is the constant effort in divine providence.
The very heart of providence, though, is that we should be in some particular place in heaven or in some particular place in the divine heavenly person and therefore in the Lord. This is what happens for people whom the Lord can lead to heaven. Since the Lord foresees this, he also constantly provides for it, with the result that all of us who are allowing ourselves to be led to heaven are being prepared for our own places in heaven.
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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 YEAR-END DONATIONS!
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Great News! We made it! THANKS TO YOU for your generous year-end donations to the General Fund!
Because of both regular donations and extra donations toward the $4,000 anonymous remote match, we made our six-month financial goal and then some! This means that Sunrise Chapel's general fund is solvent for the time being, and we have another six months to creatively figure out how to improve our income - hopefully through new events and rentals, new fundraising activities, and new donors. One of my personal goals this year is to have fun giving. After all, it is for such a good,
worthy cause! Giving in any form - time, talent, treasure - is meant to be enjoyable and useful, not onerous or burdensome. Who wants to join the fun?
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 .
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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