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This Sunday we continue our series on the Biblical story of Gideon: "Growing Through Challenges"
You are invited and welcome to join the Sunday morning small group at 9:15 in the church library, led by Kelly Woofenden. Come along for this new "journey" of spiritual growth.
Part two is about the inner peace the Lord longs for us to experience
When Gideon is visited by an angel and is challenged to become a leader, he asks for a sign to reassure him that God will actually be present with him if he accepts his call. The teachings from Swedenborg explain that the sign he is given symbolizes the peace of mind God offers.
How or when have you experienced inner peace in your life? And what can we do individually and collectively to experience God's peace more and more? Come and let's explore this together!
Small Groups up and running!
“Growing Through Challenges” is the name of our new Journey Spiritual Growth program which we started last Sunday morning. There are three small groups up and running:
9:15 am Sunday in the church Library, led by Kelly Woofenden
2:00 pm Wednesday afternoon, including an online option, led by Nathan Gladish
7:00 pm Thursday night (Women's Group), led by Elise Gladish
See below for more details
Thank you for a SOUPER Sunday luncheon last week!
Thank you to everyone for the delicious soup and salad luncheon on Super Bowl Sunday. What a delightful smorgasbord to help us enjoy our community-building. Thank you to our Kitchen Ministry team!
Planning Fundraisers - this Sunday after the luncheon
Thank you to the big gathering of people in the church library last Sunday after the luncheon to discuss ideas for upcoming fundraisers. Scroll to the bottom of this page for for a note from our treasurer, Bill Smith. Join him again this Sunday, Feb. 9 after the luncheon to continue to brainstorm and plan fundraisers for this year.
A New Resource for Online Small Groups
This past Wednesday I started using this resource as a group leader in order to welcome a "remote" participant into my small group via videoconference.
See below for details on this 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 started 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
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
Have you heard about my excitement for this new offering?! 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.
I'm tickled to say I was the first participant in the first online group started four weeks ago Thursday morning. The group I joined was a 4-week series on meditation that met from 10-10:30 am Mountain Time, led by Sasha Silverman. This group concluded yesterday, but other groups are available. If you want to join a group but need a little coaching, 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 my current "Growing Through Challenges" group on Wednesdays).
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THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES AT SUNRISE CHAPEL
11 am Worship Service - Nathan Gladish, preaching
"Growing Through Challenges" #2 The Peace of the Lord
12 noon Luncheon
12:30 pm Meeting to plan fundraisers (Library)
MONDAY 2/10/2020
11 am Tai Chi class - Friendship Hall
TUESDAY 2/11/2020
6:30 pm Bereavement Support Group in the Chapel
WEDNESDAY 2/12/2020
8:30 am - 4:00 pm Life Line Screening in Friendship Hall
9:30 am Worship Team meeting
2 pm "Growing Through Challenges" Small Group #2 (in person or online)
THURSDAY 2/13/2020
FRIDAY 2/14/2020
4:30 pm Teen Time with the Pastor at the church
SATURDAY 2/15/2020
2:00-4:00 pm Private Celebration of Life in the Chapel and Reception afterwards in Friendship Hall
SUNDAY 2/16/2020
11 am Worship Service - Nathan Gladish, preaching
"Growing Through Challenges" #3 The Power of the Lord
12 noon Luncheon
February is National Heart Month
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Sunrise Chapel is hosting a health screening program this Wednesday Feb 12 in Friendship Hall
The following information is provided by Life Line Screening for their event being held in Friendship Hall this coming Wednesday:
Do you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure? Have members of your family suffered from these ailments? Do you have a poor diet? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to consider being screened for your risk of stroke through the services of Life Line Screening. Life Line Screening uses ultrasound technology to view the plaque build-up in your carotid arteries, the main
arteries that carry blood to the brain. Blockages in these arteries are a leading cause of stroke. We are pleased to host this Life Line Screening event 2/12/2020 at Sunrise Chapel. Register for a Wellness Package with Heart Rhythm for $149. All screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. Your Health is in Your Hands, so call 1-888-653-6441 or go to www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle or text the word circle to 797979 for more information or to pre-register.
If you want a screening but can't afford it, please contact me by Monday, Feb. 10. I might be able to get you a complementary screening. Nathan Gladish
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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?
Facilitate and/or host a small group AFTER the Tucson Festival of Books - to encourage participation from people we meet at the Festival.
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 THANK YOU JOHANNA AND THE CASTO FAMILY!
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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From the Bible
Judges 6:37-38
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as You have promised — Look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.”
And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.
Psalm 4:8
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 29:11
The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Isaiah 26:12
Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us.
Isaiah 55:12
You shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace. The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
From the teachings of the New Church through Emanuel Swedenborg
The Symbolism of Dew - Secrets of Heaven §8455
The reason why ‘dew’ means the truth of peace is that it comes down in the morning from heaven or the sky and on grassland looks like a light shower of rain. But also it holds a certain sweetness or pleasantness, more so than a shower of rain does, and causes grass and crops in the field to rejoice. And ‘morning’ is a state of peace...which is said to be like the dawn on earth, which fills people’s minds with overall delight....
Peace holds within itself trust in the Lord, the trust that He governs all things and provides all things, and that He leads towards an end that is good. When we believe these things about the Lord we are at peace, since we fear nothing and no anxiety about things to come disturb us.
How far we attain this state depends on how far we attain love for the Lord.
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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
Continuing this Sunday, February 9, 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 Saturday March 28. 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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THANK YOU FOR READING ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE!
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If you are reading this note right here, I want to thank you
Just reply to this email and tell me what you think of my "weekly update", and I will give you a $5 Starbucks card just for the fun of it! Offer good for the first 3 replies. Nathan
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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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