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Hunter, New York ski area
We're home now!
Elise and I had a wonderful vacation with time to visit our kids, their spouses, and our grandchildren. It is so nurturing to be with tender infants and their lovely, doting parents. We felt safe the whole time, taking various precautions. The airline travel was smooth and uneventful, everyone on their good behavior. What a fabulous country we live in! We enjoyed our stay in a rental house in the
Catskills of New York state at the bottom of a ski slope. We spent our time hanging out with each other, playing games, eating delicious home-cooked meals, kayaking, taking walks, even venturing on a hike up one of the steep slopes to the top of Hunter Mountain with an amazing panoramic view. All-in-all a great family adventure filled with love and connection. And we are refreshed!
The Human Need for Love and Connection
Church Service this Sunday, August 30
This Sunday, I want to explore what the Lord teaches about another basic human "need" - for love and connection. It's pretty evident in experience as well as through theology that love is the most essential quality of human life. Even if we don't feel particularly loving, we still need connection with others. So if we need it and long for it, why do we sometimes have such a problem expressing love in
healthy, connecting ways? It's worth thinking about... again and again. Please join me this Sunday at 11 o'clock on YouTube or in person at the Chapel (see guidelines below).
Please pray for our dear friend, Ann, and her family
Speaking of the need for love and connection, Ann Ferganchick is in hospice care with her family visiting around the clock. We have so enjoyed getting to know her since she found Sunrise Chapel and the Women's Group a couple of years ago. What a sincere, thoughtful, loving, and magnanimous lady, mother, and friend. Please keep her, Mona, Julia, and Mark in
your prayers during this very tender time.
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This Sunday will be our 25th church service in the era of CoViD-19.
As usual, I will be focusing on the livestream participants. I also welcome people to attend in person under the guidelines below. There's room in the main Chapel for 15-20 people. You are also welcome to view the monitor in Friendship Hall.
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THANK YOU TO OUR GUEST PREACHER last two Sundays!
I hope you enjoyed the pre-recorded church services over the past two Sundays featuring talks by my colleague and friend, Todd Beiswenger, pastor of the Hurstville, Australia church near Sydney.
I was happy to learn more about how to do the pre-recording and editing, and I'm sure that I will use that knowledge in the coming months. But I'm also glad to be getting back to live church services. And I continue to welcome anyone in person.
With love and respect and prayers for everyone's well-being, physically and spiritually,
Nathan
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Photo: Nathan on ZOOM
After a brief check-in, I'll share the task for the week from the sermon and invite anyone to share any intentions for working on that task (or any task for that matter) during the coming week.
For me this will enhance the message to hear from others about how you might “practice what is preached.” It's also a way of making our thinking visible and our understanding more clear.
Everyone welcome, even if you haven't participated yet! I miss our social gatherings in Friendship Hall after church. This is a casual time to "check in" with some friends and have informal conversation. It's fun to see each other and say hello. You can pop in for a bit and leave whenever you need to.
To join the Zoom meeting, click on this link at NOON
If this link doesn't work for you, go to Zoom.us and enter these credentials for the meeting:
Meeting ID: 949 4617 0443
Password: 05152020 (hint: the numerical date for May 15, 2020)
If you ONLY want to call in (without your computer or video), use one of these phone numbers and follow the prompts. You may have to enter the Meeting ID and the password. You will be able to listen and talk (but you won’t see anyone and no one will see you).
346 248 7799 US (Houston)
669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
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Last Sunday's Task - Dismissing the Head Bullies
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Guidelines for "soft" reopening for in-person church activities
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Link to YouTube report by Dr. Theresa Cullen
COVID-19 infection rates are declining in Pima County
I find this brief report by the Pima County Health Director to be helpful and informative. She produces three reports per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This is the one from Wednesday. I expect to hear even better news today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYIN-EDCSUA
This Sunday, the Chapel continues to be open with caution
I welcome anyone to attend in person who feels safe within the guidelines outlined below. I also realize that most people will not attend in person, yet, so I'm glad when I "see" you participating through the livestream option! Please use the YouTube chat feature to "check in" and let your church family know you care about our faith community.
We have space for at least 15-20 people in the seating area of the Chapel. There is also the "overflow" room to view the TV monitor in Friendship Hall. Recently, the maximum number of people in person has been 8 so there is plenty of room to be together and to social distance.
Specific guidelines for in-person attendance
I believe following these guidelines is also in keeping with the Golden Rule.
1. Stay safe while being kind and respectful. If you attend, observe the guidelines. If you are uncomfortable for any reason, please take care of yourself first; feel free to leave without any negative judgments.
2. Do not attend in person if you are sick, or if you are concerned about getting sick, or if you are at high risk. Instead, please continue to participate remotely.
3. As a community of people who love and respect each other, wearing a face covering is a community service to protect each other, especially the vulnerable. Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth. Please bring your own face covering (mask, scarf, bandana, etc). A face covering will be provided if you forget to bring your own.
4. Practice social distancing while on the church property (inside buildings and outside) including friendly no-touch greetings.
5. We will limit our number of participants in the main seating area of the Chapel to 20. Members of the same family may sit together.
6. On entering and leaving the buildings, please wash hands with soap or use hand sanitizer (provided in the lobby).
During the church service:
• I will wear a mask before and after the service and while I am singing. I will remove my mask for prayers, the children's talk, the readings, and the sermon, with the understanding that the closest participants will be over 8 feet away from me.
• Sanitary wipes will be available for individuals to wipe down chairs and surfaces they use.
• Bathroom use will be limited to one person at a time, using only the main bathrooms at the entrance to Friendship Hall.
• No printed bulletins or songbooks. Instead, song lyrics are projected on the monitor and announcements will either be projected or verbal.
Please, let me know whatever you think. It's good to hear from as many people as possible. I'm doing the best I can, and I don't want to put any volunteers or visitors in any unsafe positions. I appreciate your help and patience!
Looking forward to your participation either in person or online!
Nathan
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Photo: laptop + coffee
Weekday Meditation (9:00-9:30 am MT) This is the link for the Monday meditation that I lead, but it is also the same link for the rest of the weekdays, led by other folks. Try it! You might like it!
ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES:
New Church Vineyard (This is a RICH source of KID-ORIENTED content for all sorts of stories from the Bible and the teachings of Swedenborg. Use this for family worship and for "Sunday school" type activities to enhance your spiritual lives at home.)
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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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