How "Moving!" (07/30/21)

Published: Fri, 07/30/21

How "Moving!" (07/30/21)

Friends,

We’ve moved! Anyone who has gone through that same experience knows the change of feeling from wonder and excitement at where you’ve landed (and the adventure that awaits) to the realisation that in order to get there, you have to get unburied first!

This is a wonderful analogy for our spiritual growth and development. It is interesting that every day of the creation series moves from ‘evening’ (a place of relative obscurity in matters of faith) to morning (a state of clarity and new awareness of God’s presence).

A person’s spiritual rebirth (from the Lord) happens by dispersing the false [ideas] (or lies) from evils that are in the natural person [the cause of spiritual darkness], and by opening the spiritual person - and this is effected by the Lord, by means of spiritual light. (Emanuel Swedenborg, Revelation Explained 401)

All of us are lied to by the evil spirits constantly, about our life’s worth and purpose. All of us struggle at times with wondering why we’re here (at this place in our life) and what to do with all the ugly and mixed states inside of us in the face of all we know to be beautiful and true about our life.

There’s a song I love by an artist named Mark Shultz on this same theme, where the lyrics are:

I've been hearing voices telling me that I could
never be what I want to be.

They're binding me with lies haunting me at night
and saying there's nothing to believe.

Somewhere in the quietness when I'm overcome with loneliness I hear You call my name.

Like a Father You are near and as I listen I can hear You say:

"You are a child of Mine!
Born of My own design."

Several years ago I had the privilege of doing an internment for a dear Aunt. She transitioned early to the other world after many struggles, and was also known by all who loved her for her innocence and uniquely spiritual focus.

We spoke of a dawning awareness that’s possible in our own spiritual journey, where we start to become conscious of all the ‘sheep’ - states of innocence and peace - that the Lord has lovingly been storing up in all of us from the time of our birth. They are all there, waiting to be called by name as we grow and recognise their presence within us.

Love and Peace,

Ethan

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS SUNDAY (08/01/21)

Sunday School:

For the time being - the children/teens can take part in “Sunday Service Projects!” (May I say, the pastor is very excited to hear this!)

Margo Waddell and Christine Morey will guide the youth group in various projects that give back to the community. This will take place after the Children’s talk in the Children’s Chapel.

Informal Board Gathering:

There will be an opportunity for members of the Sunrise Chapel Board to introduce themselves and what they do - and to hear from our new pastor what he envisions for this vital partnership. This will happen after lunch in Friendship Hall and go from 12:30 to 1:30pm.

Serving Those Experiencing Food Insecurity:

Judith Keane is excited to restart the "Sandwich Ministry!" The idea is that we would make 400 sandwiches which could then be donated to our soup kitchen to serve as pack lunches for those facing food insecurity in this challenging time. We are looking to make this happen in the near future, so Judith asks that anyone interested in this way to serve be in touch with her at: judith.tucson@gmail.com.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

The Asplundh Family Foundation is once again granting Sunrise Chapel funds to continue upgrading and maintaining our facilities and grounds!

This time they have awarded us $45,000 to help us with the following projects:

A: Continue to refresh the interior look and feel of our Friendship Hall wing so people appreciate it as a well-kept, safe, clean, functional, and welcoming church home:

• Refurbish two more bathrooms in Friendship Hall (two bathrooms have already been refurbished) (Approximately $8K)
• Replace more old flooring, sliding door screens, and drinking water fountains in the Friendship Hall wing (these well-worn items are over 25 years old) (Approximately $30K)

B: Continue to improve our property’s curb appeal from the street view:

• Maintain our parking lot and front landscaping (Approximately $12K)

NOTE: As part of our "investment" in these projects, we now need to raise $3,000 locally.

Please consider a gift to support and promote these projects.

You can use PayPal on sunrisechapel.org or send your contribution by check to "Sunrise Chapel" via our treasurer. Make a note that it is for "Asplundh Grant Support."

BLESSINGS ON YOUR WEEKEND!

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

Office 520-298-1245

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