BY PASTOR JEAN NEWELL, ASSOCIATE PASTOR SUN LAKES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
For more years than I can remember, I have collected coffee mugs. Call me practical, but I decided many years ago that if I was going to have a collection, it wouldn’t be stuff that sat on a shelf and had to be dusted. I hate dusting. It would be stuff I could use. Consequently, I started collecting coffee mugs.
Many of the cups are ones I’ve bought, but many of them have been given to me as gifts from friends and family. I have cups with sayings about daughters, sisters, mothers and grandmas. I have cups with my name on them, cups with pictures of dogs on them, and cups with Scripture on them. I have cups for various holidays and cups from the British Isles, Europe and the Middle East, besides those from the United States. The background on my Harry Potter mug “magically” appears when it’s full of hot coffee or tea, while another mug beeps like “Star Wars’” R2-D2 when I take off its lid. I even have a cup that says, “Cuz I’m the mom!” and a self-stirring one that declares, “The force is strong with this one!” The cups come in all shapes and sizes. Some are large,
some small. Some are short, some tall. Some are delicate, some chunky. Each one is unique with a story behind it.
Two of them, however, are chipped, and one has a broken handle. Although I’ve tried to repair them with glue, the cups will never hold hot liquids again; they will never be whole.
More than 2,000 years ago, Jesus—in his brokenness—hung on a cross and died and was buried in a tomb. No one—not His mother, Mary, nor Peter, nor John, nor Mary Magdalene, nor any of His followers—could mend and repair what the soldiers’ whips and the Roman cross had done.
Why else was it on that Easter Sunday morning as the first rays of the sun streamed across the sky that Mary Magdalene ran pellmell back to the disciples and, gasping for breath, celebrated, “I have seen the Lord!” Why else, indeed! For God did what only God could do. God brought wholeness where only brokenness had been—something God can do today for you and for me if we but give our hearts to Him.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Spiritual Reflections
Share your spiritual reflections
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Spiritual Reflections are printed on a space-available basis, and submission does not guarantee print. The opinions represented in this column are those of the author and not those of the SanTan Sun News.
Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation announces Shabbat services
The Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation (SLJC) is an established reform congregation that meets at the Sun Lakes Chapel on the second Friday of the month.
Services are great opportunities to meet people, connect with Judaism and learn. New attendees are invited to be introduced at the service and members of the congregation connect with these attendees.
Oneg Shabbats are held immediately after the services at Sun Lakes Country Club. Everyone is invited to attend. Upcoming Shabbat services are as follows:
• March 11: Service honoring the choir, trip to Israel and Hadassah, 7:30 p.m.
• April 8: Yom Hashoah observance and Yom Ha’atzmaut and interfaith service, 7:30 p.m.
• May 13: Service honoring the men’s club and the rabbi’s Bar Mitzvah year, 7:30 p.m.
• June 10: Annual healing service, 7:30 p.m.
• July 8: Twilight service, 5:30 p.m.
• Aug. 12: Twilight service, 5:30 p.m.
SLJC is also sponsoring a contemporary Passover Seder on Saturday, April 23, the second night of the holiday.
SLJC kicks off its adult education series at the chapel. The classes, led by rabbi, are as follows. Participants can attend any or all of the sessions.
• 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8: Jewish Practices: Mitzvot and Traditions; Jewish Holidays: History and Significance
• 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12: How to Change Your Life: A Study in Kabbalah and Meditation
• 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3: Grief and Loss: How to Deal with Disappointments and Tragedies At 3 p.m. Sunday, March 6, the Friends of Israel SLJC and EVJCC will present Yamit Armbrister, the author of “A Moroccan Woman, From Egypt to Caanen and Daughter of Ouzel,” at 3 p.m. March 6. “A Moroccan Woman” was recently selected by the Israeli Department of Education to the list of most recommended books for all high school students. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. There will be no solicitations.
For information, visit www.SLJC.org.
Easter Cantata at First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes
BY NORM NOBLE
The Sun Lakes Baptist Church Choir will present a musical that celebrates the most miraculous and life-changing event in history—the death and resurrection of our Savior during the 10 a.m. Sunday, March 20, service.
“To the Risen King” is not just a musical presentation, but also a guide for the choir and congregation to worship the risen Lord. The songs were
carefully selected and arranged for active participation by all who gather— from corporate expressions of praise to reflective songs of testimony. Composers Dennis and Nan Allen have woven together well-known hymns and gospel songs with Scriptural-based narratives designed for worship leader, choir, and congregation.
Contact the church office at (480) 8951088 for more details.
Jewish congregation taking reservations for second Seder
The second Seder of Passover is April 23 and the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation is inviting the public to consider it as its extended family.
Rabbi Irwin Wiener will lead the meaningful and fun Seder; prizes will be awarded to all afikomen hunters.
The Seder will be held in the ballroom at Oakwood Country Club, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd., Sun Lakes. Tickets are $32 per adult and $12 per child. There is no charge for children ages 3 and younger. For reservations or details, contact Bety at (480) 882-9022.
First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes
A Church of Joy
Committed to the perfect Word of God, living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and worshiping with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Dr. Marc Drake, Senior Pastor invites you to join in our traditional worship service at 9535 E. Riggs Road Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 480-895-1088 www.fbcsl.org
Sundays:
Bible Study: 8:30 am | Worship: 10:00 am Wednesday: Prayer & Bible Study: 6:30 pm
St. Steven’s schedules slew of events
St. Steven’s Catholic Church’s Ladies Guild is hosting a luncheon and fashion show fundraiser entitled “Swing into Spring” at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 9, at the Oakwood Country Club, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd., Sun Lakes.
The event will feature baskets and door prizes, as well as fashions by Chico’s. Raffle tickets for the baskets, door prizes and the 50/50 raffle can be purchased at the event.
Religious events
The Lenten season is well underway at St. Steven’s. The parish has Soup and Stations of the Cross at 5 p.m. Fridays through March 18 in the Great Hall. The soup is a simple meal keeping in solidarity with the poor.
The church’s Respect Life Ministry sponsors “Pennies from Heaven,” a baby bottle Lenten Project, which continues after all Masses through March. The bottles are filled with Lenten sacrifices
and then returned the weekend after Easter or whenever it is convenient. This is an excellent way to observe Lent and, at the same time, make a contribution to help save lives of the unborn.
Congregation members will be making Easter baskets again this year for children of St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s. Any donations would be appreciated to help fill the baskets. Contact Gloria at (480) 895-1741.
The book club meets at 9 a.m. the first and third Wednesdays in the parish office classroom. March’s book is “7 Last Words: An Invitation to a Deeper Friendship with Jesus” by James Martin, S.J. Contact Deacon Dick at (480) 895-9266, ext. 107, for more information.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays. The public is invited to spend an hour with Jesus in silence. The sign-up sheet is available in the Church Narthex.
WEDNESDAY: Bible Study 12 Noon & 7 p m SUNDAY: WORSHIP 10 a m
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT March 6, 8:15 a.m. & 10 a.m.
“A Story to Ponder Again”
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT March 13, 8:15 a.m. & 10 a.m.
“Home is Not a Place”
PALM SUNDAY March 20, 8:15 a.m. & 10 a.m.
“Faces Along the Road”
MAUNDY THURSDAY March 24, 6:30 p.m. with Communion
Hillsong United from Sydney, Australia, visited Glendale on Feb. 22 as part of the “Empires” tour. Gila River Arena hosted Hillsong United as well as the Irish folk band Rend Collective and several thousand fans who lined up for several hours beforehand on the warm Arizona evening. Notable performers included longtime leader Joel Houston, Jad Gillies, Matt Crocker, J.D. Douglass and Taya Smith. Glendale was just one of many stops on the first “Empires” tour, which also included Tampa, Dallas, Lubbock, Austin, Memphis and more with a second tour in the United States and Canada kicking off late in April. GSN photos by Andrew McIntire
Holy Week Semana Santa
Frontman Chris Llewellyn of Rend Collective leads the Irish folk group during the opening set.
J.D. Douglass, Jad Gillies and Joel Houston of Hillsong United encourage the audience to sing along.
Hillsong United band leader Joel Houston leads from the piano accompanied by the band.
Taya Smith’s soaring vocals have become a key part of the group’s sound.
Joel Houston leads from a small keyboard for a few of the slower, contemplative numbers.
A guest piper plays the bagpipes for Rend Collective at the Gila River Arena. Patrick Thompson of Rend Collective brings his backup vocals and electric guitar to the mix.
