Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D. There is a story of a boy and his teacher. At an early age, the boy loved his teacher very much. The teacher was responsible for explaining the meaning of life, and the boy enjoyed learning from his teacher. One day the teacher received an offer to teach in another state.…
December 2025, Religion
SLJC Activities and Services
Shabbat services will be held on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Sun Lakes Chapel. The Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, will be celebrated at that service. Full services are conducted each month, starting in November, except for July and August, on the second Friday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Sun Lakes…
December 2025, Religion
Hope That Holds When the World Feels Unsteady
Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliott, Pastor, Sun Lakes United Church of Christ As the Advent season begins, many communities across the nation and the world are lighting candles of hope, peace, joy, and love. We need this reminder even as headlines fill with uncertainty. We’ve watched as stories about government shutdowns, economic strain, and growing divisions…
December 2025, Religion
The Spiritual Significance of Waking at 3 or 4 a.m.
Mark Wenz, Unity Church of Sun Lakes Do you ever wake up at the silent hours of 3 or 4 a.m., your eyes opening suddenly and without provocation? Why would a weary body suddenly arise as if summoned by an unseen hand? When these middle-of-the-night awakenings began happening to me, I first felt apprehension and…
December 2025, Religion
Unity Church of Sun Lakes
Julia Norton On Dec. 10 the Metaphysical Group will meet from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Mirror Room at Sun Lakes Country Club. On Dec. 13 we will be volunteering for the Down Syndrome Network Holiday Party. If you would like to help, please call or email Judy Adams at 480-399-0411 or jamamaw4544@gmail.com for…
Religion, December 2025
The Writer vs. ChatGPT—Who Wins?
Pastor Steve Foss, First Baptist Church Sun Lakes According to ChatGPT, the top issues facing Americans today are as follows: Economy & Cost of Living: Many Americans say inflation, rising prices, and affordability are among the biggest problems. This includes the cost of food, housing, healthcare, and the gap between wages and expenses. It affects…
December 2025, Religion
The Gift of Presence
Rev. Jennifer Lambert, Sun Lakes United Methodist Church December arrives in Sun Lakes with its own kind of beauty. While we may not have snowy sidewalks or frosted pine trees, we do have something just as meaningful: warm, golden mornings; quiet desert sunsets; and a community that gathers thoughtfully during this season of light. This…
Religion, December 2025
New Book Study Group at SLUMC
Rev. Judy Claycomb-Wismar How can we make sense of life’s chaos? How can we find meaning and peace in these loud and frantic times? How can we reconnect to one another and to what’s sustaining? These questions lie at the heart of Anne LaMott’s book Stitches: A Handbook of Meaning, Hope and Repair. “We begin,”…
December 2025, Sports
SLLGA Results
Nadine Stark Oct. 7 Scramble: 1st: Barb Arakelian, Gloria Fronk, Peggy Huot, Pat Henk; 2nd: Judy Bray, Marci Kopplemaa, Pat Waldher, Janis Drummond; 3rd: Deb McGrail, Jan Cobb, Judy Mical, Jeri Sprague Our course closed on Oct. 11 for overseeding and reopened on Nov. 7 and is in beautiful condition. We look forward to having…
December 2025, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: No Man’s Land
David Zapatka No man’s land, sometimes referred to as the transition area, aka the kitchen, is the area of the pickleball court between the non-volley zone line and the baseline. Think of it as a space 11 feet long and 20 feet wide; two feet behind the non-volley zone line and two feet inside the…