Rev. Derrick Elliott, Pastor, Sun Lakes United Church of Christ In the heart of Arizona, the festive season casts a unique light on the grand tapestry of the desert. While the song “Blue Christmas” might evoke a sense of reflective yearning amidst the holiday cheer, it also serves as a reminder that this season encompasses…
Religion
Religion, December 2023
Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation December 2023 News
Murray Siegal The regular monthly Shabbat service for December will be held on Dec. 8 where menorah candles will be lit to celebrate Chanukah. Full services are conducted each month starting in October, except for July and August, on the second Friday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Sun Lakes Chapel. For additional…
December 2023, Religion
Chaos at Christmas
Pastor Mitch McDonald, Sun Lakes Community Church Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but so often it feels that along with Christmas comes chaos. When young children are around, there is the chaos of anticipation and gifts and wrapping paper and toys and all that comes with that. When it involves teenagers, well, when…
December 2023, Religion
The Very First Flash Mob in Recorded History
Steve Foss It didn’t occur in this or the last millennium! The first flash mob ever recorded in history happened in Bethlehem, about five and a half miles south of Jerusalem. The town is called Bethlehem, and it is still there today, about five and a half miles south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem was known for…
December 2023, Religion
Gratitude
Pastor Marvin Arnpriester Gratitude has been called “the memory of the heart.” Gratitude is both a subject and an object. What we are thankful for is the subject of our gratitude. The one to whom we are grateful is the object of our gratitude. Dr. William L. Stidger, a gifted writer and speaker, was discussing…
December 2023, Religion
Getting Through Grief During the Holidays
Pastor Judy Claycomb The holidays can be challenging, especially when one is grieving a loss. During the months of November and December, Sun Lakes United Methodist Church (SLUMC) will offer a safe place for sharing, support, and learning how to navigate the challenges of holiday traditions, plans, and memories faced by people who are grieving.…
December 2023, Religion
December Is a Time of Faith
Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D. If it is December, it must be the time of Hanukkah and Christmas. Each year interfaith couples agonize whether the celebrations of these holidays are religious adventures or commercial enterprises. There is a tugging at the heartstrings, because respect for one another’s faith is the foundation of the commitment made as…