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Spirituality

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Spiritual Reflections Why aren’t we ‘Walking on Water?’

BY DON ANDERSON

Apostle Peter provided a great lesson for us. If we want to walk on water then we must first get out the boat (Matthew 14:22-33)!

We will probably never literally walk on water like Jesus or Peter did, but we do need to live with the same faith and focus that Peter exhibited when he, filled with faith, stepped out of the boat. We must let go of whatever is holding us back and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. As Jesus stated, you must lose

your life to find it (Matthew 16:25).

The life Jesus wants for us is to love God and others much more than ourselves and to share with others the precious gift He has given us. What is the greatest concern in your life that is keeping you from stepping out of the boat?

Don Anderson is executive pastor of Chandler Christian Church in Chandler, 1825 S. Alma School Rd. For information, visit chandlercc.org.

Spiritual Reflections

August 3 – 16, 2013

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August events heat up August is a busy month at Chandler Christian Church, with activities and events on offer for participants of every age.

Dr. Tim Kimmel of Family Matters visits as a guest speaker Sat. and Sun., Aug. 10 and 11, offering advice on gracebased parenting. To learn more, visit familymatters.net.

Guest speaker Karen Doyel visits two Intentional Woman BFF events, discussing intentional parenting at 6:30 p.m. Fri., Aug. 9 and intentional coping at 10:30 a.m. Sat., Aug. 10. To register and read more, visit chandlercc.org/bffaugust-2013.

Men are invited to attend a meeting of Porn and Pancakes at 8 a.m. Sat., Aug. 10. The meeting helps provide men with the steps to walk away from an addiction to pornography. Junior high and high school students may also attend with an adult.

Mothers of preschoolers still have time to sign up for a MOPS group.

Groups begin Monday nights, Wednesday mornings or Thursday mornings in August. Read more and register at chandlercc.org/mops-fall-2013registration-opening-soon.

Two mission trip opportunities are forthcoming. An informational meeting on a Rocky Point family mission trip is 12:30 p.m. Sun., Aug. 11 in the Chapel, and those interested in participating in a January 2014 mission trip to Haiti are invited to meet at 7 p.m. Tue., Aug. 6 in Room B201.

Senior Pastor Roger Storms offers advice about how to create the building blocks necessary to make a strong home and raise spiritually strong, healthy children at chandlercc.org/buildingblocks-roger.

Chandler Christian Church is at 1825 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler.

To learn more about Chandler Christian Church, visit chandlercc.org or “like” the church on Facebook at facebook.com/chandlerchristianchurch.

Share your spiritual reflections...

The spiritual leaders of SanTan Sun area churches, temples, mosques and other religious and spiritual gathering places are invited to contribute their Spiritual Reflections in essay format by sending their thoughts, enlightening insights and other writings of a spiritual nature to News@SanTanSun.com.

Be certain to put “Spiritual Reflections submission” in the subject line, and keep your articles around 200-300 words, or they may be edited for length. Include your first and last name, title and facility name, address, phone number and website.

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 that of the SanTan Sun News.

AUGUST 14 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22

Couples Club to meet Aug. 18 The 2013-14 kick-off meeting of the East Valley Jewish Couples Club is 11:30 a.m. Sun., Aug. 18 at a Chandler restaurant. The club meets monthly for fun, food and friendship.

Synagogue affiliation is not required and there is no charge to join. Prospective members from throughout the Valley are invited to attend.

For more information, call Eileen at 480-802-4412 or email shapiroeil@hotmail.com.

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Spirituality

August 3 – 16, 2013

Sun Lakes Sisterhood news The musical comedy “Hairspray” is this year’s Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation Sisterhood’s summer destination. The show is 3 p.m., Sat., Aug. 10 at the Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert. Tickets are $22.

For more information, call Denise at 480895-8665.

is open to husbands, significant others, friends, etc. Cost is $25 and includes a buffet lunch, a race named for Sisterhood and covered indoor reserved seating. Send a check, made out to SLJC Sisterhood, to 25108 S. Mohawk Dr., Sun Lakes, AZ 85248.

“Living with Faith”

Toys for children

“Living with Faith,” Rabbi Irwin Wiener’s new book, is the subject of discussion on Thu., Sept. 19 in the Chapel House in Sun Lakes, followed by light refreshments. The discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer period.

Donations are needed for the ongoing “Toys from the Heart” program, which provides holiday gifts to the kindergarten classes at Frye Elementary School.

Donations of any amount can be made by sending a check made out to SLJC Sisterhood to 3495 E. County Down Dr., Chandler, AZ 85249. Write “toys” on the memo line. More than 100 children received toys from the Sisterhood.

New member luncheon A new member luncheon will be held prior to the Thu., Oct. 17 meeting.

Invitations will go out to all new members of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation, as well as new Sisterhood members, sometime in late September.

Win, place or show Reservations are being accepted now for a day at the races at Turf Paradise Race Track on Tue., Oct. 29. The event

Dues are payable The sisterhood dues of $25 can be made out to SLJC Sisterhood and mail it to 3495 E. County Down Dr. Chandler, AZ 85249.

Co-presidents Geri and Carol appreciate any comments or suggestions, and can be called at 480-305-0123 and 480-895-3168, respectively.

Rosh Hashana at Temple Havurat Emet Admittance to the High Holy Day special event, Rosh Hashana, starting on Wed., Sept. 4 at Temple Havurat Emet, is included with a full $100 temple membership for first-year members. For more information or for tickets, call Gigi at 480-785-7767.

pace S d e t Limi er Now! t Regis 480-963-6105, Ext. 211 800 West Ray Road South Campus • Chandler www.RayofLightPreschool.org

2013-2014 PROGRAMS 9 A.M. - NOON 3-Year-Old Class Tuesday and Thursday Monday, Wednesday and Friday Monday thru Friday 4-Year-Old Class Monday, Wednesday and Friday Pre-K Class Monday thru Friday

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SUN LAKES WOMEN SHARE SPIRITUALITY

BIBLE STUDY: Members of the Women’s Life group at Sun Lakes United Church Of Christ in Chandler meet twice a month to study the Bible and discuss how the lessons can relate to their lives. For information, call Jan Olson at 480-802-7457 or Joy King 480-588-1882. Submitted photo

Open house at Temple Beth Sholom An open house is being held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 4 at Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley, 3400 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler. The traditional conservative synagogue’s leadership, teachers and congregants will be on hand.

Serving the community for more than 60 years, the synagogue has a religious school and a preschool. There will be food for everyone and water slides for the children.

For more information, visit tbsev.org.

Spirituality

www.SanTanSun.com

August 3 – 16, 2013

Dedication of new synagogue on Aug. 18 Grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Dignitaries of the State of Arizona, local mayors and business leaders will join the Jewish Community of the East Valley in cutting the ribbon and opening the doors of its new Jewish Center, 5 p.m., Sun., Aug. 18. At the dedication a mezuzah will be affixed to the doors and the Torah scrolls will be welcomed to the new synagogue.

The center houses a synagogue, classrooms, the new Chandler Jewish Preschool, the Chabad Hebrew School, offices and social hall, kosher kitchen, Yoseph Yitzchak Lipskier Library and will serve as a place where Judaism comes vibrantly and joyously alive, and made accessible to anyone who would like to learn about it.

The Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life was founded by Rabbi Mendy and Shternie Deitsch in September 1997, under the guidance of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Grand Lubavitcher Rebbe. Chabad of the East Valley is part of the largest and fastest-growing Jewish organization, with more than 4,000 centers worldwide.

Register for school Registration is underway for the upcoming school year at Chabad Hebrew School, which begins on Sun., Sept. 8 at the new Chabad Pollack Center for Jewish Life at 875 N. McClintock Dr., Chandler.

Membership is not required to register for the classes.

Students will be taught by warm and

professional teachers while using the most advanced textbooks and methodologies to learn about Jewish history, heritage, culture and holidays and Parsha lessons. The lessons will come alive in weekly updates in a scrapbook, which will advance each student’s reading by the end of the year.

Classes will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday mornings for children ages 5 to 13. Other activities include honey dish craft, cards, Yom Kippur slippers, Succah Hop, kosher label contest, olive oil press, menorah making, Hanukkah Carnival, choir, Shabbat meal for parents and students, Shalach Manot distribution, Purim party and Matzo Factory.

To visit the Chabad Hebrew School by appointment, call 480-855-4333 or email info@chabadcenter.com. For more information about the center, visit chabadcenter.com.

meet in order to qualify as a genuine shofar, after which they will saw, drill, sand, shellac and polish their own horns. Visual aids, such as large, full-color posters and diagrams and a colorful assortment of animal horns of all types and sizes, plus state-of-the-art shop equipment, will be provided.

The Shofar is perhaps the oldest wind instrument known to humankind.

Consisting of a simple horn taken from a ram or similar animal and hollowed of its internal cartilage, when blown correctly, it produces a haunting, almost mystical tone.

It is sounded in Jewish houses of worship on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Cost is $10 to make a Shofar, but free just to see the show.

To make a reservation, call 480-8554333.

Shofar factory

Donate a brick

Children and adults can craft their own shofars, or ram’s horns, in a hands-on workshop at the Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life at 11 a.m. on Sun., Sept. 1.

“The Shofar generates an otherworldly sound. It’s very soulful, very stirring and open to much interpretation,” says Rabbi Mendy Deitsch, director of Chabad of the East Valley and coordinator of the Shofar Factory. “Each individual hears something else in the Shofar’s voice. It’s no wonder the Shofar is blown on our holiest of days. It’s very appropriate, very inspiring.”

Visitors to the “Shofar Factory” will learn what criteria an animal’s horn must

To honor of loved ones bricks can be donated for $100 per brick at the Chabad Pollack Jewish Center. Messages are 60 characters long and can be donated for birthdays, anniversaries, bar and bat Mitzvahs, graduations, weddings, holidays, good luck, in memory of or a simple gift to someone.

Each brick donated will help fortify the Chabad Pollack Jewish Center. Donations can be made through a secure form at chabadcenter.com.

For more information, email rabbi@ chabadcenter.com or visit chabadcenter. com.

WebXtra: WebXtra: For a complete list of Spiritual Connections, SanTan Sun area monthly support groups, study groups and spiritually stimulating meetings, visit SanTanSun.com and click on “Spirituality.”

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Include a brief description of the event, times, days, dates, cost or free, if registration is required, venue, address, publishable phone number, website if applicable and contact information for verification purposes. We welcome photos, which must be 300 dpi JPEGs or taken on a digital camera on the “best” or “highest quality” setting.

Information is due 10 days prior to publication date. Submission does not guarantee placement.

A Place of Love Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday Hamilton High School Auditorium 3700 S. Arizona Ave. www.loc-az.org

480-899-1400

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

Chandler United Methodist Church Celebrating 100 Years in Chandler. Making and Deploying Disciples Who Put God First, Since 1913.

SUNDAY WORSHIP Traditional Worship .........................9:30 a.m. (August) SUNDAY SCHOOL For Children.....................................................9:40 a.m.

480-963-3360 • www.chandlermethodist.org • 450 E. Chandler Heights Rd.