What Are the Beliefs and Core Values of Sunrise Chapel?

Sunrise Chapel is a congregation of the New Church, a branch of Christianity that describes itself as "a New Christianity" teaching God's message "with renewed clarity." Its stated core values center on partnering with the Lord and with each other to cultivate spiritual growth and choose heavenly joy, and it frames the Christian life as one of being "loving, wise, and useful." If you are trying to understand what this church actually stands for before visiting or getting involved, the summary below draws on the chapel's own description of itself.

What Sunrise Chapel Says It Is

Sunrise Chapel is located in Tucson, AZ, and calls itself "the church with the heavenly view" — a phrase it ties both to its panoramic view of the Catalina mountains and to its perspective on spiritual life. It identifies as a congregation of the New Church, which it describes as a New Christianity.

The chapel states that it exists to help people "explore and develop a personal relationship with the God who loves us all." It presents itself as open to two broad groups:

• People looking for a warm church community
• People seeking a more meaningful spiritual practice

Its stated welcome extends to anyone whose spiritual journey has led them there, whether they are interested in a church service or a small group.

Core Beliefs as Stated by the Chapel

The chapel's own summary of its beliefs is short and worth reading closely, because it defines the purpose of the community rather than listing doctrine point by point:

The phrase "loving, wise, and useful" functions as a compact statement of the ethical ideal the chapel holds up. Rather than separating belief from practice, the chapel presents the two as connected: the point of spiritual life is how you live it.

Core Values and Purpose

Sunrise Chapel states its purpose and core values in a single sentence:

"We invite you to join us in partnership with the Lord and each other in the practice of cultivating spiritual growth and choosing heavenly joy."

Three things stand out in that statement:

1. Partnership — spiritual growth is framed as something done jointly, with the Lord and with other people, not as a solitary pursuit.
2. Practice — growth is described as something cultivated, implying ongoing effort rather than a one-time event.
3. Choice — heavenly joy is presented as something deliberately chosen, not simply received.

What This Means in Practice

The chapel's description points to a few concrete ways these values show up:

• Worship, in person or online. Sunday services are broadcast through YouTube so people can join "no matter where in the world you are."
• Marriage Ministry. The chapel states it has "a heart for healthy relationships," which is the basis for its marriage-focused ministry.
• Community use of the building. Sunrise Chapel welcomes the community to rent its Chapel and Reception Hall for events.
• Small groups. The chapel mentions small groups alongside services as an entry point for newcomers.

How to Decide If It Fits What You're Looking For

Because the chapel describes itself in broad, values-oriented language rather than a detailed doctrinal statement, the most reliable way to evaluate it is to engage directly:

• Watch a Sunday service online if you want to hear how the beliefs are taught before attending.
• Attend a service or small group if you want to experience the community firsthand.
• Ask about the New Church tradition if the phrase "New Christianity" is unfamiliar to you and you want to understand how it relates to other Christian traditions.

The chapel's own framing is that it is there to help people explore and develop a personal relationship with God — so questions about belief are treated as part of the journey rather than a barrier to entry.