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Bowing to Bloom: Humility and the Tree of Life
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - June 22, 2025
Bowing is an ancient custom symbolizing the need to lower ourselves before what is Higher. We will explore the connection between humility and eating of the tree of life over the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. | By Rev. Ethan McCardell | Bryn Athyn CathedralBowing Before the Lord: The Humble Heart and the Tree of Life
Worship Service: Sermon only - June 22, 2025
As love of our own intelligence starts to give way to humility, we open ourselves to the experience the Lord’s blessings (barak, the primary Hebrew word for blessing, carries the connotation of what is higher flowing into what is lower) and a consequent uplifting of our life. We’ll explore the connection between this bowing before the Lord and the development of a spiritual life. | By Rev. Ethan McCardell | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Golden City
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 22, 2025
The New Church is sometimes called "The Church of the New Jerusalem." This is based on a description of a golden city, the New Jerusalem, descending from heaven to earth, as described in the book of Revelation. Each detail of this city symbolizes some aspect of the New Church. Our focus this Sunday will be on the Golden Light that filled the city. Gold stands for Love, light for Wisdom. In the New Church, the heart must always be love, from the Lord, guided by His wisdom. This is a description of the New Church as it ought to be. Our job, here and now, is to make sure that we embody that love, and let the Lord's wisdom guide us, as a church and as individuals. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAMemorial Service for Doris A. Halterman
Memorial Service - June 21, 2025
| By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Two Most Important Things
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - June 15, 2025
John saw a vision of two witnesses who were put to death and raised to life (Revelation 11). They represent the two essentials of the New Church: that the Lord in His glorified humanity is God and that people should live by the Ten Commandments. These two echo the two great commandments, showing us how to live heavenly lives. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Two Witnesses
Worship Service: Sermon only - June 15, 2025
In Revelation 11, John describes a vision of two witnesses. They represent the two essentials of the New Church. These two essentials are under constant threat of attack - in the vision, the two witnesses were even put to death - but the Lord protects them and can revive them, just as He revived the witnesses in John’s vision. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Bryn Athyn CathedralAccept the Gift
Worship Service: Sermon only - June 15, 2025
The difference between payment and a gift is that we are entitled to payment for the work we have done, while a gift is freely given. So if the Lord freely forgives and saves us, why does it seem like we have to work so hard for it? What do we get credit for and what do we have to acknowledge is the Lord's? If we can clearly see how the Lord freely gives us what we need to work with, we'll be able to accept that gift in every situation through the choices we make. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA"God has made me laugh…" (Genesis 21:6)
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - June 08, 2025
The Lord doesn’t just want to cheer us up – He wants our hearts and minds to be filled with joy and laughter. Our grumpy, skeptical side tends to have a hard time believing this is possible. What’s there to laugh about – life is full of serious business; bills to pay, pressures at work, health issues, relationship stresses, etc.? Turns out, we have a lot of reasons to laugh if we’re to take our cue from the angels in heaven for “everything they see seems to laugh and play and come alive” (HH 489). What are they seeing that we aren’t seeing? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral"God has made me laugh…" (Genesis 21:6)
Worship Service: Sermon only - June 08, 2025
The Lord doesn’t just want to cheer us up – He wants our hearts and minds to be filled with joy and laughter. Our grumpy, skeptical side tends to have a hard time believing this is possible. What’s there to laugh about – life is full of serious business; bills to pay, pressures at work, health issues, relationship stresses, etc.? Turns out, we have a lot of reasons to laugh if we’re to take our cue from the angels in heaven for “everything they see seems to laugh and play and come alive” (HH 489). What are they seeing that we aren’t seeing? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Lion and the Lamb
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - June 08, 2025
1st Lesson: Revelation 5:1-9 2nd Lesson: Apocalypse Revealed 265 beg., 267, 269, 273 parts Talk: “The Lion and the Lamb” (Text: Rev. 5:7) | By Rev. Lawson M. Smith | Kempton, PAWarriors for the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 01, 2025
What does it mean to engage in spiritual warfare? What does it take to become like one of the angels of Michael and fight for our Lord? These questions are important for us to explore because spiritual life is not always easy or peaceful. There are times when we struggle to follow the Lord and when it takes real effort to treat people the way He commands us to treat them. If we want the New Church to descend into the world then we must prepare the way by engaging in this conflict: before the Holy City can descend, the dragon must be confronted and defeated, and we must each do that as individuals if we want that Holy City to be present in our lives. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAHere I Am. Send Me
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - June 01, 2025
Isaiah’s words are in response to the Lord’s, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” (Isaiah 6). Within them is an invitation to step forward ourselves to serve in the ways the Lord asks. We will explore our responsiveness to the Lord’s constant call to show up as a good person who strives to make a difference. | By Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss, Jr. | Bryn Athyn CathedralClear Truths
Worship Service: Ordination & Sermon - June 01, 2025
Ordination of Daniel Calvo and Thomas J. Jackson into the first degree by Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss, Jr. Readings by Daniel Calvo. Sermon by Thomas J. Jackson. Elijah retreated to a cave in a state of overwhelmed sadness when Jezebel sought his life. While there the Lord came to him and asked him the key question, “What are you doing here?” He then provided the perspective and guidance he needed most. He offers similar guidance to us, urging us to consider our situation and our next steps in light of the clear truths of His Word. | By Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss, Jr. | Bryn Athyn CathedralDescending As a Bride Adorned for Her Husband: Marriage and the Church
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 01, 2025
1st Lesson: Rev. 21 and 22 (portions) Talk: “Let Him Take the Water of Life Freely” 2nd Lesson: Conjugial Love 81 (portions) Sermon: “Descending As a Bride Adorned for Her Husband: Marriage and the Church” | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PAUnintended Consequences
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 25, 2025
Intentions matter more than actions. In other words, someone who is good hearted but makes mistakes is better off than someone who is malicious even while doing the right thing. Yet even the most well-intentioned person can cause harm. Their good intentions do not negate the damage they can cause in ignorance. Rather than justifying ourselves or others by saying, “they meant well,” we must find ways of addressing the harm and correcting it, even as we support and acknowledge the good intentions lying behind it. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAOur Spiritual Reality: We Also Have Bodies
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - May 25, 2025
This Sunday we will pick up the topic of our spiritual reality again by reflecting on a curious and inescapable aspect of our spiritual reality: we also have bodies. Why did the Lord create our spirits to be embodied in these complex, frail collections of bones, muscles, and organs? And how can we better navigate our spiritual reality when we take our bodies into consideration? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralOur Spiritual Reality: We Also Have Bodies
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 25, 2025
This Sunday we will pick up the topic of our spiritual reality again by reflecting on a curious and inescapable aspect of our spiritual reality: we also have bodies. Why did the Lord create our spirits to be embodied in these complex, frail collections of bones, muscles, and organs? And how can we better navigate our spiritual reality when we take our bodies into consideration? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralLove of Country
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - May 25, 2025
| By Rev. Lawson M. Smith | Kempton, PALove of Country
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - May 25, 2025
1st Lesson: Revelation 19:11, 14-16, 19-21 2nd Lesson: Charity 166 3rd Lesson: True Christian Religion 414 Talk: “A Good Soldier” (Text: Charity 166) | By Rev. Lawson M. Smith | Kempton, PAStrong in the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 18, 2025
The Lord lends strength to those who rely on Him, the strength to resist temptation, to overcome hardship, and to do what is right and good. But when we claim credit for that strength, and take pride in ourselves over the Lord, the strength is lost and we falter. Even so, through hard work, we can turn back to the Lord and again find strength in Him. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA“I Will Remember…” Psalm 77:11
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 18, 2025
The Scriptures urge us to remember – the Sabbath, the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, many important things. And yet we forget, not in the sense that these truths are lost or wiped from our memory but in the sense that their value can be forgotten. Thankfully, “remembering” is an act of mercy, done by the Lord alone. Let’s talk on Sunday about how the Lord helps us remember and then consider what new, spiritual practices we might want to incorporate into our lives to safeguard against our own forgetfulness. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralWorship From the Word
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 18, 2025
1st Lesson: Isaiah 61:1-2 2nd Lesson: Luke 4:14-32 3rd Lesson: True Christian Religion 301 Sermon: “Worship From the Word” | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PAChanging Our Spiritual Landscape
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 11, 2025
You can tell a lot about someone by the things and people they surround themselves with. On the one hand, this is because where we choose to put time and effort is a reflection of what we value. On the other hand, it is also because we are shaped by our environments: we become like what we are surrounded by. This statement is true spiritually. If we surround ourselves with heavenly influences, we will become heavenly. If we surround ourselves with hellish influences, we will become hellish. Where and how we spend our time is not just a matter of personal preference. It is a matter of choosing who we will become. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAEveryone Who Asks Receives
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - May 11, 2025
On Mother’s Day we consider the origin of the love that leads us to care for children, that makes the birds sing, and that causes flowers to bloom. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn CathedralMother’s Day
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 11, 2025
"There is a divine field of heavenly love that constantly radiates from the Lord. From this field an earthly field arises. It is a field of love for babies and children. It is absolutely universal.” (True Christian Religion 308) As we honor this heavenly influx on Mother’s Day we also honor the ways that our church, our community, and our country are like a mother to us. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn Cathedral