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Trampling the Serpent
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - December 15, 2024
There are prophecies of the Lord’s coming scattered throughout the Old Testament. Many of these are well known: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…” for example. But the first prophecy of the Lord’s coming is much more obscure and less well known. It is spoken by Jehovah to the serpent in the Garden of Eden: I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall trample your head, And you shall batter His heel. Not your usual Christmas cheer perhaps, but this prophecy describes the purpose of the Lord’s coming: to confront the selfishness that rises like a serpent within each of us and trample it down until we can be saved from it. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAGood News to All People
Worship Service: Informal Family - December 08, 2024
To kick off our Carol Sing we will begin with a worship service in the church for the whole family. The news of Christmas was not just for a few people, but for all people, no matter who or where or when. Although “all people” covers a lot of diversity, we are all united when we come to the Lord together. We get a taste of this when we sing joyfully about the Lord together: all our individual voices are joined into one voice, united in our common love for the Lord. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAThe Word Became Flesh
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - December 01, 2024
In two of the Gospels the Christmas story is told in the familiar way: Jesus was born to a virgin, Mary, born in Bethlehem, and visited by Shepherds and Wise Men. Yet the Gospel of John tells the same story in a far more enigmatic way: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:1, 14) What was this “Word”? And what does it mean for it to have become “Flesh?” These details tells us something important about the Lord’s coming into the World, and even about how we still relate to Him today. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAAbundance and Famine, Part 2, Perservere
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 24, 2024
Hard times will come, no matter how prepared we might be. We cannot avoid them. What we can do is put our preparation to use, so that we can persevere through the hard times. In fact, through this perseverance we are strengthened in both love and wisdom, and may come out the other side better people. Even if we feel that we are inadequately prepared for the challenge, the Lord always provides what we need in order to get through it. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAFaithful Gratitude
Worship Service: Informal Family - November 17, 2024
Is it easier to remember the Lord when things are going well or when things are hard? And why is it important to be thankful to the Lord? The story about the ten lepers can teach us a lot about gratitude as we step into the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith | Bryn Athyn Cathedral UndercroftAbundance and Famine Part 1 Prepare
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 17, 2024
We have a tendency to think that whatever we are going through right now is how things will always be. But whether you are going through a time of blessings or of hardship, this too shall pass. In this two part series we will look at how we can prepare for hardship in the good times, and persevere through hardships to get back to the good times. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSALove and Logic – The Request of a King.
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - November 17, 2024
King Solomon asked for an “understanding heart” so that he might judge his people wisely. The parallel of this story is that we too must pray for a heart that understands because our heart (love), which is the driving force in everything we do, is often at odds with our understanding (logic) and the two can end up living separate lives. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralLove and Logic – The Request of a King
Worship Service: Sermon only - November 17, 2024
King Solomon asked for an “understanding heart” so that he might judge his people wisely. The parallel of this story is that we too must pray for a heart that understands because our heart (love), which is the driving force in everything we do, is often at odds with our understanding (logic) and the two can end up living separate lives. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralTrue Freedom
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 10, 2024
In the western world we tend to value individuality above almost anything else. The freedom of the individual is sacrosanct. The Lord also values individual freedom. Without the freedom to make personal choices we would not be able to choose heaven over hell. Yet that does not mean that all freedom is equal: one kind of individual freedom leads to hellish anarchy while the other leads to heavenly order. If we want to follow the Lord, we need to spend time distinguishing between the two. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAAnd Forget Not All His Benefits
Worship Service: Informal Family - November 10, 2024
When we’re under stress, or annoyed about something, or feel threatened, the clear rational thoughts that are usually within our reach go right out the proverbial window! What can we do to help each other recall the calm, rational, healing truths of the Lord’s Word? What can we do to help each other “forget not all His benefits?” | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral UndercroftPeace
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - November 10, 2024
“Peace” The story of Gideon’s Fleece (Judges 6:35-40) tells us that the Lord prepares us for our spiritual trials by instilling a sense of peace and brings us through those trials by keeping us inwardly in peace (Secrets of Heaven 8455, 3696). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralPeace
Worship Service: Sermon only - November 10, 2024
“Peace” The story of Gideon’s Fleece (Judges 6:35-40) tells us that the Lord prepares us for our spiritual trials by instilling a sense of peace and brings us through those trials by keeping us inwardly in peace (Secrets of Heaven 8455, 3696). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralPrepared
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 03, 2024
Have you ever felt well-prepared for something? It feels good to feel like we have the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual resources to handle a particular situation. Something comes up and we have what we need to respond appropriately. Great! Are you feeling prepared for the election next week and whatever happens after it? As we gather as a community to worship the Lord together (even as we will not all be voting for the same candidates), what would it look like for each of us to be better prepared by our Heavenly Father? The Lord can make a difference in our individual lives and in our community by preparing our hearts for these times of contention, stress, and fear for the future. Let’s talk about how. Choose a question or two to reflect on or discuss: 1. Describe a time when, because of the Lord and His teachings, you felt better prepared to respond to a difficult situation. 2. What would it look like for you to have more confidence in the Lord at this current time in the world? 3. What is an area where you feel least prepared? What might it look like to invite the Lord into that part of your life? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralWhat is at the Door
Worship Service: Children & Adult - November 03, 2024
Right at the door, right at the passage from our homes out into the world, lies a choice. It is a good choice! A choice we get to make every single day. Join us as we look at what is at the door or maybe, who is at the door. | By Rev. Charles E. Blair | Westville, RSAMusic
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - October 27, 2024
"Music" Music is fun, but it is so much more. It affects us deeply, lifting us up and warming our hearts. Come and learn how music can move us, how even the Lord sang hymns, and how you can be a better person by learning how to sing in a choir or church. | By Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith | Bryn Athyn CathedralMusic
Worship Service: Sermon only - October 27, 2024
"Music" Music has been with us probably from the beginning of the human race, and in each of our lives from our mothers cooing or singing to us. It has the power to affect us, like when David played for Saul. It can take us out of ourselves and connect us with the angels. And as we sing to the Lord, He can bring us closer together in charity and mutual love. | By Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith | Bryn Athyn CathedralAsking for a King
Worship Service: Informal Family - October 27, 2024
The story of the people of Israel asking for a king teaches us about how the Lord wants to lead us by His love for all people, but sometimes we aren’t happy with His love. | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Cathedral UndercroftPicking and Choosing
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - October 27, 2024
We all want to be good: but how do we decide which good things to do? No matter how much we do, there is always more to be done. When faced with just how many needs there are in the world we can become overwhelmed. We cannot possibly do it all. In order to be good we have to constantly make a judgment call about what good things we will do, and just as importantly, what good things we will not do. We’ll talk about how to make those choices this Sunday. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSABeing Fed By Ravens
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - October 20, 2024
Our Story is about a Raven sent to feed Elijah. Why a Raven? This bird is a scavenger. It feeds on dead creatures/carrion. Yet today, it is a choice bird that the LORD uses to take care of Elijah. Is there more to the story than meets the eye? | By Rev. J. Bheki Dube | Westville, RSAA Shining Face
Worship Service: Informal Family - October 20, 2024
When Moses returned to the people from speaking with the Lord, his face shone. Angels, too, have shining faces. How can we see the light of heaven reflected in others’ faces? And how can we let our own faces reflect the light of the Lord’s truth? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Bryn Athyn Cathedral UndercroftThe First of Charity
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - October 20, 2024
"The First of Charity" When we think about love, often the first things we think of are actions that we DO in order to show someone that we care—hugs, listening, helping, etc. But how often do we think of all the things we don’t or shouldn’t do in order to love our neighbor? | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe First of Charity
Worship Service: Sermon only - October 20, 2024
"The First of Charity" When we think about love, often the first things we think of are actions that we DO in order to show someone that we care—hugs, listening, helping, etc. But how often do we think of all the things we don’t or shouldn’t do in order to love our neighbor? | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralWater into Wine
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - October 13, 2024
In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ first miracle consists of turning water into wine. While this miracle is powerful in it’s own right, it also represents a spiritual process that we all must go through: just as Jesus turned simple water into good quality wine, the Lord can transform the basic ideas we know into a way of life. What were once simple truths can become the good habits that lead to heaven. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAHow Saul Lost his Donkeys and found a kingdom
Worship Service: Informal Family - October 13, 2024
A Charter Day service about our goals. We don’t always find what we are looking for. Sometimes what we find is much better. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn Cathedral UndercroftThe Minority Report
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - October 13, 2024
“The Minority Report” Of the twelve men sent to spy the land of Canaan to determine the strength of its people, fortifications and resources, only two, Caleb and Joshua, came back with the news that they could conquer the land if they trusted the Lord. Caleb and Joshua’s report contained the truth, the blueprint for a happy life, and yet the people sided with the majority, the ten, who gave a “bad report” (Numbers 13:32) by invoking fear instead of trust. How do we learn to trust the “minority report” and why do we need to listen to the “Calebs” and “Joshuas” of the world? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral