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Truth for the Sake of Truth and Good for the Sake of Good
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - September 24, 2023
This Sunday we will be offering Holy Supper (with alternatives) during the Family Service. Read the full description of how the service will go at brynathynchurch.org/holy-supper. The readings and short talk will be about a phrase that comes up repeatedly in the teachings of the New Church: loving truth for the sake of truth and good for the sake of good. As we think about taking the bread and wine from the Lord, we will try to be ready to gratefully receive what the Lord has to offer. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralTruth for the Sake of Truth and Good for the Sake of Good
Worship Service: Sermon only - September 24, 2023
This Sunday we will be offering Holy Supper (with alternatives) during the Adult Service. The readings and short sermon will be about a phrase that comes up repeatedly in the teachings of the New Church: loving truth for the sake of truth and good for the sake of good. As we think about taking the bread and wine from the Lord, we will try to be ready to gratefully receive what the Lord has to offer. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Face of God
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 17, 2023
Community service (a monthly gathering of the congregation) | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralJesus' Secret Visit to Jerusalem
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - September 10, 2023
Although the Lord preached and performed miracles openly in Jerusalem, on one occasion He went there secretly, and no one knew He was there. Why did He do this? | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Lord's Secret Presence
Worship Service: Sermon only - September 10, 2023
Divine Providence 211 makes the surprising statement that if we were to know what the Lord was doing in our lives, we would see Him as our enemy. How is this possible since He is continually protecting us and leading us towards eternal happiness? | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn CathedralTell Your Story
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - September 03, 2023
The Scriptures use “witnessing” to remind people of their history, their roots. Moses and Joshua did it with the Israelites, reminding them how they had won their freedom, and how it couldn’t have happened without the Lord. Telling our story (lessons learned) to children, friends, and loved ones is a powerful way of bearing witness to the Lord, His Word, faith, charity. In this service we will be exploring examples from the Scriptures and the Writings that speak to the use and value of personal testimonies. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralTell Your Story
Worship Service: Sermon only - September 03, 2023
The Scriptures use “witnessing” to remind people of their history, their roots. Moses and Joshua did it with the Israelites, reminding them how they had won their freedom, and how it couldn’t have happened without the Lord. Telling our story (lessons learned) to children, friends, and loved ones is a powerful way of bearing witness to the Lord, His Word, faith, charity. In this service we will be exploring examples from the Scriptures and the Writings that speak to the use and value of personal testimonies. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralMemorial Service for Rachel Ebert
Memorial Service - September 03, 2023
| By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn Cathedral"The Devil's Pillow"
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 27, 2023
We are saying goodbye to the lazy days of summer and fun vacations, and we are about to begin the busy months of the school year. It is a great time to think about being useful and getting back to work. However, it is also a good time to reflect on the value of the rest and relaxation we just experienced, and contrast that with what the Heavenly Doctrine teaches us about idleness. Idleness is referred to there as “the Devil’s Pillow!” | By Rt. Rev. Bradley D. Heinrichs | Bryn Athyn Cathedral"The Devil's Pillow"
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 27, 2023
We are saying goodbye to the lazy days of summer and fun vacations, and we are about to begin the busy months of the school year. As adults, it is a great time to think about being useful and getting back to our jobs. However, it is also a good time to reflect on the value of the rest and relaxation we just experienced, and contrast that with what the Heavenly Doctrine teaches us about idleness. Idleness is referred to there as “the Devil’s Pillow!” We will take a look at why and how usefulness provides a valuable protection from the hells and can keep the devil at bay. | By Rt. Rev. Bradley D. Heinrichs | Bryn Athyn CathedralWe Are Never Lost When the Lord Leads Us
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 20, 2023
The Israelites were lost in the wilderness for 40 years. Have you ever been lost? Even if there are other people lost with you, it can be scary. You don't know which way to go, you don't how long you will be lost. But, fortunately, in the Word, the story has a happy ending, for the Lord led them out of the wilderness. How can we get the Lord's help like that when we feel lost? | By Rev. Stephen D. Cole | Bryn Athyn CathedralWandering in the Wilderness
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 20, 2023
"They went astray in the wilderness" (Mark 9:24) Psalm 107:4 says of the Israelites: "They went astray in the wilderness." Their wandering in the wilderness is one of the major stories in the Old Testament and speaks to the way that many of us may feel, at least in certain times in life. When we feel lost or directionless, it is hard to know what to do. The wilderness is said to represent a state of temptation. But perhaps this prompts a question in the minds of some: If the Israelites were being tempted, what were they being tempted to do, or not to do? | By Rev. Stephen D. Cole | Bryn Athyn Cathedral"Lord, I believe, help my unbelief"
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 13, 2023
(Mark 9:24) The human mind has a tendency to draw lines in the sand: here’s what I believe and don’t believe, end of story. It’s a fixed mindset, one that rushes to judgment, a final conclusion. In reality, our journey of faith needs a lifetime to grow and mature. It needs time to flex, to doubt, to question, to wait. In this service, we will consider how it’s okay to have doubts about the Lord, His providence, the Bible - lots of things, and that the Lord doesn’t think less of us when this happens. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral"Lord, I believe, help my unbelief"
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 13, 2023
(Mark 9:24) The human mind has a tendency to draw lines in the sand: here’s what I believe and don’t believe, end of story. It’s a fixed mindset, one that rushes to judgment, a final conclusion. In reality, our journey of faith needs a lifetime to grow and mature. It needs time to flex, to doubt, to question, to wait. In this service, we will consider how it’s okay to have doubts about the Lord, His providence, the Bible - lots of things, and that the Lord doesn’t think less of us when this happens. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralKnow Your Spiritual Enemies: The Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 06, 2023
A number of the enemies that the children of Israel encountered on their way to the promised land were their cousins, other descendants from the same family tree. And so, the children of Israel were forbidden to destroy these enemies or to take their land. And yet they were also forbidden to intermarry with them. This Sunday, as we learn more about the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, we will be trying to learn how to have the right kind of boundaries and relationships in our lives. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralKnow Your Spiritual Enemies: The Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 06, 2023
A number of the enemies that the children of Israel encountered on their way to the promised land were their cousins, other descendants from the same family tree. And so, the children of Israel were forbidden to destroy these enemies or to take their land. And yet they were also forbidden to intermarry with them. This Sunday, as we learn more about the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, we will be trying to learn how to have the right kind of boundaries and relationships in our lives. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralCalming the Winds of Life
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - July 30, 2023
The Lord calmed the waters on Galilee when the disciples were afraid. How can the Lord calm our fears? What can we do when we are uncertain or afraid? See how this story can bring us calm and peace. | By Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith | Bryn Athyn CathedralCalming the Winds of Life
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 30, 2023
The Lord’s apparent absence when the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee during a storm mirrors our periodic sense of the Lord not being where we need Him. Yet, the Lord did come to them and stopped the waves. What can we take from this story? Where is the Lord in our troubled times? And what can we do to have the sense of His presence? | By Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith | Bryn Athyn CathedralIs That You, Oh Troubler?
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - July 23, 2023
We regularly have experiences of things and people that bother us. The story of Ahab helps us understand why these things bother us, and what we can do to get through. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Source of Our Problems... and Solutions
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 23, 2023
We explore how the story of King Ahab can help us deal with our daily problems and the people we may see as “troublers.” | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralHelping Someone Who Doesn't Understand
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - July 16, 2023
When we see people with an important job and, although they mean well, are doing it in a way that is causing a serious problem, we can have many different reactions. Sometimes we might be very critical, or we might want to take that job away from them. How has the Lord reacted when angels have been causing problems as they try to fulfill an important job? | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn CathedralTwo Last Judgments and Two Times Angels Were Causing Huge Problems
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 16, 2023
The teachings for the New Church tell us of the terrible spiritual darkness that filled the World of Spirits prior to the Lord’s first and then second advent. We also learn that angels in heaven had unfortunate roles contributing to this darkness. How did the Lord react to these angels and what does it say about His priorities that might prompt us to consider how we might want to react to problems in the future? | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn CathedralLook at the Birds of the Air
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - July 09, 2023
| By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralLook at the Birds of the Air
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 09, 2023
(Matthew 6:26) We will be exploring the Lord’s invitation to consider birds, what they represent and why flying and “taking flight” has so much appeal to us as human beings, especially as it relates to freedom. The Scriptures are full of stories and references to birds which is our first clue that something special is being talked about. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralKnow Your Spiritual Enemies: The Amalekites
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - July 02, 2023
We’re getting back to our ongoing series on knowing our spiritual enemies by considering the Amalekites. The Amalekites were a nasty enemy—one that would attack the children of Israel when they were at their weakest—and so, multiple times, the children of Israel were commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites. We will look at a few different battles with the Amalekites to try to understand how to guard ourselves against this enemy and to appreciate just how much the Lord has done and continues to do to protect us. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Bryn Athyn Cathedral