Search results clear search
A 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 UndercroftDoing No Harm
Worship Service: Informal Family - September 29, 2024
The Lord gave us the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) because He loves us and wants to keep us safe. Not doing evil (that is, doing no harm) is the first part of caring for others (True Christianity 435). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Cathedral UndercroftFamily
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 13, 2023
This week, we are focusing on family. Who is family? How do we define family? Does the Word have any teachings concerning the subject? In the event of conflicts and disagreements arising within families, how do we mend the “cracks” so that we be the family of happy memories . | By Rev. J. Bheki Dube | Westville, RSAChildren's Talk - Disagreement and Harmony
Worship Service: Childrens Talk only - January 15, 2023
What does it take to love someone you disagree with? At what point does a disagreement escalate to an argument, and in turn ruin a relationship? Is it even possible to fully love everyone you disagree with? There are lots of disagreements around us all the time, many of which do escalate. In spite of our best efforts we will have times when disagreements and arguments break the harmony of our relationships. Disagreement cannot, and should not, be avoided. But it does not have to be a messy affair that ends friendships. If we learn to disagree under the guidance of the Lord’s Word we will find greater harmony in the end. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAAdult Sermon - Disagreement and Harmony
Worship Service: Sermon only - January 15, 2023
What does it take to love someone you disagree with? At what point does a disagreement escalate to an argument, and in turn ruin a relationship? Is it even possible to fully love everyone you disagree with? There are lots of disagreements around us all the time, many of which do escalate. In spite of our best efforts we will have times when disagreements and arguments break the harmony of our relationships. Disagreement cannot, and should not, be avoided. But it does not have to be a messy affair that ends friendships. If we learn to disagree under the guidance of the Lord’s Word we will find greater harmony in the end. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAPeople Need People
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 14, 2022
The Teachings of the New Church assert that "People are not born for their own sake; they are born for the sake of others." Our lives are intricately tied up in the lives of those around us, and in fact, for better or worse, we cannot help but be defined by the people we come into contact with. No one can truly live isolated from others. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAJudgement and Charity: The Speck and the Plank
Worship Service: Informal Family - June 26, 2022
The Lord tells us that when we judge other people it is like trying to get a tiny speck out of their eye, while we have a plank in our own. The Word also tells we have to make judgements sometimes. Are we supposed to judge others or not? What kinds of judgements fit with living a charitable life, and which don't? | By Rev. Richard M. Glenn | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallFriendship
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 26, 2022
Friendship is one of the core experiences of being human. We all need, and hopefully have, friends. But how often do we think of our friendship with the Lord? It is an important part of our relationship with Him, and can also inform the many friendships we have with others. Our service this Sunday will be led by Lance Mansfield. Many thanks to Lance! | By Rt. Rev. Bradley D. Heinrichs | Westville, RSAWhat Does "I'm Sorry" Mean?
Worship Service: Informal Family - May 17, 2022
In this service, we explore what it means to apologize, and the tie in with forgiveness. | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallGoing the Extra Mile
Worship Service: Informal Family - May 23, 2021
In Matthew 5:38-42, we hear a call to put energy into the things that matter most. We will explore together the value of working out differences, pursuing spiritual goals, and self-improvement. | By Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss, Jr. | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallBuilding Relationships - 2 - Looking Outward
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 29, 2020
Last week and this we are doing a two part series on the relationships that we have, or strive to have, as a church community. Last week, Malcolm talked about the most personal and inward relationship: the one that each of us has with the Lord. This week we will focus on all the outward looking relationships: those with each other, with a husband or wife, with children, and with the broader community. Although there is almost infinite variety in these relationships, we will be able to see the common purpose that makes them all essential for a church community to function. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSABuilding Relationships - 1 - An Active Relationship with the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 22, 2020
The vision of New Church Westville is to be a community that builds relationships, with the Lord and with other people. This Sunday we’re going to talk about how to build a relationship with the Lord. Our vision statement describes the kind of relationship we’re striving to build with the Lord like this: “We each have an active relationship with the Lord – walking with Him and asking what He wants us to do, turning to Him in times of need and joy, getting His help in turning away from what is harmful, learning from Him.” Let’s talk about how we each can make progress towards this vision. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSARelationships, Part 3: Distinctly One
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 06, 2020
The ultimate expression of love is to feel the joy of another person as if it were your own joy. This is expressed in the great commandment that we are to love others as we love ourselves, such that we rejoice in their happiness and feel pain at their hurt. At the same time there are limits and boundaries to how much we feel another as ourselves. Even as we empathize, we also need to maintain our independence, lest we get sucked in and lose ourselves. The Word gives us guidance on how to both reach out and remain separate in a healthy way. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSARelationships - Part 2 - What God Has Joined Together
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 23, 2020
Relationships, including marriage, fulfil many human needs, from basic economics to deep companionship and beyond. But the deepest component of marriage is spiritual. It is not just about the relationship of a husband and wife with each other, but also the relationship of each with the Lord. Working on this part of the relationship, and working towards it even as a single person, deepens and enriches all the other pieces that go with marriage. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSABoundaries
Worship Service: Informal Family - August 23, 2020
When we spend a lot of time together working and living, it is easy to have friction and conflict. Establishing good boundaries gives people on both sides freedom. “I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.” (Genesis 31:43-55, Married Love 56.2) | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallRelationships - Part 1 - When the Wine Runs Out
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 16, 2020
We’re starting a series on relationships. With the pandemic and lockdown regulations, relationships have been under additional strain for almost half a year. This Sunday we’re going to focus on how to work on our relationships in these weird and hard times and we’ll be using the story of the Wedding at Cana. The story begins with the wine running out at a wedding and this seems to relate to times when all the fun and joy seems to have run out in our relationships. Can the Lord help? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSAThe Tower of Babel
Worship Service: Informal Family - August 16, 2020
In Genesis 11, all the people on earth went from speaking one language to speaking many different languages. What does this parable symbolize in our spiritual lives? What does it mean to speak a “different language” from someone else in our spiritual lives? And is it possible for us to return to speaking “one language” with the people around us? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallGospel - Good News for Repentance and Reformation
Worship Service: Sermon only - December 30, 2018
Addiction and repentance have a lot in common. And the good news, the _gospel_ that the Lord offers us is that He can fully reform and heal us. An introduction to a series on the Sermon on the Mount. "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of heaven is near; repent and believe in the gospel." Readings: Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:12-25; Heaven and Hell 533; True Christian Religion 571; Last Judgement posthumous 352 | By Rev. Pearse M. Frazier | Atlanta-Morningstar Chapel (Alpharetta GA)Tabernacle Community
Worship Service: Informal Family - September 23, 2018
When building the Tabernacle, Moses called for all the people to contribute whatever materials they could offer (Exodus 35). The Tabernacle took form because of these freewill offerings. How does the construction of the Tabernacle represent the way community works in our lives? The song from the service "A Dwelling Place for You" is included as Track # 2 with permission of the composer, John Odhner, and the singers. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallPrivilege Power and Difference
Guest Speaker on topic - September 14, 2018
Forward Sons Club address. Based on Book by Allan G. Johnson, "Privilege, Power and Difference" | By Rev. Michael K. Cowley | Toronto, ONBeing Connected
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 19, 2018
The Lord wants us to be part of communities and families. He also wants to be connected to us. This story shows us how the Lord pulls all these connections together. The opening hymn was not included because it was copyright protected. | By Rev. Erik J. Buss | Bryn Athyn CathedralA Friend in Need
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 27, 2018
How do you love someone who is committing evil? What about when that person is your best friend? Is it our place to correct him? Do we distance ourselves from him? Jesus, through His teaching and His example, calls us to remain close with those who do evil (which is frankly all of us), and also to have the courage to stand up for them by opposing what they are doing. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA