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Treasures in Heaven
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 23, 2023
As with so many of the Lord’s teachings, this one contains several layers of meaning for our lives, beyond not setting our hearts too heavily on the physical treasures of this world. Spiritual treasures include the Lord’s Word, blessings from Him, generosity and an eternal perspective. | By Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss, Jr. | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallThe Next Generation of the Church
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - July 16, 2023
1st Lesson: Psalm 78 (portions) 2nd Lesson: Matthew 18 (portions) 3rd Lesson: Apocalypse Explained 341:4 | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PAHelping 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 CathedralMy thoughts are not your thoughts
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 16, 2023
When we look at our lives, sometimes we see obstacles, failures, causes for anxiety and distress. But what does the Lord see? How can keeping that Divine perspective in mind help us through difficult times? | By Rev. Dr Thane P. Glenn | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallTurning to the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - July 16, 2023
Life is at times sunny and bright, and we keenly feel the Lord’s presence. At other times life is dark and stormy, and the Lord seems absent. We move from one state to another. The Lord, on the other hand, is constant: appearances to the contrary, He never ceases to bless our lives with love and wisdom. It is up to us to practice turning back to Him, so that we can realize what has been true all along: that He has been at our side, loving and guiding us, through all the states of life. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSADon't Put the Stink in Distinctive
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - July 09, 2023
1st Lesson: Genesis 9:18-27 2nd Lesson: Arcana Coelestia 1079 3rd Lesson: Brief Exposition 102-103 Talk: “Distinctively New Church”(Text: Genesis 9:18-27) | By Rev. Calvin Heinrichs | Kempton, PALook 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 CathedralFire from Heaven
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 09, 2023
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah the prophet challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest: Whoever could call fire from heaven to their altar would prove that theirs was the real god. The prophets of Baal failed, but Elijah succeeded, even after pouring water all over the altar. What does this symbolize in our spiritual lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallGood vs Right
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - July 09, 2023
Which matters more: being good or being right? As a church we know that both matter, and at the same time that goodness is the more important of the two. Yet often we can switch things around and put way too much emphasis on being right to the detriment of being good, This Sunday we will look at the letter to the Church in Ephesus, which urges those who put great weight in being right to focus more on doing good. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAMemorial Service for Lisa Mansfield
Memorial Service - July 07, 2023
Memorial Service for Lisa Mansfield | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSACome Drink the Water of Life
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 02, 2023
1st Lesson: John 4:5-30, 39-42 2nd Lesson: Arcana Coelestia 3424.2 Sermon: “Come Drink the Water of Life” | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PAKnow 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 CathedralKnow Your Spiritual Enemies: The Amalekites
Worship Service: Sermon only - 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 CathedralMemorial Service for Willard G. Bostock
Memorial Service - July 02, 2023
Willard G. Bostock passed into the spiritual world on Monday, June 26, 2023. | By Rev. Kurt Hyland Asplundh | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Gift of Responsibility
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - July 02, 2023
| By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAIndependence
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 02, 2023
The parable of the creation of Eve describes our feelings of independence as human beings (see Genesis 2:21-25). How is our sense of autonomy or independence an important part of our spiritual lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallMemorial Service for Portia King O'Brien
Memorial Service - July 01, 2023
Portia King O’Brien passed into the spiritual world on Saturday, May 30, 2020. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn CathedralSpiritual Washing
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - June 25, 2023
"Spiritual Washing" The story of Naaman (2 Kings 5) washing seven times in the Jordan river tells us how the Lord cleanses us from hurtful thoughts and feelings and heals our spiritual life. | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralSpiritual Washing
Worship Service: Sermon only - June 25, 2023
Baptism by itself does nothing for our salvation, but the Spiritual Washing it represents and supports is a life change that takes us out of hell and puts us on the path to heaven. (Matthew 15:1-20, Secrets of Heaven 3147) | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralUncertainty
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 25, 2023
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.” (Matthew 6:34) This simple phrase holds immense power. It’s easy to become caught up in what the future holds: worry, anxiety, fear. Our instinct is to reach for certainty and take control to make sure everything works out. This pattern becomes exhausting and is futile. Yet when we listen to the Lord we can let go of the need for certainty and instead hope, with the sure trust that the Lord will lead us through all hardships. This week, when you worry about the future, change that worry into a hope. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAThe Sun of Heaven
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - June 25, 2023
1st Lesson: Genesis 1:1-4, 14-19 2nd Lesson: Revelation 21:9-26 [Selections] 3rd Lesson: Divine Love and Wisdom 107, 109, 112 Talk: “The Lord Is the Sun of Heaven” | By Rev. Derrick Lumsden | Kempton, PA"I have seen, I have heard, I have felt."
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - June 18, 2023
"I have seen, I have heard, I have felt." (Arcana Coelestia 68). Imagine watching a movie at the theater without the soundtrack or listening to the soundtrack without the picture. Or imagine smelling bread fresh out of the oven but being denied a slice of it. Only when all our senses are engaged do we experience the fullness and richness of life. The same was true for Emanuel Swedenborg in his role as a revelator. The Lord could have simply told Swedenborg what to write down about heaven and hell but instead Swedenborg was fully immersed in the spiritual world where he saw, heard, smelled, tasted, and touched incredible things. The same is true of our spiritual lives - all our senses need to be engaged if we are to properly discern between good and evil. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral"I have seen, I have heard, I have felt." (AC 68)
Worship Service: Sermon only - June 18, 2023
On the day before our celebration of New Church Day, we will take a moment to marvel at the nature of the Lord’s new revelation, given through His servant, Emanuel Swedenborg. The Lord could have simply dictated to Swedenborg all the necessary facts and information of this new revelation but instead Swedenborg spent decades living and breathing the sights and sounds and smells of the spiritual realm. Why was this necessary? Do we need a similar “immersion” in spiritual delights in order to properly discern between good and evil? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral