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God Meant it for Good
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 24, 2016
Why do bad things happen? Is God really in control? The teachings of the New Church spell out the answers to these questions clearly. The sermon this week delves into these questions and looks at how Divine Providence works for the better even when things look bad. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAWaiting on the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 10, 2016
Many of us understand that spiritual growth is a long, slow process, and that change doesn't happen overnight. But sometimes it seems like we're not moving at all, and sometimes it even seems like we are moving backwards. How can we find the trust and strength to continue waiting for the Lord when it seems like we have already been waiting for so long? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAPalm Sunday Service
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 20, 2016
Why did the Lord decide to enter Jerusalem in the way he did? What was the background to Him coming to earth and the history of the kings of Israel? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSALiving Gratefully 4 The Gift of Love
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - February 28, 2016
God's goal for each one of us is that we experience genuine love: love for Him and for other people. We know from experience that love that is forced is not really love at all; and so God never compels us to love or believe against our will. Instead, He calls us to follow Him freely, and to compel ourselves. This week, we will talk about how we can follow His example in our interactions with others – how we can resist the urge to control and dominate others, and instead appeal to what they love. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSALiving Gratefully Part 2: The Gift of Freedom
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - February 14, 2016
From the time that Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden, God has offered us choices. Sometimes it seems like life would be easier if we didn't have to work so hard to choose to do good. Other times we don't feel very free at all. But still, most of recognise that freedom is an incredible gift from God. Why is freedom so important? And how can we experience genuine freedom - freedom from our own selfish impulses and habits? Join us for this second week in our "Living Gratefully" series as we talk about the first gift of Divine Providence: freedom. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAKainon School Founders Day - Living Gratefully
Worship Service: Informal Family - January 31, 2016
This year, our school theme is Living Gratefully. How do we notice the blessings in or lives and remember to thank the Lord for them? In particular on Founder's Day, we remember and thank the Lord for all the people who have contributed to Kainon School, and all the ways that Kainon School has been a blessing to the world. And we also ask: what is the best way to demonstrate our thankfulness, to not simply say “thank you” but to live gratefully. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAYou Must be Born Anew
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - January 17, 2016
Is it possible to really change? At the beginning of the year, it's a question we may find ourselves asking. The startling answer from the Lord's Word: both yes and no. According to the Word, we have two "selves" or "wills" at the same time: a fleshly one, and a spiritual one. The fleshly will doesn't change and will always be fleshly, but the good news is that we can choose to act from the spiritual one instead - if we put the fleshly one to death. How do we do that? Listen on! | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAThe Son of God
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - December 20, 2015
Joseph was told that the Child in Mary's womb had been "conceived of the Holy Spirit"; Mary was told that the Child would be called "the Son of God." He would also be "Immanuel," that is, "God with us." How could He be both the Son of God and God Himself? It can seem like an abstract theological problem, but coming to grips with this question helps us to see more clearly who God is, and so be more closely conjoined with Him. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAA Little Child Shall Lead Them
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 29, 2015
Christmastime can be a busy and stressful time of the year – gifts to buy, deadlines to meet, guests to welcome. But the heart of the Christmas story is something quite possible, “peace on earth.” The peace of Christmas is intimately tied to something else: the innocence of a Baby laid in a manger. How can we experience some of that innocence and peace amidst the turmoil of daily life? Come and listen! | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAPart 2 - Holding On
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 15, 2015
| By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAMoney 3 “ What Does Money Mean to the Lord and About the Lord?"
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 01, 2015
What does money mean to the Lord and about the Lord? Over the last two weeks we've talked about what money can mean to and about us as individuals, and what money can mean to and about other people. This week we conclude this series by talking about what money means to and about the Lord. Does the Lord give people money as a sign of His favour? Does the Lord want us to give money to Him? Does the Lord care about money at all? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSANaaman's Leprosy
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 27, 2015
When the great commander Naaman came to Israel to be cured of his leprosy by the prophet Elisha, he expected a big visible miracle. Instead, Elisha told him to simply wash in the Jordan River seven times and he would be clean. We can want spiritual healing to be big and instantaneous; but the reality is, spiritual healing usually happens in small, boring everyday things. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAMarriage: It's Not About You, Looking Outward
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 06, 2015
This week we continue our series on marriage. Last week, we talked abut the need to focus on our partner and our partnership rather than ourselves. This week, we will talk about the need for a couple to look outward together: to find ways of serving the community, in particular (for some) by the way they raise a family, and in general (for all) by all the ways they work together for the good of society. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAMarriage: It's Not About You
Worship Service: Children & Adult - August 30, 2015
It's easy in any relationship – and marriage in particular – for a person to focus on asking, “What am I getting out of this?” In our upcoming three part series, called “ It's Not About You,” we're looking at the ways we're called to flip that around, and focus instead on what we can give. Our first sermon, on the 30 August, will focus on the ways that we can put our partner's desires and the mutual needs of our marriage ahead of our own wants, without neglecting our own needs and desires. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAGideon Part 1 - Weakness and Strength – You Mighty Man of Valour
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 09, 2015
This week we begin a three-week series on the story of Gideon, one of the Judges of Israel. This week, we hear about his startling call: an angel appeared to him, called him a mighty man of valour, and told him he would rescue Israel from their enemies. The problem? Gideon was the youngest son in an unimportant family, and didn't feel much like a mighty man at all. And yet - God chose him to conquer the enemy. In our own lives: how does God transform our weakness into power? How can we see ourselves as mighty men and women of valour when we know from experience just how weak we are? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAThose Who Are With Us
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 02, 2015
The prophet Elisha and his servant were surrounded by a huge enemy army. It seemed hopeless - until Elisha prayed to the Lord and the servant's eyes were opened to see the angelic army that vastly outnumbered the enemy. When we feel alone, how can our eyes be opened to the reality that "those who are with us are more than those who are against us"? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAThe Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Worship Service: Children & Adult - July 19, 2015
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus describes the eternal consequences for a rich man who refused to have compassion for the poor man on his doorstep. What is this parable saying to us? What are our responsibilities to the poor – both the physically poor and the spiritually poor? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAThe Parable of the Talents
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - July 12, 2015
Our sermon this Sunday focuses on the parable of the talents. In English, a "talent" means a skill or ability, but in Biblical times it was a very valuable coin. The parable describes two "good and faithful" servants who use their master's coins well and make more for him, and a bad servant who buries the talent entrusted to him. Those "talents" symbolise more than just our natural skills and abilities - they represent a kind of spiritual treasure that we are called to use wisely. So, what does it mean to use our "talents" as good and faithful servants? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAThe Prodigal Son
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - July 05, 2015
The parable of the Prodigal Son tells the story of a young man leaving his father's house, wasting all that he had, returning to his father, and finding forgiveness. How are we like that prodigal son, and what does it mean for us to find our way back to our Father's house again and again? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAA New Heaven and a New Earth
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 21, 2015
At the end of the book of Revelation, John records seeing "a new heaven and a new earth," and the Holy City descending out of heaven. As we've talked about for the last few weeks, in the New Church we believe this prophecy has been fulfilled and is continuing to be fulfilled. But where is that new heaven? Where is that new earth? And what does it mean to live within the walls of the Holy City? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAThe Lord's Coming Part 3 - A New Heaven and a New Earth
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 21, 2015
At the end of the book of Revelation, John records seeing "a new heaven and a new earth," and the Holy City descending out of heaven. As we've talked about for the last few weeks, in the New Church we believe this prophecy has been fulfilled and is continuing to be fulfilled. But where is that new heaven? Where is that new earth? And what does it mean to live within the walls of the Holy City? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAThe Lord's Coming Part 1
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 07, 2015
What is the Second Coming of the Lord? When the Lord was in the world, He promised that He would come again. In the New Church, we believe that this Second Coming has already happened, is happening now, and will continue to happen in the future. What does that mean? Over the next few weeks, we'll be talking about three aspects of the Lord's coming: His Second Coming, the Last Judgement, and the New Church. This week, we're talking about the coming of the Lord itself. What is the Second Coming of the Lord? And what difference does it make to my life here and now? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSALife After Death
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 17, 2015
On Sunday we conclude our two-part series on dying, death, and grief. This Sunday we will focus on life after death. What happens to a person's spirit when their body has died? Are they in some sense still with us? And how do those of us who are left behind continue to live with hope and joy after the death of a loved one? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSABe the Church Part 2: “ Learning from the Word and Sharing Truth"
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 26, 2015
What does it mean to be part of a church? We're in the second week of our three part series called "Be the Church." Last week we talked about the heart side of being the church: loving God, loving one another. This week we're talking about the head side of things: learning from the Word of God and sharing the truth with others. How do we learn meaningful things from the Lord's Word? And how do we share the truth we know with others without being "preachy" or patronising? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSAWhat Would Love Do Wk 6 – Love Is Present
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 15, 2015
This Sunday we continue the What Would Love Do? program, talking about the different ways that we are called upon by the Lord to love and serve other people. This week we will particularly focus on what it means to go to those in prison. How can we serve those who are trapped by false ways of thinking? What does it mean to be present with them? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Westville, RSA