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Stay Awake, and Pray
Worship Service: Children & Adult - October 03, 2010
The Lord warns us about falling asleep spiritually (Matt. 26: 41; Arcana Coelestia 5210; Apocalypse Revealed 158) And He came to the disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter, What, could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch [or stay awake] and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:40, 41) "And he fell asleep" means a state of obscurity. This is clear from the meaning of "sleeping" as a state of obscurity. 'Sleep' has no other meaning than this in the spiritual sense, even as "wakefulness" means nothing else than a state of brightness; for spiritual sleep is a time when truths remain in obscurity, spiritual wakefulness when truths exist in brightness. And to the extent that truths are in the one state or else the other, spirits are awake or asleep. From this it is evident that 'falling asleep' is a state of obscurity. (Heavenly Secrets #5210) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (28m 38s)
An Angel Protects Daniel from Lions
Worship Service: Children & Adult - September 19, 2010
The Lord protects us in many ways and from many dangers. "Then Daniel said to the king, 'My God sent His angel and shut the lion's mouths, so that they have not hurt me....' So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God" (Daniel 6:21, 23) Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them. (Psalm 5:11) People who are strong in truths are kept safe from harm wherever they go. (Heavenly Secrets #6769) Good and its affection do not protect themselves, but are protected by truth and the understanding of it. (Apocalypse Explained 1121) Nothing at all could harm people whom the Lord is protecting, not even if the whole of hell were surrounding them, both from without and from within. (Heavenly Secrets #968) The Lord protects against all evils and falsities that are from the hells. (Heavenly Secrets #8273) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (32m 03s)
Resurrection Service for Ragnar Boyesen
Memorial Service - September 12, 2010
| By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (01h 27m 45s)
Six Days You Shall Labor, and Do All Your Work
Worship Service: Children & Adult - September 05, 2010
Spiritual Life... Work It! (Genesis 2:2,3; Exodus 20:8-11; Arcana Coelestia 9431) "Six days" means passing through the state of truth, because "six days" means a state of labor and conflict. A person who is being regenerated by the Lord experiences two states of mind - the first of which is called the state of truth and the second the state of good. The reason why the first state is called the state of truth is that during it the person is being brought by means of truth towards good; and the reason why the second state is called the state of good is that the person, when governed by good, has been brought to it. Also, while the person is in the state of truth he is outside heaven; but when governed by good he is in heaven, and has accordingly been brought to the Lord. Furthermore while the person is passing through the first state or the state of truth he experiences labor and conflict, since he undergoes temptations then; but when he is in the second state or the state of good he experiences rest and the serenity which peace brings. The former state is what has been represented in the Word by the six days which come before a seventh, whereas the latter state is what has been represented by the seventh day or the Sabbath. (Heavenly Secrets #9431) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (26m 08s)
The Hated but Good Person
Worship Service: Children & Adult - August 22, 2010
Our idea of love can be so subjective... is that always good? (Luke 10:29-37; Matthew 22:39; Arcana Coelestia 351, 9780) "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39) Charity means love to the neighbor and compassion, for anyone who loves his neighbor as himself also has as much compassion for him in his suffering as he does for himself in his own. (Heavenly Secrets #351) The Samaritan..."came to the man who was wounded by thieves, and bound up his wounds and poured in oil and wine" (Luke 10:33, 34). Here are not meant oil and wine, but the good of love and of charity, by "oil" the good of love, and by "wine" the good of charity and of faith; for the subject treated of, is the neighbor, thus charity toward him. (Heavenly Secrets #9780) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (33m 25s)
Memorial Service for Jason Schnarr
Memorial Service - August 05, 2010
An outdoor service held on East Lawn. | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (01h 18m 42s)
The Great Covenant
Worship Service: Children & Adult - August 01, 2010
The vital importance of the Ten Commandments in life (Exodus 20, 33:11; Matthew 19: 16-19; TCR 283, 456) The Ten Commandments are the most important thing in the Word. As a result, they were the most important thing in the church that was established in the Israelite nation. In a brief encapsulation they included all the elements of religion that provide for God's connection to us and our connection to God. Therefore the Ten Commandments were the holiest thing of all. (TCR #283) People generally know that the law proclaimed on Mount Sinai was written on two tablets, one of which was about God and the other about humankind. People also know that in Moses' hand the two were a single tablet: the right-hand side contained writing concerning God, and the left-hand side contained writing concerning humankind, because if it was set before people's eyes in this way, the writing on both sides would be seen at once. Therefore the sides faced one another like Jehovah talking with Moses and Moses with Jehovah, face to face, as we read [Exodus 33:11; Deuteronomy 34:10]. The tablets were made in this way so that together they would represent God's connection to people and people's reciprocal connection to God. For this reason the law written there was called "the Covenant" and "the Testimony." The term "covenant" refers to the partnership and "testimony" refers to the life that follows the points agreed upon. The union of the two tablets shows the connection between loving God and loving our neighbor. (TCR #456) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
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Be Still & Go Forward
Worship Service: Children & Adult - July 25, 2010
What to do at the edge of the sea, spiritually (Exodus 14:13-15; Joshua 1:9; Arcana Coelestia 8184, 10416) The meaning of 'dividing that sea' is dispersing the falsities arising from evil that are present in hell; for the falsities there are seen as waters. When the pillar of angels in which the Lord is present passes through that hell the falsities depart, and as a consequence the waters there, which are the falsities, are parted asunder. From this it is evident that 'dividing the sea' means dispersing the falsities belonging to the hell that is represented by 'the Sea Suph' (the Red Sea). (Heavenly Secrets #8184) The desire to celebrate resides inwardly in a person's feeling of freedom, and all feeling of freedom comes as a result of love, when nothing exists to frustrate it. Since outward things are used in the Word to describe inward ones, times of play and dancing are used to describe those of joy and gladness present in a person inwardly. Because of this, Miriam and the women went out with timbrels after the Egyptians had been drowned in the Sea Suph (the Red Sea) and started dancing. (Heavenly Secrets #10416) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (38m 25s)
The Man Called Melchizedek
Worship Service: Children & Adult - July 11, 2010
The King of Salem and Priest to God Most High (Gen. 14:18; John 6:35; Arcana Coelestia 1728) "And Melchizedek, King of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, and he was priest to God Most High." (Genesis 14:18) "It is the Lord who governs all things in the universe, in general and in particular, as King by Divine Truth, and as Priest by Divine Good. . . . This was what Melchizedek represented as King of Salem and as Priest of the Most High God." (Heavenly Secrets #1728) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (23m 23s)
Where Does Freedom Come From
Worship Service: Children & Adult - July 04, 2010
Where Does Freedom Come From - The Lord's greatest gift to the human race (John 8:31-32; Arcana Coelestia 1937, 1947; Heaven and Hell 603) "The freedom which is in keeping with love to the Lord and love towards the neighbor, consequently with the love of what is good and true, is true freedom, being the freedom that exists in heaven. "This freedom that exists in heaven originates in the Lord. All angels in heaven possess it. It goes with love to the Lord and with mutual love, and so with the affection for what is good and true. The nature of this freedom becomes clear from the fact that everyone who possesses it communicates from inmost affection his own blessedness and happiness to another, and that to him it is also blessedness and happiness to be able to communicate these things. "And what is remarkable, the one type of freedom is so much the contrary of the other that for good spirits the freedom which goes with self-love and love of the world is hell, while conversely for evil spirits the freedom that goes with love to the Lord and with mutual love is hell. "Since no one can be reformed unless he is in freedom, freedom is never taken away from a person, so far as the person himself is concerned. For it is an eternal law that everyone should be interiorly in freedom, that is, that his affections and thoughts should be in freedom, so that the affection for good and truth may be implanted within him." (Heavenly Secrets #2870-2876) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (29m 17s)
The Ark of the Covenant - Lost and Found
Worship Service: Children & Adult - June 27, 2010
Holding and preserving the Lord's truth I Samuel 4:1 - 7:1, parts; AR 529 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. (Rev. 11:19) This symbolizes the New Heaven, in which the Lord is worshiped in His Divine Humanity, and where people live in accordance with the Ten Commandments, which constitute the two essential elements of the New Church that are the means of conjunction. The temple of God symbolizes the Lord in His Divine Humanity in heaven where angels dwell. The ark in the temple means the Ten Commandments, for the ark had as its sole contents the two tables on which the Ten Commandments were written. The temple's being opened means, symbolically, that these two, the Divine Humanity and the Ten Commandments, which are the two essential elements of the New Church, are now visible. The ark is called the ark of His covenant in His temple because a covenant symbolizes conjunction. (Apocalypse Revealed #529) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (29m 41s)
The Holy City New Jerusalem: A new dwelling place... a new way to live our faith
Worship Service: Children & Adult - June 20, 2010
By the "Holy City Jerusalem" is meant this New Church as to doctrine, and therefore it was seen coming down from God out of heaven, for the doctrine of genuine truth comes to us from the Lord through heaven, and from no other source. (Doctrine of the Lord #63) We read in the Apocalypse: I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev. 21:1-2) Something like this is also written in Isaiah: Behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth; be ye glad and rejoice forever; and behold, I will create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy. (Rev. 65:17-18) It has been made known that the Lord is at this day forming a new heaven from such Christians as acknowledged in the world, or after their departure from the world were able to acknowledge, that He is the God of heaven and earth, according to His words in Matthew 28:18. (True Christian Religion #781) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (16m 44s)
Be Still, and Know That I Am God - A Memorial Day Sermon
Worship Service: Children & Adult - May 30, 2010
2 Samuel 1:19-26; Psalm 46; John 15:7-17; Arcana Coelestia 1664 O mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew, nor let there be rain upon you, Nor fields of offerings. For the shield of the mighty is cast away there! How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan..." (2 Samuel 1:19-26) Wars in the Word mean in the internal sense nothing other than spiritual conflicts, which are temptations. Wars waged by men can have no place whatever in the internal parts of the Word, for such things as wars are not the spiritual and celestial things which alone constitute the Word. It is a constant truth that Jehovah alone, that is, the Lord, fights and overcomes the devil present with a person when he is involved in the conflicts brought by temptations, even though to that person this does not appear to be so. For evil spirits have no power at all to exert the slightest influence on man unless they are permitted to do so, and angels cannot act to avert anything at all unless enabled to do so by the Lord. (Heavenly Secrets #1664) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
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Part 7-Living Courageously - Taking Up the Mantle
Worship Service: Children & Adult - May 23, 2010
The Lord sends us strength and the power to persevere. Part Seven of Living Courageously, the Story of Elijah Quotes: Doctrine teaches the truth that no one is to be hated, for anyone who hates another kills him every moment. In his earliest years a person scarcely recognizes the truth of this, but as he grows older, if he is being reformed, he places it among those matters of doctrine which ought to be matters of life. At length he lives according to that truth, in which case he no longer thinks from doctrine but acts from life. When that happens this truth of doctrine is raised up from the natural mind. In fact it is separated from the natural mind, and is implanted within good in the rational [or spiritual] mind. Once this has happened he no longer permits the natural part of him to voice any doubt about it by means of any captious argument existing there. In fact he does not allow the natural mind to reason against it at all. (Heavenly Secrets #3182) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (29m 39s)
Part 5-Finding Courage - Out of the Cave
Worship Service: Children & Adult - May 09, 2010
The Lord is always with us, giving us the strength to keep going. Part Five of Living Courageously, the Story of Elijah Correspondences in the story: Elijah: the Lord as to the Word, esp. the literal sense. Ahab: leading or governing principles of falsity. Jezebel: principles of evil that influence one's thought. A Mountain: an elevated, interior state of mind, esp. one of love or the heart. Horeb: same as Mt. Sinai where the 10 Commandments were given. The name means "waste" A Cave: an obscure state (because of the darkness) Wind: an understanding of the truth. Earthquake: a dramatic change of spiritual states. Fire: love, passion. Still, Small Voice: a time for reflection; conscience. Syria: a state of knowing what is good and true. | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (27m 27s)
Memorial Service for Nancy Ebert
Memorial Service - May 09, 2010
| By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (01h 00m 59s)
Part 4-Making a Choice - Fire From Heaven
Worship Service: Children & Adult - May 02, 2010
Which choice - the Lord or selfishness - brings genuine love and lasting happiness? Part Four of Living Courageously: the Story of Elijah Correspondences in the story: Elijah: the Lord as to the Word, esp. the literal sense. Baal: falsity rooted in evil (specifically the loves of self and the world). Prophets: teachers, or the teachings themselves. A Mountain: an elevated, interior state of mind, esp. one of love or the heart. Carmel: lit, a fruitful place, known for its vineyards; thus the spiritual person. An Altar: worship (thus life). A Bull, lit, a bullock or an ox: good will or charity in outward, natural life. Wood: good works Stone: truth as knowledge or information. Water: the truth of faith. Fire: love. | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (31m 07s)
Part 3-Finding New Truth - New Life for the Widow’s Son
Worship Service: Children & Adult - April 25, 2010
Faith can be restored by turning to the Word. Part Two of Living Part Three of Living Courageously, the Story of Elijah Then we will not turn away from You; revive us, and we will call on Your name. (Psalm 80:18) Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. (John 12:24) So far as you approach and draw near to God, so far does God approach and draw near to you. (True Christian Religion #89) Peace has in it confidence in the Lord, that He directs all things, provides all things and leads to an end that is good. (Heavenly Secrets #8455) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (31m 45s)
Part 2-Serving God First - The Widow's Obedience
Worship Service: Children & Adult - April 18, 2010
Part Two of the Living Courageously, the Story of Elijah series. The joy of serving others is the true joy of heaven. Readings Exodus 20:3-5; 1 Kings 16:29-33, 17:1-7; Arcana Coelestia 4063, 4145 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, but water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth.... (Isaiah 55:10-11) The Lord is He who sows, the "seed" is His Word, and the "earth" is a person. (Heavenly Secrets #29) The "seed" is the Word of the Lord, thus truth, which is said to be of faith, and the "good ground" is the good which is of charity, for it is the good in a person that receives the Word. (Heavenly Secrets #3310) It is the truth that is meant by the "seed in the field," of which the Lord said: "A sower went forth to sow..." Here the "sower" is the Lord, and the "seed" is His Word, thus the truth. (Doctrine of Life #90) That religion is of the life and that the life of religion is to do that which is good is seen by everyone who reads the Word, and is acknowledged by him while he is reading it. (Doctrine of Life #2) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (36m 30s)
Part 1-Becoming Aware: Fed by Ravens
Worship Service: Children & Adult - April 11, 2010
Part One of the Living Courageously, the Story of Elijah series. Readings: Exodus 20:3-5; 1 Kings 16:29-33, 17:1-7; Arcana Coelestia 4063, 4145 A person who is being regenerated is perfected gradually. At first one can neither know or understand anything except that one should be rewarded because we are the ones who do good things. If we did not believe this at first we would never do anything good. But by this means we are introduced not only into the affection for doing good but also into ideas concerning good and also concerning merit. And once we have been guided in this way into the affection for doing good we start to think and to believe that good flows in from the Lord and that we merit nothing. And when at length true affection lies behind our willing and doing what is good we reject merit altogether and indeed loathe it. Then we are moved by an affection for good for the sake of what is good. (Heavenly Secrets 4145) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (33m 01s)
He Is Risen as He Said - Death is a continuation of life
Worship Service: Children & Adult - April 04, 2010
Readings Matt. 28:6; AC 70; AE 659 When a person casts aside or puts off his material body, he then puts on a spiritual body, with which he rises again; consequently the death of a person, in the spiritual sense, signifies the continuation of his life. Since burial, in regard to man, signifies resurrection and regeneration, therefore burial, in regard to the Lord, signifies the glorification of His Human. For the Lord glorified, that is, made Divine, His whole Human. Therefore He rose again on the third day with the Human glorified, that is, made Divine. Unless this had been accomplished, no one could have risen again to life. For man has resurrection to life solely from the Lord, and indeed from the fact that He united the Divine with His Human. From this union, which is properly meant by glorification, every person has salvation. (Apocalypse Explained #659) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
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Our Heavenly King - Acknowledging the Lords Divinity
Worship Service: Children & Adult - March 28, 2010
Palms in their hands means in the good of life according to truths. A "palm" means the good of truth, that is, spiritual good; and "hands" mean power, and thus all ability in man. The good of truth, when it is with anyone, is the good of life, for truth becomes good by a life according to it. Prior to that, truth is not good in anyone. For when truth is merely in the memory and in thought it is not good. It becomes good when it comes into the will and from this into action; for it is the will that transforms truth into good. (Apocalypse Explained 458) "To hold palms in their hands" signifies confession from Divine truth because "palms" signify Divine truths; for every tree signifies something of the church, and "palms" signify the Divine truth in lowest things. (Apocalypse Revealed 367) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
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Planting Seeds - Experiencing the Springtime of Spiritual Life
Worship Service: Children & Adult - March 21, 2010
Readings Matt. 13:3-9; AC 29, 3310; Life 2, 90 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, but water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth.... (Isaiah 55:10-11) The Lord is He who sows, the "seed" is His Word, and the "earth" is a person. (Heavenly Secrets #29) The "seed" is the Word of the Lord, thus truth, which is said to be of faith, and the "good ground" is the good which is of charity, for it is the good in a person that receives the Word. (Heavenly Secrets #3310) It is the truth that is meant by the "seed in the field," of which the Lord said: "A sower went forth to sow..." Here the "sower" is the Lord, and the "seed" is His Word, thus the truth. (Doctrine of Life #90) That religion is of the life and that the life of religion is to do that which is good is seen by everyone who reads the Word, and is acknowledged by him while he is reading it. (Doctrine of Life #2) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (26m 39s)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Worship Service: Children & Adult - March 07, 2010
The Lord always finds us. Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Matthew 12:40) "There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just people who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7) Because ten signifies all and much, that number is therefore used by the Lord in [many] passages, where all and much is to be understood, as of the woman having ten pieces of silver (drachmas); if she lost one piece, would she not light a candle and sweep the house, and seek carefully till she found it? (Luke 15:8). Ten here signifies much. This is said of a woman, and of her lighting a candle, and sweeping the house, on account of the spiritual sense in every detail of the Word. In that sense woman signifies the church as to the affection for truth, thus also, affection for the truth which pertains to the church. A piece of silver (drachma) signifies truth, and losing the piece of silver signifies to lose one of the truths or of the cognitions of truth. Lighting a candle signifies self-examination from affection; sweeping the house signifies to go over the whole mind, and to examine everything therein, where the truth lies hidden. Such is the spiritual sense of these words. A hundred, like ten, signifies much; therefore a similar parable speaks of a hundred sheep, if one were lost (Matt. 18:12-13; Luke 15:3-7) (Apocalypse Explained #675) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (25m 19s)
The Bronze Serpent
Worship Service: Children & Adult - February 28, 2010
The Lord heals all of our spiritual infirmities. With the most ancient people, who were celestial, a serpent meant being completely watchful, and so also meant their sensory perception by means of which they were to show vigilance to avoid being harmed by the evil. This is clear from the Lord's words to His disciples, Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16) And also "the bronze serpent" which was raised up in the wilderness and which meant the Lord's Sensory Perception. He alone is Celestial Man, and He alone is completely watchful and provides for everybody. Whoever beheld it therefore was delivered. (Heavenly Secrets #197) The Lord's natural Divinity was symbolized by the bronze serpent that Moses was commanded to set up in the wilderness, so that all who had been bitten by serpents were healed by looking at it (Numbers 21:6, 8, 9). That this symbolized the Lord's natural Divinity, and that those people are saved who look to it, the Lord Himself teaches in John: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14, 15) The serpent was made of bronze because bronze, like fine brass, symbolizes the natural self in respect to good. (Apocalypse Revealed #49) | By Rev. Thomas H. Rose | Ivyland New Church, PA
See Event (27m 13s)