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Accepting Kindness and Wise Kindness
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 07, 2021
For the final week of our “Practicing Kindness” series, we will look at the familiar story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). In this story, we see all the many kinds of kindness we’ve talked about in this series, represented in the acts of the good Samaritan. And we will also explore what it means to accept kindness from others, as the wounded man did in this story. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (28m 19s)
Supportive Kindness
Worship Service: Informal Family - February 21, 2021
For week three of the “Practicing Kindness” series, we will look at the story of the four people who lowered their paralytic friend through the roof to be healed by Jesus (Mark 2:1-12). What does this story teach us about the supportive and healing power of kindness? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (25m 54s)
Rahab's Kindness
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - February 07, 2021
For week one of our five-week series on kindness, we will look at the story of Rahab showing kindness to the Israelite spies, in Joshua chapter two. How does this story help us remember to be considerate of other people? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (25m 36s)
The Ishmael and Isaac Rational Minds
Worship Service: Informal Family - January 24, 2021
In Genesis 16, Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. Later, in Genesis 21, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. These children of Abraham represent two different modes of our rational minds. In what ways is our “Ishmael” rational mind both helpful and dangerous? And how can we move towards operating more in our “Isaac” rational mind? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (29m 57s)
Re-Creation
Worship Service: Informal Family - January 10, 2021
As we begin a New Year, we will look at the story of the beginning of all things in the depiction of Creation in Genesis. How does each day of the Creation story describe aspects of new beginnings in our spiritual growth and resolutions that we may focus on in the new year? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (28m 19s)
Light in the Darkness
Worship Service: Informal Family - December 20, 2020
We celebrate Christmas at the darkest time of year to symbolize the Lord bringing light into the world. “Light” is a theme throughout the Christmas stories, as well as the prophecies of the Lord's coming. How does the Lord bring “light" into our “darkness?” | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (22m 10s)
No Room in the Inn
Worship Service: Informal Family - December 13, 2020
The Lord was born in a manger in Bethlehem because there was no room in the inn. What does “the inn” symbolize in our lives? Sometimes it might feel like our lives are too full, and it can feel like it's hard to fit the Lord in. What are the ways that we do or don’t make room for the Lord in our lives? And how is the Lord born into our lives anyway? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (21m 30s)
The Lord's Breath
Worship Service: Informal Family - November 08, 2020
In John 20, the disciples thought the Lord was dead. But then the Lord appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.” He then breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” What does this story teach us about how the Lord comforts us, and how we can actively trust in the Lord? Note: The copyrighted music in the background of the meditation is used with the permission of the author & copyright owner, Solomon Keal. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (19m 23s)
Connection with Others
Worship Service: Informal Family - October 25, 2020
For the last week of the series on Resilience, we will look at the end of the Joseph story in which Joseph’s brothers and father settle in Egypt. Jacob meets Joseph’s sons and after Jacob dies, Joseph reassures his brothers that he will provide for them. One of the things that makes us most resilient is our connections with other people. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (22m 59s)
Practicing Gratitude
Worship Service: Informal Family - October 11, 2020
For week three of the Resilience series, we will look at the story of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, and Joseph’s rise to power where he helped Egypt prepare for a famine by storing up grain. “Storing up grain” is like practicing gratitude. How does practicing gratitude help us become more resilient? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (23m 00s)
Mindful Attention
Worship Service: Informal Family - September 27, 2020
This week we begin a five-part small group series on “Resilience,” in which we will look at the story of Joseph in Genesis. Joseph embodies resilience, as he goes through many hard times and yet continues to have faith in the Lord’s goodness. For week one, we will focus on Joseph’s dreams and his relationship with his brothers as an illustration of the ways that mindful attention can help us to be resilient. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (19m 58s)
The 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 Hall
See Event (21m 31s)
Patriotic Repentance
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 26, 2020
Loving our country sometimes means that we need to examine ourselves as citizens, and as a country, and try to do better. In 1 Samuel 24, Saul was king of Israel, but David was meant to be the new king, and Saul was trying to kill him. David’s actions toward Saul offer us an image of what it means to be a good citizen of our country. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (20m 19s)
Saved by the Whale
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - May 24, 2020
Jonah the prophet was told by the Lord to go to Nineveh, to preach against their wickedness. But instead he went the opposite direction, and was eventually cast into the sea and swallowed by a great fish, which was prepared by the Lord for him. What is the "whale" or the "great fish" that swallows us up? And how is that part of the Lord's love for us? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (15m 31s)
Saved by the Whale
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 24, 2020
Jonah the prophet was told by the Lord to go to Nineveh, to preach against their wickedness. But instead he went the opposite direction, and was eventually cast into the sea and swallowed by a great fish, which was prepared by the Lord for him. What is the "whale" or the "great fish" that swallows us up? And how is that part of the Lord's love for us? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (27m 08s)
Spiritual Sunlight
Worship Service: Informal Family - May 10, 2020
In Joshua chapter 10, the children of Israel and their allies were under attack from a larger enemy. In order to help them win the battle, the Lord miraculously made the sun stand still. How did this happen? And what does it symbolize in our lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (24m 40s)
Uplifting - The Ascension
Worship Service: Informal Family - April 26, 2020
The last part of the Easter story is “The Ascension;” the time when the Lord was lifted up into heaven. What does this story symbolize in our own lives? And how can we be “lifted up” into states of heaven as well? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (29m 57s)
Rising from the Tomb
Worship Service: Informal Family - April 12, 2020
For the disciples, the Easter story took place during a time of fear and sadness. Many of them had lost hope. But Easter morning represents renewed hope, and the truth that the Lord doesn’t let anything happen that He can’t bring goodness out of. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (23m 58s)
The Lord as Our King
Worship Service: Informal Family - April 05, 2020
On Palm Sunday we celebrate the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as a King. In times of crisis it’s comforting to know that Someone is in charge. But how exactly is the Lord a King in times like this? And how do we turn to Him as our King? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (30m 26s)
What To Do In Captivity
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 29, 2020
At the end of 2nd Kings, the children of Israel and Judah were taken into captivity, away from the Promised Land. Jeremiah the prophet wrote a letter to them, comforting them, telling them the Lord would bring them back eventually, and giving them hope and advice about what to do during their captivity (see Jeremiah 29-31). This advice can be relevant for us during our current “captivity” as well. The video for this service is available at https://boxcast.tv/view/what-to-do-in-captivity-rev-solomon-keal-informal-service-z3h2bpurpenx42sc5vll Listen to a song by Chelsea Rose Odhner about "spiritual captivity": https://youtu.be/7adj6ho8Kl4 | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (25m 26s)
Baptism of Elizabeth Savino - Crossing the Jordan
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 08, 2020
Today's service includes the baptism of one of our newcomers: Elizabeth Savino. The talk will focus on the story of the children of Israel entering the Promised Land by crossing the Jordan river (Joshua 3-4). The Jordan river was where John the Baptist baptized people, and it was also the way by which people would enter the Holy Land. We will talk about how this story and the sacrament of baptism both symbolize being led by the Lord into a new state of life. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (55m 25s)
Feast of Charity
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 01, 2020
The Lord modeled the Holy Supper as a time for us to share both food and drink, as well as goodness and truth with each other. This Holy Supper service is held in the format of a Feast of Charity (see TCR 433, 727). The room will be full of tables and chairs. You are welcome to bring an offering of food if you would like. You are also invited to bring a favorite quote that “feeds” you, to share with others | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (14m 52s)
The Power of the Lord
Worship Service: Informal Family - February 16, 2020
Gideon's army of 32,000 faced an enemy army of 135,000. But the Lord tells Gideon that his army is too big, and that he needs to let many of his soldiers go! (Judges 7:1-8). When we are facing challenges that feel too big for us, what do we need to let go of? How does the Lord’s power work in our lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (25m 45s)
The Presence of the Lord
Worship Service: Informal Family - February 02, 2020
This Sunday we begin a 4-part small-group series called “Growing Through Challenges,” about the Gideon story in the book of Judges (Judges 6:1-23). The Israelites were being oppressed by the Midianites, and Gideon was feeling discouraged and helpless. We’ll begin by asking: How do we experience the presence of the Lord, especially during challenging times? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (24m 16s)