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Reading the Word
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 27, 2022
We've heard how important it is for us to read the Word on a regular basis. But what does it actually do - for the angels and for us? And how can this be a useful endeavor even if our eyesight is not so crisp, or we feel that there is not much use we can do for others? | By Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith | Bryn Athyn CathedralFaith: A Source of Death and Life
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 27, 2022
The internal sense of the story of Cain and Abel reflects the reality that religious knowledge can be both a source of death and a source of life. Why was Abel’s offering favored by the Lord and not Cain’s? Why was Cain protected even after committing a terrible act? | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallEven the Wind and Sea Obey Him
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 27, 2022
The disciples once found themselves in the midst of a terrible storm, out on the water in a little boat. The boat was sinking and they thought they were going to die until Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and the sea and suddenly there was calm. This Sunday we will reflect on this story and what it can teach us about how the Lord can help us to find peace in the midst of the storms that we encounter in our lives. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSAThe Wheat and the Tares
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 27, 2022
1st Lesson: Exodus 23:28-33 2nd Lesson: Matthew 13:24-43 3rd Lesson: Arcana Coelestia 9336 Talk: “The Wheat and the Tares” | By Rev. Stephen D. Cole | Kempton, PAMemorial Service for Elizabeth Amity Doering
Memorial Service - March 26, 2022
| By Rev. Charles E. Blair | Bryn Athyn CathedralWilderness Training
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 20, 2022
When the Israelites learned they would have to fight their way into Canaan, fear gripped their hearts and they refused to enter it. As a consequence, they ended up "wandering" the wilderness for 40 years and yet this time wasn't pointless or wasted. They learned five important wilderness tasks along the way which filled their lives with purpose and meaning. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Wandering Years
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 20, 2022
We typically think of the activity of "wandering" as being directionless or aimless and yet the Israeliste's 40-year period in the wilderness ended up being filled with purpose and meaning because the Lord was doing the leading. The Lord had a plan. This Biblical narrative helps put in perspective the apparent "randomness" of our own spiritual journey. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Softening of Spring
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 20, 2022
In order for plants to grow in the spring, the ground needs to soften and the ice needs to melt into water. A similar process needs to happen in our spiritual lives. In 1 Samuel 26, the story of the hardened and resentful King Saul softening because of David’s mercy can symbolize a springtime state for us as well. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallPicking and Choosing
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 20, 2022
Why don’t you care about people? That’s a harsh accusation, and hopefully it’s not true. But in one sense it could be: with over 7 billion people on this planet, we simply cannot actively care about everyone. Thankfully, the Lord does not ask us to throw ourselves wholeheartedly into every cause that crosses our paths. He gives us ways to care for mankind even us we pick and choose which causes we will invest in. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAThe One Who Has Authority
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 20, 2022
1st Lesson: Mark 1:14-27 2nd Lesson: Heaven and Hell 257, Apocalypse Revealed 100 3rd Lesson: Apocalypse Explained 293.2 Talk: “The One Who Has Authority” | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PABringing Our Gifts to the Lord
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 13, 2022
We give gifts on special occasions to show people we love and care for them. We also give gifts to the Lord. This talk explores how we do this when everything we have is from the Lord. | By Rev. Dr Andrew M. Dibb | Bryn Athyn CathedralMaking Peace
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 13, 2022
Disagreements and conflicts are a part of life. How we deal with them is an important part of our spiritual development. In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord teaches us to look inward to work out resolution and reconciliation with others. | By Rev. Dr Andrew M. Dibb | Bryn Athyn CathedralSpeckled and Spotted
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 13, 2022
Jacob took all the speckled, spotted and black among the lambs, sheep and goats (Genesis 30:25-43). The Lord gathers all of us imperfect people into His flock. No one has pure goodness. Some evil can’t be mixed with good, and some can (Secrets of Heaven 3993:5-9). Wheat gets mixed with tares (Matthew 13:24-30). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallCast Our Burdens on the Lord
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 13, 2022
1st Lesson: Matthew 11:20-30 2nd Lesson: Isaiah 53 (parts) 3rd Lesson: AC 905 Talk: “His Yoke is Easy” | By Rev. Derrick Lumsden | Kempton, PAWar and Providence
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 13, 2022
With the conflict in Ukraine on so many people’s minds at the moment it feels like it could be useful for us to reflect on teachings from the Lord’s Word about war and providence. There are big picture questions to consider like, why does our loving God allow something as terrible as war? And there are also more day-to-day questions to consider like, how much time should we spend thinking about conflicts in other parts of the world and what, if anything, can we do to try to make things better? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSAConstellations
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 06, 2022
Stars are mentioned many times in the Word. The Writings tell us that “stars symbolize concepts of Divine goodness and Divine truth drawn from the Word” (AR 534). Constellations are pictures that we draw by connecting the dots of the stars. How do we connect the dots of various truths, and how does that help us navigate our spiritual lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallWashing Our Feet
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 06, 2022
The Gospel of John tells of how after the Last Supper Jesus washed His Disciples’ feet. In this act of humility Jesus showed us the nature of His love: that it extends to all, without exception, and that it lives to serve. This Sunday we will explore how we can better invite this love into our lives, as well as how we can pass it on to others. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAThink of Eternal Life
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 06, 2022
1st Lesson: Matthew 13:44-46 Talk: “Where Will Your Treasure Be” 2nd Lesson: Exodus 21:1-6 3rd Lesson: Arcana Coelestia 8981:3-4 Sermon: “Follow the Lord Willingly” (Text: Exodus 21:6) | By Rev. Lawson M. Smith | Kempton, PAWhy is Heaven Such a Happy Place?
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 06, 2022
There are many ways of explaining the happiness of heaven. All of its blessings are a gift from the Lord. Part of how this occurs is the result of each angel receiving good things from all the other angels. | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn CathedralHeavenly Happiness - Each Angel is the Center of All
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 06, 2022
Only some of us like being the center of attention, but what about being surrounded by people who want good things for you and are willing to help you in any useful way? The Lord has organized heaven in a way that each angel is the center of focus for all the other angels. This is a key to heaven's happiness. | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn CathedralBy the Word all things are made
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - February 27, 2022
1st Lesson: Psalm 119:88-97 2nd Lesson: Doctrine of the Lord 1, 2 Talk: “All the Light of Truth is from the Word” (Text: Psalm 119:105) | By Rev. Andrew J. Heilman | Kempton, PAThe Ancient Law of the Pledge
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - February 27, 2022
Topic: Boundaries. (Deut. 24:10-13) Sometimes we use unfair tactics to win over a friend or loved one to our point of view. The ancient law of the pledge shows us a way to “state our case” without taking away the freedom of the other person. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Ancient Law of the Pledge
Worship Service: Sermon only - February 27, 2022
(Deut. 24:10-13) Just as the Lord doesn’t use His almighty force to squeeze a decision out of us, so must we avoid using undue pressure to force an opinion or decision out of those we know or love. The lender in ancient Israel was required to follow certain guidelines, guidelines which, spiritually speaking, lead to perfect peace and harmony. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralActions Speak Louder Than Words
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - February 27, 2022
This week’s sermon is about one of the most fundamental topics from the Teachings of the New Church. This week we will explore the role that repentance plays in our lives. Specifically, we will be exploring the necessity of making changes in our actions and not just our words. Repentance is literally the difference between spiritual life and spiritual death. | By Rev. Calvin Heinrichs | Westville, RSAAs the Deer Panteth for the Water
Worship Service: Informal Family - February 27, 2022
The beautiful deer in our community can remind us of aspects of our spiritual life. Deer are mentioned a number of times in the Word, and five passages in particular describe five important points about our path to heaven. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall