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Controlled by a Legion of Evil Spirits
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - September 05, 2021
The Lord healed a man whose life had been greatly harmed because of evil spirits controlling him. The Lord promises us that this type of possession is no longer possible, but still we have to learn to recognize the thoughts and motivations evil spirits try to inspire as our own. | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn CathedralSpiritual Freedom: Being Healed by a Legion of Evil Spirits
Worship Service: Sermon only - September 05, 2021
We tend to think that external events or the responses of others cause our inner reactions. It can feel like our unhappy and unhelpful responses are inevitable, but the Lord offers us the freedom to respond differently to what happens in our lives. It will require effort and help from the Lord to have this freedom truly become ours. | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn CathedralSo He Gives His Beloved Sleep
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 05, 2021
The Word is written in such a way that every word and concept has a deeper spiritual meaning. These meanings are threaded through the entirety of the Word, tying together disparate and varied stories into one story with one message. This Sunday we will follow one of these threads by exploring sleep and wakefulness. In this theme we learn about the need to be vigilant and awake spiritually, as well as the need to rest and sleep in the Lord. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAMemorial Service for Thomas F. Steen
Memorial Service - September 05, 2021
| By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Oak Arbor, MISoothed by David's Harp
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 29, 2021
King Saul made some poor choices which led him to being grumpy, irritable and suspicious. They young shepherd boy, David, was brought to the palace to play his harp and as soon as he did this "Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him" (1 Samuel 16:23). We will consider how the Word is really "music" that seeks to harmonize with our efforts to love the Lord and our neighbor. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Sound of Truth
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 29, 2021
We're taught that music in this world is of a spiritual origin. This explains why a beautiful piece of music can stir us so deeply and change our mood. It also explains why David's harp playing drove away King Saul's distressing spirit - evil in all its forms flees from the "sound" of truth and goodness (AR 276). To live in harmony with the Lord and our neighbor is to place ourselves in harmony with love, mercy and forgiveness, with the music (teachings ) of the Word. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralGardens in Heaven
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 29, 2021
1st Lesson: Genesis 2:4-10, 15-17 2nd Lesson: Heaven and Hell 337 3rd Lesson: Arcana Coelestia 4529:1-2 Talk: “Gardens in Heaven” (Text: Gen. 2:8) | By Rev. Lawson M. Smith | Kempton, PAWhat Kind of God do You Believe In?
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 29, 2021
There are many ideas of God in the world. Over the history of the human race and in all the different religions around the world there is a huge variety of ideas about what God is like. So what God do you believe in? This Sunday we are going to look at a number of the different ways God is depicted and described in the Bible as an opportunity for you to reflect on your relationship with God. We’re also going to look at some common ways in which people’s beliefs about God can be hurting them. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSAConsider the Lilies of the Field
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 22, 2021
Many treasures from all over the world were brought to King Solomon in Jerusalem; it all seemed so good. But the Lord teaches us that things that are truly good only come from Him. | By Rev. Kurt Hyland Asplundh | Bryn Athyn CathedralConsider the Lilies of the Field
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 22, 2021
King Solomon's material wealth and worldwide reputation for wisdom are described in fascinating detail in the Word. What might those descriptions tell us about our modern world and why did the Lord say none of it compared to a blossoming flower? | By Rev. Kurt Hyland Asplundh | Bryn Athyn CathedralRenewed Life
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 22, 2021
Sometimes we think fondly back on the simplicity of childhood. Our biggest concerns seem small in comparison to what we face as adults. It’s a pity we cannot go back to that simple mind-set of trust and innocence. Or at least, that’s what a cynical world tells us. But the Lord offers hope in the face of pessimism. Even though we may have exchanged childish idealism for adult realism, that does not mean we can never go back. In fact the Lord promises that we can regain our innocence and find abundant hope even in a troubled world. It’s not too late. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAHappy Are the Merciful
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 22, 2021
1st Lesson: Luke 15:11-32 Talk: “The Merciful Father” (Text: Luke 15:11-32) 2nd Lesson: Matthew 5:38-48 3rd Lesson: Apocalypse Explained 556:8 Sermon: “Happy Are the Merciful” (Text: Matt. 5:7) | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PAJoseph Prefigures the Lord
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 15, 2021
1st Lesson: Genesis 41:1-8, 25-32 2nd Lesson: Arcana Coelestia 5356 (part) Talk: “Joseph Prefigures the Lord” (Text: Text: Gen. 42:57) | By Rev. Lawson M. Smith | Kempton, PAYour Next Chapter
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 15, 2021
We talk about life as a book - "I'm glad that chapter of my life is over," or "She's an open book," or "You need to read between the lines." The Scriptures strengthen the analogy between books and people, especially when it comes to the Word, since what is written by the Lord needs to be "written" on our heart. We will be exploring what gets written in our Book of Life (Revelation 20:12) with a focus on your next chapter. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Book of Life
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 15, 2021
New Church theology has fascinating things to say about our Book of Life. We're told it's a collection of every thought, word, deed and experience we've ever had in this world, imprinted on our interior memory, never to be lost. Logic would dictate that if our Book of Life is to be reviewed in the next life (see AC 2474) it only makes sense that we'd want to work on becoming as much an "open book" as possible while living here on earth. But how do we do that? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralMemorial Service for Margaret (Peb) Adams
Memorial Service - August 15, 2021
| By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn CathedralGenuine Goodness - 3 - Is it Wrong to Want Some Credit
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 15, 2021
We’ve been talking for a couple of weeks about genuine goodness and this week we’re going to venture into some of the thorny issues around motivation. Does it matter what our motivations are if the actions we do are good? Is it wrong to want some credit for the good things we do or does that somehow spoil them? Why does the Lord care about our motivations? Spoiler alert: the Lord cares about our motivations because He cares about us and He knows what will make us genuinely happy. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSAHagar and Ishmael
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 08, 2021
1st Lesson: Genesis 21:12-21 2nd Lesson: Arcana Coelestia 2671, 2675 Talk: “What Ails Thee, Hagar?” (Text: Gen. 21:17) | By Rev. Judah E. Synnestvedt | Kempton, PAMy Sheep Hear My Voice
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 08, 2021
| By Rev. Philip B. Schnarr | Bryn Athyn CathedralJust Do the Right Thing
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 08, 2021
The complicated relationship between our motives and what we do. | By Rev. Michael D. Gladish | Bryn Athyn CathedralGenuine Goodness - 2 - Picking and Choosing
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 08, 2021
We all want to be good: but how do we decide which good things to do? No matter how much we do, there is always more to be done. When faced with just how many needs there are in the world we can become overwhelmed. We cannot possibly do it all. In order to be good we have to constantly make a judgment call about what good things we will do, and just as importantly, what good things we will not do. We’ll talk about how to make those choices this Sunday. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAMemorial Service for Berith Carswell Acton
Memorial Service - August 07, 2021
November 11, 1929 - June 17, 2020 | By Rev. Barry C. Halterman | Bryn Athyn CathedralSelling All That We Have
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 01, 2021
1st Lesson: Luke 18:18-25 Talk: “Selling All That We Have” 2nd Lesson: Apocalypse Explained 118 Sermon: “Selling All That We Have” | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PAWhat if You See a Problem?
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 01, 2021
The Lord wants us to be helpful in our interactions with others. Sometimes this is not very easy. What are good ways to respond to problems or issues we see in another person's life? | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn Cathedral