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The Two Great Prophets
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 14, 2024
Elijah and Elisha were two prophets who followed in quick succession. Elijah, who came first, was poorly received and lived a troubled existence. Elisha, who succeeded him, was better received and accepted by the leaders of his day. These two prophets represent two stages in our relationship with the Lord. At first we must struggle and fight to apply His truths. But as we grow and progress it becomes easier and easier, until we live His truth with hardly a second thought. | By Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss, Sr. | Westville, RSAThe Road to Emmaus
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - April 07, 2024
1st Lesson: Luke 24 portions Talk: “The Road to Emmaus” 2nd Lesson: Divine Love and Wisdom 378 3rd Lesson: Arcana Coelestia 3863 (portions) Sermon: “Road to Emmaus” | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PAThe Lord's Orders
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - April 07, 2024
"Children, have you any food." (John 21.5) After the Lord's resurrection, He sent the eleven disciples out to preach the gospel to all nations. Soon after He again appeared to them as they were fishing and asked "Children, have you any food?" and they replied no, for they had not caught any fish. Why were the disciples fishing when the Lord clearly gave them a command to go and preach the gospel? The disciples learned one more valuable lesson after the Lord’s resurrection. | By Rev. Pearse M. Frazier | Bryn Athyn CathedralReceiving Food from the Lord
Worship Service: Sermon only - April 07, 2024
"Truths cannot be implanted except by means of affections which well forth as from charity and love." (AC 4018.3) When the Lord sent His disciples out to preach the gospel, they already had practically all the knowledge needed for this important work. The Lord wanted His good news to spread to every nation, but He also hoped for the salvation of these very disciples. This Sunday we will see through the story of the Lord appearing to the disciples after His resurrection how it is only in doing the work of love that faith can save. | By Rev. Pearse M. Frazier | Bryn Athyn CathedralEmbracing Weakness
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 07, 2024
If someone called you weak, you would take it as an insult. But what about when the Lord calls you weak? Because He most certainly does: compared to Him, we are utterly powerless. And yet far from being insulted, if we embrace our own weakness, we can let down the burdens of perfection and self-reliance, and receive from the Lord a greater power than we could ever muster on our own. We may be utterly helpless, but the greatest force in the universe is on our side. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAThe Effects of Easter
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 31, 2024
1st Lesson: Luke 24:1-9, 13-36 2nd Lesson: Arcana Coelestia 8455:1-2 Talk: “The Effects of Easter” | By Rev. Calvin Heinrichs | Kempton, PA"He Will Raise Us Up"
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 31, 2024
| By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Power of Goodness
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 31, 2024
The word “omnipotent” can be attributed only to the Lord; He alone is all-powerful. The Easter story is a manifestation of that power, in that He restored to order everything in His kingdom and took on the power to be our Savior. As He said to His disciples, “All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). On Sunday we will talk about how to receive some of that power into our own lives. There is power in goodness, in doing the things the Lord asks, in sharing what is ours with others, in extending ourselves of the benefit of others, in praying to the Lord for help. | By Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss, Jr. | Westville, RSAThe Blood of the Lamb
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 27, 2024
Around Easter there are many images, some gruesome, of the Lord dying on the Cross, shedding His blood. The New Church, with good reason, does not emphasize these images. But why then did the Lord talk in terms of giving His flesh and blood? This imagery was not made up from nothing, but from the Lord’s own words. We need to listen to what the Lord taught about spilling His own blood for us; but we have to understand these word spiritually. When we do, our minds can rise above the gruesome imagery, and see the beautiful reality of the Lord giving of His own life, through the truths of Word, to regenerate us and recreate us as new and heavenly people. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSASpreading Palm Branches before the Lord
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 24, 2024
1st Lesson: Mark 11:1-9 2nd Lesson: Revelation 7:9-17 3rd Lesson: Portions of Arcana Coelestia 9212; Apocalypse Explained 195; Apocalypse Revealed 367 Talk: “Spreading Palm Branches in the Way” | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PAWhat Kind of Savior Do You Need?
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 24, 2024
When Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the people cheered and cried out for Him to save them. They were hoping that a king of the natural world was riding into town to throw off their Roman oppressors. That wasn’t what the Lord was there to do but He was there to save them. If a powerful person could ride into your life and change things drastically, what would you want them to do? Maybe the Lord won’t do that, but what sort of spiritual salvation could He give you? This year we will have two identical services, both in the nave (there will be no Young Children’s or Informal Family Service in the Undercroft). There will be one talk for the whole family. At the end of the service, people will be invited to pick up palm branches on their way out of the building to then form a crowd outside and an actor playing the Lord will come past with a live donkey, while people sing and cheer. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralA Humble Mind and Joyful Heart
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 24, 2024
Palm Sunday represents a crucial turning point in the Lord’s ministry: it was the point at which He went from preaching in the outskirts of the countryside to directly challenging those at the heart of religious life. It also led to His death and eventual resurrection. There is also a turning point for us when we submit to the Lord as King: as He enters we find new challenges, unseen evils, and deep spiritual struggle. Yet ultimately it is all for the good: just as Palm Sunday points through the Crucifixion to Easter Sunday, the Lord’s presence with us cuts through temptations and brings us to eternal peace. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAA Servant to All
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 17, 2024
| By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Bryn Athyn CathedralTaking up the Cross
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 17, 2024
When the Lord’s disciples argued over who might sit on the Lord’s right hand and left hand in heaven, the Lord called them to think differently about greatness: they should seek to be least, rather than greatest, and to serve, rather than being served (Mark 10). How do we live by those teachings? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Bryn Athyn CathedralSuccess and Failure
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 17, 2024
We all fail. It’s part of being human. But that does not mean we are stuck with our failures. The Lord uses the failures we encounter to help us grow and eventually arrive at spiritual success. This Sunday we’ll explore what failure really means, and how we can see it differently. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAWhy Hast Thou Forsaken Me
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 17, 2024
1st Lesson: Psalm 22:2-6 2nd Lesson: Matthew 27:45-46, 28:9-10,16,18 3rd Lesson: True Christian Religion 104 Sermon: “Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me” | By Rev. Brett D. Buick | Kempton, PATake Up the Cross
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 10, 2024
1st Lesson: Mark 8:27-37 2nd Lesson: Apocalypse Revealed 639 (parts) Talk: “Taking Up the Cross to Follow the Lord” (Text: Mark 8:34) | By Rev. Lawson M. Smith | Kempton, PASticking Up for What's Right
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 10, 2024
It can be pretty hard to live the way the Lord wants, especially when those around us push us to do otherwise. David had this experience while on the run from Saul, with his own men pushing him to take the easy way out. But David persists in doing what the Lord wants. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralNobody Ever Said It Would Be Easy
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 10, 2024
The early stories of David are an excellent example of doing the right thing and having a hard time because of it. It’s tempting to take the easy way out in order to avoid discomfort or even pain. The Lord asks us to trust the long game. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith | Bryn Athyn CathedralSuccess and Failure - Part 1
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 10, 2024
What does success mean? All of us will have our own definition, and in fact that definition will change as we grow and change as individuals. But at the heart of success is service to others. When that is at the forefront of what it means to live a successful life, all of our other priorities and ideas of success can fall into place. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAMemorial Service for Francis P. Cauthorn
Memorial Service - March 04, 2024
| By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Lord's Last Words
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 03, 2024
As we turn our thoughts towards Easter, we can see in “The Lord’s Last Words” on the cross there is infinite divine love offering forgiveness, compassion and hope as the culmination of everything that the Lord said and did, and as an inspiration for how we can care for each other (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Lord's Last Words
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 03, 2024
As we turn our thoughts towards Easter, we can see in “The Lord’s Last Words” on the cross there is infinite divine love offering forgiveness, compassion and hope as the culmination of everything that the Lord said and did, and as an inspiration for how we can care for each other (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Worldwide Church, Giving Freely
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 03, 2024
The New Church has many amazing truths, truths that we can be grateful to have found. They give us insight into life and inspire us to grow spiritually. But sometimes we get so caught up in having the truth that we lose sight of the purpose. But there is no point in having the truth if we don’t live it; and one of the ways we live it is by sharing it with others. The truth of the New Church is a gift that has been freely given from the Lord; and it is incumbent on us to freely share it with others. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA