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Technology - Useful Tool or Useless Distraction
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 20, 2020
We live in a world of technology, all the more so since the advent of COVID-19. This pandemic has highlighted the blessing of technology, as it allows us to carry on work safely, to connect with loved ones around the world, even to attend church while not being able to attend in person. But it has also highlighted the downsides of technology, as we yearn to get back to in-person connection and struggle with the frustrating limits of technology. As with any tool, technology will be useful or useless depending on how much it is used in the service of what is spiritual. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (43m 44s)
Relationships, Part 3: Distinctly One
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 06, 2020
The ultimate expression of love is to feel the joy of another person as if it were your own joy. This is expressed in the great commandment that we are to love others as we love ourselves, such that we rejoice in their happiness and feel pain at their hurt. At the same time there are limits and boundaries to how much we feel another as ourselves. Even as we empathize, we also need to maintain our independence, lest we get sucked in and lose ourselves. The Word gives us guidance on how to both reach out and remain separate in a healthy way. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (32m 14s)
Relationships - Part 2 - What God Has Joined Together
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 23, 2020
Relationships, including marriage, fulfil many human needs, from basic economics to deep companionship and beyond. But the deepest component of marriage is spiritual. It is not just about the relationship of a husband and wife with each other, but also the relationship of each with the Lord. Working on this part of the relationship, and working towards it even as a single person, deepens and enriches all the other pieces that go with marriage. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (34m 02s)
Beyond the Prayer
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 09, 2020
Over the last three weeks we have looked at the Lord’s Prayer. In our services, we often follow the Lord’s Prayer with the familiar phrase, “Lord, forgive us our trespasses; as we forgive those who trespass against us.” This is based on the teaching that Jesus gave immediately after giving His disciples His Prayer. Having prayed, it is a useful reminder that we must also live the words that we have spoken; that we must actively work on repentance from sin so we can forgive and be forgiven. So this week we leave the Prayer behind as a spoken conversation with the Lord and turn to how we live it in our daily lives. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (31m 43s)
Revisiting the Lord's Prayer - Part 2 - Freely Gotten, Freely Given Away
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - July 26, 2020
As we continue our way through the Lord's Prayer the focus pivots away from the God who we pray to and comes to rest on us: we ask that He give us our daily bread and that He forgive our debts. In these two phrases we see the immensity of what we receive from the Lord, and our inability to repay it. Thankfully, He does not ask that we repay. Simply that as we have received, we in turn give. In giving away what we have to others and forgiving our debtors, we also receive from the Lord. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (37m 40s)
Fools for Christ
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - July 12, 2020
The wisdom of God seems like foolishness to the world, and so following God's wisdom inevitably leads to us feeling foolish. The pressure to give in and embrace the "wisdom" of the world can be strong. Resisting takes sacrifice, from passing on a promotion, to ending a relationship, to letting go of ego, and beyond. But until we are willing to be seen as fools by the world, we are not able to fully follow the Lord. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (31m 33s)
Comings and Goings
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 28, 2020
Psalm 121 speaks of the Lord protecting your going out and your coming in. This speaks to times of transition, times in which it is especially crucial that we remain in the Lord’s care. A prominent example is the Children of Israel coming out of slavery in Egypt and going in to possess the Promised Land. But this story also illustrates the struggle of times of transition: between coming out of Egypt and going into the Land there was forty years of wandering the wilderness. As much as we would like to directly leave hardship and enter good times, more often than not there is an intermediate stage of trial and growth that the Lord must lead us through. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (35m 00s)
Living in a Post-Apocalyptic World - Part 2 - New Foundations
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 14, 2020
The New Church teaches that the Apocalypse has already taken place: in fact, it took place over 250 years ago, as the New Church was being born into the world. Understanding the spiritual events from that time period can help us better understand the world we live in today. Last week, Malcolm talked about how the mere existence of the New Church did not automatically make people better: even New Church people have, and still can, support abhorrent practices. This week we will talk about the difference the New Church does make, and why it matters that a New Church was established and continues to exist. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (45m 11s)
How Are You Doing?
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 31, 2020
Why would the omnipotent God of the universe ask a mere mortal a question? Wouldn't He already know the answer? Yet there are many examples of God asking questions in the Word. God does not ask questions so He can learn the answer; He asks questions so that we have a chance to reflect and respond in the context of His perspective. In a similar vein, there is value in letting the Lord know "how we're doing." He already knows of course; we don't have to tell Him anything. But this Sunday we will explore the value of reflecting on how we are doing and sharing that reflection with the Lord. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (34m 28s)
Misconceptions of Providence - 2 - Coincidence? I think not!
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 17, 2020
This week we continue our series on misconceptions about Divine Providence. There are moments when something so unlikely and unexpected, and yet so wonderful, occurs, that we cannot help but see it as the hand of God at work in the world. But if God intervenes so forcefully in the world sometimes, it serves to highlight the many times when He does not (apparently) intervene. Why is one person miraculously spared from cancer, while thousands of others are condemned to die? The truth is that God’s Providence is not just at work in the unlikely and the obvious ways we see. His Providence extends to each and every moment of our lives, even down to the most mundane. He is never absent. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (39m 30s)
The Tabernacle, Part 3 - Wrapped in Garments of Salvation
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 03, 2020
As we have seen in the past two sermons, the Word's description of the Tabernacle is, spiritually, a description of the many complex things that make up our lives. This week we look not at the Tabernacle itself, but the clothes that the priest had to wear to be able to work in the Tabernacle. These garments stand for the ways that we weave love and goodness into our outer lives so that we can truly reflect the Lord's work in the world. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (19m 01s)
The Tabernacle, Part 1: A Dwelling Place for the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 19, 2020
The Tabernacle was a tent that served as the centre of Israelite worship. But in this archaic structure we can also see a heavenly model for our own minds. This week we will explore how the materials willingly given by the Children of Israel represent the many pieces of our hearts and minds out of which the Lord builds a place for Him to dwell within us. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (29m 41s)
Rejoicing in Hope
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 05, 2020
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the crowds greeted Him with joy. Yet at that point, nothing had changed: after merely looking around, Jesus left the city again to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. The joy and hope of the crowds was only realized after the events of Jesus' capture, trial, torture, death, and resurrection. Even so, the joy of Palm Sunday is an important part of the Easter Story. Many of us, I am sure, are feeling that we have little to rejoice in at the moment: we have a long struggle ahead of us. But even if we cannot rejoice in the conclusion of this process yet, perhaps we can rejoice in the hope that the Lord will lead us to victory. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (45m 39s)
Finding Jesus in the Life of Elisha: Persistently Seeking the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 22, 2020
In the challenges that we face, and that many of us are facing right now, it is important that we continually go back to the Lord. Spiritual life does not just happen: it takes intentional and persistent work, work that goes on even when life is at its hardest. Remember that this service will be streamed live online at 9:30am this Sunday at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville. There will be a children's talk before the adult sermon. We encourage you to not just watch the video, but to actually experience worship: open your own copy of the Word, light candles, kneel for the prayers, sing some worship songs before or after the service, and so on. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (32m 07s)
Render Unto Caesar
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 08, 2020
The teachings of the New Church point out how important it is to distinguish between things that are spiritual and things that are natural. This might sound like a bit of abstract philosophy, but you've probably run afoul of doing it wrong: have you ever felt like a bad person for cheating on a diet or wearing the wrong thing to a wedding? That guilt comes, in part, from lending spiritual weight (being a bad person) to a natural rule (diet or dress code). If we can do better at distinguishing spiritual from natural, it will lift an unnecessary weight from our lives. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (27m 32s)
Lose Something Good to Gain Something Better
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - February 23, 2020
When we think of removing things from our life, our mind probably goes to the harmful, destructive, negative things. After all, why would you get rid of something that is helpful, good, and positive? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But at times, our attachment to something good holds us back from moving on to something better. This Sunday we will look at how to recognize those times when we need to move on, even if it means the end of something good. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (30m 12s)
Missed Opportunities
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - February 09, 2020
It is frustrating when we miss an opportunity for something good: It is impossible to go back and change what happened, but we like to dwell on what might have been, if only we had known. This same mindset troubles us spiritually. It is not pleasant to think, “if I had made different choices earlier today, or last week, or last year, right now I would be a kinder, better, happier person. But since I missed my chance, I’ll never be quite as good as I could have been." The Lord, however, in bringing His friend Lazarus back from the dead, gives us hope that even if we cannot change the past, we never lose the chance for a better future. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (00m 00s)
Out of Control Evil
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - January 26, 2020
What do you do when you lose control? Not in a wild and crazy sort of way. But more in the sense of knowing exactly what not to do, even having boundaries in place, but then helplessly observing yourself cross every boundary and break every commitment. In short, how do we come back from not being able to control our evils? The Word tells the story of a man possessed by demons, so possessed that even chains could not bind him. Yet what the man could not do on his own or even with the restraint of his neighbours, the Lord Himself could. Come learn how the Lord heals our evils and gives hope when we are hopeless. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (33m 49s)
Feed the Things that Grow
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - January 12, 2020
We often prioritize things that aren't working. Sometimes this is a good thing: after all, if it isn't working it needs to be fixed. But often we also pour energy into areas that are not bearing fruit. The Lord invites us to put aside the things that aren't working, and instead focus on the things that will bear fruit: things like love to the Lord, charity to the neighbour, and the joy of service. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (28m 06s)
Trampling the Serpent
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - December 22, 2019
There are prophecies of the Lord’s coming scattered throughout the Old Testament. Many of these are well known: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…” for example. But the first prophecy of the Lord’s coming is much more obscure and less well known. It is spoken by Jehovah to the serpent in the Garden of Eden: I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall trample your head, And you shall batter His heel. Not your usual Christmas cheer perhaps, but this prophecy describes the purpose of the Lord’s coming: to confront the selfishness that rises like a serpent within each of us and trample it down until we can be saved from it. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (26m 46s)
Halfway There
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 24, 2019
When Saul was commanded to destroy all the Amalekites and all their possessions, he only half obeyed: he destroyed all the worthless possessions, but kept the precious things, and spared the king. Yet he still claimed that he had obeyed the Lord. How often do we only follow the Lord halfway, but claim that we have done everything He asks? And how do we come to a place of wholeheartedly separating ourselves even from the evils that we really love and are attached to? | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (26m 16s)
Unintended Consequences
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - November 10, 2019
Intentions matter more than actions. In other words, someone who is good hearted but makes mistakes is better off than someone who is malicious even while doing the right thing. Yet even the most well-intentioned person can cause harm. Their good intentions do not negate the damage they can cause in ignorance. Rather than justifying ourselves or others by saying, “they meant well,” we must find ways of addressing the harm and correcting it, even as we support and acknowledge the good intentions lying behind it. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (30m 53s)
Embracing Weakness
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - October 06, 2019
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, RSA
See Event (19m 12s)
Innocence is Bliss
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 15, 2019
There is a certain magic in holding a little baby. Their innocence brings a sense of contented peace. But what does it mean to be innocent really? It doesn’t mean being naive. It doesn’t mean being ignorant. But it doesn’t mean being perfect either. Can we keep our innocence as we grow? Should we? This Sunday we’ll explore what Jesus Christ tells us about innocence and what we need to do to live a life led by the Lord. - By Richard Glenn | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (21m 27s)
Good News, Fresh from Heaven, Part 2: Seen, Heard and Felt
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 01, 2019
This week we continue to explore the Teachings of the New Church and what they can mean for us. One of the more unusual aspects of these works is the descriptions of conversations with spirits and angels and the surroundings in which they took place. Swedenborg did not just share ideas, but also the things that the Lord allowed him to see, hear, and feel. Although unusual, what can these experiences teach us about heavenly life that mere ideas could not? | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (20m 30s)