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Making Faith Our Own
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 04, 2025
When you were born you knew nothing about the world and how it worked; nor did you know anything about the Lord or spiritual life. These were things that had to be taught to you, from a young age, both through education and through the examples set by the people around you. As you matured your faith became your own. No longer did you have to rely on others: you could enter into an adult relationship with the Lord and an adult understanding of spiritual life. Yet as simple as that sounds, we can all stand to reflect on how much of our faith is really our own, and how much work still needs to be done to move past what we were taught and live our faith for ourselves. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (20m 14s)
Peace! Be Still!
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 14, 2024
When the disciples feared for their lives during a storm at sea, they felt like the Lord did not care about them - He was sleeping instead of helping them! But He calmed the storm, and they were safe. How can we allow the Lord to calm the storms in our lives? | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Cathedral Undercroft
See Event (18m 27s)
Developing a Strong Faith
Worship Service: Sermon only - February 04, 2024
The sermon will focus on how to develop a strong faith that is rock solid and can withstand the attacks from hell. In the gospels, the disciple Peter is a symbol for faith, so we will look at some of the lessons we can learn from Peter’s attitude and actions. It is interesting to see how insightful his faith is at times, and yet often his fake appears to be fickle and weak. There are many lessons to learn about how our faith progresses and develops over time. | By Rt. Rev. Bradley D. Heinrichs | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (25m 36s)
The Magical Thinking of Faith Alone
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - August 20, 2023
We don't really believe in magic anymore: no one thinks I could make a rabbit pop out of a hat by any means other than mere trickery. But we still do fall into a kind of "magical thinking" when it comes to faith. That is, we believe that if we say the right words or go through the right motions it will magically make us into new people. But the only way to actually change is to do the hard work of changing yourself. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (15m 14s)
Believing the Unbelievable
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 30, 2023
When faced with some of the deepest challenges doubt can creep in. We can doubt that the Lord is going to somehow make it all ok; that our efforts will make any difference; that denying ourselves leads to more happiness than we can imagine. Yet the Lord calls us to believe in all of these “unbelievable” truths. If we wait until our belief is rock solid than we will end up waiting for forever; but if we have faith, and move forward with confidence, we will in the end see clearly the truth of what the Lord has told us. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (14m 40s)
Building Our House on the Rock
Worship Service: Informal Family - August 14, 2022
The Lord told a parable comparing someone who built their house on sand, which then fell during a storm, versus someone who built their house on the rock, which then withstood the storm. What does it mean for us to spiritually build our houses on the rock? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (29m 14s)
Rediscovering the Power of Faith
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - July 24, 2022
When Moses ascended Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, the Children of Israel were left to wonder what had become of him. As the days dragged into weeks, they lost trust in both him and the Lord, and so turned to worship a golden idol. When we feel abandoned by the Lord, with no sense of His deep presence, we also turn to our own idols, idols of pleasure or comfort. This Sunday we’ll look at how to notice this tendency in ourselves and push to reconnect with the Lord when He seems absent. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (18m 19s)
Does it Matter if We Believe in the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 22, 2022
In the New Church we love the idea that people of any religion can go to heaven. But, if we don’t understand this idea fully, then it can seem like it doesn’t matter at all what you believe. And it can be hard to figure out why it matters if we believe in the Lord. Let’s talk about what it means to believe in the Lord and why our beliefs matter. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSA
See Event (21m 28s)
Wrestling with Faith
Worship Service: Informal Family - April 24, 2022
The name Israel means “wrestling with God.” That name says something about the quality of faith. With faith there are forms of wrestling that are healthy that contribute to growth in wisdom and love, and there are forms of wrestling that are unhealthy that can tear one another apart. We will focus on the healthy wrestling that leads to finding spiritual solutions to life’s toughest problems. | By Rt. Rev. David H. Lindrooth | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (53m 32s)
To See God
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - February 06, 2022
In the Old Testament the Lord told Moses that no one can see God and live. This is true: if we were to be exposed to the full Divinity of God it would be like being consumed by the sun. Yet God’s purpose in creation is to grow closer to humanity and to bless them. So while we cannot see God directly, there are ways that we can come to see Him more and more truly, and so develop a deeper and deeper relationship with Him. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (21m 32s)
Authority
Worship Service: Informal Family - April 18, 2021
After the Lord rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the chief priests, scribes, and elders questioned by what authority He did all these things. His answer was a little strange. We might also wonder about authority. How do we know what we should trust, believe, and obey? What does the Lord teach us about authority? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (27m 24s)
Everyday Miracles
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - October 11, 2020
One way to strengthen our faith in the Lord our Creator is to notice the everyday miracles that He has provided that are all around us. | By Rev. Garry B. Walsh | Sarver, PA
See Event (30m 03s)
The Essentials of the New Church
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 30, 2020
In the book "Apocalypse Revealed" the Lord boils the New Church down to two fundamental concepts referred to as 'the Two Witnesses.' When we start thinking about faith based on these two simple concepts, it brings a wholeness, life and compassionate understanding to our entire faith structure. If we ignore one or the other, our faith becomes harsh, judgmental and shortsighted. | By Rt. Rev. David H. Lindrooth | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (28m 38s)
Who Do People Say That I Am?
Worship Service: Informal Family - May 17, 2020
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Whom do people say that I the Son of man am?’” (Matt 16:13) The Gospel makes a point of telling us where Jesus was when He made these comments. Why would this be important to Him, to the disciples and to us?" | By Rev. Dr Andrew M. Dibb | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (20m 27s)
The Hem of Jesus' Garment
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 03, 2020
This is a study of the spiritual, personal meaning of the woman in Mark 5 who was cured of her flow of blood simply by touching the hem of Jesus' garment. | By Rev. Garry B. Walsh | Pittsburgh, PA
See Event (29m 04s)
Doubt, Certainty, Belief, Faith: Message of the Day
| By Rev. Glenn (Mac) Frazier | Mitchellville, MD
See Event (16m 45s)
Seedtime & Harvest
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - September 01, 2019
"Whie the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease." (Genesis 8:22) | By Rev. Brian D. Smith | Mitchellville, MD
See Event (43m 21s)
Seven Spiritual Practices
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 14, 2019
The need for piety to fully achieve a life of charity. | By Rev. Glenn (Mac) Frazier | Mitchellville, MD
See Event (35m 28s)
Ancient Words: What Led Me to the New Church
Banquet Address - June 22, 2019
Paul Mayer's banquet speech at the 2019 New Church Day Banquet at New Church Westville. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSA
See Event (17m 39s)
Doubting Thomas
Worship Service: Informal Family - April 28, 2019
Three weeks ago we looked at Peter's Doubt before Easter, and this week we look at Thomas' Doubt after Easter (John 20:19-29). Thomas had a hard time believing that the Lord had risen, because he didn't get to see or touch the Lord. Can we believe in things we can’t see? Should we believe in things we can't see? | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (47m 40s)
The Lord's Post-Resurrection Appearances
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 28, 2019
Let’s follow the Lord’s movements in the days after Easter: how and where did He appear? Who saw Him? What were their reactions? And what does it all mean for us today? - MDG | By Rev. Michael D. Gladish | Mitchellville, MD
See Event (37m 02s)
The Reason He Came, Part 4 - Bear Witness to the Truth
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 14, 2019
The Lord Jesus Christ came to bear witness to the truth. When we live as Jesus teaches we make ourselves citizens of heaven and part of His Kingdom. The Lord is truth because he fulfilled the Word and because He is the Word made flesh. When we do the truth we bring together the Word outside with the Lord within which brings us into heaven from the inside out. | By Rev. Derrick Lumsden | Sarver, PA
See Event (34m 38s)
Doubt and Faith
Worship Service: Informal Family - April 07, 2019
As we prepare for Easter we look at Doubt and Faith. Peter was confident that he would follow the Lord even to death, but then he denied the Lord three times (Luke 22:20-60). We inevitably have times of doubt, which are necessary for our spiritual growth (Secrets of Heaven 1820). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (40m 42s)
The Reason He Came, Part 2 - To Save the Lost
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 24, 2019
The Lord came to seek and save what was lost. The stories of the Word demonstrate the lost as those in good who have wandered from truth. The Lord came to restore truth to them rather than falsity, and save them as a result. A sign to us that we are in good and love, if we love truth. A lack of desire to pursue truth is an indication we are not in good. | By Rev. Derrick Lumsden | Sarver, PA
See Event (28m 04s)
Reason He Came, Part 1 - To Teach and Heal
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 17, 2019
The Lord came to preach and heal. These actions represent the spiritual help the Lord can offer us to teach us a new way of thinking and to heal us from spiritual challenges which are pain, limitations, and misdirected desires of our heart and mind. | By Rev. Derrick Lumsden | Sarver, PA
See Event (31m 18s)