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Seven Habits For Spiritual Life, Part 2: Continually Learn Truth
Worship Service: Sermon only - 18 Jan, 2026
Why is it so important to always keep learning? Why does it matter whether I learn the truth or not? What is so special about the Bible or Word of God? Why should I read it and study it? Can't I just follow my instincts and figure things out as I go? The habit of continually learning will help us in all aspects of life, and when it comes to our spiritual life it holds untold benefits that will enrich our life forever. | By Rev. David C. Roth , Boulder, CO
The Fifth Commandment: “You shall not murder”
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 18 Jan, 2026
Most of us probably don’t struggle too much with the commandment not to murder, but we may find it much more relatable when Jesus extends the commandment to include anger and belittling others. Join us this Sunday to dive deeper into the ins and outs of what it means to not take someone else’s life from them. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Fifth Commandment: “You shall not murder”
Worship Service: Sermon only - 18 Jan, 2026
Most of us probably don’t struggle too much with the commandment not to murder, but we may find it much more relatable when Jesus extends the commandment to include anger and belittling others. Join us this Sunday to dive deeper into the ins and outs of what it means to not take someone else’s life from them. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Waters of Baptism
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 18 Jan, 2026
The central element of the baptism service is water. Water in general represents truth, and that is what it represents in baptism: just as water quenches thirst, the truth that is learned from the Lord and His Word quenches our desire for guidance; just as water washes away dirt, truth is the tool by which we wash away sin and evil. Conversely water represents falsity: just as a person needs to be lifted up and saved from drowning, the Lord leads us away from what is false and guides us to live based on His truth. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn , Westville, RSA
Seven Habits For Spiritual Life, Part 1: Self-Reflection
Worship Service: Sermon only - 11 Jan, 2026
If you would like to develop a stronger and healthier spiritual life there are habits you can develop that will make a big difference. What would a stronger and healthier spiritual life look like? It would look like the ability to find peace and contentment in any moment regardless of what is happening around us or within us. It is also a state of being or character that we carry with us from this world into the next--a character of kindness, goodwill, usefulness and integrity. | By Rev. David C. Roth , Boulder, CO
Holy Supper and Heaven
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 11 Jan, 2026
Part of understanding the importance and value of holy supper is understanding its connection to heaven. Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…." (John 6:51). And in the teachings for the New Church it says this: "The Lord is present and opens heaven to those who worthily approach the Holy Supper" (True Christian Religion 719). Let’s talk this Sunday about how we can experience heaven through the holy supper. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Holy Supper and Heaven
Worship Service: Sermon only - 11 Jan, 2026
Part of understanding the importance and value of holy supper is understanding its connection to heaven. Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…." (John 6:51). And in the teachings for the New Church it says this: "The Lord is present and opens heaven to those who worthily approach the Holy Supper" (True Christian Religion 719). Let’s talk this Sunday about how we can experience heaven through the holy supper. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Fools for Christ
Worship Service: Sermon only - 11 Jan, 2026
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
How Did the Wise Men Know?
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 4 Jan, 2026
Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds all knew about the Lord's birth and its significance because they were informed directly and specifically by angelic messengers. But how did the Wise Men know to come? They reported that they had "seen His star in the East." But how did they know that it was "His" star? How did they know what it meant? | By Rev. Stephen Dandridge Cole , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Epiphany
Worship Service: Sermon only - 4 Jan, 2026
Epiphany is a feast day in the Christian calendar. It is traditionally celebrated on the 6th of January, or the first Sunday of the new year. The New Church does not adhere closely to the traditional Christian calendar, but Epiphany generally focuses on the visit of the Magi, which is a theme that we often do touch on in the days following Christmas. In common speech an "epiphany" suggests a sudden insight. But is this idea somehow relevant to the Magi? Is there some element in the story that suggests that they came to some special threshold of new understanding? | By Rev. Stephen Dandridge Cole , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Missed Opportunities
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 4 Jan, 2026
| By Rev. Joel C Glenn , Westville, RSA
The Prophecy of Zacharias
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 28 Dec, 2025
When Zacharias’ mouth was opened after being mute, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied. We will go through the words he said, as a way of reflecting on what the Lord accomplished when He came. We will also reflect on what each of us might say if we were filled with the Holy Spirit. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Prophecy of Zacharias
Worship Service: Sermon only - 28 Dec, 2025
When Zacharias’ mouth was opened after being mute, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied. We will go through the words he said, as a way of reflecting on what the Lord accomplished when He came. We will also reflect on what each of us might say if we were filled with the Holy Spirit. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
In the Beginning
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 28 Dec, 2025
| By Rev. Joel C Glenn , Westville, RSA
Christmas Day Service: Responding Angelically
Worship Service: Sermon only - 25 Dec, 2025
(Luke 1:26-27) In the story of Gabriel appearing to Zacharias and then to Mary, we find guidance as to how we can respond angelically to other people, and to the prompts we receive from the Lord. We are angels in the making. How will you choose to be sent by God as Gabriel was, and what angelic quality will you strive to embrace in this Christmas season? | By Rt. Rev. Peter Martin Buss, Jr. , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Two Christmas Stories, Part 2, Luke
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 25 Dec, 2025
There is not just one “Christmas Story:” Matthew recounts Joseph’s dilemma, the arrival of the wise men, and the threat of Herod, while Luke recounts the annunciation to Mary, the infant Jesus being placed in a manger, and the shepherds coming to see Him. Keeping these stories separate in our minds helps us understand the spiritual significance of each one: Matthew has a lot to say about how we receive the Lord in our minds through truth, faith, and understanding. Luke on the other hand tells us more about how we receive the Lord in our hearts, in goodness, charity, and our will. On Christmas Day we will explore how Luke can help us be more accepting, trusting, and loving in how we receive the Lord. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn , Westville, RSA
Christmas Eve Service: To Proclaim and Ponder the Good News
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 24 Dec, 2025
After the shepherds had visited the newborn Jesus, “they made widely known the saying which was spoken to them concerning this little Child.” Mary, meanwhile, “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:17-19). At Christmas, we have the opportunity to both joyfully proclaim the Lord’s birth and quietly reflect on what His birth means for our lives and for the world. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Choose Joy
Worship Service: Children & Adult - 24 Dec, 2025
One of the main themes both from the text of the Christmas story and in the music and the culture derived from it is Joy. The message of the angels to all to whom they appeared mentions joy or great joy. The reactions of those to the news of the Lord's coming was one that included joy. We also see in the promises made through the prophets foretelling of the coming Messiah that there would be joy at His coming. How can we choose joy? | By Rev. David C. Roth , Boulder, CO
Magnify the Lord
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 21 Dec, 2025
Choices are like a magnifying glass - we magnify the thoughts and feelings that capture our attention at any given point in time which means we can “magnify” negative thoughts and feelings just as easily as positive ones. But something miraculous happens when we, like Mary, in the face of our worries and concerns, consciously and deliberately magnify the Lord. We start to see and feel things we never saw or felt before. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Magnify the Lord
Worship Service: Sermon only - 21 Dec, 2025
Choices are like a magnifying glass - we magnify the thoughts and feelings that capture our attention at any given point in time which means we can “magnify” negative thoughts and feelings just as easily as positive ones. But something miraculous happens when we, like Mary, in the face of our worries and concerns, consciously and deliberately magnify the Lord. We start to see and feel things we never saw or felt before. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Two Christmas Stories
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 21 Dec, 2025
We often talk about "The Christmas Story" as if it were one contained story. But really there are two: one in the Gospel of Matthew, the other in the Gospel of Luke. In the first, the danger of Herod looms large, Joseph has to work hard to keep the family safe, and wise men from the East bring gifts. In the second, Mary is central, there is no room for them in the inn, and shepherds come to adore the little infant. These two different versions tell us a lot about the two distinct ways we receive the Lord into our own lives. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn , Westville, RSA
An Answered Prayer
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 14 Dec, 2025
The Christmas story begins with Zacharias receiving the astonishing news that his elderly, barren wife would give birth to a special child. Yet in the moment of his prayers being answered, Zechariah doubted; and so was made mute until the time of the child’s birth. How often do we do the same, doubting just when our prayers might be answered? It’s as if it’s too good to be true, and to protect ourselves from disappointment we refuse to let ourselves give in to false hope. But the Lord does not give false hope: His promises are sure and He brings to pass something greater even then our wildest dreams. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn , Westville, RSA
Angels: Messengers From The Lord
Worship Service: Sermon only - 14 Dec, 2025
God came on earth at what was said to be the darkest time in our human history. His coming as the promised Messiah was pronounced and ushered in by angelic messengers. This Sunday we will talk about the presence of angels: their role in the Lord's Advent and how they guide and support us today, as well as how we too are angels in training and what part we can play in bringing peace on earth. | By Rev. David C. Roth , Boulder, CO
The Visible God
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 7 Dec, 2025
“The Lord’s Birth: His Introduction to Us, Allowing Us to Get to Know the God of the Universe” The Lord’s birth on earth allows us to see things we could never see or understand on our own. Unless He lived on Earth, we could not know how He loves us. Without the stories of the New Testament, we would not know how to serve Him and prepare for heavenly life. | By Rt. Rev. David H. Lindrooth , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Visible God
Worship Service: Sermon only - 7 Dec, 2025
“The Critical Importance of Seeing and Worshipping a Visible God” The New Church is called “the Crown of all the Churches” because it worships the visible God in whom is the invisible (TCR 787). The Lord’s birth and life on earth allow us to see Him and understand how He invites us into a relationship with Him, while on earth and to eternity in heaven. | By Rt. Rev. David H. Lindrooth , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
