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The Spiritual Connections in Music and the Lord's Word
Worship Service: Informal Family - 4 Dec, 2016
This Sunday before the Carol Sing there will be a brief worship service for the whole family in the church. The theme of the talk will be trying to understand the spiritual reasons why music can have such a powerful effect on us. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
The Promise of John the Baptist
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 27 Nov, 2016
The Lord was born on earth to bring hope to the hopeless, to those who think that they will never change, the promise is John the Baptist was a miracle, that represents the beginning of this change, a new life coming into our hearts, which inspires us to make true changes. | By Rt. Rev. Peter Martin Buss, Sr. , Westville, RSA
Marriage in the Resurrection
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 20 Nov, 2016
A consideration of the Lord's teaching in the Gospels about marriage in the resurrection. On the face of it, it appears to contradict many other teachings about marriage and the life of heaven. But with the help of the Doctrines for the New Church it can be seen to be both consistent with the other teachings, and have an uplifting and encouraging message. | By Rev. James P. Cooper , Westville, RSA
Remembrance Day
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 13 Nov, 2016
An opportunity to remember those who have served their homeland with honour, and to reflect on the spiritual causes and meaning of war itself. | By Rev. James P. Cooper , Westville, RSA
The Purpose of a Church
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 6 Nov, 2016
What does our Heavenly Father want from us His children? Perhaps more importantly, what does our Heavenly Father want to do FOR us? According to what He said in the Word, He wants to show us the way to get ourselves ready for heaven. Like a good Father He wants us to try things out and learn for ourselves, but He also knows when to step in and help us when we run into an obstacle that we can't overcome by ourselves. | By Rev. James P. Cooper , Westville, RSA
Sins of Omission
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 23 Oct, 2016
This Sunday the Executive Bishop of our church, Brian Keith, will be preaching. His topic is sins of omission. Are we responsible for things that we have not done? Come and find out. | By Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith , Westville, RSA
I Never Deserted You
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 16 Oct, 2016
Why can't we just choose to love what's good and attain it without having to battle for it? The internal sense of the story of the older son in the Prodigal Son story gives the answer, and gives us serious encouragement. | By Rt. Rev. Peter Martin Buss, Sr. , Westville, RSA
The Covenant Restored
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 9 Oct, 2016
When we break trust, with the Lord or with others, how can it be restored? When someone breaks trust with us, how can we work with him or her to rebuild it? | By Rt. Rev. Peter Martin Buss, Sr. , Westville, RSA
Part 2 - What's the point of me?
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 2 Oct, 2016
Last Sunday we talked about the purpose of life in this world and got into ideas about heaven and working to bring heaven to earth. This week it gets more personal - and potentially more difficult. Yes, we're supposed to be useful and bringing heaven to earth but what does that mean about what a person does on a Monday morning? What if a person hates their job or is just entirely uninspired about doing their job? Should they quit or stick it out? What if a person knows what they want to do but can't due to bad health, injury, old age, or any number of other factors? How can the Lord help each of us to answer the question, "What's the point of me?" | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Part 1 - What's the Point of Life in This World
Worship Service: Sermon only - 25 Sep, 2016
Sometimes, in the midst of all the busyness, bizarreness, and belly-punches that life in this world can involve, we need to take a step back and ask what’s the point? Why are we here? What are we spending all this time and energy for? The Lord can help us with this—if we’re willing to take the time to listen. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Why We Have Sacraments 1- Baptism
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 18 Sep, 2016
This Sunday we have the privilege of witnessing an infant baptism. And so, in the sermon, we’re going to be talking about baptism and Holy Supper. Here’s a passage to get you thinking about the topic. Have you ever had thoughts along these lines? If the spiritual meaning of the Word had not been disclosed,… [people] might mutter and say to themselves, “What is baptism but pouring water on a baby’s head? What does that do for the baby’s salvation? What is the Holy Supper but taking bread and wine? What does that do for our salvation? For that matter, what is holy about these rituals, other than the fact that the ecclesiastical hierarchy has traditionally accepted them as sacred and divine and has commanded us to observe them? Although the churches claim that when the Word of God is brought near the elements they become sacred, these rituals are essentially just ceremonial.” … Yet from the point of view of their spiritual meaning, these two sacraments are the holiest acts of worship. (True Christianity §667) When we understand the significance of baptism and Holy Supper they can become a very meaningful part of our spiritual lives, rather than just arbitrary seeming rituals. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Best Friends
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 4 Sep, 2016
Try to explain why you love someone. You can’t. Love is a gift from God. Try to explain why you are friends with someone. That’s easy. We will explore how the Lord says that friendship allows Him to grant us true love. | By Rt. Rev. Peter Martin Buss, Sr. , Westville, RSA
The Permission of Evil
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 28 Aug, 2016
When sadness or tragedy strikes we can’t help asking, “Why did this happen?” We will explore why the Lord needs to allow unhappiness, and what He does afterwards to help us and restore us. | By Rt. Rev. Peter Martin Buss, Sr. , Westville, RSA
If I Make My Bed in Hell...
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 21 Aug, 2016
In what way is the Lord with us if we choose evil? Sometimes it seems to us that we can't change, what does He do about that? | By Rt. Rev. Peter Martin Buss, Sr. , Westville, RSA
Am I Good Enough?
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 14 Aug, 2016
Sometimes it can feel like it's pretty easy to be a good person and at other times it can feel impossible. What's reality? How worried should we be? What is the Lord really asking of us? | By Rev. Erik J. Buss , Westville, RSA
Seeing the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 7 Aug, 2016
We trust our senses. If I see something with my own eyes I know it's real, and if I can't see it I might question if it's real. Yet we believe in the Lord and none of us has seen Him. We'll talk about how we can see the Lord and about why it's important, and even vital, that we see Him. | By Rev. Erik J. Buss , Westville, RSA
Why and How to Pray for Other People
Worship Service: Sermon only - 31 Jul, 2016
When someone we know goes through something difficult or tragic we often say that we will hold them in our thoughts and prayers. Why? What is the value in our prayers? Are we hoping to change the Lord's mind on what should happen? Don't get me wrong: there is real power in prayer for others but when we don't have clarity about what we should pray for and why we're praying it can be hard to do it. Let's talk about why prayer for others matters and how to build the habit of praying for others into our lives. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Guilt and Remorse
Worship Service: Sermon only - 24 Jul, 2016
All of us have done things that are wrong, sometimes painfully wrong. How do we move on? What's the one essential thing we need to make sure we do, even as we find ourselves keeping on doing harmful things? We'll explore this and more, and then have a chance to come before the Lord for Holy Supper to ask His help in moving forward. | By Rev. Erik J. Buss , Westville, RSA
The Breath of Life
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 10 Jul, 2016
Are you inspired, or are you just plodding along? Are you relaxed or are you tight and pushing hard to get through the day? We will explore the Lord's presence in our lives, how we open ourselves to what is good, and reject what is harmful. And, perhaps surprisingly, we will look at how the Lord links a lot of different spiritual ideas to breathing. | By Rev. Erik J. Buss , Westville, RSA
Living in Community
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 3 Jul, 2016
Everyone looks for a community of like-minded people, and mourns at the loss of those people when the communities dissolve. We'll look at some teachings about community, it's value, and consider what we can do to deepen the connection with others in the various communities in our lives. | By Rev. Erik J. Buss , Westville, RSA
The Lord on a White Horse
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 26 Jun, 2016
An explanation of one of those "difficult" stories in the Old Testament, showing how even when the story involves punishment for evildoers, the essential message is a positive one about how the Lord is constantly watching over us and protecting us from spiritual harm. | By Rev. James P. Cooper , Westville, RSA
The Holy City New Jerusalem
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 19 Jun, 2016
The Holy City New Jerusalem is one way to picture heaven. In this sermon we will look at some of the main features of the city as it is described in the book of Revelation and use those keys to unlock a clearer picture of the spiritual home that the Lord has built for us. | By Rev. James P. Cooper , Westville, RSA
The Child Who Ruled With a Rod of Iron
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 12 Jun, 2016
The Hebrew word for "dragon" is translated in different ways when it is used in different parts of the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes its a "serpent" and in the story of Jonah its a "great fish." In this sermon we'll be looking at some of these stories to see the different way the "dragon" tries to interfere with our spiritual growth and the health of the church. | By Rev. James P. Cooper , Westville, RSA
As We Also Forgive Our Debtors
Worship Service: Sermon only - 5 Jun, 2016
Have you ever wondered why people in the New Church say the Lord's prayer a bit differently from a lot of other churches? One of the differences is that we say, "and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors." Do you know what that means? How are debts different from trespasses? This sermon puts them in context. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Holy Supper and Repentance
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 29 May, 2016
This Sunday we will have Holy Supper or Communion at the end of the service and we will be talking about the meaning of this sacred practice. We have just finished a sermon series on repentance and so we will be talking particularly about the power that taking the Holy Supper can have in the process of repenting. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA