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Saul’s Intentions
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 31 Aug, 2025
Is it OK to sort of or even mostly follow the Lord’s Commandments? Something is better than nothing, right? When King Saul was commanded to destroy the Amalekites, he mostly did what the Lord said. This Sunday we’ll find out how that went for him, and what it means for our intentions. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Saul’s Intentions
Worship Service: Sermon only - 31 Aug, 2025
Is it OK to sort of or even mostly follow the Lord’s Commandments? Something is better than nothing, right? When King Saul was commanded to destroy the Amalekites, he mostly did what the Lord said. This Sunday we’ll find out how that went for him, and what it means for our intentions. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Pure in Heart Shall See God
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 24 Aug, 2025
At the very beginning of Jesus’ most famous sermon – the Sermon on the Mount – He begins by calling out groups of people and offering them blessings. To one group He says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). This may seem strange, after all what does the quality of our heart have to do with our ability to see? In this message, though, there is a powerful message about how we receive and develop our faith. | By Steven Gunther , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Pure in Heart Shall See God
Worship Service: Sermon only - 24 Aug, 2025
At the very beginning of Jesus’ most famous sermon – the Sermon on the Mount – He begins by calling out groups of people and offering them blessings. To one group He says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). This may seem strange, after all what does the quality of our heart have to do with our ability to see? In this message, though, there is a powerful message about how we receive and develop our faith. | By Steven Gunther , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Perfectionism
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 17 Aug, 2025
Life would have little meaning or purpose if we didn’t set goals for ourselves and if we didn’t push ourselves to put in our best effort. But striving to be perfect is very different from being perfect. We often confuse the two. The first is part of the Lord’s plan, the second is a lie perpetuated by the hells which causes tremendous damage because we end up demanding perfection of ourselves and others. In the story of the Rich Young Ruler, the Lord addresses the question of perfectionism and provides an answer that is truly freeing (Matthew 19:16-22). | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Perfectionism
Worship Service: Sermon only - 17 Aug, 2025
Life would have little meaning or purpose if we didn’t set goals for ourselves and if we didn’t push ourselves to put in our best effort. But striving to be perfect is very different from being perfect. We often confuse the two. The first is part of the Lord’s plan, the second is a lie perpetuated by the hells which causes tremendous damage because we end up demanding perfection of ourselves and others. In the story of the Rich Young Ruler, the Lord addresses the question of perfectionism and provides an answer that is truly freeing (Matthew 19:16-22). | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Our Spiritual Reality: Grappling with Hell
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 10 Aug, 2025
If we want to really understand our spiritual reality, we have to grapple with the reality of hell. This Sunday, we will take some time with images and teachings about hell in the Old Testament, New Testament, and the teachings for the New Church. We will be looking directly at some of the most difficult and darkest aspects of human life. At the same time, we will reflect on our loving God, who shines light into even the darkest places and reaches out in love and infinite mercy to even the darkest of hearts. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Our Spiritual Reality: Grappling with Hell
Worship Service: Sermon only - 10 Aug, 2025
If we want to really understand our spiritual reality, we have to grapple with the reality of hell. This Sunday, we will take some time with images and teachings about hell in the Old Testament, New Testament, and the teachings for the New Church. We will be looking directly at some of the most difficult and darkest aspects of human life. At the same time, we will reflect on our loving God, who shines light into even the darkest places and reaches out in love and infinite mercy to even the darkest of hearts. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Great Potter
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 3 Aug, 2025
This Sunday’s family talk explores how the Lord is like a potter and we are like clay in His hands. We’ll see how the Lord shapes our lives, and how, when we create with love and care, our works can reflect His. | By Rev. Pearse M. Frazier , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Potter and Technology
Worship Service: Sermon only - 3 Aug, 2025
This Sunday’s adult sermon explores the difference between the works of our hands and the work of the Lord’s. From pottery to AI, human creations often reflect our desires, but not always our wisdom. We’ll reflect on how technology can either serve or distort what only the Lord can truly form: a heavenly person. | By Rev. Pearse M. Frazier , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Lies of the Serpent
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 27 Jul, 2025
The first liar in the Word is the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Ever since then, people have had trouble telling the truth. But in the book of Revelation, the serpent, also known as the dragon, is defeated. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Invention of Lying
Worship Service: Sermon only - 27 Jul, 2025
The Heavenly Doctrine tells us fascinating things about how deception and lies made their way into the world. We are also told about the meaning of the eighth commandment and how the Lord is leading us into an age when bearing false witness will be increasingly rare. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Free to Do What?
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 20 Jul, 2025
We’re taught that “all freedom is a matter of love…” (DP 73), and yet not all “freedoms” are equal. Eating a bowl of ice cream might seem like heaven on earth but it doesn’t carry the same kind of weight or significance as choosing to help a friend in need, or choosing to invent or create something that benefits society. The type of freedom which the Lord wants us to experience is not something we are born with. It doesn’t just fall in our lap. The truth will indeed “set us free” – it’s just a matter of asking ourselves how hard are we willing to fight for it. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Free to Do What?
Worship Service: Sermon only - 20 Jul, 2025
We’re taught that “all freedom is a matter of love…” (DP 73), and yet not all “freedoms” are equal. Eating a bowl of ice cream might seem like heaven on earth but it doesn’t carry the same kind of weight or significance as choosing to help a friend in need or choosing to invent or create something that benefits society. The type of freedom which the Lord wants us to experience is not something we are born with. It doesn’t just fall in our lap. The truth will indeed “set us free” – it’s just a matter of asking ourselves how hard are we willing to fight for it. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Memorial Service for Carly Rose Cole
Memorial Service - 20 Jul, 2025
Carly Rose (Andrews) Cole passed into the spiritual world on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. She was 45 years old. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Memorial Service for Marcie E. Gyllenhaal
Memorial Service - 19 Jul, 2025
Martha “Marcie” E. Gyllenhaal passed into the spiritual world on Friday, June 13, 2025. She was 78 years old. | By Nathan Gladish, Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Our Spiritual Reality: Heaven
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 13 Jul, 2025
A big focus of the Lord’s teaching, when He was on earth, was the kingdom of heaven. Heaven is also a big focus of what the Lord reveals in the teachings for the New Church. This Sunday, as we continue our series on understanding our spiritual reality, we will explore a few of the Lord’s teachings about heaven and reflect on the impact that our beliefs about heaven can have on our day-to-day lives. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Our Spiritual Reality: Heaven
Worship Service: Sermon only - 13 Jul, 2025
A big focus of the Lord’s teaching, when He was on earth, was the kingdom of heaven. Heaven is also a big focus of what the Lord reveals in the teachings for the New Church. This Sunday, as we continue our series on understanding our spiritual reality, we will explore a few of the Lord’s teachings about heaven and reflect on the impact that our beliefs about heaven can have on our day-to-day lives. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Loving our Country as Our Neighbor
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 6 Jul, 2025
As we celebrate Independence Day this week, it's useful to reflect on what it means to love our country. The Heavenly Doctrines tell us that loving our neighbor includes loving our country, but what does that look like in practice? How can we love something as big and complex as a whole country? | By Steven Gunther , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
From the Least to the Greatest: Loving Our Country
Worship Service: Sermon only - 6 Jul, 2025
After we celebrate Independence Day this week, we’ll reflect on what it means to love our country as an expression of loving our neighbor. The Heavenly doctrines teach us about degrees of the neighbor that are like steps on a ladder leading to the Lord. This Sunday, we will consider how simple everyday charity can be a powerful form of patriotism and—more importantly—how it connects us to the Lord. | By Steven Gunther , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Your Steering Wheel: How do we bring religion into life?
Worship Service: Sermon only - 29 Jun, 2025
The Sabbath day is set aside to remember the Lord, but what can we do to bring religion and the Lord into life from Monday to Saturday? The Lord’s Word has some great ideas. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Bowing to Bloom: Humility and the Tree of Life
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 22 Jun, 2025
Bowing is an ancient custom symbolizing the need to lower ourselves before what is Higher. We will explore the connection between humility and eating of the tree of life over the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. | By Rev. Ethan McCardell , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Bowing Before the Lord: The Humble Heart and the Tree of Life
Worship Service: Sermon only - 22 Jun, 2025
As love of our own intelligence starts to give way to humility, we open ourselves to the experience the Lord’s blessings (barak, the primary Hebrew word for blessing, carries the connotation of what is higher flowing into what is lower) and a consequent uplifting of our life. We’ll explore the connection between this bowing before the Lord and the development of a spiritual life. | By Rev. Ethan McCardell , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Memorial Service for Doris A. Halterman
Memorial Service - 21 Jun, 2025
Doris A. Halterman passed into the spiritual world on June 9, 2025. She was 89 years old. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Two Most Important Things
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 15 Jun, 2025
John saw a vision of two witnesses who were put to death and raised to life (Revelation 11). They represent the two essentials of the New Church: that the Lord in His glorified humanity is God and that people should live by the Ten Commandments. These two echo the two great commandments, showing us how to live heavenly lives. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn , Bryn Athyn Cathedral