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Music
Worship Service: Sermon only - 27 Oct, 2024
"Music" Music has been with us probably from the beginning of the human race, and in each of our lives from our mothers cooing or singing to us. It has the power to affect us, like when David played for Saul. It can take us out of ourselves and connect us with the angels. And as we sing to the Lord, He can bring us closer together in charity and mutual love. | By Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The First of Charity
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 20 Oct, 2024
"The First of Charity" When we think about love, often the first things we think of are actions that we DO in order to show someone that we care—hugs, listening, helping, etc. But how often do we think of all the things we don’t or shouldn’t do in order to love our neighbor? | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The First of Charity
Worship Service: Sermon only - 20 Oct, 2024
"The First of Charity" When we think about love, often the first things we think of are actions that we DO in order to show someone that we care—hugs, listening, helping, etc. But how often do we think of all the things we don’t or shouldn’t do in order to love our neighbor? | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Minority Report
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 13 Oct, 2024
“The Minority Report” Of the twelve men sent to spy the land of Canaan to determine the strength of its people, fortifications and resources, only two, Caleb and Joshua, came back with the news that they could conquer the land if they trusted the Lord. Caleb and Joshua’s report contained the truth, the blueprint for a happy life, and yet the people sided with the majority, the ten, who gave a “bad report” (Numbers 13:32) by invoking fear instead of trust. How do we learn to trust the “minority report” and why do we need to listen to the “Calebs” and “Joshuas” of the world? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Minority Report
Worship Service: Sermon only - 13 Oct, 2024
“The Minority Report” The hells want us to think we’re in the minority, that we’re alone in doing the right thing. It can certainly feel that way at times. Think of Caleb and Joshua, two of the twelve spies, who found themselves in the minority when they gave their report that the children of Israel could conquer the land of Canaan if they trusted the Lord and didn’t let fear consume them (Numbers 13-14). But we don’t see as the Lord sees. We’re not alone. All great things start with a few, with a minority. This Charter Day weekend marks the celebration of the Academy Charter. All it took was a few brave souls to cast a vision. What can we do to be like “Caleb” and “Joshua” and further the cause of the New Church? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
What Should We Do While We're Waiting?
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 6 Oct, 2024
“What Should We Do While We’re Waiting?” We can spend a lot of our time waiting for things — small things like waiting for dinner or waiting for the weekend and big things like waiting to be an adult or waiting to find someone to marry. What should we do while we’re waiting? What does the Lord say? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
What Should We Do While We’re Waiting?
Worship Service: Sermon only - 6 Oct, 2024
“What Should We Do While We’re Waiting?” We can spend a lot of our time waiting for things — small things like waiting for dinner or waiting for the weekend and big things like waiting to find someone to marry or waiting to see our loved one who has died. What should we do while we’re waiting? What does the Lord say? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Narrow Way
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 29 Sep, 2024
“The Narrow Way” Does the Lord’s parable in Matthew 7:13 mean that only a few people go to heaven? | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
A Blessing and a Curse
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 29 Sep, 2024
“A Blessing and a Curse” We look for unity, not polarization, from our leaders. Yet the Word is full of stories about division as well as unity, and both play an important role in our regeneration. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Holy Supper and Redemption
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 22 Sep, 2024
We read that “the whole of the Lord’s redemption is present in the Holy Supper” (True Christian Religion 717). Let’s talk about what this means, especially in the context of our normal lives. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Holy Supper and Redemption
Worship Service: Sermon only - 22 Sep, 2024
“Holy Supper and Redemption” We read that “the whole of the Lord’s redemption is present in the Holy Supper” (True Christian Religion 717). Let’s talk about what this means, especially in the context of our normal lives. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Bless this Community
Worship Service: Children & Adult - 15 Sep, 2024
It’s been a humbling and gratifying experience for myself and the staff to brainstorm, plan and launch these Community Worship Services in the months we don’t have a festival service. However, in planning the topics for each service, I realized I’ve never spoken directly about the “community” part of these services. We are, of course, taught that heaven is made up of countless communities. Why is that? What is the purpose of these communities in heaven? Is Bryn Athyn built on this model? We’ll be looking at the story of Balaam being ordered by the king of Moab to curse the Israelites who instead blesses them. Do we ever “curse” that which “God has not cursed?” or denounce that which “the Lord has not denounced?” (Numbers 23:8). | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Parable of the Two Brothers
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 8 Sep, 2024
The Lord told a parable about two brothers (Matthew 21:28-32). The first brother said he would not do as his father asked, but later he regretted it and did the work. The second agreed to work but didn’t actually do it. If we have said “no” to the Lord, we still have a chance to change our mind; and if we have said “yes,” we still have to follow through on our promises. | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Good Intentions
Worship Service: Sermon only - 8 Sep, 2024
The road to hell is paved with good intentions… or so the saying goes. The Heavenly Doctrines say good intentions can take a person to heaven. But what does it mean to really intend something? To want to do it? To do it whenever the opportunity arises? We’ll explore the question through the lens of the Lord’s parable of two brothers whose deeds do not match their words (Matthew 21:28-32). | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
6-1 Ratio
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 1 Sep, 2024
The third commandment in the Decalogue encourages us to remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy, and, in preparation for that day of rest, to labor six days. But why not labor for five days and rest for two or, even better, labor for three days and rest for four? Isn’t this 6-1 ratio of work to rest a little over the top? People sometimes think of heaven (that is, happiness) as being “rest” or “leisure,” a reward, a free pass, from ever having to “work” again, but would this make us happy? Would this be heaven? It turns out the Lord knows what He’s talking about – His prescribed ratio of 6-1 is perfect. Come find out why those in heaven “are caught up in a love of their work” (HH 393) and why “a life with no activity has no happiness” (HH 403). | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
6-1 Ratio
Worship Service: Sermon only - 1 Sep, 2024
The third commandment in the Decalogue encourages us to remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy, and, in preparation for that day of rest, to labor six days. But why not labor for five days and rest for two or, even better, labor for three days and rest for four? Isn’t this 6-1 ratio of work to rest a little over the top? People sometimes think of heaven (that is, happiness) as being “rest” or “leisure,” a reward, a free pass, from ever having to “work” again, but would this make us happy? Would this be heaven? It turns out the Lord knows what He’s talking about – His prescribed ratio of 6-1 is perfect. Come find out why those in heaven “are caught up in a love of their work” (HH 393) and why “a life with no activity has no happiness” (HH 403). | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Know Your Spiritual Enemies: The Babylonians
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 25 Aug, 2024
This Sunday we will be talking about the last of our spiritual enemies, the Babylonians. This is the enemy that took Judah into captivity towards the end of the Old Testament story; this is one of the final enemies that had to be overthrown before the Holy City New Jerusalem could descend towards the end of the New Testament. What do the Babylonians represent in our lives and what do we need to do so that the Lord can save us from them? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Know Your Spiritual Enemies: The Babylonians”
Worship Service: Sermon only - 25 Aug, 2024
This Sunday we will be talking about the last of our spiritual enemies, the Babylonians. This is the enemy that took Judah into captivity towards the end of the Old Testament story; this is one of the final enemies that had to be overthrown before the Holy City New Jerusalem could descend towards the end of the New Testament. What do the Babylonians represent in our lives and what do we need to do so that the Lord can save us from them? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Don't Look Back
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 18 Aug, 2024
A number of stories in the Word warn us not to “look back” or “turn back” once we’ve made the decision to go forward. This speaks to the fact that there are certain times in our lives when we need to “move on” and put “hand to plough” (Luke 9:62). But what about those times in our lives when we “look back” with nostalgia, with fondness, on what has come before? Is this not appropriate? What’s the difference between these two kinds of “looking back,” and how do they help us move forward? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Don't Look Back
Worship Service: Sermon only - 18 Aug, 2024
A number of stories in the Word warn us not to “look back” or “turn back” once we’ve made the decision to go forward. This speaks to the fact that there are certain times in our lives when we need to “move on” and put “hand to plough” (Luke 9:62). But what about those times in our lives when we “look back” with nostalgia, with fondness, on what has come before? Is this not appropriate? What’s the difference between these two kinds of “looking back,” and how do they help us move forward? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Lord’s Power to Create
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 11 Aug, 2024
The beginning of the Gospel of John (1:3) describes the Lord creating everything. Not only did He create everything, but He is constantly creating everything – every moment of every day, to eternity. We are invited to use that power of His creation to guide our lives. | By Rt. Rev. David H. Lindrooth , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Power of the Lord’s Providence Drawing Us to Heaven
Worship Service: Sermon only - 11 Aug, 2024
Ezekiel describes a great and mighty river with a strong current representing the Lord drawing us toward the healing of Heaven (Ezekiel 47). Where will it take us? How do we wade in? | By Rt. Rev. David H. Lindrooth , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Broken Set of the Ten Commandments
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 4 Aug, 2024
Many of the stories in the Old Testament describe an unhappy relationship between the Lord and the Children of Israel. The Children of Israel are disobeying the Lord’s commandments, sometimes in terrible ways. What can we learn from these stories that helps all of us better understand the Lord? | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Why Does the Lord Sometimes Seem Angry?
Worship Service: Sermon only - 4 Aug, 2024
A person who reads a few chapters each day from the Old and New Testaments can read all of the stories that contain a continuous internal sense in one year. Reading through the Old Testament there are many stories that don’t seem to portray a loving God. Sometimes God seems to command genocide. Often, He expresses condemnation and severe consequences. How does the Heavenly Doctrine help us to see something very different within these stories? | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
A Garment of Praise
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 28 Jul, 2024
The Lord promises “A Garment of Praise” (Isaiah 61:3) for those who have a spirit of heaviness. One of the Lord’s purposes in coming into the world is to comfort and console those who mourn. How can we find and give that kind of comfort? | By Rev. John L. Odhner , Bryn Athyn Cathedral