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Helping Someone Who Doesn't Understand
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 16 Jul, 2023
When we see people with an important job and, although they mean well, are doing it in a way that is causing a serious problem, we can have many different reactions. Sometimes we might be very critical, or we might want to take that job away from them. How has the Lord reacted when angels have been causing problems as they try to fulfill an important job? | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Two Last Judgments and Two Times Angels Were Causing Huge Problems
Worship Service: Sermon only - 16 Jul, 2023
The teachings for the New Church tell us of the terrible spiritual darkness that filled the World of Spirits prior to the Lord’s first and then second advent. We also learn that angels in heaven had unfortunate roles contributing to this darkness. How did the Lord react to these angels and what does it say about His priorities that might prompt us to consider how we might want to react to problems in the future? | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Look at the Birds of the Air
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 9 Jul, 2023
Look at the Birds of the Air
Worship Service: Sermon only - 9 Jul, 2023
(Matthew 6:26) We will be exploring the Lord’s invitation to consider birds, what they represent and why flying and “taking flight” has so much appeal to us as human beings, especially as it relates to freedom. The Scriptures are full of stories and references to birds which is our first clue that something special is being talked about. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Know Your Spiritual Enemies: The Amalekites
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 2 Jul, 2023
We’re getting back to our ongoing series on knowing our spiritual enemies by considering the Amalekites. The Amalekites were a nasty enemy—one that would attack the children of Israel when they were at their weakest—and so, multiple times, the children of Israel were commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites. We will look at a few different battles with the Amalekites to try to understand how to guard ourselves against this enemy and to appreciate just how much the Lord has done and continues to do to protect us. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Know Your Spiritual Enemies: The Amalekites
Worship Service: Sermon only - 2 Jul, 2023
We’re getting back to our ongoing series on knowing our spiritual enemies by considering the Amalekites. The Amalekites were a nasty enemy—one that would attack the children of Israel when they were at their weakest—and so, multiple times, the children of Israel were commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites. We will look at a few different battles with the Amalekites to try to understand how to guard ourselves against this enemy and to appreciate just how much the Lord has done and continues to do to protect us. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Memorial Service for Willard G. Bostock
Memorial Service - 2 Jul, 2023
Willard G. Bostock passed into the spiritual world on Monday, June 26, 2023. | By Rev. Kurt Hyland Asplundh , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Memorial Service for Portia King O'Brien
Memorial Service - 1 Jul, 2023
Portia King O’Brien passed into the spiritual world on Saturday, May 30, 2020. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Spiritual Washing
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 25 Jun, 2023
"Spiritual Washing" The story of Naaman (2 Kings 5) washing seven times in the Jordan river tells us how the Lord cleanses us from hurtful thoughts and feelings and heals our spiritual life. | By Rev. John L. Odhner , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Spiritual Washing
Worship Service: Sermon only - 25 Jun, 2023
Baptism by itself does nothing for our salvation, but the Spiritual Washing it represents and supports is a life change that takes us out of hell and puts us on the path to heaven. (Matthew 15:1-20, Secrets of Heaven 3147) | By Rev. John L. Odhner , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
"I have seen, I have heard, I have felt."
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 18 Jun, 2023
"I have seen, I have heard, I have felt." (Arcana Coelestia 68). Imagine watching a movie at the theater without the soundtrack or listening to the soundtrack without the picture. Or imagine smelling bread fresh out of the oven but being denied a slice of it. Only when all our senses are engaged do we experience the fullness and richness of life. The same was true for Emanuel Swedenborg in his role as a revelator. The Lord could have simply told Swedenborg what to write down about heaven and hell but instead Swedenborg was fully immersed in the spiritual world where he saw, heard, smelled, tasted, and touched incredible things. The same is true of our spiritual lives - all our senses need to be engaged if we are to properly discern between good and evil. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
"I have seen, I have heard, I have felt." (AC 68)
Worship Service: Sermon only - 18 Jun, 2023
On the day before our celebration of New Church Day, we will take a moment to marvel at the nature of the Lord’s new revelation, given through His servant, Emanuel Swedenborg. The Lord could have simply dictated to Swedenborg all the necessary facts and information of this new revelation but instead Swedenborg spent decades living and breathing the sights and sounds and smells of the spiritual realm. Why was this necessary? Do we need a similar “immersion” in spiritual delights in order to properly discern between good and evil? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Memorial Service for Christopher M. Carter
Memorial Service - 12 Jun, 2023
The Angel with the Little Book
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 11 Jun, 2023
Revelation chapter 10 tells a story that is at the heart of what New Church day is all about. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Seven Thunders
Worship Service: Sermon only - 11 Jun, 2023
The seven thunders that are heard in Revelation chapter 10 are speaking a message that will literally change the world. But that message is sealed up and John is told not to write it down. The reason for this has to do with what is just about to happen in the book. | By Rev. Jeremy F. Simons , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Two Gateways to Eternal Life
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 4 Jun, 2023
The teachings of the New Church call baptism and Holy Supper two gateways to eternal life. Last Sunday we got to witness a baptism; this Sunday we get to have Holy Supper. This may be the first time a number of children will be witnessing Holy Supper and so the short family talk for this service will be a basic overview of the use and purpose of Holy Supper. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Lord Wants to Have Supper with You
Worship Service: Sermon only - 4 Jun, 2023
When considering whether to take Holy Supper, we are often focused on whether we feel worthy to take it. This Sunday the short sermon will focus on what the Lord would like. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Importance of Baptism
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 28 May, 2023
This Sunday we have a very special service. One of the students in our school will be baptized. Baptism is SO important that even the Lord got baptized. Our teachings tell us that it is a sign and memorial. But what is so special about baptism? And why is it so important? Join us on Sunday to both celebrate the occasion and to learn a little bit more about this sacrament. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Simplicity
Worship Service: Sermon only - 28 May, 2023
There’s a part of us that rebels and scoffs at things that appear simple. We tend to equate “simple” with being naïve and unsophisticated and because life in this world gets complicated in a hurry we imagine the fix to our problems will undoubtedly require a complex solution. In reality, the Lord wants us to keep things simple because simplicity is the gateway to all the joys and delights of heaven. To be “simple” means to be of one mind. Deep down inside we’re drawn to the mindset of simplicity because it provides a type of freedom that acts in unison with the Lord’s goals and purposes, thereby “making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Memorial Address for Jennifer O'Farrell
Memorial Service - 25 May, 2023
Jennifer O'Farrell (Zagorski) | By Rev. Charles E. Blair , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Gathered, One by One
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 21 May, 2023
At our first Community Worship Service in September of last year we talked about gathering. This Sunday, at our last Community Worship Service of this school/fiscal year, we will again be talking about gathering—this time with a focus on the individual work that we need to do in order to be gathered by the Lord and the role we can play in helping the Lord to gather other people, one by one. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Angelic Mothers and Guardian Angels
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 14 May, 2023
At the crucifixion, Jesus gave charge of His mother Mary to the disciple John. And this reflects the invitation the Lord offers to us all. The Lord forms the church in our hearts. In as much as we love the truth, our neighbor, and the Lord, the church grows within us. Yes, the church has structure from the doctrines the Lord has given us through His Word. Yes, there is a natural organization of people who share the values of those teachings. But it is all from the Lord's love, and it is from that love that the church finds life. The family service will focus on angelic mothers and guardian angels. And yet, the teachings are related. | By Rev. Pearse M. Frazier , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
The Church of Our Hearts
Worship Service: Sermon only - 14 May, 2023
At the crucifixion, Jesus gave charge of His mother Mary to the disciple John. And this reflects the invitation the Lord offers to us all. The Lord forms the church in our hearts. In as much as we love the truth, our neighbor, and the Lord, the church grows within us. Yes, the church has structure from the doctrines the Lord has given us through His Word. Yes, there is a natural organization of people who share the values of those teachings. But it is all from the Lord's love, and it is from that love that the church finds life. | By Rev. Pearse M. Frazier , Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Memorial Service for Anne T. Synnestvedt
Memorial Service - 13 May, 2023
Trusting in God
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 7 May, 2023
David had been anointed as the next King, but Saul was trying to kill him, and so he had to leave his wife Michal, and his best friend Jonathan, to run away and hide (1 Samuel 20). During this time David wrote many psalms about trusting in God. How can this story about David help us to trust in God as well when things aren’t going the way we want them to? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Cathedral