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Do You Want to Be Made Well?
Worship Service: Informal Family - 15 Jul, 2018
A man had been sick for 38 years, and the Lord asked him a strange question: “Do you want to be made well?” Of course, he wanted to be made well! But maybe it's not such a strange question after all. Aren't there areas of our lives where part of us doesn’t WANT the Lord's healing? How can we allow the Lord to transform those parts within us? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Creating Positive Experiences
Worship Service: Informal Family - 8 Jul, 2018
Pharaoh had a dream in which he saw seven healthy cows, and seven starving cows, and seven healthy heads of grain, and seven unhealthy heads of grain (Genesis 41). Joseph interpreted the dream for Pharaoh, and gave him some good advice. What does this story teach us about the role we can play in the stream of the Lord’s providence? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
The Real Priesthood
Worship Service: Informal Family - 1 Jul, 2018
We look at the story of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37) After a man was beaten and almost killed, a priest walked by without a second glance. Then a Levite (a kind of low level priest) passed apathetically, but a despised Samaritan stopped to help. What guides our church? What determines the direction of our lives? This week the clergy of our denomination have been meeting to discuss our teachings and the state of our church, and to nominate a new executive bishop. Are these things important? How do we set our priorities? And if we want a change in our church, how do we go about that? | By Rev. John L. Odhner , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Every Valley Will Be Exalted
Worship Service: Informal Family - 24 Jun, 2018
Here we look at the valleys in the Bible and our lives. What is the quality of a valley? Can good things be found in our low points? “Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there.” (Genesis 26:19) | By Rev. Elmo K. Acton , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
A Father Named Jairus
Worship Service: Informal Family - 17 Jun, 2018
For our Father’s Day service we will look at the story of Jairus; a father who asked the Lord for help for the sake of his daughter (Mark 5:21-43). We will be honoring fathers, father figures, and masculinity. Lay men will share readings, and glass hearts will be given to all the men and boys at the service. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
The Woman, the Dragon, and the Wings in Revelation 12
Worship Service: Informal Family - 10 Jun, 2018
“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun...And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads….But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle” (Revelation 12:1-14) We explore the meaning of the “dragon” and the “woman clothed with the sun” inside all of us. Thanks to the Odhner family Marionettes for depicting this story. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Content With Your Lot
Worship Service: Informal Family - 3 Jun, 2018
So often we are tempted to long for more than we have. Yet anxiety and sadness often result when we compare ourselves to others and consider ourselves lacking. The Lord wants us instead to be content, and reminds us that the happiest of people are those whose focus is on spiritual, rather than natural, riches. | By Rt. Rev. Peter Martin Buss, Jr. , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
The Potter
Worship Service: Informal Family - 27 May, 2018
Jeremiah went to the potter’s house to watch him make something at his wheel. The vessel the potter made had a flaw in it. Rather than throwing the clay away, he continued to work on the vessel until it was good in his sight. We explore how the Lord, as an artist, is forming you into an angel. We have one of our local ceramic artists showing how a pot is made on a potter's wheel as part of the service. | By Rt. Rev. Thomas L. Kline , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
A Little Goes a Long Way
Worship Service: Informal Family - 20 May, 2018
This Sunday we look at the story of “Gideon and the Loaf of Barley Bread” (Judges 7:7-15). Gideon had to reduce the size of his army, and he was now vastly outnumbered against the Midianites. But a strange dream about a ‘loaf of barley bread’ and a ‘tent' let him know that the Lord would still bring victory. In the Gospels, the Lord also fed the 5000 with only five loaves of barley bread. What does all this represent in our own lives? This is a Holy Supper service. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Mother of a Superhero
Worship Service: Informal Family - 13 May, 2018
For Mother’s Day, we will be looking at the story of Samson’s mom (Judges 13), and talking about the people in our lives who believe in our potential and help us develop our strengths. We will be honoring mothers, mother figures, and femininity. We will have women lay readers and speakers. And flowers will be given to all the women and girls at the service. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Offering Genuine Love
Worship Service: Informal Family - 6 May, 2018
When we do good for others, we can check our intentions first. Love is not genuine unless we first remove evil (True Christianity 435). “First be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:24). | By Rev. John L. Odhner , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Worship Service: Informal Family - 29 Apr, 2018
At the end of the Gospels, the Lord commissioned His disciples to go out and bring His presence to other people. In John chapter 20, He breathed on His disciples and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This service includes the Stephen Ministry Commissioning ceremony as part of the Informal Service. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Laughter - Good and Bad
Worship Service: Informal Family - 22 Apr, 2018
We like to laugh and it can be such a good thing. And laughter can be pretty unkind, something the Lord talks about. We'll explore different kinds of laughter and how we can learn to find joy in line with what the Lord wants of us. | By Rev. Erik J. Buss , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Do You Love Me?
Worship Service: Informal Family - 15 Apr, 2018
After the Lord had risen, in John chapter 21, He asked Peter three times “do you love Me?” and Peter answered affirmatively each time. The Lord also responded with three requests: “Feed My lambs,” “Tend My sheep,” “Feed My sheep.” What does this represent in our spiritual lives? And why are there different Greek words used for “love” in this story? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Seeing Signs
Worship Service: Informal Family - 8 Apr, 2018
Does the Lord still give us signs? Do some people get signs while others don’t? When the Lord commissioned the disciples, He said believers would see signs like speaking in tongues and healing the sick. Come find out how you, too, can start seeing signs from the Lord. | By Rev. Jeffrey Smith , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Believing the Good News
Worship Service: Informal Family - 1 Apr, 2018
In the story of the Lord rising on Easter morning, the women saw the risen Lord first, and then delivered the good news to the eleven. But the eleven disciples didn’t believe the women at first (Mark 16:9-14; Luke 24:9-11). What does this represent in our spiritual lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
What Do Palm Branches Symbolize?
Worship Service: Informal Family - 25 Mar, 2018
When Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem as King, the people waved palm branches and laid them down before Him. What do “palm branches” symbolize in our spiritual lives as we progress towards the new life of the Easter story? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Pouring Out Oil for the Lord
Worship Service: Informal Family - 18 Mar, 2018
Mary poured out an entire jar of precious aromatic oil to anoint the Lord (John 12:1-8). Judas rebuked her, saying that she should have sold it to give to the poor (although he really wanted to steal some of the money for himself). There are voices like Judas’s that tell us that any time we spend on anything other than direct service to the needy is wasteful. What can we learn from Mary’s example, and how can her actions show us the way to a more genuine love both for the Lord AND for other people? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Raising Lazarus: Inviting the Confrontation
Worship Service: Informal Family - 11 Mar, 2018
Jesus, though well aware of the brewing anger of the religious leaders, intentionally chose to perform an amazing miracle very close to Jerusalem. He knew how the religious leaders would respond and accepted the confrontation that His actions would provoke. We also can recognize qualities in our own minds that would harm us and others and confront them. | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Take Your Shoes Off, Moses
Worship Service: Informal Family - 4 Mar, 2018
When Moses saw the burning bush in the wilderness, the Lord told him to take off his sandals because he was on holy ground (Exodus 3). What does it mean for us to spiritually remove our “shoes” in order to be on holy ground? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Listening to Sarah
Worship Service: Informal Family - 25 Feb, 2018
Abraham was unhappy with his wife Sarah, but the Lord told Abraham, “Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice.” When we are unhappy with how things are going, it’s good to listen closely to the people we love. | By Rev. John L. Odhner , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Truth as a "Sister" or a "Wife"?
Worship Service: Informal Family - 18 Feb, 2018
In Genesis chapter 12 Abram and Sarai went down to Egypt. Abram asked Sarai to say she was his sister so they wouldn’t kill him and take her. But after Pharaoh took Sarai into his house, he discovered that she was Abram’s wife and returned her to him. What does this story tell us about the marriage of goodness and truth in our own lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Spiritual Salt
Worship Service: Informal Family - 11 Feb, 2018
In 2nd Kings chapter 2, the water at Jericho was bad, so Elisha “healed” the water by putting salt into it. Salt was used in the Israelite offerings of unleavened bread, and is also an ingredient in our Holy Supper bread. The Lord spoke positively about “salt” in the New Testament. As we take Holy Supper this week, we will explore the symbolism of salt in our lives. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Looking for Signs
Worship Service: Informal Family - 4 Feb, 2018
Signs are helpful in navigating through life. And there are lots of different kinds of signs. In autumn, the leaves turning gold is a sign of coming winter. A street sign can warn us of an unexpected turn in the road ahead. What are the signs of Faith? What are the signs that the Lord is helping us? And what are the signs that we are doing what the Lord asks of us? The Word is full of stories about different signs. We will look at the story of Gideon, who asked the Lord for signs (using a fleece and the dew) that He will save Israel from their enemies. The gist of it is that this is also a sign to us that our love and wisdom can grow within us in amazing ways! It is a practical reminder that the Lord is working within us to open our eyes and help us become more loving people (complete with the insights on how to do so). We will talk about the signs that the Lord can be present in each of our lives. | By Rt. Rev. David H. Lindrooth , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Rediscovery and Recommitment
Worship Service: Informal Family - 28 Jan, 2018
In the time of King Josiah, the Word was rediscovered in the broken down temple. In the time of Swedenborg, the internal sense of the Word was rediscovered in the Christian Church that was in disrepair. Our lives can also be a broken down “temple” in disrepair, in which the Truth can become lost. How do we rediscover and recommit to the Truth that can help us rebuild and heal our lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall