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The Christmas Census
Worship Service: Informal Family - 9 Dec, 2018
The Christmas story takes place during a census, which would have been an inconvenience for Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:1-3). But providentially this led to the Lord’s birth in Bethlehem. What is the “census” in our own lives that leads to the birth of the Lord in our hearts and minds? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Love Wins
Worship Service: Informal Family - 4 Nov, 2018
In the final week of “Love Over Ego,” we look at the story of Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6). The Babylonian governors got King Darius to make a law that everyone had to worship him. Daniel continued to pray to the Lord, and so he was thrown in the lion’s den. How does this story illustrate love finally winning over ego? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Humility over Shame
Worship Service: Informal Family - 21 Oct, 2018
In week four of “Love over Ego,” we look at Daniel chapter four, in which Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a tall tree that was chopped down to a stump. Our ego sometimes thinks too highly of ourselves, but our ego can also feel the shame of being ‘cut down to size.’ How can we instead find true humility, which opens us back up to the Lord’s love and joy? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Intentions Over Expectations
Worship Service: Informal Family - 7 Oct, 2018
In week two of “Love Over Ego,” we look at Daniel chapter two, in which Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay. The statue was then shattered by a stone. How does this vision describe our expectations in life? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
We Are What We Eat
Worship Service: Informal Family - 30 Sep, 2018
As we begin the Journey series “Love Over Ego,” we look at Daniel chapter one, in which Daniel and his friends refused the King of Babylon’s delicacies, and instead chose to eat vegetables and drink water. “We are what we eat” is a principle that applies spiritually as well as naturally, and it relates to our “true identity.” This is a Holy Supper service. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Tabernacle Community
Worship Service: Informal Family - 23 Sep, 2018
When building the Tabernacle, Moses called for all the people to contribute whatever materials they could offer (Exodus 35). The Tabernacle took form because of these freewill offerings. How does the construction of the Tabernacle represent the way community works in our lives? The song from the service "A Dwelling Place for You" is included as Track # 2 with permission of the composer, John Odhner, and the singers. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
The Fig Tree
Worship Service: Informal Family - 19 Aug, 2018
Jesus, being hungry, came across a fig tree which had only leaves and no fruit. He “cursed” the tree and it withered away (Matt 21; Mark 11). His disciples were amazed, and asked Him how He did that. What does this strange miracle symbolize in our lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Noah and the Dove
Worship Service: Informal Family - 5 Aug, 2018
Freedom from the Flood. During the Flood, Noah released first a raven and then a dove to see if there was any hope of dry land (Genesis 8). At first the dove came back with nothing. Next the dove came back with an olive leaf. Finally the dove didn’t come back at all. What does this symbolize about the gradual escape from spiritual “floods” in our own lives? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Expressions of Prayer
Worship Service: Informal Family - 7 Jan, 2018
Throughout the Word people pray to the Lord, and their position and gestures are often described. They may kneel, prostrate themselves, lift up their hands to heaven, look up to heaven, bow their heads, beat their breasts, or make other gestures. Why do they do this? What should we do? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
The Gifts of the Magi
Worship Service: Informal Family - 17 Dec, 2017
When the wise men came to see the Lord they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. What do these three gifts symbolize in our lives? How can we give these three gifts at Christmastime? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
Observing Feasts
Worship Service: Informal Family - 19 Nov, 2017
The Lord proclaimed that the children of Israel were to celebrate feasts of harvest of first-fruits and ingathering (see Exodus 23:16), and that they should bring their fruits to the Lord. What does it represent when we bring fruit to the altar and have a feast on Thanksgiving? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal , Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall