New Church Audio - Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall: Recent Episodes
New Church Audio
“Thank you!” is found many times in the Word. Its origin is having a thought, recognizing a favor, experiencing grace, pleasure or satisfaction. It is a verb which has an urgency to it, and is directed towards another. Our worship will be an opportunity to infill our thanks with a new spirit of gratitude with a mindful attention to what happens spiritually in and through us when we say “Thanks!.”
Jacob and Esau had been struggling with each other all their lives, but finally they were able to accept each other and make peace (Genesis 33). The Lord shows us how to find peace in our hearts and our homes even when there is conflict around us.
Rev. Dr. Raymond Silverman and Star Silverman discuss their study of the four Gospels. This audio only version does not include the PowerPoint slides. To see the entire presentation with all the QandA, copy this YouTube link into an internet browser: https://youtu.be/BRjWRE4tBqk?si=j-YNkNRGhjvUnKrD.
How does hope help us get through hard times? How can we get more hope in our lives? This Sunday we will look at different types of hope that show up in Biblical stories and how we can use those to help us get through when life feels difficult.
The first things the Lord spoke about were the blessings He wants to give you—the ten blessings. Come this Sunday and see how these blessings are a daily part of your life.
The Lord told a parable about a wasteful son who was forgiven and his responsible brother who resented that forgiveness (Luke 15). At different times, we play the part of each brother. What does this parable have to say to us no matter which part of this story we are in?
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26). This is one of hundreds of uplifting references the Word makes of the human heart. Please join us as we explore this incredible (and vital) organ and its powerful implications teaching us how to live a full and loving heavenly life.
Elijah experienced a violent windstorm, an earthquake, and a raging fire, and then heard the Lord in a still, small, voice. (1 Kings 19) The Lord gives us stability during times of change, but is also the one who makes all things new.
The story of building the tabernacle (Exodus 35:20-29) tells us about Building Community. The church community is built entirely by the Lord, but always with the appearance that we build it through our own efforts and gifts. We will celebrate the Lord’s presence in our community with Holy Supper.
One of the first miracles that Jesus did was turning water to wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11). What can this miracle teach us about spiritual transformations in our own lives? The piano interlude is included with permission of author Solomon Keal.
There are a lot of things to think about, care about, and stress about in this world. When someone dies it reminds us of how short life in this world can be and it can shift our perspective on what matters. We are blessed with many teachings about what life after death will be like; what can we learn from those teachings about what matters in our lives right now?
The Lord’s disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). The response is the Lord’s Prayer, which teaches us not only words we can say, but how to have a loving relationship with the God of the Universe, and how to receive His love for all people.
What is it like to reason with the Lord, and how is this different from reasoning with each other? Can the tone and quality of our dialogue with each other change if we have first reasoned with the Lord?
In the Gospels, Jesus told His disciples that you can’t put new wine into old wineskins (Matthew 9, Mark 2, Luke 5). In what ways do we sometimes try to put “new wine” into “old wineskins” in our spiritual lives? And how can we choose “new wineskins” instead?
The Israelites really wanted to get into the Promised Land to establish their new home, but they needed some time in the wilderness to figure things out. Similarly, we may like the idea of sudden life change that fixes our problems, but that’s not generally the way life works. In what ways is time in the wilderness a necessary part of our journey toward spiritual life? (Apologies for the hum in the audio)
The parable of The Tower of Babel describes how misunderstandings, confusion, and division arise when we are more concerned with managing other people’s lives than our own, and more concerned with getting our own way than helping others get theirs.
As with so many of the Lord’s teachings, this one contains several layers of meaning for our lives, beyond not setting our hearts too heavily on the physical treasures of this world. Spiritual treasures include the Lord’s Word, blessings from Him, generosity and an eternal perspective.
When we look at our lives, sometimes we see obstacles, failures, causes for anxiety and distress. But what does the Lord see? How can keeping that Divine perspective in mind help us through difficult times?
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah the prophet challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest: Whoever could call fire from heaven to their altar would prove that theirs was the real god. The prophets of Baal failed, but Elijah succeeded, even after pouring water all over the altar. What does this symbolize in our spiritual lives?
The parable of the creation of Eve describes our feelings of independence as human beings (see Genesis 2:21-25). How is our sense of autonomy or independence an important part of our spiritual lives?
On the Holy City New Jerusalem there are twelve gates facing four different directions (Revelation 21:12-13). Twelve different ways into the City. What does this mean about entering the New Church? What does this mean about our own spiritual lives?
The vision of the pregnant woman clothed with the sun who gives birth to her son (Revelation 12), tells the story of our thinking up and then using an idea. The process includes the delight of owning the idea while not taking credit for the love that gives it spirit.
The Lord instituted Holy Supper with His disciples before the events of Easter, and it has been a Christian sacrament ever since. The Writings help us understand the value of Holy Supper in an even deeper way.
What does it mean to remember the Sabbath? Is it about going to church every week? Or is there more to it than that?
Jeremiah was invited by the Lord to go watch a potter at work. The vessel the potter was making got damaged so the potter started over again and made it into another vessel. Jeremiah’s experience ends with the Lord telling him, “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand” (Jeremiah 18:6). We will be using this powerful visual image to explore what it means to be in the Lord’s hands.
After the Lord’s resurrection, His disciples went fishing. All night they caught nothing; but in the morning, when Jesus appeared on the shore and told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat, they did so – and they caught a huge number of fish (John 21). What does this story teach us about changing how we approach things that aren’t working in our lives?
In 1st Kings 17, Elijah asked a widow for some bread during a famine. The widow only had enough for herself and her son, but she gave some to Elijah first, and miraculously didn’t run out of food. Love works in similar ways. What can we do when we feel like our tank is empty?
This beloved and powerful verse from the Lord’s Word becomes all the more powerful when we read it in the context of the tumultuous psalm (Psalm 46) in which we find it. This Sunday we’ll reflect on the symbolism of breaking and unstringing bows and on how the Lord can bring us peace, even in the midst of stressful circumstances.
“Upon this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18) “Roll away the stone.” (John 11:39) “And he selected five smooth stones from the brook.” (I Samuel 16:40) Rocks and stone – they show up everywhere in the Word, from Genesis to Revelation. How can a stone carry such importance? What do they mean and how can they help us?
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? There will be a live donkey and an outdoor palm procession, weather-permitting.
We know from our Teachings that these phenomena are tools of the Lord’s Providence. When we read the stories of the Word, we can see that the Lord is intricately leading all of the events forward, ultimately leading to his birth into this world. This Sunday, join us as we take a bird’s eye view of the Bible narrative from beginning to end to see how the Lord is delicately and intentionally working in our lives at this very moment.
In “The Lord’s Last Words” on the cross we see infinite divine love offering forgiveness, compassion and hope as the culmination of everything that the Lord said and did, and as an inspiration for how we can care for each other. (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19)
The whole of Exodus Chapter 16 contains a detailed description of how the Israelites were to handle the Manna - when to collect it, how much, not save it overnight, etc. The leading idea is that each person “gathered according to each one’s need” (v. 18). We will consider needs versus wants as they relate to trusting the Lord and His Providence.
“The Second Coming” We often talk about the Lord’s second coming being associated with Swedenborg’s Writings. What does that mean? What does the Lord’s second coming look like in our spiritual lives?
Maybe you started reading the Lord’s Word again in this new year or maybe you’ve been in the habit for years. It’s great when you feel like you’re understanding the Word and getting something out of it, but what do you do when you don’t understand the Word? Let’s talk this Sunday about how much we should expect to understand the Lord’s Word and how we can still benefit from reading the Word, even when we don’t feel like we’re understanding very much.
Our topic will focus on how the Lord sets us free—how we can free our minds from what traps us. “Jehovah God came down and took on a human manifestation in order to redeem people and save them (True Christianity 82).
On the cross, the Lord told one of the robbers, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” The story of Moses at the end of his life, on Mount Nebo, seeing the promised land is a reminder to us that heaven is “right there.” Do we see it? Getting to heaven is the culmination of all that the Lord’s providence does in our lives. Note: Background music is included by permission of the copyright owner John Odhner
In week 2 of our Journey program, “Seeing Providence,” we will be focusing on the early years of our lives. We will reflect on the dangers and the blessings of the early years of Moses’ life and try to see some glimpses of the Lord’s providence in the dangers and blessings of the early years of our own lives.
We begin our four-week Journey series on “Seeing Providence” by looking at the stories leading up to the birth of Moses. Sometimes it is easy to see Providence working in our lives. Other times it can be very hard. What are some ways we can remember that the Lord is always working to bring goodness out of any situation in our lives?
The Lord's Word is full of the repeated statement to love the neighbor, but each person gives and receives love in a different way. How do we know if we are loving others in the way most useful to them? What are the practical tools that the Lord gives us explaining the "how" to loving others?
One of the features of the Garden of Eden is that it has four rivers (Genesis 2:10-14). What do these four rivers represent in our spiritual lives?
Think of something you've committed to - a job, a new habit, a friendship, a marriage or any project. We have so many high hopes, plans and ideals. But then things get messy, and it can be so easy to lose track of what's most important. In the parable of the Lost Coin from Luke 15, the Lord outlines a method of how to rediscover those treasures.
This is Bryn Athyn Church School's theme this year, taken from Jeremiah 7:23. The Lord often told His disciples to "follow Me" as He walked around Israel. Why is "walking" a good way of describing the life of religion?
If we read the Gospels we find a description of His clothing in almost every major part of His ministry. The Lord’s clothing, ever changing, is a representation of the many ways He comes to us in our lives. Come and see how He is present with us wearing Swaddling Cloths, the Hem of His Garment, Transfiguration Clothing, Borrowed Clothing, a Towel, a Purple Robe, and an Inner Garment.
How often do you talk to the Lord? Is it often enough? Communication is a crucial aspect of any relationship and our relationship with the Lord is no different. Let’s talk about what prayer on a day-to-day basis looks like and how we can make progress in our regular communication with the Lord.
The Lord told a parable comparing someone who built their house on sand, which then fell during a storm, versus someone who built their house on the rock, which then withstood the storm. What does it mean for us to spiritually build our houses on the rock?
In 1 Samuel 8 the people asked Samuel to give them a king like the other nations. The Lord warned the people about the downsides of having a king, but they didn’t listen, so He told Samuel to give them what they wanted. What does this symbolize in our spiritual lives?
Finding a purpose in life is one thing: Get yourself a goal and pursue that goal. But finding meaning and feeling like what we do matters is a whole different matter. The rich man in Matthew wanted eternal life but felt he was lacking something. Join us this Sunday as we explore what the rich man was lacking, and how we can “find” meaning in EVERYTHING we do.
The Lord’s Word is full of truth given to us to make our lives, and the world, better. How is it that two people can go to Word and still disagree? How do people take these beautiful teachings and use them to cause harm? We all know how easy it can be to listen and learn with a bias that holds us back from a better understanding. What does the Word teach us about bias, its effects, and how to overcome it?"
Jonah was sent to offer a second chance to people who, in his opinion, didn’t deserve one. How can we overcome grudges to serve even people we don’t get along with?
David had been anointed as the next king, but Saul was trying to kill him, and so David 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?
Freedom is the greatest gift we receive from the Lord, and the greatest gift we can give each other. When the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt the Lord sent Moses to tell the king, “Let My people go!” (Exodus 3-11). Love must be freely given. “As freedom is a matter of love, it is the life of everyone.” (Secrets of Heaven 2873)
The Lord tells us that when we judge other people it is like trying to get a tiny speck out of their eye, while we have a plank in our own. The Word also tells we have to make judgements sometimes. Are we supposed to judge others or not? What kinds of judgements fit with living a charitable life, and which don't?
In Revelation 12 it is said that the woman clothed with the sun was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time. What does this mean?
In the book of Revelation, the four horsemen represent a useful reminder of the different ways that we often end up understanding the Word. What can we do to avoid ways of thinking which are like the red, black, and pale horses? How can we strive for ways of thinking which are like the white horse?
The Kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom of love. This fact is key to understanding what heaven is and how we enter into it. (Matthew 13, Heaven and Hell 13-19)
In 1st Samuel 16, a “distressing spirit” troubled King Saul. But he found that when young David played the harp for him, the “distressing spirit” would depart. What are the things in our lives that help soothe our anxieties?
In this service, we explore what it means to apologize, and the tie in with forgiveness.
In John chapter 4, the Lord spoke with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well about the difference between natural water and the “water of life.” Where do we find the “water of life” in our lives? This service will include the baptism of Greg and Ivy Synnestvedt’s daughter.
The Lord spoke these words to His disciples shortly before the Ascension. They had certainly witnessed many incredible things. Are we to be “witnesses” too? If so, in what ways and to whom?
The name Israel means “wrestling with God.” That name says something about the quality of faith. With faith there are forms of wrestling that are healthy that contribute to growth in wisdom and love, and there are forms of wrestling that are unhealthy that can tear one another apart. We will focus on the healthy wrestling that leads to finding spiritual solutions to life’s toughest problems.
On Easter morning the angel said: “He is risen! He is not here.” (Mark 16:6) What does it mean for the Lord to be “risen” in our lives? Where do we sometimes look for the Lord, and where should we be looking instead?
The Lord triumphantly entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. What does this represent about the way the Lord enters our lives?
In the stories leading up to Easter, prayers feature often. In every case, even with the Lord Himself, they’re about getting centered and remaining open to the Lord’s leading.
The internal sense of the story of Cain and Abel reflects the reality that religious knowledge can be both a source of death and a source of life. Why was Abel’s offering favored by the Lord and not Cain’s? Why was Cain protected even after committing a terrible act?
In order for plants to grow in the spring, the ground needs to soften and the ice needs to melt into water. A similar process needs to happen in our spiritual lives. In 1 Samuel 26, the story of the hardened and resentful King Saul softening because of David’s mercy can symbolize a springtime state for us as well.
Jacob took all the speckled, spotted and black among the lambs, sheep and goats (Genesis 30:25-43). The Lord gathers all of us imperfect people into His flock. No one has pure goodness. Some evil can’t be mixed with good, and some can (Secrets of Heaven 3993:5-9). Wheat gets mixed with tares (Matthew 13:24-30).
Stars are mentioned many times in the Word. The Writings tell us that “stars symbolize concepts of Divine goodness and Divine truth drawn from the Word” (AR 534). Constellations are pictures that we draw by connecting the dots of the stars. How do we connect the dots of various truths, and how does that help us navigate our spiritual lives?
The beautiful deer in our community can remind us of aspects of our spiritual life. Deer are mentioned a number of times in the Word, and five passages in particular describe five important points about our path to heaven.
What do we mean when we talk about “the Word?” Is it just a book on an altar? Or is it more than that? This Sunday we’ll explore what it means to be guided by “the Word.”
There are several stories in the Word which warn against “looking back” or “turning back.” What is the significance of this and how is it different from taking a trip down memory lane?
In Judges 17 and 18, there’s a story about a man named Micah who had an idol, and was not treated well by the Danites. What does this story symbolize about our own spiritual lives?
In Genesis 22, it appears that God wants Abraham to give up his son Isaac. Fortunately this is not actually the case. What does this symbolize in our own lives?
This is the audio from a live streamed video presentation. The video can be accessed via this link: https://bit.ly/3o9KR10. (However, the video will not be available long term).
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego followed the Lord even when doing so meant they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. How can we find that kind of courage and confidence?
How is “magic different from “miracles in the Word? What do “magic" and “miracles symbolize in our lives today?
Most of us would acknowledge that for quite a long time normal life has been far from normal for many of us. What would the Lord like us to take away from these experiences? How can they serve the Lord’s goals for our lives now and on to eternity?
Spiritual life requires both “strength and surrender. At the shore of the Red Sea, Moses told Israel to “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord and at the same time to “Move forward (Exodus 14). Peter was able to walk on water, but then he wasn’t (Matthew 14:22-34). Why do we so often fail in self-control and resolutions?
This Sunday morning service featured a five-piece brass band playing Christmas carols, interspersed with Christmas readings. For copyright reasons, the music has been removed, leaving the Christmas readings read by lay readers and Rev. Solomon Keal. As always, discussion follows the service.
The word “nativity means “birth. What does the symbolism of the Christmas nativity teach us about how the Lord is born in our hearts? What are the “nativities in our spiritual lives?
At a time when it seemed there wasn’t enough food, the Lord gave thanks and miraculously there was enough. How does this story describe the power of gratitude in our lives?
The Lord admonishes us to be gentle with each other and especially with little children. Our topic “Gentle Families will explore the role of innocence or gentleness in family life. (Matthew 18:1-14, Mark 9:33-10:16)
When Hagar faces an incredibly difficult situation, she makes a rash decision. Rather than chastising her or punishing her, the Lord responds with compassion and helps her save her son. We can follow the Lord's example in this story and learn to listen with compassion, even when people may not be communicating in the healthiest way.
When Solomon became king, he humbly asked the Lord for an understanding heart instead of power and riches. His humble wisdom served many people. This week we’ll focus on listening without necessarily knowing the answers, as well as listening for the sake of changing ourselves and not others.
When the Lord visited Mary and Martha in their home, Mary sat and listened but Martha was "distracted with much serving." (Luke 10: 38-42) What if food had been served a little late that evening? Can we be content with the passage of time and patiently listen?
Starting our fall Journey sermon series “Tell Me More with the story of Pharoah’s daughter discovering Moses in the basket along the riverbank. This service will also include commissioning the newly trained Stephen Ministers into the important use of compassionately listening.
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?
In Mark chapter five, there is a story about a man who was possessed by many evil spirits. The Lord cast out those evil spirits, but He did it in a strange way, which involved pigs.
We can take “Steps towards Knowing God by understanding the levels of reality, beginning with the Lord as the Sun of Heaven, which enlightens and enlivens the three levels of the heavens and the human mind. These concepts are like steps on Jacob’s Ladder (Genesis 28:12-13, True Christianity 24).
In Joshua chapter 24, Joshua reminded the people of all that the Lord had done to bring them into their country. He said they were free to serve whichever gods they liked, but he also said: “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. How does loving our country connect with loving and serving the Kingdom of God?
Part of the message proclaimed on “New Church Day 1770 is, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb (True Christianity 791). The Lord’s marriage with people takes place when we allow Him to work in us and through us as if we were doing it on our own.
This is part 2 of our three-part series leading up to New Church Day on June 19th. Last week we discussed why it is important to know that God is a Person. This week we focus on the four living creatures who surround Him on His throne and the important role they play in facilitating our connection with Him.
This week, we begin a three-part series leading up to New Church Day on June 19th. We will start with the story of John seeing the Lord in the midst of the golden lamp stands in Revelation 1. Why is it important to know that God is a Person?
In Matthew 5:38-42, we hear a call to put energy into the things that matter most. We will explore together the value of working out differences, pursuing spiritual goals, and self-improvement.
Baptism is like being introduced into the promised land. This service includes the baptism of Benjamin Synnestvedt.
The Lord loves everyone, but shows us His love through other people (True Christianity 457). "The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:7-8)
After the Lord rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the chief priests, scribes, and elders questioned by what authority He did all these things. His answer was a little strange. We might also wonder about authority. How do we know what we should trust, believe, and obey? What does the Lord teach us about authority?