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What Does "I'm Sorry" Mean?
Worship Service: Informal Family - May 17, 2022
In this service, we explore what it means to apologize, and the tie in with forgiveness. | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallThe Softening of Spring
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - May 15, 2022
In order for plants to grow in the spring, the ground needs to have softened and the ice needs to have melted 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. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Softening of Spring
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 15, 2022
In order for plants to grow in the spring, the ground needs to have softened and the ice needs to have melted 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. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn CathedralWhat Should We Ask For?
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 15, 2022
When we pray we are often asking for something. There is nothing wrong with this; in fact the Lord encourages us to do this. But we should give careful thought to what we ask for. This principle is illustrated in the story of King Solomon. When the Lord gave him the opportunity to ask for anything he wished, Solomon’s answer reflects a true understanding of what we need from the Lord and the kinds of things we should seek from Him. This Sunday we will explore what we can learn from Solomon’s request. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAIn Search of Beauty
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - May 08, 2022
"In search of beauty" Psalm 27:4. We live in a world of opposites, of stunning beauty and shocking ugliness. Unfortunately, the ugliness of evil has a way of blinding us to the beautiful things around us, but we can reverse this trend by modeling its opposite, by slowly, methodically, incorporating into our lives the inner calm and beauty of the Lord's truth and goodness. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralTo Behold the Beauty of the Lord
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 08, 2022
"To behold the beauty of the Lord" (Psalm 27:4). Beauty - what an incredible git. We see it reflected in all of the Lord's creation - in nature, in people, in literature, art, and science. Beauty is of a spiritual origin which is why we are affected by it so deeply. Standing in sharp contrast to the beauty we all desperately seek is the ugliness of war, violence, greed and hatred. What can we do to make our corner of the world a little gentler, kinder and beautiful? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn CathedralWater of Life
Worship Service: Informal Family - May 08, 2022
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. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallApproval
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 08, 2022
It’s Mothers Day this Sunday and so we’re going to be reflecting on a topic that comes into all parent-child relationships—approval. We all want to be approved of. But do your parents approve of you? Do you approve of your parents? The giving or withholding of approval is a strong force in relationships; let’s talk about how the Lord would like us to navigate the interpersonal dynamics around approval. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSAJesus' First Miracle: Turning Water into Wine
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - May 01, 2022
When Jesus was at a wedding celebration with HIs disciples, the hosts ran out of wine well before the celebration was over. They could have just switched to drinking water. Why did the Lord transform water into the best wine of the day? | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn CathedralReceiving the Lord's Life in Ours: Turning Water into Wine
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 01, 2022
Jesus' first miracle recorded in the Gospel of John was that of turning water into wine at a wedding celebration. This miracle is a picture of the transformation that the Lord seeks to bring about in each of us and through us in the life of His Church on earth. | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn CathedralSpiritual Fatigue
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 01, 2022
Whenever something goes wrong in the world, there seems to be an outpouring of compassion. We almost get excited at the chance to leap into action and help. But as time passes the energy wanes. We can become fatigued; not just fatigued physically, but fatigued emotionally. It is impossible to keep up that initial level of care and energy. Above even the emotional there is the spiritual fatigue: we face exhaustion with ourselves and our own spiritual growth, and can push ourselves to the breaking point. We need to be able to truly address the issues, but to do so in a way that is sustainable. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSAYou are Witnesses
Worship Service: Informal Family - May 01, 2022
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? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallHope in the Lord's Mercy
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - April 24, 2022
Having just celebrated Palm Sunday and Easter, it is often a time when people experience a renewed sense of hope. It is important that we keep hope alive because it is essential to the human condition. Sometimes we can feel sad, scared, and overwhelmed, and we might begin to feel that things are hopeless. However, we need to remember to trust in the sure promised of the Lord! He can help us if we will only turn to Him, pray for His mercy, and then do the things that He asks of us. | By Rt. Rev. Bradley D. Heinrichs | Bryn Athyn CathedralHope in the Lord's Mercy
Worship Service: Sermon only - April 24, 2022
Have you ever lost hope? Hope is vital to the human condition, and it is tied very directly to the Lord's mercy and care for each one of us, so it is wise to maintain hope. The hells love for us to lose all hope and to think that we are beyond help, so it is important for us to remember to trust in the sure promise of teh mercy of the Lord! But is mere hope in the Lord's mercy without action on our part enough to save us? Receiving mercy from the Lord requires some positive action on our part. Hoping in pure mercy apart from means in the long run will demoralize us, but hoping in the Lord's Word will continually rejuvenate us in our times of doubt. | By Rt. Rev. Bradley D. Heinrichs | Bryn Athyn CathedralThe Disciple Whom Jesus Loved
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 24, 2022
In the Gospel of John there are a number of intriguing stories about what Jesus and the disciples did after the Lord’s resurrection. When I preached about this four years ago I focused on the role and significance of Peter (read or listen to that here); this year I want to focus on John. John is called “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and he played a crucial role in the development of the Christian Church. In us he represents a crucial part of our spiritual development as Christians. What does he represent? Come and see. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSA