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Great Expectations
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - September 26, 2021
One of the biggest challenges in life is learning how to interpret setback and disappointment. Everyone, young and old, has high ideals, a strong sense of how things "should" be, but the school of "hard knocks" tells a different narrative. How we deal with loss and defeat, and how we view underlying causes, will do a lot to reshape our future. The Lord's Word records a number of incidents and events in which people expect one thing but are shown something quite different. Most of us don't like surprises but in the case of the Lord's surprises, these are often just what we need! | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (25m 05s)
New Beginnings
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - September 12, 2021
Our lives switch tempo with the start of a new school year, as the summer wanes and a new season approaches. The pace picks up for all of us, whether or not we, or a loved one, are going back to school. In anticipation of "new beginnings," we will consider the topic of change and how the Lord promises to switch out our "heart of stone" with a "heart of flesh" (Ezek 26:26). How does this work? It sounds painful. Is it? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (15m 29s)
A New Spirit
Worship Service: Sermon only - September 12, 2021
The Word of the Lord is a book about change - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you" (Ezekiel 36:26). As a result, each page breathes change, anticipates change, and encourages change. You won't find a chapter or verse promoting the status quo and yet change is not always welcomed by us. Studies suggest about 90% of our daily routine is habitual which means if we are serious about forming a better habit we must recognize that we're competing against a busy schedule. But the Lord doesn't leave us stranded - we've been given some powerful tools to begin life anew. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (27m 09s)
Memorial Service for Thomas F. Steen
Memorial Service - September 05, 2021
| By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Oak Arbor, MI
See Event (41m 21s)
Soothed by David's Harp
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 29, 2021
King Saul made some poor choices which led him to being grumpy, irritable and suspicious. They young shepherd boy, David, was brought to the palace to play his harp and as soon as he did this "Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him" (1 Samuel 16:23). We will consider how the Word is really "music" that seeks to harmonize with our efforts to love the Lord and our neighbor. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (14m 41s)
The Sound of Truth
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 29, 2021
We're taught that music in this world is of a spiritual origin. This explains why a beautiful piece of music an stir us so deeply and change our mood. It also explains why David's harp playing drove away King Saul's distressing spirit - evil in all its forms flees from the "sound" of truth and goodness (AR 276). To live in harmony with the Lord and our neighbor is to place ourselves in harmony with love, mercy and forgiveness, with the music (teachings ) of the Word. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (23m 56s)
Your Next Chapter
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - August 15, 2021
We talk about life as a book - "I'm glad that chapter of my life is over," or "She's an open book," or "You need to read between the lines." The Scriptures strengthen the analogy between books and people, especially when it comes to the Word, since what is written by the Lord needs to be "written" on our heart. We will be exploring what gets written in our Book of Life (Revelation 20:12) with a focus on your next chapter. | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (13m 08s)
The Book of Life
Worship Service: Sermon only - August 15, 2021
New Church theology has fascinating things to say about our Book of Life. We're told it's a collection of every thought, word, deed and experience we've ever had in this world, imprinted on our interior memory, never to be lost. Logic would dictate that if our Book of Life is to be reviewed in the next life (see AC 2474) it only makes sense that we'd want to work on becoming as much an "open book" as possible while living here on earth. But how do we do that? | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (27m 28s)
Jonathan's Loyalty to David
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - July 25, 2021
| By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (15m 16s)
Friendship
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 25, 2021
Friendships don't just fall on our laps. They require work and a commitment to honesty and integrity if we wish to have meaningful ones. The quality of a friendship is dependent upon our willingness to grow and mature spiritually. We'll consider the types of things that fill the "space" between ourselves and others remembering that "anyone can befriend another, but most of all we ought to befriend what is good" (AC 4804). | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (25m 59s)
Memorial Service for Charles H. Lindrooth
Memorial Service - July 25, 2021
| By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (28m 48s)
Glimpses of Heaven
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - July 18, 2021
| By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (18m 43s)
Glimpses of Heaven
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 18, 2021
| By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (27m 09s)
Memorial Service for E. Boyd Asplundh
Memorial Service - January 27, 2021
5/4/1926 – 1/14/2021 | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (31m 58s)
Power in the Familiar
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 01, 2018
We find comfort in the familiar: watching a sunrise, taking a walk in nature, enjoying breakfast with a friend or loved one. We find comfort in familiar parts of the Word too, like reciting the Lord's prayer , or the 23rd Psalm, or cheering along to childhood favorites like David and Goliath which is why the Lord uses the truths we already know and believe to propel us forward, toward new thoughts and feelings | By Rev. Derek P. Elphick | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (18m 04s)