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Risen
Worship Service: Informal Family - April 17, 2022
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? | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallRiding on a Donkey
Worship Service: Informal Family - April 10, 2022
The Lord triumphantly entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. What does this represent about the way the Lord enters our lives? | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallSpeckled and Spotted
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 13, 2022
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). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallStrength and Surrender
Worship Service: Informal Family - January 02, 2022
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? | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallGentle Families
Worship Service: Informal Family - November 14, 2021
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) | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallSteps toward knowing God
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 11, 2021
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). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallChurch as the Bride of the Lord
Worship Service: Informal Family - June 20, 2021
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. | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallThe Lord's Love for His Church
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - May 16, 2021
The Lord's love for His church is shown in the story of Jacob's love for Rachel (Genesis 29) and his helping her care for her flock of sheep. It also gives us an example of how we should love one another. | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralChurch as Family: How We Care for Each Other
Worship Service: Informal Family - May 09, 2021
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) | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallThe Good Samaritan: Binding Up Wounds
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - March 07, 2021
Some wounds don't heal by themselves. We need to let others know when we are hurting and allow them to help. | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralPracticing Kindness
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 07, 2021
The last in our series on "Practicing Kindness" is about "Accepting Kindness from Others." The Lord wants to help us, but He can only help us through other people. | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralPracticing Kindness: Abundant Love
Worship Service: Informal Family - February 14, 2021
“Practicing Kindness: Abundant Love” is the subject for the second week in our series on kindness. Genuine kindness is given freely and abundantly, going beyond the minimum that is required of us. This originates in the Lord wanting to give infinitely His love and wisdom as much as we can accept. Our story is about Rebekah Drawing Water (Genesis 24). | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman HallService to Others
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - October 25, 2020
The final week of our series on Resilience is about focusing on others. Service to others makes us healthy, whole and happy, which is the Lord's goal for us. The purpose of all the challenges for Joseph and his brothers was that the Lord could provide for them and all of Egypt through the work He would do through Joseph. | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralResilience: Focus on Others
Worship Service: Sermon only - October 25, 2020
Resilience helps us get through difficult times, and an important factor in being resilient is focusing on others and being of use. Having a positive impact on others not only helps us survive challenges, but is the final goal the Lord has for us in heaven. | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn CathedralRe-Seeing Challenges
Worship Service: Informal Family - October 04, 2020
Joseph was a slave and prisoner for 13 years, yet we were told that “the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” (Genesis 39-40) We can reframe our challenges knowing that “the Lord bends everything bad into good.” (Secrets of Heaven 1079) | By Rev. John L. Odhner | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall