Love’s Judgment by Rev. Leah Goodwin
Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God. (John 3:17-21)
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Have any of you seen one of these “Wash Away Your Sins” towelettes? They’re part of a whole line of “Wash Away Your Sins” cleaning products. The best part about it is that it really is a handy towelette. I had it in my purse for a while, but I never got around to using it—I was kind of afraid of what would happen if I did. Read More
Woman, Wings, Dragon, Earth by Shada Sullivan
Originally preached at the NewChurch Live Women’s Summer vespers, June 18th, 2012. (Thanks go to Anita Dole’s study guide for inspiration…)
Welcome everyone. Tomorrow is June 19th, a very special day in the New Church. We will be celebrating a new connection between God and humanity; we will be celebrating God’s incredible mercy and love; we will be celebrating the power of knowing we are part of God’s plan.
A Theology that Works by Rev. Jane Siebert
Recently I was sitting with a woman whose husband was dying in the hospital bed next to us. We were watching his respirations slow and his blood pressure drop on the monitors. We were strangers prior to this night where my job as hospital chaplain and her love and dedication as a wife brought us together. As we waited for death to release her husband from his earthly struggles, conversation moved into that rarified space that sometimes opens up at such moments. Read More
The Prodigal Son and Pinocchio by Rev. Emily Jane Lemole
Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:22-23)
Our inner struggles are fought over whether our good traits will have control over our bad ones, or the other way around. The bad traits that want to get control of us are in our outer, material self, while the good ones are in our inner spiritual self. If our bad traits win, our material self will be in control of us. If the goods ones win, our spiritual self will be in control (p.71 from the New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrines, Read More
Helen Keller – A Woman of Faith and Action by Anna Woofenden
“I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do something I can do.” ― Helen Keller
A young child.
A water pump.
A child who is blind and deaf.
A teacher who persistently spells.
W-A-T-E-R
Into the hand of the child.
Over,
and
over. Read More
