the Messenger Published by the Swedenborgian Church of North America Volume 241• Number 4 • April 2019 Creation Spirituality Theologian Matthew Fox Keynote Speaker at Annual Convention

atthew Fox, the Ameri- languages, Original Blessing and The Cosmic Christ, can theologian who per- selling mil- he was twice investigated for heresy by haps has done the most lions of cop- Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Bene- Mto reframe a positive role for the nat- ies), creat- dict XVI) and finally expelled from the ural world in Christian theology in ed two in- Roman Catholic Church in 1993. the contemporary moment, will de- stitutes of Today he is an Episcopal priest liver the keynote address for the 2019 higher learn- working with young people to reinvent Annual Convention—whose theme is ing in Cre- worship with new forms; his Cosmic “Rooted in Spirit . . . Earth is Speak- ation Spiri- Mass has been celebrated in dozens of ing to Us”— on Saturday, June 29, at tuality, and locales. He spends much of each year 7:30 PM. taught at conducting workshops and giving pre- Renowned for his “Creation Spir- Stanford University, Mundelein Col- sentations around the world and is a ituality,” Fox has authored thirty- lege, and Holy Names College. Best visiting scholar at the Academy for the five books (translated into sixty-eight known for such popular books as Love of Learning. Swedenborgian Filmmaker to Screen New Film at Annual Convention

By Jim Lawrence story of a man coming to grips with tragedy by escaping to paradise. With a arcia Kimpton has made copy of Heaven and Hell visible in mul- a Swedenborgian-inspired tiple scenes, the tense plot unfurls as a film, Bardo Blues, that has Swedenborgian-informed vision of the Mbeen winning awards at film festivals. eternal journey of regeneration with Bardo Blues won’t be officially released the penetrating challenges of spiritual until shortly before the annual conven- formation in the natural world that fol- tion, but responding to our request, low through with passage into the spir- Marcia has agreed to come to Indiana itual worlds. and give a special showing of this work Before relocating to Aspen, Colora- to the attendees at the convention. do, Marcia was a long-time active friend Based on and dedicated to her at the San Francisco Swedenborgian brother, Graham Kimpton, Bardo Church and Wayfarers Chapel as well Marcia Kimpton filming on location Blues is set in Thailand and tells the Continues on page 59

Nominations for Elected Positions in the Swedenborgian Church More Inside SPLATz Find Themselves in the Middle at Almont Contents: page 50 Proposals for Standing Resolutions of the Swedenborgian Church 50 the Messenger April 2019

The Editor’s Desk me of communing with nature. I felt an extreme peacefulness and oneness The Natural with the world for almost two hours of stillness in that aquatic world, simply World being with twenty or so friendly mana- We are all stuck in tees that seemed as interested in me as I the natural world for was in them. (Manatees have no natu- now, and our daily task ral enemies, except boat propellers and is to make sense of and other man-made hazards.) navigate our way through it. This experience not only helped It is amazing that Christians can A manatee greets the editor me feel more acutely the sacredness of have such opposite interpretations of the natural world but also led me to a God’s giving dominion over the nat- not exploiting, the world. greater awareness of my spiritual exis- ural world to humankind. Some say it The theme of the 2019 Annual Con- tence, and to the sacred connection be- means we are to exploit it for our pur- vention is “Earth Is Speaking to Us,” tween those two worlds. poses of survival, progress, and com- supporting the second interpretation. —Herb Ziegler fort while others hold that it means we Earth spoke to me in an unexpect- are the caretakers of the world, charged ed way last autumn. At the suggestion with the responsibility of protecting, of my friend Aline, we “swam with the the Messenger manatees” while visiting Florida. I did © The Swedenborgian Church of North America not expect much; boy, was I surprised! Published monthly except July and August by the Standing Committee for Communication and Contents As I hovered on the surface wear- Information of the Swedenborgian Church of ing a mask and snorkel, manatees be- North America (founded 1817, incorporated 1861 Creation Spirituality Theologian as the General Convention of the New Jerusalem Matthew Fox to Give Keynote gan swimming near me out of curiosi- in the United States of America), Rev. Jane Address at Convention...... 49 ty. Eventually, they began coming clos- Siebert, president. April 2019 Swedenborgian Filmmaker to Screen er, and one moved slowly toward my New Film at Annual Convention...... 49 face and then touched its nose to my Volume 241, No. 4, Whole Number 5439 Editor, design and production: Herbert Ziegler The Editor’s Desk...... 50 face mask as I peered into its eyes. I Copy editing and proofing: Robert Leith, Letter from the President...... 51 was able to pet a few of these (up to a Samantha Johanson, & Trevor More Mini-Courses for half-ton) mammals while they floated Standing Committee for Communication and Annual Convention...... 52 Information: Kevin Baxter, Elizabeth Blair, & Val benignly beside me. Brugler Save The Date for Gathering Leaves!...... 53 This was a seminal experience for Printing: Gnomon Copy, Cambridge MA SPLATz Find Themselves in Editorial Address: the Middle at Almont...... 54 Herb Ziegler, the Messenger Bring the Children to Convention!...... 55 2 Hancock Place To subscribe to Cambridge MA 02139 Proposed Statement of the the Messenger online, Tel: 617.388.0252 Swedenborgian Church on scan this image with a Email: [email protected] Discrimination...... 56 QR reader on your cell Business and Subscription Address: Proposed Resolution on The Messenger, Central Office phone or tablet. Ending Gun Violence...... 56 50 Quincy Street Cambridge MA 02138 2019 Annual Convention Tel: 617.969.4240 Registration Form...... 57 Church Calendar Email: [email protected] Rev. Anna Woofenden is Urbana Subscriptions: free online subscription at University Scholar in Residence...... 59 • May 24–27: SCYL Memorial Day http://swedenborg.org. Printed and mailed to US Lights, Cameras, Action! Can Retreat, Almont New Church address, $20/year; to Canada address, $30/year; Assembly, Allenton, MI to all other addresses, $35/year; single copies, You Change Your Life Story?...... 59 $2.00, Libraries & prisoners, free. Send check Nominations for Elected Positions • June 29–July 3: 2019 Annual made out to “Swedenborgian Church” with in the Swedenborgian Church...... 60 Swedenborgian Convention, “Messenger” on the memo line. Other requests, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN write or call Central Office. The Art of Eleanor Schnarr...... 62 • July 28–August 3: International Deadline for submissions is three weeks before Reflection: Racism...... 62 the first day of the month of issue. Summer Camp for Teens, Purley Good News!...... 63 The opinions and views expressed are Chase, England those of the authors, not of the Messenger, 195th Annual Swedenborgian • August 28–31, 2020: Gathering Leaves, the Communication Support Unit, or the Convention Announcement...... 64 Purley Chase, England Swedenborgian Church. the Messenger April 2019 51

TheStanding Committee for Financial Account- ability meets for two days in September to review Letter the budget and make recommendations about mission grants and augmentation grants for or- from the dained ministers’ salaries to the General Council. They also have conference calls as needed. President The Standing Committee for Education and Resources for Spiritual Community is respon- sible for the mini-courses at the annual conven- The Year of the Lord: 2018–19 tion and is working on the annual themes for the —The Primacy of Spirit Swedenborgian Church, with resources to go with them for our ministries. Dear Friends of the Swedenborgian Church, The Standing Committee for Communica- tion and Information is meeting this month to This time of year leads me to offer thanks to all improve cooperation and team work with all the the VOLUNTEERS that serve General Convention outreach programs of the Church. They also work and all of our churches, camps, retreats, and other closely with our operations and web manager, Sa- ministries. We would not exist without the work, mantha Johanson. They manage our web page dedication, and time you give. I wrote a similar and electronic presence, and work with the editor President’s Letter in 2017, and after three years as of the Messenger. president, I am even more aware of how impor- We often forget, until it is time for elections, tant volunteers have been in our past, are today, the importance of the Standing Committee for and will continue to be as we look to the future. Nominations. We are only as good as the people We have nine elected members of our Gener- they find willing to serve on General Council and al Council who serve voluntarily as the executive the committees. They are working on new ways to committee of the Swedenborgian Church. They involve people with different backgrounds, views, are members of churches from around the US and and experience to serve on committees. Canada. They meet for two days in November We also have many other committees, run by with the executive officers: president, vice-presi- volunteers: Retirement Committee, Trustees of dent, secretary, and treasurer. They are expected to the Building Fund, Committee on Library and come to annual conventions, where we have meet- Documents, Committee on Inquiry, Board of ings before and after the annual meeting. In addi- Mediation, Swedenborgian Online Commu- tion, we have conference calls as needed. This year, nity Central Committee, Board of Trustees we started a new initiative to improve our contact of the National Church, Board of Directors of with all ministries: each General Council member Wayfarer’s Chapel, Trustees of the Center for has several contacts to make twice a year to pro- Swedenborgian Studies, Structure Review Com- vide information and to check how things are go- mittee, Committee on Amendments, Invest- ing on the local level. ment Committee, Central Office Review Com- The four Standing Committees comprise elect- mittee, Social Concerns Committee, Trustees of ed volunteers, who provide direction and support the Tafel Fund, and Delegates to the National for a variety of decisions needed for our operation. Continues on page 63 52 the Messenger April 2019 More Mini-Courses for Annual Convention

This year, at the 2019 Annual Convention in the natural world through long-time necessary to our political, economic, we are blessed to have fourteen mini-courses observation practices. An Earth poet im- and social systems, in order to success- to choose from in our education sessions. Ten mersed in the mysticism of nature, she has of those mini-courses were previewed in the completed many courses at Tom Brown Jr.’s fully confront the challenge posed by March 2019 Messenger. The final four are pre- Wilderness School (Advanced Tracking and global warming. viewed here. Observation), Hawk Circle Earth Skills Class, But, underlying all of these aspects Harvest Song Nature Awareness School, is the spiritual. We are spiritual beings, and the Kamuna Program of the Wilderness and it is through that truth that we Nature’s Mystic Mirror School. Christine has completed several wil- Pastor Christine Campbell derness fasts and vision quests, and she has ultimately have our relationship with mentored many people through vision fasts, the earth and all of its inhabitants and Nature is both mirror and teacher. quests, and year-long apprenticeships. She with our neighbors. The spiritual must Mystics throughout time have sought enjoys creating a bridge for people between be, at bottom, what will inform our divine encounter in the natural world. the natural and spiritual worlds. actions in the face of global warming, The observation of nature offers a way Christine is the pastor at Temenos Retreat Center, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where as has been eloquently stated by Pope to develop a deep awareness of the cor- she often integrates the nature setting of its Francis in his recent encyclical on cli- respondences between the natural and fifty-five acres with spiritual growth and for- mate change, Laudate Si, and which is spiritual worlds. mation. completely consistent with the truths We will explore tools and tech- explicated by Emanuel Swedenborg. niques used in nature observation and The Challenge of Global Warming Dr. Huft is a botanist and a retired attor- will develop our self-awareness. Na- Dr. Michael Huft ney. He received his Ph.D. in botany from the ture provides a mirror into the spiritu- University of Michigan and, for the succeed- al world which in turn allows us to dis- Global warming is perhaps the most ing thirteen years, was a tropical botanist at cern our own limitations and blocks. signature issue of our time, which, if is the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis The correspondences we draw may re- and the Field Museum in Chicago. In his for- not properly addressed, will have dire ties, he went to law school, which was fol- veal the places in ourselves that sepa- consequenc- lowed by a clerkship for a federal judge and rate us from God and from each other. es for all of eighteen years of practice in Chicago, in the We are then able to come more fully humankind. area of nonprofit law and tax-exempt orga- into the circle of the global communi- This mini- nizations. After retiring from law four years ty. Nature fosters a global spirituality. ago, Dr. Huft returned to the field of botany. cou rse w i l l He is the editor of a peer-reviewed scientific There are time honored ways of briefly present journal, The Great Lakes Botanist, and serves immersing oneself into the Natural the science in- on the board of a multi-institutional organi- World. In this class, we will practice volved, includ- zation that is preparing the first complete concrete skills of “fox walking,” “deep ing the causes flora of North America. He is a long-time listening,” and “owl vision,” which member of the General Church and, now and progress of that he lives in Indiana, attends the LaPorte bring us into deeper communion with global warming and its physical and bi- New Church. the world around us. We will also use ological impacts. a template of journaling our inter- But the subject is much more than Astral Embodiment: How a nal and external experience. You will just a scientific topic. Economics, pol- Swedenborgian Interpretation of be able to draw from these experienc- itics, and community are also impor- Cognitive Neuroscience can Inform es your own spiritual correspondenc- tant aspects of the discussion, each in Our Reading of Figurative Art es. Just as Swedenborg, Goethe, and three different ways. Global warm- Eleanor Schnarr Emerson, along with many others, ing strongly impacts each of these ar- drew correspondences and inspiration eas of human life. It is imperative that Definitions: interoception/pro- from the natural world, you will glean we understand—politically, econom- prioception; synesthesia/idaes- your own wisdom. This is a meditative ically, and socially—how human so- thesia; photism; tulpa; cerebral class that will leave you feeling more at ciety arrived at a place in which glob- proprioception. peace within and without. al warming has become such an im- Anatomy: right/left; pineal/pitu- Christine is a lifelong student of the natu- portant fact. And, most importantly, itary; ganglionic/cerebral; masculine/ ral world. She has deeply immersed herself we must explore what changes may be Continues on page 53 the Messenger April 2019 53

2019 Mini-Courses Continued from page 52 Save The Date for Gathering Leaves! feminine; stability/plasticity; infor- The event for women within the mation flow/connectomics; afferent Swedenborgian Church and wider movement stream/efferent stream/interoceptive stream. Friday 28–Monday 31, August, 2020 So where do To be held at Purley Chase Centre, Warwickshire UK we see this in art? I will start Dear Friends: this is to invite you to save the date for Gathering Leaves, with standard, the Swedenborgian women’s gathering, in 2020. academic fig- The event will comprise divine worship in all its forms, talks, discus- ure painting (or sion groups, sister circles, circle dancing, country trail walking, meditation, photograph) as yoga, art and craft, and a day trip out. an example of As many attendees will be travelling long distances, extra dates either working from side of the event have been blocked out in the Purley calendar to accommo- an externalized date people’s travel schedules. modality and then move into more Further information, including how to register, to follow. and more abstracted forms of figura- tion until we have reached something entirely reductive. This will show how each is reflected in anatomical percep- She has a four-year studio certificate from enter into that sacred space with pa- tion and how the process of abstrac- the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts tients and their families as death and is pursuing an M.F.A. at the San Fran- tion can be reinterpreted as a process cisco Art Institute. She is a member of the approaches. At that sacred time, of generating imagery from more and Hillside Swedenborgian Community, where the family may be most receptive to more specific and phenomenologically her partner, Thomas Muller, is pastor. Her art consolations about eternal life and representational modalities practice centers on the concept of “Cerebral the presence of angels. Some artists we will engage are Proprioception” and attempts to visualize the connectomics of the human brain from Frida Khalo, Melissa Mcracken, Rev. Cahaley’s first career was in the subjective observation. water. She taught and coached swimming, Vasily Kandinsky, Jenny Saville, Alex water exercise, and aquatic therapy classes. Grey, Barkley Hendricks, Leonora Death and Dying: Later in life, she sensed a call to a more in- Carrington, Marcel Duchamp, and terior practice of soul care. After finishing the Hospice Experience from a her undergraduate degree at the University Kara Walker, as well as a broad selec- Chaplain’s Perspective tion of shamanic, archeological, and of Arizona she went unto seminary, first at Rev. Gabriella Cahaley the Pacific School of Religion then trans- religious art. This adventure will illus- ferred to Earlham School of Religion where trate that spiritual experiences are close- We will first look at the recorded she earned her M.Div. degree. Since her or- ly related to anatomical interoception. words Swedenborg said just before he dination in 2011, though briefly, Gabriella This insight suggests a new way of died. Then we will cover these topics: pastored three dif- understanding Swedenborg’s concept ferent congrega- • Conversations at the end of life are tions. During her of the “Universal Human” of heaven. I always shaped by the disease pro- husband’s illness, will accompany my presentation with cess experienced by the dying per- Gabriella worked quotations from Swedenborg’s works, son. We will share examples of what as chaplain and including especially his pre-theologi- has been said to patients and their bereavement cal Rational Psychology and the mother coordinator in families as death approaches. Tucson. After her lode of his theosophy, Arcana Coelestia • Families have their own unique ex- husband’s death, (Secrets of Heaven). periences as their loved ones ap- she returned to Simple drawing exercises will en- proach death. Georgia, where courage participants to sharpen partic- • Some patients and their loved ones she served as bereavement coordinator ipants’ interoceptive faculties! and chaplain for two hospices. Recently, often express their fears and anxiet- Gabriella left the hospice world to work as a Eleanor Schnarr is a Swedenborgian art- ies. pastoral counselor at a residential treatment ist and poet from Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. • Chaplains may be permitted to center. 54 the Messenger April 2019 SPLATz Find Themselves in the Middle at Almont

By Kurt Fekete session about being in the middle. The present between the past and the fu- SPLATz positioned themselves along a ture, and being in the middle of the en spirited SPLATz (Su- continuum string with “yes” and “no” macrocosmic universe and the micro- per Powered Lovable Almost at the ends. Then they were asked a cosmic world. Teens), aged ten to thirteen, series of questions, like “Do you like Then, we talked about the differ- Ttraveled from four states to attend a pizza?” “Is your favorite color blue?” ence between inner and outer, our youth retreat at Almont Retreat Cen- and more difficult ones like “Do you brain versus our mind. We discussed ter in March. Our theme how we live in a finite outer body but was “Being in the Mid- possess an inner infinite soul. This led dle,” and Zsa Zsa got us to selfishness and selflessness. things started by arriving We humans are in the middle be- with me early and draw- tween pleasing God and pleasing our- ing a beautiful picture of selves. We rise above this middle area a girl caught in the mid- when we finally discover that pleas- dle between an angel and ing God is the way to receive the most a demon. The idea of hav- pleasure for ourselves. All of our lives ing a retreat about the on this earth and even the start of middle came from a re- our next life in the world of spirits is treat we had way back a struggle in the middle between good in October 2011, almost and evil, truth and falsity. The resolu- eight years ago. I showed a tion of this middle conflict ultimately chart comparing the out- determines whether we will reside in er and inner aspects of an Zsa Zsa and her retreat poster heaven or hell. object, and the question In the afternoon sessions, we talked came up, “What’s in the middle?” I like yourself?” and “Are you a good about drama triangles which involve a answered, “Nothing is in the middle.” friend?” They moved along the string bully, a victim, and a hero. We learned Later, I thought about that question for towards yes, no, or somewhere in the that all positions cause pain and come a long time, and I reached the conclu- middle, according to their answer to from a place of pain. We all need at- sion that, actually, almost everything the question. tention and love—that’s what we de- is in the middle. We are sire most in this world. rarely on the extreme We enter into the dra- ends, so we’d better or- ma triangle as an un- ganize a retreat and talk healthy way to get at- about the middle! tention and love. Once everyone ar- We looked to the Bi- rived on Friday evening, ble for some examples we opened our sessions of these drama triangles with rules, housing an- and found them in the nouncements, and an stories of Saul, David, icebreaker of charades, and Jonathan in 1 Sam- where everyone had to uel 20 and of Moses, act out a word while in- the Pharaoh, and the Splatz boys: Trent, Ethan, Cash, and Connor troducing themselves. Israelites in the book of The kids were tired from the long day Next, we discussed the ways we are Exodus. The SPLATz shared stories of of school and travel, so we played a few in the middle. We talked about being their experiences in the drama trian- more games, then all got settled into in the middle of childhood and adult- gle, where they felt caught in the mid- their rooms for the evening. hood, being in middle school or the dle. Later in the afternoon, the kids got In the morning, we started our first middle dorm at camp, living in the Continues on page 55 the Messenger April 2019 55 Bring the Children to Convention!

nce again, we have a great the adult rate, and for those traveling they built “spiritual toolboxes” children’s program lined up from a distance, scholarship funds are We’re so excited to have children for the 2019 Annual Con- available to pay for up to half of the attend the convention, as our spiritu- ventionO at Valparaiso University in child’s airfare. We are blessed to have al community is not complete without Indiana. Like last year, children aged Riley Tishma lead the children’s pro- them! 5–12 are invited to attend, and great gram this year. The children’s pro- Contact Samantha Johanson at subsidies are available to help fami- gram theme—Caring for the Planet, Central Office or Kurt Fekete: lies with tight budgets. We’ve worked Caring for Yourself—will complement [email protected], 802.345.0169 hard to ensure all children can attend. the theme of the convention. Last year, for more information. We would love The registration fee has been waived, at the San Jose Convention, kids had to have you include Annual Conven- room and board is discounted to half wonderful time playing and learning as tion in your summer plans!

SPLATz Retreat cream party and played more games. in the soft, still, embrace of peace and Continued from page 54 Catchphrase is always a popular eve- love. ning activity at retreats, and this re- We arose Sunday morning for our a chance to do some final breakfast to- acting when they gether. We cleaned role-played some up, said our different scenarios goodbyes, and then involving bullying, departed, closing such as rejection, the doors on anoth- the put down, and er SPLATz week- exclusion. end together. We In the evening, are all so blessed to we discussed ways have our friends that we can get out Retreat staff: Jack, Craig, Kelli, and Lori and teachers to help of the drama tri- us overcome our angle and methods fears and become to survive and per- more confident, haps even thrive in SPLATz girls: Ellie, Zsa Zsa, Ally, Bella, Nora, and Boston loving souls. the middle. I con- Thank you to cluded the evening Almont and Lori session by explain- Patana for provid- ing that God is ing a safe and invit- pure love and pure ing space, and spe- wisdom. God nev- cial thanks to youth er hates or punish- workers Craig Car- es. God never lies son, Kelli Craft, or spreads gossip. and Jack Earls for The Lord’s Divine donating their valu- Love (red) and Wis- able weekend time dom (white) em- Retreat staff: Jack, Craig, Kelli, and Lori in service to our brace you, wrap around you, and pro- treat was no exception! The evening youth and the Church! tect you. The Lord guides us through ended with a guided meditation in the Kurt Fekete is the youth director of the the middle and helps us discover ways library, where I led the SPLATz to a Swedenborgian Church. He lives with his wife to deal with being caught in between. sacred place by the water where they and daughters Zsa Zsa and Ava in Gorham, After the session, we enjoyed an ice could sit in the sand under the stars Maine. 56 the Messenger April 2019 Proposed Statement of the Swedenborgian Church on Discrimination

A draft proposal for this statement was the 2019 Annual Convention for vote as that loving people who are different presented at the 2018 Annual Conven- a standing resolution. from us is integral to the practice of a tion and printed in the September 2018 s Swedenborgians we affirm religious life. Messenger. After one year of study open the core truths of our faith We also acknowledge that broad to all members of the denomination, the that honor the diversity of generalizations about races, nations, following will be presented on the floor of Aboth heaven and earth, and recognize genders, sexual orientations, physical abilities, and religions can be found in our sacred texts when interpreted lit- erally, and that these texts have been Proposed Resolution on used on occasion to promote opinions that run counter to these core truths. Ending Gun Violence We hereby affirm our responsibility to interpret our texts in the light of love In 2017, the General Convention vot- continuing response to the crisis, faithful and inclusion, in heaven’s light, and ed to endorse a resolution from the Na- to our biblical perspective. categorically reject interpretations of tional Council of Churches on the issue the Bible or of Swedenborg’s writings of gun violence. Due to a clerical error, Resolution And Call to Action that promote any discriminatory view- that vote was not recorded in the min- No community, church, or individual point. Where any translation or inter- believer can address a problem as complex utes. At the 2019 Convention, the So- pretation appears to invite the reader and intractable as gun violence on its own. cial Concerns Committee will bring this Therefore, together, the member commu- to engage in exclusionary or hateful resolution forward to be voted on once nions of National Council of Churches thinking, promote stereotypes, or jus- again. We see this as an opportunity to U.S.A. RESOLVE to: tify discrimination against anyone for reaffirm our previous vote and to official- 1) call upon our local, state, and federal any reason, regardless of the source, we ly lend our name and support to this im- legislators to enact reforms that lim- stand against this. If any member, cler- portant and on-going issue. The wording it access to assault weapons and hand- gy, employee, or other affiliated person appears below; the resolution with back- guns, including closing the so-called indicates by word, deed, works, writ- ground material is available at the NCC federal “gun show loophole,” which al- ings, affiliations, or any other means website (nationalcouncilofchurches.us) lows for the purchase of firearms from racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim private sellers without submitting to a or by contacting Rev. Robert McCluskey bigotry, gender bias, heterosexism, background check, or providing docu- ([email protected]). mentation of the purchase. ableism, or any other expression of 2) participate with movements such as prejudice, they do not reflect nor rep- Ending Gun Violence: A Resolution “Heeding God’s Call” (http://www. resent the practical doctrine of the and Call to Action by the National heedinggodscall.org) to insist that Swedenborgian Church. Council of Churches of Christ, U.S.A. commercial sellers adopt and adhere to We encourage one another to advo- “[L]ive in peace; and the God responsible sales practices. cate for those who face discrimination of love and peace shall be with you. 3) prayerfully, financially, and otherwise and to actively address these expres- (2 Corinthians 13:11)” support the NCC staff in coordinating sions of bias in our personal interac- ecumenical efforts for gun violence re- tions and in the larger society. We also Adopted by the Governing Board May duction, including preparing educa- acknowledge that forms of discrimina- 17, 2010; reaffirmed Feb. 23, 2018 tional materials about the magnitude of tion come in many subtle shades, and This Resolution and Call to Action is a gun violence, developing avenues for dialogue among gun owners and gun that we have a responsibility to regular- collaboration of the member communions ly investigate our actions and beliefs, of the National Council of Churches USA control advocates within our congrega- (NCC), with local and regional ecumeni- tions, and offering a faithful witness in both individually and collectively, to cal bodies of the United States. It address- cooperating with inter-faith and non- align them with these truths, so that es the grievous problem of gun violence religious anti-gun violence advocacy we may all be greater vessels for Divine in the United States and is a part of our organizations. Love in the world. 195th Session of the Youth League Program: The Youth League program runs from General Convention of the New Jerusalem Saturday, June 29 through Wednesday, July 3 and is supervised by Council of Ministers: Wednesday, June 26 - Friday, June 28; Kurt Fekete. If you want your teen to attend without a parent, please Opening and Keynote: June 29; Outing Day: July 2; contact the Central Offi ce and touch base with Kurt as well. Convention events run June 29 through July 3 Internet: Free guest wireless access is available. Convention 2019 will be held in Valparaiso, IN on the campus Parking: Free. of Valparaiso University (VU). To learn more about VU, visit Reservations and Payment Deadline: No new room, meal, or outing https://www.valpo.edu/. (This is not a VU-affi liated event.) To learn reservations will be available after May 24 at 5PM EST. Any room and more about the 2019 Convention and view a list of Frequently board reservations not fully paid by this date will be charged a $50 late Asked Questions, please visit http://tinyurl.com/Swedenborg2019, fee. Event registrations will be accepted for as long as space permits. email [email protected] or call the Central Offi ce at (617) Cancellations: Fully refundable prior to May 24 at 5PM ET and must 969-4240. be done by calling the Central Offi ce between 9AM-5PM ET, M-F. Lodging: See next page for more details. Rooms will be allocated on Arrivals and Departures: Check-in on arrival day for on-campus a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis, and may fi ll up before the end of the guests is between 10AM-5PM. Check-out on July 3 is before 11AM. registration period. Rooms include one standard linen and towel pack. See FAQ for details on arrivals/departures outside of these windows. Pillows are additional at $5 a pillow (limited inventory). Please mark Mobility: Attendees will need to bring or rent their own mobility aids. on next page if you will need one and add $5 to your package price. If Please see the FAQ for more details. you are local or traveling via car, please consider bringing your own. Communications: Please provide a valid email address below if you Roommates (singles are additional, but in shared suites): If you have one. We provide as much information as possible via email. have a specifi c roommate in mind, please fi ll in their name in the Add [email protected] to your contact list to ensure that you designated space. If not, please fi ll in the matching section. You will be receive all of our email updates. paired with someone of the same gender. Ground Transportation: Please see the FAQ for more details. Childcare: Please contact the Central Offi ce for details and forms. July 2 Outing: There will be a July 2 outing to the La Porte New Children 6-12: No registration fee and their room and board is 1/2 the Church, Manna House, and Stone Lake/Cummings Lodge for a catered adult rate. Children 0-5 Contact Central Offi ce for details. Scholarships picnic, which is included in the room and board and meal packages are available to pay 1/2 of the airfare. Contact Central Offi ce for details. below.

Name

Name

Street Apt. #

City State/Province Zip

Home Church/Organization Preferred Email Day Phone

Names, ages, and genders of any minors accompanying you

Additional Notes to Central Offi ce:

Special Dietary Needs and/or Mobility Issues (Not everything can be accommodated) Specifi c Roommate Request (For double rooms) Roommate Matching Travel Information We will do our best to match you with an appropriate roommate if you will be in a double room and have not indicated a roommate above. Recommended airports to fl y in to are Chicago O’Hare and Chicago Midway airports. Transportation suggestions from airport: Coach USA, rent a car with Please indicate your gender: Male Female others, Uber/Lyft apps can be easily downloaded on any smartphone and connected to a credit card. On July 3, we may provide a Coach bus early in the morning for I am (check all that apply below): drop-off at both Chicago O’Hare and Chicago Midway airports at an additional cost. This would save you time and money. Please check here to be added to the July 3 reservation list and more details will be provided at a later date. An early riser A night owl Convention Name Tag A heavy sleeper A light sleeper Please list below your name, title, church (that you are associated Fragrance sensitive Fragrance-free with, association, or committee, etc.) that you would like listed on your convention Name Tag. We will not be able to alter them at A CPAP machine user A snorer Convention, so please be as specifi c as possible: Anything else we should know when matching you?

Next NextPage page for Feesfor fees  Room and Meal Package Information: All rooms will be double occupancy (unless otherwise requested). Multi-bedroom suites with bathrooms. Singles are available for an additional expense, but if you are receiving a subsidy, you will be responsible for the additional cost: 7 nights-$90; 5 nights-$60; 4 nights-$45. Please see note on previous page regarding pillows. For those staying off campus, meals are not provided unless registered and prepaid. For overnight stays or meals that don’t fi t listed packages, or for children’s rates (or to apply for child or youth scholarships), contact the Central Offi ce. Dinner on July 2 is included at the catered picnic outing in LaPorte. If you do not attend the Outing you will be responsible for your own dinner at your own expense. We will provide more details soon. FAQ is coming soon! Please check this box to donate for Child and Youth Scholarships to attend convention, and indicate amount: $

Please check this box if requesting single room. Please check this box if you will be attending the Outing on July 2 REGISTRATION Adult Youth League or Children Free Family Maximum $200 One Day Total of People and (Everyone Pays This) $100 Volunteers $50 (0-12) (immediate family only: parents, $30 Amount guardians, minor children) Number of People Total *Please check box for all amounts below that apply and fi gure by # of people for total* Need a Late Fee, if ROOM & MEAL Double-Room, Single-Room, Meals Pillow? paid after # of Meals, Linen Meals, Linen only, no Subtotal Total PACKAGES It’s May 24, at 5 People (Per Person Pricing) Pkg, Outing Pkg, Outing Lodging extra. p.m. (EST) Regular Convention- Sat. June 29-Wed. July 3 (4 nights): 4 dinners, 3 $325 $370 $110 $5 $50 $ $ lunches, 4 breakfasts General Council/Lay Members-Fri. June 28- Wed. July 3 (5 nights): $400 $460 $140 $5 $50 $ $ 5 dinners, 4 lunches, 5 breakfasts Council of Ministers Members/Licensed Pastors-Wed. June 26-July 3 (7 nights): $550 $640 $200 $5 $50 $ $ 7 dinners, 6 lunches, 7 breakfasts

GENERAL CONVENTION SUBSIDIES & SCHOLARSHIPS: Room & Board, or Meals only #People Total Discount Council of Ministers/Licensed Pastors for required meetings & convention (double-room/meal pkg. cost), from COM budget $ ( ) General Council Lay members for required meetings & convention (double-room/meal pkg. cost), from Gen. Council budget $ ( ) Scholarship: Swedenborgian Youth League Offi cers (double-room cost) $ ( ) Scholarship: Children, ages 6-12: One half of adult rate $ ( ) Scholarship: Children, ages 0-5: Call Central Offi ce for Scholarship rates and requirements $ ( ) Total Subsidies and Scholarships

GRAND TOTAL of Donation, Registration, Room & Board, less Subsidies (See rates above)

Payment Information All prices are in US currency. If you pay with a Canadian check, please add US$5 for handling. Please be advised that all prices are listed in US funds and must be converted for payment in other currencies. All room and board reservations not paid in full by 5PM EST on May 24 will be charged a $50 late fee. See “Cancellations” section of FAQ for refund policy. Payment Method 1. Credit card by mail (DO NOT email credit card information) - Fill out the following: Visa MasterCard Amex Discover Card Number:______Exp. Date: ______Cardholder’s Name: ______CCV/Security Code: ______Billing Zip Code: ______Signature: ______2. Credit card by phone - call (617) 969-4240, Monday through Friday, 9AM-5PM EST 3. Credit card or bank payment via PayPal - We will email an invoice 4. Check: Send checks payable to The Swedenborgian Church to: 50 Quincy St., Cambridge, MA 02138 the Messenger April 2019 59 Rev. Anna Woofenden is Urbana University Scholar in Residence

rbana Universi- General Convention of gardening, art, children, writing, com- ty announced the the New Jerusalem (the munity, singing, laughter, and a good 2019 Swedenborg Swedenborgian Church) cup of chai. She is passionate about UScholar in Residence, Rev. since 2000. Rev. Woof- spirituality, justice, food, the earth, Anna Woofenden, found- enden’s presentations beauty, compassion, and communi- er of the Garden Church are free of charge and ty and is still driven by a calling to re- and Feed and Be Fed open to the public. For imagine church. Farm, and co-host of the more information, con- Food and Faith Podcast. tact Samantha Kapp- About Urbana University As part of this year’s residency, Williamson: Samantha.kappwilliam Urbana University prepares stu- Urbana University will host events in [email protected]. dents for successful and professional support of Rev. Woofenden’s visit, in- careers within a caring and supportive cluding “Food and Faith: Conversa- About Rev. Anna Woofenden environment. Regionally well known tions from the Soil and Around the Ta- Anna grew up in the San Juan Is- for education and teacher preparation ble” and “Urban Gardening and Com- lands in the state of Washington. She programs, Urbana was founded in munity Engagement.” has lived around the country and trav- 1850 by Swedenborgians. Since 2014, The Swedenborg Scholar in eled throughout the world. Anna is Urbana University is a division of Residence at Urbana Universi- now based in Gambier, Ohio, with Franklin University, accredited by the ty program has been funded by the her husband David. She enjoys nature, Higher Learning Commission.

Swedenborgian Filmmaker Continued from page 49 Lights, Cameras, Action! Can You Change Your Life Story? as a student at the Swedenborgian House of Studies. She continues to Swedenborg & Life — Now with Season Themes read Swedenborg and strives to under- The newSwedenborg & Life (https://swedenborg.com/sl/swedenborg-and-life/) stand and interpret his works. seasons consist of four episodes, one of which will air every third Monday at 8 Garnering a growing list of ac- PM ET. The second season with a new theme will begin in June. On the Mon- colades, Bardo Blues has won “Best days in between new episodes, it will explore Swedenborg and the Bible during Film” at the Amsterdam Internation- “Swedenborg & Life LIVE” and take live questions from viewers in our hour-long al Filmmaker Festival, the Los Ange- Q&A show called “Good Question!” les Independent Film Festival awards, A new show, called “News from Heaven,” airs Thursdays at 12:30PM ET and Canada’s Yes Lets Make a Film, and Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET. In each of these upcoming shows, Curtis Childs will World of Film International Festi- share excerpts from Swedenborg’s works and apply the concepts to life. val Glasgow. It has also received oth- If you’ve never seen an offTheLeftEye er Indie awards for best cinematogra- video production or haven’t tuned in in phy, best editing, best actor, and best presenting the eighty-five minute film. a while, head over to the channel now actress (Marcia herself). “Bardo Blues” A writer, director, producer, and ac- and see what we’ve been up to at https:// will begin distribution in the U.S. in tress, Marcia’s earlier films are Star, in www.youtube.com/user/offTheLeftEye. May; more information is available at the reality style genre, and a As part of a non-profit organization, www.bardoblues.com. “mockumentary” on reality shows our video programs are available for The film showing at the convention called My Reality. free to anyone, anytime they need will be on Sunday night, June 30, fol- them! If you’d like to support our mis- Rev. Dr. James F. Lawrence is dean of the lowing the annual meeting of the Cen- Center for Swedenborgian Studies; director, sion, your tax-deductible donation will ter for Swedenborgian Studies. Marcia Doctor of Ministry Program at Pacific School strengthen and solidify our reach and will give a short presentation about the of Religion; and core doctoral faculty at the growth. Donate or become a member: background to the film before Graduate Theological Union.. https://swedenborg.com/donate/. 60 the Messenger April 2019 Nominations for Elected Positions in the Swedenborgian Church

he Nominating Committee Position to be Filled Term (Yrs) Candidate nominates at least one candi- date for each open elected po- President 3 *** Tsition. Elective offices and nominees to Vice-President 1 Tom Neuenfeldt* date are listed on the chart at right. Recording Secretary 1 Karen Conger*

If you are interested in being nom- Treasurer 3 *** inated for any position, contact the Carl Helm* General Council layperson (2 to be elected) 3 Nominating Committee through Cen- Susan Hulcher tral Office. In addition to the candidate to be General Council Minister 3 Rev. Betsy Coffman* elected to the Board of Trustees of General Council Minister (unexpired term) 1 Rev. Thom Muller the Center for Swedenborgian Stud- Standing Committee for Communication and Information: 3 *** ies (CSS) by its representative class Standing Committee for Education and 3 *** (members of the General Convention), Resources for Spiritual Community: two candidates nominated by the CSS Standing Committee for Financial Responsibility 3 Stan Conger Board are to be elected as at-large- class trustees at the CSS Annual Meet- Committee on Admission to the Ministry (CAM): clergy 3 Rev. Sage Cole* ing, which will convene at 7:30 PM on Board of Trustees of CSS, representative class 4 Open July 1, during the Annual Convention Board of Trustees of CSS, at-large class 4 Open in Valparaiso, Indiana. Nominating Committee 5 BJ Neuenfeldt * Incumbent Karen Conger: ** Nominated by the Center for Swedenborgian Studies( CSS) Board of Trustees Recording Secretary *** No candidate to be elected this year It’s once again an honor to accept nomination for the office of recording Directors of the Los Angeles Society also serve as a board member of the secretary of the and the Wayfarers Chapel. I continue Swedenborgian Online Communi- General Conven- to very much enjoy working as secre- ty; Central Office Review Commit- tion, a position to tary and hope to continue in the posi- tee chair; and a Trustee of the Na- which I was first tion. Thank you for your consideration. tional Church, in Washington D.C. I elected in 2015. also serve on a feasibility study com- I am a lifelong, Vice-President: Tom Neuenfeldt mittee for the Swedenborg Chapel third-generation I am pleased to be running for my Study-Advisory Team in Cambridge, Swedenborgian fourth term as the vice-president of our Massachusetts. who was raised in denomination. I My wife, BJ, and I continue to be the Church of the Holy City in Wash- continue to learn active in the Almont New Church ington, D.C. I have been a member of more and more Assembly and in the Michigan the Urbana Society and the Los Ange- about our church Association. les Society, and I am currently a mem- and the wonder- I am no longer on the board of our ber-at-large of the Pacific Coast Associ- ful people who Seminary, but my eight years there of- ation (PCA). I have served on the Min- make it what it is. fered me an opportunity to be involved istries Support Unit for several years In my role as in the formation for our ordained cler- and the Nominating Committee more vice-president, I gy and licensed pastors. than once. I was the secretary of the have had an opportunity to participate The leadership skills that I devel- PCA for several years, as well as hold- in meetings, celebrations, and wor- oped in my thirty years as a school ing elected positions on the Board of ship services across North America. I Continues on page 61 the Messenger April 2019 61

Nominations having cocktails. So after performing applications of Swedenborgian writ- Continued from page 60 our small act of rebellion, we carried ings, we pleasantly coexist because of on to an alternate play location—per- our fundamental beliefs. Another re- administrator have served me well in haps a safer one. But I don’t remember. alization is our society just enjoys the my vice-presidency. I developed an en- At five-years- community of it all. Sometimes it’s all durance for sitting through long meet- old, my fami- one can get anymore, and we steadily ings while remaining attentive and ly relocated from carry on because we want to. positive. If reelected, I will continue to Springfield, Ohio, Thank you for allowing me to “run” put these skills to use. to Canada. First once more. This time for a seat on Gen- we moved to Brit- eral Council. I welcome any opportuni- General Council (Minister): ish Columbia, ty to expand my knowledge. And if ac- Rev. Betsy Coffman where my grand- cepted I hope to offer what I’ve learned I am honored to accept nomina- parents Rev. Er- so far, with our larger community. tion for a second term on General win and Lisa Council. It has been a great privilege Reddekopp lived. We then settled one Nominating Committee: BJ (Betty to serve, and I hope to be able to con- province over in Alberta. Jean) Neuenfeldt, (nee Johnson) tinue to contrib- Thanks to the Church, I’ve had I am a Michigan native; I grew up ute meaningful- many great opportunities. I’ve attend- in Detroit and attended the Church ly as a Gener- ed Almont Winter Retreats and numer- of the Holy City al Council mem- ous conventions as the Youth League’s there, follow- ber to the issues, Canadian representative. Summer ing in the foot- challenges, and activities brought me to Paulhaven steps of Grandma decisions we face Children’s camp. I can’t tell you how and Mom. I am as a church. As blessed I feel to have experienced both descended from the longtime pas- my American and Canadian personas. Swedenborgians in tor of the Urbana It has granted me a unique perspective Paisley, Scotland Swedenborgian Church, I am especial- and broadened my understanding of (who immigrated ly in tune with similar ministries with- our organization as a whole. to Almont, Mich- in our denomination, and my prior ser- As an adult, I began to take posi- igan, and began a church and, later, a vice on a number of other committees tions on the Western Canada Con- summer camp there.) over the years, as well as six years as ference (WCC) Board, serving as Al- The Nominating Committee is an vice-president, has allowed me to gain berta representative or vice-president. important body in the Swedenborgian an understanding and appreciation of I was also one of the founding mem- Church, although it is often taken the wide variety of ministries within bers of the Paulhaven Property Com- lightly. Choosing names to present for Convention that seek to “spread the mittee (PPC). The PPC oversees main- the offices and committees in our de- word” of all we have to offer from a tenance of the forty acres of land that nomination at the annual conventions Swedenborgian spiritual perspective. Paulhaven Children’s Camp sits upon. is a job that takes much thought and Betsy Coffman lives in Urbana, Ohio. Every year, I teach at Paulhaven, and knowledge of the workings of our de- in the last few we’ve incorporated nomination and its constituents. Nom- General Council (Layperson): yoga and meditation. This I have been inees should represent the geographi- Susan Hulcher pleased to lead. cal diversity of the church as well as Running is my earliest memory of Currently, I am vice-president of diverse political viewpoints on church the Swedenborgian Church—running the Calgary New Church Society. We and secular issues. around with my little friends at Urbana are a small but loyal group made up The term is a long one, five years, College for a convention, that is, be- of General Church and General Con- so it takes someone willing to agree to fore creeping into an emptied meet- vention members. The Calgary Soci- that much time. It also takes partici- ing room to play with the microphone. ety has persevered for over fifty years pation in committee work and coordi- We giggled as our voices echoed in the despite never owning a building. This nation during the year to prepare the massive space. But that glee comingled circumstance has led me to several ob- slate. with bits of apprehension if the adults servations, one being, that while our When asked, I thought it would be heard us. They were in a nearby room congregants differ regarding certain Continues on page 63 62 the Messenger April 2019

The Art of Eleanor Schnarr Reflection

leanor’s Schnarr’s visionary paintings Racism take advantage of the unique properties By. Jane Siebert of oil paint on paper to create a psyche- Edelic dimensionality that blends together the ’m not Racist or anti-Semitic. Like image-making traditions of oil and aqueous me- many of you, I grew up in a good dia with the aesthetic of stained glass. household. My parents were low- Drawing inspiration from her own multi- Ier middle class, but I never felt poor modal synesthesia, Swedenborgian philosophy, or lacking. I don’t think there were and contemporary neuroscience, Eleanor’s practice centers around the concept of any Black children or Hispanic chil- “cerebral proprioception.” dren in my school. I’m not sure I would She is working to create new modali- have noticed. Most were Christian, but ties to visualize the connectomics of the we never concerned ourselves with it, human brain from subjective observation. and I didn’t know what anti-Semitism meant. No one in my home spoke dis- paragingly about people of different races or different religious traditions. I was never bullied, and I hope I never bullied anyone else. The only disparity I remember was feeling like doctors’ and lawyers’ kids or “rich kids” were in a different league than I and ran with different friends, but it didn’t matter. My mom sewed most of my clothes, and she was a good seamstress. She even converted my white prom dress into my wedding dress, and I felt beautiful in both. Uni- versity was much the same. There was a bit of diversity, but we pretty much stayed in our own groups, and I didn’t question it. I went off to the Peace Corps in Af- rica after college. I was definitely in the minority, but I didn’t feel “minor” in anyway. I was held up as different, yes, but in a good way. People were cu- rious about me. Everyone treated me with respect, probably more than I de- served. I was twenty-two years old. Going on in my adult life, I worked alongside a variety of people. Some I got along with better than others, but it was not due to the color of their skin or choice of religion. At least I never thought so. Eleanor studies in the MFA Painting Program at San Francisco Art Institute. So, something that happened the She lives in the Bay Area with her husband, Rev. Thom Mueller. Her website is other day really threw me and makes EleanorSchnarr.com and her Instagram is @eleanorschnarrtist. Continues on page 63 the Messenger April 2019 63

Racism doesn’t know how to drive.” Continued from page 62 That second I caught it. My hidden Good News! racism came into full view. I was sur- me step back and ask, “Where did that prised and deeply saddened. “Where e have received many generous come from?” did that come from?” Wdonations for our annual meet- I was driving home from visiting my And then I thought about what we ing (Convention 2019) from churches, ninety-nine-year-old mother on a two are taught in our Swedenborgian theol- associations, and individuals. We pass lane highway that is always busy. They ogy. We have to examine ourselves to these savings onto you in reduced reg- have added passing lanes, which helps see the wrong in our lives before we istration fees for everyone and scholar- to clear out some of the long trains of can do anything about it. That day, ships for children and teens. cars that can back up behind someone that moment, I became aware of my One example is the $2500 donation not going the speed limit. I was at the hidden prejudice. It helped me look at we received from Marquette Associ- back of one of those and glad to see a other things in my daily life that I hat- ates through Michael Shone, our con- sign designating “Passing Lane Ahead. ed to admit. I do not want to have sultant for investments in the Com- Stay Right, Except to Pass.” these feelings. I didn’t think I did, but mon Fund. This donation and others The problem was the car that led the there it was, and now I could do some- helped to reduce the registration fee pack did not move to the right lane, thing about it. from $120 to $100. and the drivers were confused. Finally, Michael has been involved in rec- they started passing on the right side— ommendations to the Investment one, two, three . . . four. “Oh, keep go- Nominations Committee for the Common Fund for ing,” I thought, “just a little farther Continued from page 61 almost thirty years. He has steered the and it will be my turn.” I whizzed by committee in good fiscal decisions that as the passing lane was about finished a good chance to use the information I have kept payouts to participating and I looked at the driver in the slow have gathered over many years serving churches and our denomination level car, expecting to see an elderly person on other General Convention commit- in times of bull markets and bear mar- (which is my own form of prejudice tees—The Education Support Unit, kets. Our investments are sound, and that I am fully aware of). As I passed The Fiscal and Physical Resources Sup- the returns outshine those of many and looked, I thought to myself, “Oh, port Unit, the Michigan Association, other institutions comparable to ours. it’s a middle-aged Black woman. She and Almont New Church Assembly. Looking over the past, the track record I’ve attended over twenty-five conven- is good, and we can thank Michael and tions, through my teen years, young his team for helping the Common Letter from the President adult years as a parent with small chil- Fund to grow and support our minis- Continued from page 51 dren, and most of my later adult years. tries and the goals of the Swedenborgian I know the hardest part of this job is Church. Council of Churches. making those calls: “Would you be I join our youth director, Kurt willing to serve as . . . .” Should I be Fekete, in thanking all the volunteers elected to this position, I hope all of Church in 2005, Sage has served in a who devote time and care to our youth you think seriously about a positive an- variety of settings: the first pastor of program, camps, and retreats. There swer if you get the call, knowing that the Swedenborgian Online Communi- are also many committees within our you were chosen with a lot of thought ty.org; the associate pastor of the Council of Ministers. going into the request. Our church, Church of the Holy If you are interested in any of these like most churches, runs on volun- City in Wilmington, committees and offices, please let me teer power; each of us has the ability Delaware; the pastor or members of the Nominating Com- to help. of the Fryeburg New mittee know. And if I have missed Church in Fryeburg, some volunteers, please forgive me. Rev. Sage Cole: Committee on Maine, and for six For now, I say a deep thank you for Admission to the Ministry years as a hospice the dedication, time and leadership Rev. Sage Cole is the pastor and di- chaplain in southern you offer rector of Swedenborg Chapel in Cam- Maine. Sage lives with her husband You bring the future, bridge, Massachusetts. Ordained into and two young sons in Jamaica Plain, —Rev. Jane Siebert, President the ministry of the Swedenborgian Massachusetts. The Swedenborgian Church of North America 50 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA 02138

Address Service Requested

64 the Messenger April 2019

About the Swedenborgian Church Earth Is Speaking to Us Emanuel Swedenborg was born January 29, 1688, in Stockholm, Sweden. Although he never intended a church denomination to be founded or 195th Annual Swedenborgian Convention named after him, a society was formed in London fifteen years LaPorte New Church with the Illinois Association after his death. American groups Welcomes you to Northwest Indiana, eventually founded the General Where you can meet up with loving friends and find new ones. Convention of Swedenborgian Churches. Saturday, June 29–Wednesday, July 3, 2019 As a result of Swedenborg’s Valparaiso University spiritual questioning and Please Register Today! insights, we as a church exist Valparaiso University is a beautiful and accommodating campus for us. We will enjoy to encourage that same spirit our meetings in spacious, modern rooms, meals for every palette at the Founders Table, of inquiry and personal growth, and worship services in the Resurrection Chapel. The modern Beacon Residence Hall and to respect differences in views, lounges are all ours. Valparaiso’s town square, a short ride from campus, offers a wide ar- and to accept others who may ray of restaurants and pubs. have different traditions. Plan to arrive on Saturday in time for the Welcome Reception, 3–5 PM, to meet new In his theological writings, friends and connect with others. Swedenborg shared a view of The opening of the convention on Saturday evening will include the church banner God as infinitely loving and at procession (bring your banners!) and focus on our earth-care theme, with keynote speak- the very center of our beings, a er Matthew Fox, an American priest who is well-known as pioneering theologian, edu- view of life as a spiritual birthing cator, author, activist, and mystic, reawakening mysticism and protecting Mother Earth. as we participate in our own Offered throughout the convention are worthy and inspiring mini-courses. (See creation, and a view of scripture page 52 for details.) as a story of inner life stages as There is a Teen Program (ages 13–18) and a Children’s Program (ages 5–12). For avail- we learn and grow. Swedenborg able scholarships for youth and children to attend, and childcare options, please call Cen- said, “All religion relates to life, tral Office, (617) 969-4240. and the life of religion is to do On Tuesday, July 2, we’ll come together for an outing to LaPorte New Church, cele- good.” He also felt that the brating its 160th anniversary, and Manna House, and then enjoy an afternoon at a peace- sincerest form of worship is a ful LaPorte lake and lodge for a catered picnic. useful life. Checkout is Wednesday morning by 11:00 AM.