A bimonthly magazine devoted to the teachings revealed through Emanuel Swedenborg, as they apply to life. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 handmaid the of t d he ol L h o e r B d Mary’s example of innocence and willingness to be led by the Lord – “Be it unto me according to Thy Word” – helps make way for the Lord to be born in our hearts each Christmas. See a sermon by the Rev. Howard A. Thompson, Tell Out Your Soul. (Page 474) Note: Tere is no extra cost for the use of color on the front page. NEW CHURCH LIFE ⁽USPS 378-180⁾ PUBLISHED BIMONTHLY BY THE GENERAL CHURCH OF THE NEW JERUSALEM Bruce Henderson, Editor Rev. Walter Orthwein, Spiritual Editor Michelle Chapin, Layout SUBSCRIPTION: $30 TO ANY ADDRESS. To order: 267-502-4990 or [email protected]. Postmaster: Send address changes to: New Church Life, PO Box 708, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009 e-mail: [email protected] Vol. MMXVIII November/December 2018 No. 6 New Church Life A bimonthly magazine devoted to the teachings revealed through Emanuel Swedenborg, as they relate to life. 458 In this Issue 460 Editorials: Te Meaning of Christmas • Te Christmas Gif: Peace 463 Te Levitical Blessing – A Sermon by the Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith 468 Te ONE God – A Sermon by the Rev. Ryan M. Sandstrom 474 Tell Out Your Soul A Christmas Sermon by the Rev. Howard A. Tompson 479 Charter Day Cathedral Address: Te Gratitude Efect Te Rev. Dr. Ray Silverman 485 Charter Day Banquet Talks: Te Distinctiveness of New Church Education in the Academy Secondary Schools – Martha Hyatt Odhner, Westley Wedell, Camryn Buss, the Rev. Christopher A. Barber 494 Evolution and Religion: One Scientist’s Perspective Justin G. Stroh, PhD 502 Book Review: A New Key to the Bible by Bruce Henderson Reviewed by Peter H. Boericke 504 Church News 519 Life Lines 529 General Church Secretary Annual Report (omitted online) 535 Directory of the General Church Clergy (majority omitted online) 552 Announcements (omitted online) 557 Index for 2018 New Church Life is online at www.newchurchlife.org, with issues archived back to 2006. All issues of New Church Life can be searched back to 1881 at www.heavenlydoctrines.org. IN MEMORY Te Rt. Rev. Alfred Acton II Note: Te Rt. Rev. Alfred Acton II passed into the spiritual world on October 23 at age 84. He had been living in retirement with his wife, Henrietta, in Pineville, South Carolina. Below is a message sent on October 24 to Members and Friends of the Academy Family by the Rt. Rev. Brian W Keith, who then forwarded this message to the General Church, adding: “Tere is so much more to say about him – as a person and his work for the General Church. It’s rather overwhelming to see how many subjects he wrote on and the uses he served. He was still preaching every month in South Carolina until recently. He will be dearly missed.” Te Memorial Address by the Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss Sr. will be published in the January/ February issue of New Church Life. ear Members and Friends of the Academy Family: D Te Rt. Rev. Alfred Acton II passed peacefully into the spiritual world last night. Alfe’s involvement with the Academy was extensive. He taught in all the schools, including some math and science in the Secondary Schools during his time as a student in Teological School, and served as President for seven years. Alfe was born in 1934. He graduated from the Bryn Athyn Church School in 1949 and the Boys School in 1953. He then obtained his Junior College diploma at the Bryn Athyn College of the New Church before graduating from Haverford College with a major in Latin and minor in Greek. Afer two years of military service and marriage to Henrietta Gourdin in 1960, he graduated from the Teological School and was ordained in 1964. Alfe began serving as pastor of the Sharon Church in Chicago and as assistant to the pastor in Glenview. He very quickly became administrator of the kindergarten through 10th grade schools there, in addition to teaching many subjects. In 1968 he moved to Glenview as a full assistant pastor and in 1973 he was called as pastor of Glenview, continuing to teach in the schools. Ten in 1976 he was elected president of the Academy. He served until 1983 when he returned to teaching at the Academy and serving various General Church uses. In 1999 he was called as Assistant to the Bishop and served in that role until his retirement in 2004. Alfe delved into an extensive range of topics, including New Church Education. Among his subjects were “Human Development,” “Education for Marriage,” “Opening of the Rational,” “Science and Religion,” “Environment, Education and Freedom,” “Education of Girls and Boys” and “Essentials of the Academy.” He was also a force to be reckoned with! He willingly examined and proposed changes to organizational structures. His intellectual prowess was renowned, yet his great heart for people showed through all his presentations and academic sparring. And he always sought out direction from the Lord’s three-fold Word to help people on the path to heaven. His fundamental optimistic approach to life was seen in his 1981 report as President: Indeed, the underlying love all those involved with the Academy have for the fundamental principles which led our founders to establish this institution still rings loudly. Te fact remains that we seek guiding light in our deliberations from the one source of truth present with us, the Lord God, Jesus Christ, who speaks clearly to us in the pages of His New Word. I am confdent that our dedication to this frst principle of the Academy will lead each of us in a spirit of genuine charity to give of ourselves for the good we cherish. Alfe had a tremendous impact on the Academy and we will miss his stimulating and challenging leadership and scholarship. Now the Lord has use of his talents in the eternal kingdom where I’m sure he will continue his invaluable service to the church. Our thoughts and afections are with his family and friends. Te Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith 457 In Tis Issue ditorials (page 460) include: E • Te Real Meaning of Christmas. Much of the meaning of Christmas has been lost to crass commercialism and we can’t “put Christ back in Christmas” without a genuine revival of Christian faith – which “is exactly what the New Church envisions and exists to bring about.” • Te Christmas Gif: Peace. Te universal prayer of the Christmas season is “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” But like all gifs that become meaningful when we put them to use in our lives, so we fnd that peace when we use what the Lord has given to us and walk in His way. In a sermon appropriate for the American Tanksgiving season, “Te Levitical Blessing,” the Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith says: “Te oferings of blessing us, keeping us, having the Lord’s face shine upon us, being gracious, lifing up His countenance and giving us peace are all expressions of what the Lord is constantly doing for us.” (Page 463) In a Christmas sermon, “Te ONE God,” the Rev. Ryan M. Sandstrom says “Te Lord not only made Himself visible in His advent but He showed that He is the One God. Te oneness of God is fundamental.” He suggests that in our preparations for Christmas we keep the Lord Jesus Christ, the ONE and only God, as our main focal point. (Page 468) A favorite image of the Christmas season is the innocence of Mary – “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord.” Te Rev. Howard A. Tompson, in a Christmas sermon, “Tell Out Your Soul,” invites us to “mind your thoughts and the words you speak, nurture innocence within and make straight the path that the Lord may infow and bless you.” (Page 474) In his Charter Day Cathedral Address, the Rev. Dr. Ray Silverman focused on “Te Gratitude Efect.” “Alma mater,” he said, stands not for “our mother” but our “nourishing mother.” And Charter Day “is not just an occasion for remembering an historical event. More importantly it is an opportunity to express gratitude to the founders for all they have done, and to render thanks for all that has been given.” (Page 479) Te Charter Day Banquet featured four speakers from the Academy 458 IN THIS ISSUE Secondary Schools on Te Distinctiveness of New Church Education in the schools. Te heartfelt talks were given by faculty members the Rev. Christopher A. Barber and Martha Hyatt Odhner, recent Boys School graduate Westley Wedell, and current Girls School senior Camryn Buss. (Page 485) Justin G. Stroh, PhD, with more than 30 years of experience as a scientist, ofers his own perspective on “Evolution and Religion.” He dispels “the misconceived notion that science is inherently opposed to religion.” In layman’s language he asks: What is evolution? Is it real? And if it is real then how does it work and what is its relationship to religion? (Page 494) Peter H. Boericke reviews a new book by Bruce Henderson – A New Key to the Bible: Unlock its Inner Meaning and Open the Door to Your Spirit – published by the Swedenborg Foundation. He fnds the book “clearly written to attract and introduce a wider audience to the New Church,” but also “a perfect primer for our own study of the spiritual sense of the Word. It resets the stage, whets the appetite, and stimulates the mind to unlock and reopen that door.” (Page 502) Church News (page 504) includes: • Te Rt.