A bimonthly magazine devoted to the teachings revealed through Emanuel Swedenborg, as they apply to life. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 The Gift of Inspiration The Rev. John L. Odhner writes in a sermon that “the gift of inspiration” from the Lord is that He is always working on us from the inside, enlightening our understanding so that we can experience “the miracle of a new heart and a new spirit.” (Page 422) Note: There 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 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. MMXVI September/October 2016 No. 5 New Church Life A bimonthly magazine devoted to the teachings revealed through Emanuel Swedenborg, as they relate to life. 411 In this Issue 414 Editorials: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done • Labor Day 417 Letters to the Editors 422 The Gift of Inspiration– A Sermon by the Rev. John L. Odhner 428 Greater Engagement: A Plan for the General Church The Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss Jr. 432 Friendship – A Sermon by the Rev. Bradley D. Heinrichs 438 General Church Religion Lessons and the General Church Sarah B. Odhner 444 Introducing Our Ministers: Changed by Faith – and Paying it Forward: The Rev. Christopher A. Barber 451 Considering Conscience – A Sermon by the Rev. Christopher A. Barber 457 Book Review: Growth Pains and Pleasures By the Rev. Frank S. Rose, Reviewed by Bronwen M. Henry 460 Prayer’s Role in the Salvation of our Soul – The Rev. Kurt P. Nemitz 468 The Character and Possible Uses of the Spiritual Diary/ Spiritual Experiences – The Rev. Willard L. D. Heinrichs 478 Church News 497 Life Lines 510 Announcements 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. Listen online or download: Conjunction with the Lord ~ Class Series The Continuous Internal Sense of the Word ~ Class Spiritual Desolation ~ Sermon What Can I Do? ~ Sermon Finding Our Lost Sheep ~ Sermon Swedenborg Studies – On the Shoulders of Giants Inner Peace ~ Sermon Healing Our Addictions ~ Sermon Avoiding Negative States ~ Class Why are We Here? ~ Sermon Apocalypse Revealed ~ Class Series Fundamental Doctrines of the New Church ~ Class Series www.newchurchaudio.org More recordings will be added to our website thanks to private donations. To support this effort please contact us. PO Box 277-C, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009 215-947-0266 ext 4981 Email: [email protected] In This Issue ow does the Lord lead and inspire us? In a sermon, Lead Us and Guide HUs, Lord: The Gift of Inspiration, the Rev. John L. Odhner says the Lord’s influx is like radio waves all around us – only recognized and received when we tune in. “To understand how the Lord is working in our world,” he says, “we need to understand how He teaches and leads us. He teaches from the inside. He flows into our souls with His love and enlightens us inwardly with spiritual light.” (Page 422) The Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss Jr. reports on the strategic planning process in the Church: “Greater Engagement – A Plan for the General Church, 2016- 2020.” He says: “The goal of any church planning is to see more people serving and being served. While we rejoice in the ways that the General Church is helping people around the world, and express gratitude for the many people who give of themselves to others by means of the Church’s activities, there is an opportunity to invite more people to take advantage of what the Church has to offer.” (Page 428) Friendships are extremely important in our lives, but the Rev. Brad Heinrichs cautions in a sermon that there are good and bad kinds of friendship. “The first step in forming any genuine friendship,” he says, “is to study the Word and distinguish between what is acceptable conduct and what is not. How many people today would consider that a prerequisite for any genuine friendship?” (Page 432) No doubt many of you have fond memories of the old General Church Religion Lessons, either as family recipients or as volunteers who made them such a vibrant part of reaching out to church families. We are happy to reprint an address given at the Charter Day luncheon last year by Sarah B. Odhner discussing the history of the program and its impact throughout the Church – on adults and children. (Page 438) In Introducing Our Ministers, the Rev. Christopher A. Barber confesses that he had “a loose relationship with faith” while growing up and even became “functionally an atheist.” But when his single mother married a New Churchman his life began to change. Now his renewed faith is “paying it forward” as a popular Religion teacher in the Academy Secondary Schools. 411 new church life: september/october 2016 (Page 444) In a sermon about the story of Balaam, Mr. Barber finds relevance for today in “Considering Conscience.” (Page 451) Bronwen Henry of General Church Outreach writes a rapturous review of a new book by the Rev. Frank S. Rose: Growth Pains and Pleasures. The book is all about Mr. Rose’s journey as a New Church minister striving to find the best way to contribute to the growth of the Church. Bronwen says within this story is an important message and rich meaning for each of us and she invites us to reflect on our own path in the General Church in its light. (Page 457) The Rev. Kurt P. Nemitz offers his thoughts on Prayer’s Role in the Salvation of our Soul. He writes: “Prayer is of utmost importance, because it is what makes it possible for God and His Divine qualities to come into our hearts and minds. Prayer opens the door of our mind to His love and wisdom which we so much need. Vital spiritual things do happen when we pray.” (Page 460) The Rev. Willard L. D. Heinrichs presents a personal study on The Character and Possible Uses of the Spiritual Diary/Spiritual Experiences. He cautions that these are his own opinions, and invites dialogue. He feels there are good reasons to conclude that these five volumes are Divine revelation. So many times, he says, he has been led to the conclusion that what is advanced in these books “is always in essential agreement with what is taught elsewhere in the Heavenly Doctrine. I think that I hear the same underlying Divine and heavenly melody.” (Page 468) Church News, beginning on page 478, includes: • New callings in the Kempton Society in Pennsylvania, with long-time Vice Principal Mark Wyncoll moving over to the General Church as head of Annual Giving, and Kempton alum Dale Smith being named the new Vice Principal. • The New Journey Program from General Church Outreach on the meaningful test for communication: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it useful? Co-author Sasha Silverman relates it with a story: Move the Cracker, Offer the Wine: Finding a Gentler Approach to Conflict Resolution. • A report – with photos – from the Rev. Todd Beiswenger on Camp Wanawong in Australia. The lively program ranged from a game of Russian Roulette – using eggs instead of bullets – to a doctrinal discussion of the Book of Revelation. • An enthusiastic report from student Jamie Reynolds on what a life- changing experience it was for her to attend the annual British Academy Summer School. (With photos) • Changes and expectations for the new school year at both Bryn Athyn College and the Academy Secondary Schools. • A new video from New Church Education on Swedenborg’s childhood 412 in this issue • The Charter Day dedication of two new residence halls for Bryn College – named for former Academy President, the Rev. Daniel W. Goodenough, and the late Dr. Sherri R. Cooper, beloved teacher in the College. • The impressive Medieval Camp at Glencairn Museum, with photos. • The Tools 4 Life Camp for juniors and seniors in Bryn Athyn, this year with the theme, “Dare to Prepare Your Heart.” • A report on several enthusiastic visits by organ societies to the Bryn Athyn Cathedral to hear both of the world-class organs there. • A preview of the Boynton Beach Retreat in Florida in January, with three exceptional speakers: Brian Henderson on Glencairn Museum; Dr. Erica Goldblatt Hyatt of Bryn Athyn College on end-of-life studies; and the Rev. Mac Frazier on “Lessons Learned from Planting a Church in Austin, Texas.” OUR NEW CHURCH VOCABULARY Part of a continuing series developed by the Rev. W. Cairns Henderson, 1961-1966. GOOD Good is defined in the Writings as the affection of thinking and acting according to Divine order. Thus it belongs to love to the Lord and charity toward the neighbor, is spiritual, consists in willing and doing well unselfishly, and is heaven with man. That which proceeds from man’s proprium is never good and may actually be entirely evil. However, what man loves he calls good, whether it be heavenly or infernal, because it is felt by him as such. This is what has given rise to the theory that good is only relative, but the Writings make clear that there is absolute good. (See Arcana Coelestia 4538, 4997, 7255; Divine Providence 279; Divine Love and Wisdom 335; True Christian Religion 38; Faith 14) 413 Editorials thy kingdom come, thy will be done When we say the Lord’s Prayer we express our hope for what will be.