“When the Lord comes in, let us be the one to celebrate…Let us welcome Him in.”
Rev. Sage Cole
#PalmSunday #BibleStudy w/Rev. Sage Cole
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#TransDayOfVisibility & Learning
Today, we celebrate another difference that make us human. Why would we want to deny someone who they are? Today is Trans Day of Visibility. Interested in learning more about Trans Folx? Want to get involved in advocacy for equal rights for the Trans Community?
How does the Swedenborgian Church feel about LGBTQIA+ issues? As stated on https://swedenborg.org
Welcome and Support of All People in the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus*) Community
The Swedenborgian Church of North America (SCNA) publicly declares itself to be LGBTQ+ Embracing. The SCNA encourages all its constituent bodies to become LGBTQ+ Embracing.
As an LGBTQ+ Embracing organization, the SCNA recognizes that the LGBTQ+ community, in particular those of color, continue to experience prejudice, discrimination, and condemnation at the hands of many religious institutions. The SCNA will clearly and publicly make known their welcome of all LGBTQ+ people, will advocate in the public sphere for their rights, and will educate themselves on the care and pastoring of people in the LGBTQ+ community. We welcome LGBTQ+ seekers and support their identities and loving relationships. All rites and sacraments of the SCNA are available to LGBTQ+ people including, baptism, confirmation, communion, marriage, consecration as a licensed pastor, ordination, and services of remembrance and resurrection.
The SCNA understands the message of love and inclusion taught to us through the Bible and insights of Emanuel Swedenborg to affirm diversity in all its exciting complexity, offering equal value and worth to all people with a variety of God given gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and loving relationships. The SCNA will seek to interpret the Bible and the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg in ways that honor the equal value and worth of all sexual orientations, genders, gender identities, and gender expressions. We will support everyone who is engaged in the regenerative journey—individual or partnered. We affirm any partnered relationships that are entered into freely, are grounded in mutual fidelity and respect, and have as their end the well being and spiritual growth of each partner. We acknowledge that living in truly loving and wise ways is possible for finite and fallible human beings only with the Lord’s leading.
As our understanding of this continues to unfold, the SCNA is dedicated to educating itself and others. The SCNA respects the judgment of those who make decisions for its constituent bodies and lends its support to them as they discern whether to become LGBTQ+ Embracing and will offer resources and guidance to facilitate the process.
*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus—including: intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, non-binary, gender non-conforming, aromantic, and asexual
#SundaySermon: “What is it?” By Rev. Julie Conaron
If you missed Sunday’s sermon on Manna with Guest Minister Rev. Julie Conaron, you can watch it on our YouTube channel.
#WeekendPlans: “What is it?” w/Rev. Julie Conaron 3/26/23
Ever wondered what Manna was, and why the Children of Israel puzzled about it? How did it sustain them throughout their many years in the Wilderness?
Guest Minister, Rev. Julie Conaron
We will meditate on this and other topics during this Easter Season worship service. Join us on Zoom at 10:30 am, for Fellowship and 11:00 am, for Worship. Zoom link will be provided to church members and their contacts. Please let us know if you’d like the link if you’re not currently connected to the church.
#SundaySermon 3/11/18:“God’s Well of Living Water”
If you missed last Sunday’s sermon with Rev. Dr. Sherrie Connelly, you can watch it here:
#WeekendPlans: “God’s Well of Living Water” w/ @ChaplainSherrie
Please join us for a Zoom church service with Rev. Dr. Sherrie Connelly this Sunday, March 12, 2023. Fellowship begins at 10:30 am; Worship Service at 11:00 am. The title of her service is “God’s Well of Living Water.” Remember to “Spring Forward” and set your clocks an hour ahead! (Zoom link will be provided to church members and their contacts.)
#Sermon 2/26/23: “A Lenten Sound Meditation for Self-Reflection”
Enjoy this video of Guest Minister, Rev. Catherine Lauber’s singing crystal bowl meditation from February 26th, to start your pre-Easter contemplation.
Help Local Kids Afford Prom
Lockland High School is doing a popcorn fundraiser to raise money for their students to be able to afford, and attend a great Prom. One of our members, Shannon Fischer is a teacher at Lockland, and this year’s Prom Chair!
This fundraiser lasts a limited time 2/21-2/25, so order your delicious popcorn flavors now! You can have them shipped anywhere in the US, or to US Military Personnel in the Americas, Europe or the Pacific!
Click and Share this LINK for the kids to have a poppin’ good time!
Currently Lockland prom ticket prices are $25 a “pop” (a good price considering most local school proms are $60+ a student.) However, some kids are still not able to afford tickets at this rate. The more money that is raised, the lower tickets can become.
Share or support this “Double Good” fundraiser, today! Shannon and her students say “Thanks!” https://s.dgpopup.com/25cpfr10
Feeling salty about popcorn? Send a donation to the church with “popcorn” in the check memo, or contact us for Venmo directions.
#WeekendPlans: Lenten Sound Meditation w/Rev. Catherine Lauber, 2/26/23
Please join us over Zoom, this Sunday, February 26, 2023. Rev. Catherine Lauber of Ontario, will be our Visiting Minister. She will perform “A Lenten Sound Meditation for Self-Reflection,” using crystal singing bowls. Readings will be from Genesis 2 and 3.
On this first Sunday of Lent, we are invited to reflect on the Repentance stage of Regeneration. Repentance requires self-examination. Rev. Catherine Lauber will be guiding us through a sound meditation based on verses from Genesis as we experience the inner sense of scripture as a guide for self-examination of our own temptations.
Fellowship begins at 10:30 am, Worship at 11:00 am. Zoom link is provided to church members and their contacts or available upon request by emailing the church.
#Tunesday: “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
February 21, 1965: In New York City, Malcolm X, (later known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) an African American nationalist and religious leader, is assassinated while addressing his Organization of Afro-American Unity at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights. He was 39.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/malcolm-x-assassinated
Malcolm X is frequently differentiated from fellow civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. in his stance on non-violence. What sometimes is misconstrued however, is that Malcolm X did not advocate for the fomenting of violence, but instead in fighting back against anyone perpetrating violence upon African Americans.
What to do with this differentiation? Consider what Swedenborgian Minister, Rev. Lee Woofenden cites on his website. Swedenborg does not believe in not making wars for the sake of glory or vanity, but states, “that the nature of good is to defend;” even the angels are constantly coming to our defense.
https://leewoof.org/2018/11/22/war-military-service-violence-and-self-defense-whats-a-christian-to-do/
New Church of Montgomery, in Glendale 