What’s wrong with taking a little credit for spiritual work? After Elisha turned down payment for the healing of Naaman, Elisha’s servant Gehazi ran after Naaman to get money from him anyway, money that Gehazi felt was owed to them (2 Kings 5). As a result, Naman’s leprosy was transferred to Gehazi. We’ll talk about what happens when we fall prey to the trap of self-congratulation, and how to avoid it.

The Bryn Athyn Church is a congregation of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, located in Bryn Athyn, PA. We are committed to helping each other draw closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ through lives of love and useful service, guided by the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church (contained in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg). Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings; services and times can be found at brynathynchurch.org.

Do we trust that the Lord is in control? Do we trust that He’s got the little things and the big things? When our life, the lives of loved ones around us, or even the state of the whole world seem to be spiraling out of control, we may either lose hope or feel like we have to take matters into our own hands to make it right. How does the Lord lead the world, and each individual person through difficult times to something better?

Readings: Genesis 2:1-15, Matthew 1:18-25, Mark 10:2-12, Divine Providence 241, Arcana Celestia 10777

Minister: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith

Delivered October 25th, 2026 at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Bryn Athyn, PA.

The Bryn Athyn Church is a congregation of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, located in Bryn Athyn, PA. We are committed to helping each other draw closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ through lives of love and useful service, guided by the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church (contained in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg). Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings; services and times can be found at brynathynchurch.org.

In Genesis 24, Abraham sends his servant to try to find a woman for his son Isaac. With help from the teachings of the New Church, we will discover that, within this story of the process of the Lord guiding a man and woman together, there is the story of how the Lord brings goodness and truth together in each of us, and the story of how the Lord brought goodness and truth together in Himself, during His life on earth.

Readings: Genesis 24, Arcana Coelestia 3203

Minister: Rev. Malcolm G. Smith

Delivered October 18th, 2026 at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Bryn Athyn, PA.

The Bryn Athyn Church is a congregation of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, located in Bryn Athyn, PA. We are committed to helping each other draw closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ through lives of love and useful service, guided by the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church (contained in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg). Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings; services and times can be found at brynathynchurch.org.