new church life: march/april 2017
Also relating to mental health, the Rev. Geoffrey H. Howard offers a
sermon on “The Non-Appropriation of Evil.” It begins with the admonition
from Jesus that “not what goes into the mouth defiles a person, but what comes
out of the mouth, this defiles a person.” Our thoughts come from the spiritual
world but we are only responsible for those we take into our lives. (Page 130)
Another successful Boynton Beach Retreat (page 136) featured
presentations by:
• Brian Henderson, Director of the Glencairn Museum, on its activities
and outreach as a unique religious museum
• Dr. Soni Werner, recently retired professor of psychology at Bryn
Athyn College, on “Dark and Light: Psychological and Swedenborgian
Perspectives on Human Behavior”
• The Rev. Glenn (Mac) Frazier on lessons learned from the attempt to
plant a church in Austin, Texas – what works and doesn’t about church
growth
The banquet address was presented by The Rev. Alan M. Cowley, new
pastor in Boynton Beach, on “The Great Minister-Congregation Compromise.”
Naomi Scott Reid loves the familiar hymn, “Lead us and guide us, Lord,
in paths of peace.” She writes a loving tribute to her late father for teaching his
family to trust in the Lord and pray to Him that He might truly lead and guide
us into peace. (Page 152)
Church News (page 155) includes:
• Announcement of the Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith’s planned retirement as
Executive Bishop in 2019 and the process for naming a replacement
• A State of the College report from Bryn Athyn College President Brian
Blair and others
• How Swedenborg is becoming known and valued on another college
campus
• Appointment of the Rev. Dr. Thane P. Glenn as the new Chief Academic
Officer and Academic Dean at Bryn Athyn College
• Questions and answers about the state of the Church by the Rt. Rev.
Peter M. Buss Jr. at the Boynton Beach Retreat
• A report on another fun and successful summer camp in Australia –
with photos
• General Church Outreach producing videos for a “Faithful Friday”
segment on the Dr. Oz TV show
• A report on a General Church Education summit
• Summer camps in the Academy
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