new church life: september/october 2015
online and therefore translate to a virtual group experience as well. (Note that
internet capacity plays a part in the success of the online experience, especially
with online video chat.)
The vision for this project came out of a drive to serve others by finding a
way to circulate Swedenborgian ideas in an accessible format. Founder Glenn
Bostock wanted to provide a place for people to share authentically and grow
spiritually – with as few barriers to entry as possible.
In light of the New Church’s emphasis on regeneration and on service to
each other in community, a small group is a perfect setting to step deliberately
into one’s spiritual journey and start practicing the steps that lead to change.
Chief among these steps are seeking to learn the truth, examining our own
lives in light of it, and verbalizing a commitment to make changes in the
presence of others on a similar journey.
Several Sunroom Groups have emerged in the months since the program’s
launch in January 2015 – three of them out-of-state, two international, one
online, and several in Bryn Athyn. While many of these groups committed to
a four-week pilot, some are still going.
Judith Keane, who attended the Small Group Systems Retreat in Bryn
Athyn in April, is gearing up to host a group at Sunrise Chapel in Tucson,
Arizona – the first Sunroom Group to emerge
in the southwestern United States. Peggy
Andrews, of Corbett, Oregon, has just started
her group – the first Sunroom Group in the
northwestern U.S.
Earlier this year Jenn Beiswenger, of
Hurstville, New South Wales in Australia –
and wife of New Church minister the Rev.
Todd Beiswenger – invited two mothers from
her son’s school to join her for a Sunroom
Group discussion.
In a video testimonial recorded on
Youtube, Jenn describes the experience: “It
turned out that not only were these women
not New Church, but one of them wasn’t even
Christian. . . . It was neat to discuss these
different topics from a variety of backgrounds
and perspectives.”
One video Jenn downloaded from
the Sunroom archive was called, “Being
Community.” This 13-minute video is one of
51 videos available in the archive and provides
In light of the New
Church’s emphasis
on regeneration
and on service
to each other in
community, a
small group is a
perfect setting to
step deliberately
into one’s spiritual
journey and start
practicing the steps
that lead to change.
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