This Sunday: Embracing Weakness

Sunday, 7 April

If someone called you weak, you would take it as an insult. But what about when the Lord calls you weak? Because He most certainly does: compared to Him, we are utterly powerless. And yet far from being insulted, if we embrace our own weakness, we can let down the burdens of perfection and self-reliance, and receive from the Lord a greater power than we could ever muster on our own. We may be utterly helpless, but the greatest force in the universe is on our side.

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon can be found here.
  • Readings
    The readings from the Word can be found here.

This Sunday: The Power of Goodness

Sunday, 31 March - 9am

The word “omnipotent” can be attributed only to the Lord; He alone is all-powerful. The Easter story is a manifestation of that power, in that He restored to order everything in His kingdom and took on the power to be our Savior. As He said to His disciples, “All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). On Sunday we will talk about how to receive some of that power into our own lives. There is power in goodness, in doing the things the Lord asks, in sharing what is ours with others, in extending ourselves of the benefit of others, in praying to the Lord for help.

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon can be found here on Sunday.
  • Readings
    The readings from the Word can be found here on Sunday.

This Wednesday: The Blood of the Lamb

Wednesday, 27 March - 5:30pm

Around Easter there are many images, some gruesome, of the Lord dying on the Cross, shedding His blood. The New Church, with good reason, does not emphasize these images. But why then did the Lord talk in terms of giving His flesh and blood? This imagery was not made up from nothing, but from the Lord’s own words. We need to listen to what the Lord taught about spilling His own blood for us; but we have to understand these word spiritually. When we do, our minds can rise above the gruesome imagery, and see the beautiful reality of the Lord giving of His own life, through the truths of Word, to regenerate us and recreate us as new and heavenly people.

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon can be found here.
  • Readings
    The readings from the Word can be found here.

This Sunday: A Humble Mind and Joyful Heart

Sunday, 24 March - 9am

Palm Sunday represents a crucial turning point in the Lord’s ministry: it was the point at which He went from preaching in the outskirts of the countryside to directly challenging those at the heart of religious life. It also led to His death and eventual resurrection. There is also a turning point for us when we submit to the Lord as King: as He enters we find new challenges, unseen evils, and deep spiritual struggle. Yet ultimately it is all for the good: just as Palm Sunday points through the Crucifixion to Easter Sunday, the Lord’s presence with us cuts through temptations and brings us to eternal peace.

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon can be found here.
  • Readings
    The readings from the Word can be found here.

This Sunday: Success and Failure – Part 2

Sunday, 17 March - 9am

We all fail. It’s part of being human. But that does not mean we are stuck with our failures. The Lord uses the failures we encounter to help us grow and eventually arrive at spiritual success. This Sunday we’ll explore what failure really means, and how we can see it differently.

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon can be found here.
  • Readings
    The readings from the Word can be found here.

This Sunday – Success and Failure: Part 1

Sunday, 10 March - 9am

What does success mean? All of us will have our own definition, and in fact that definition will change as we grow and change as individuals. But at the heart of success is service to others. When that is at the forefront of what it means to live a successful life, all of our other priorities and ideas of success can fall into place.

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon can be found here.
  • Readings
    The readings from the Word can be found here.

This Sunday: The Worldwide Church, Part 2: Giving Freely

Sunday, 3 March - 9am

The New Church has many amazing truths, truths that we can be grateful to have found. They give us insight into life and inspire us to grow spiritually. But sometimes we get so caught up in having the truth that we lose sight of the purpose. But there is no point in having the truth if we don’t live it; and one of the ways we live it is by sharing it with others. The truth of the New Church is a gift that has been freely given from the Lord; and it is incumbent on us to freely share it with others.

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon can be found here.
  • Readings
    The readings from the Word can be found here.

This Sunday: The Worldwide Church, Part 1

Sunday, 25 February - 9am

The New Church teaches that all people of all faiths can be part of the Lord’s kingdom if they look to the Divine and live a charitable life. The Lord does not limit Himself to one group or another. What then is the point of the New Church? Although the church extends to every corner of the globe, it is still worth striving to embody the Lord’s New Church as a crucial part of that wider, universal church.

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon can be found here.
  • Readings
    The readings from the Word can be found here.

This Sunday: Marriage and the New Church

Sunday, 18 February - 9am

Whenever marriage is discussed, there is likely to be strong emotions. The New Church teaches that marriage is holy, sacred and pure. The high emotions are because of just how important the topic is. This week, we will spend some time exploring the promises of the New Church around marriage and how we can cooperate with the Lord’s goals for us.
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon and readings can be found here.

This Sunday: The Second Coming of the Lord

Sunday, 11 February - 9am

What is the most unique thing about the New Church? Maybe our teachings on marriage? Maybe our view of the afterlife? These are certainly distinct teachings, but other religions believe in an afterlife, even if the details are different. Other religions have wisdom to share about marriage, even if the specifics are diverse. No, the most distinct difference in the New Church is that we teach that the Second Coming not only will happen, but has already happened.

The service will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/newchurchwestville/live. You can also watch the service later at that same link.

  • Sermon
    The written version of the sermon and readings can be found here on Sunday.
  • Readings
    Readings from the Old and New Testaments and the Teachings of the New Church can be found here on Sunday.