Here Comes The Almont Winter Retreat!

Yikes!  The Almont Winter Retreat is only 5 days away.

It looks like it's going to be a nice big teen group.  Maybe the biggest in recent history!

We leave in the van from the east the morning of Dec 26.  I pray that we get decent driving weather.  I got a note from Don, the caretaker at Almont, and he told me that it has been snowing like crazy.  Should be a lot of fun playing outside.  Bring snowshoes and brightly colored Frisbees!

If you have any questions, please contact me.  I'll be checking my email right up to when we leave.  After that, you can reach me on my cell.

Hope I see you in a couple of days.  Have a very Merry Christmas!

What Does it Mean to Be A Swedenborgian? - Part 2

Here's Part 2 of a 2 part series for the December edition of the Chaplain's Corner
by Pastor Dave, SCYL Chaplain

In part 1 of this series I identified three ways in which a person can be considered a Swedenborgian (commitment to the Swedenborgian organization, commitment to Emanuel Swedenborg’s theology, and commitment to Swedenborgian principals). We continue with a discussion of Swedenborg’s vision of the New Church, and here the matter becomes a little more difficult to talk about. Swedenborg claims that a new era began in 1757, and that the theology he was inspired to write contained core truths of this new era. This new era is symbolized in the Bible by the woman clothed with the sun from Rev. 12. The son which the women delivered is the doctrines of the new era. The dragon which attacks her and her child signifies the difficulty in acceptance of the new era and its doctrines. We hear different ideas about the relation of the Swedenborgian organization to this new era which is dawning. Some say that we are it—in fact, that is what I was taught when I grew up in the church. Others say we are not it. My response is that we can be part of it, but that it is also happening all around us in the spiritual currents flowing throughout this world.

I think that we as individuals and also as a church organization need to remain open to what is going on around us. We need to let go of Swedenborg himself, to a certain degree. We need to let go of some of his language, and also some of his religious categories. In my mind, to be participants in the new era that is dawning, we need to be committed to truth wherever we find it. Let me offer a few examples of what I mean by letting go of Swedenborg himself. Among us words like will and understanding, or charity and faith are large theological terms that signify a whole complex of meaning. But when we hear psychologists talk about affective and cognitive aspects of the human mind, we are dealing with essentially the same ideas. In the book called The Course in Miracles there is a sophisticated doctrine about evil. As a friend told me, that work does not consider evil real. Evil only has power when we give it reality in our own consciousness. The book does not deny that we can allow evil to have power by assenting to it, but it only has power if we give it power. This is essentially what Swedenborg says. He states quite clearly that evil has no Being. Only good is real. Evil and falsity are perversions of good and truth. If popular contemporary sources are saying the same thing as Swedenborg, why not use his or her language? It is the truth in Swedenborg that matters to me, not his actual books. If we try to understand other doctrinal systems, and don’t approach them with suspicion and in an adversarial fashion, we may find that we are closer to the world all around us than we had thought.

But I don’t mean to say that we don’t need the Swedenborgian Church as an organization. There are doctrines that we can only find in Emanuel Swedenborg’s writings. And there are many, many ideas that I have found in Swedenborg that have shaped my life that I can’t find elsewhere. This church has a lot to offer the world. But I think we need to do it in language that the world will hear. And if this means using other terminology than Swedenborg’s own, then we need to use it. I think people would like most of what we stand for if we talk to them in language they can recognize and accept. We are a Christian church and a Biblical church. If we emphasize Jesus and the Bible, who will object? If we take the spirit and essential doctrines of Swedenborg and talk to others in language they are familiar with our contribution to the world will be much greater. We will be less in grown; and I believe we will grow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I'll be in Fryeburg Maine celebrating with my extended family on Shelley side - along with Ava, Zsa Zsa and my mom, who is up visiting from Florida.  Thanksgiving Day marks exactly one month until the big Winter Retreat at Almont!  Let me know what you did or are doing on Thanksgiving as well as if you're as excited about going to the upcoming retreat as I am!

What Does it Mean to Be A Swedenborgian? - Part 1

Here's Part 1 of a 2 part series for the November edition of the Chaplain's Corner

by Pastor Dave, SCYL Chaplain

The Three Ways to Be a Swedenborgian

I identify three ways in which a person can be considered a Swedenborgian. These three ways relate to a person’s commitment, and just what they are committed to. First there is commitment to the Swedenborgian Church as an organization. Second, there is commitment to the 30 volumes of theology that Emanuel Swedenborg wrote. Third, there is commitment to the truth at the heart of Swedenborg’s theology, whether it is found in Swedenborg’s actual writings or found elsewhere. One may be a Swedenborgian in all three of these ways, or in one or two of them. I think that all three ways are appropriate. People have different needs and wants from their church. So I thought I’d share my reflections on just what it means to be a Swedenborgian.

Let’s begin by considering a commitment to the Swedenborgian Church as an organization. Some of us have been born into the church. Others are attracted to this church because of its open-mindedness to different approaches to religion. They feel free to pursue their religious quest according to their unique interests and this is a church that encourages free thought. Still others who are committed to the organization come to this church because they feel welcome and like the fellowship of this church [many teens may relate to this - kf]. They find here a sense of community and acceptance. They like the people in this church and consider the church their spiritual home.

Then there are Swedenborgians who are committed to Emanuel Swedenborg’s theology. In the 30 volumes that Swedenborg wrote they find deeply rewarding spiritual truth. They find a theology that makes sense. They find a taught way of living that leads to peace and serenity. Some of those who are committed to Swedenborg’s theology do not feel a need to make a

Finally, there are those committed to Swedenborgian principals wherever they find them, whether it be in Swedenborg’s actual writings, or in other faith traditions. These people may even seek truth in general, and not remain only in Swedenborgian principals. These people are interested in truth in general, and seek it out in a variety of sources. Some look into Eastern traditions, or in ancient systems of theology such as alchemy or Kabala, or perhaps in New Age thought.

I think that all three of these ways of being Swedenborgian are appropriate. Each way offers something meaningful to people, according to the different personalities and needs of each individual.

October was a Blast

In the month of October the teens of the Swedenborgian Church Youth League (SCYL) gathered for three wonderful weekends. The first retreat was over Columbus Day weekend at the Blairhaven Retreat Center in S. Duxbury, MA. Rev. Lee Woofenden, Rev. Kevin Baxter and I led interesting sessions and worship services with 12 teens on the theme “Friend are Friends Forever ~ Living in Heavenly Community”. One highlight of these retreat sessions was a collage artwork activity. The teens were asked to create a visual picture of their soul with their core value or essence at the center, with meaningful images spanning around the center (most important around the center, less important toward the outside edges). The creations that the teens made were nothing short of amazing. At Blairhaven the teens learned all about what it means to be a friend, what qualities good friends have, and what it is like to enter the afterlife and live together in heavenly community. Recreational activities included; killer croquet, Kingston Bay mudwalks, disco bowling and a sundae making movie party. What an incredibly fun and meaningful retreat this was.

The next retreat was over October 24 to 26^th. I joined youth leaders Lori Steinhiser, Dawn Fox and nine teens from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio at Rose’s Retreat Cabins and Campsites (www.rosesretreat.com), a small campground near Grand Junction, MI. The theme for this retreat was “Finding Your Way” and early discussions focused on physical wilderness survival techniques and strategies, including a session and bow drill fire starting demonstration lead by instructor David Rose. Later sessions focused on spiritual survival in which we talked about how to cope with spiritual darkness, what to do when we encounter loss of faith and methods to avoid becoming spiritually lost. All of the spiritual points were matched to a corresponding critical physical survival skill, e.g., staying warm = allowing God’s Love in and staying hydrated = finding truth and protecting yourself from falsity (contaminated water sources). The teens also played a game of Hounds and Hares where they traversed nature trails following a marked path in search of hidden treasure. Of course, no camping adventure is complete without a hotdog roast and s’mores over an open campfire. The group Sunday morning after a closing prayer circle. I am happy to report that there were no casualties during this survival retreat. Everyone made it home alive, hopefully with a few more tools to remain warm, confident and secure in the face of adverse physical and spiritual conditions.

Over Halloween weekend, I had the opportunity to travel to Kansas to attend Camp Mennoscah. Here a small, but spiritual strong group hosted a beautiful little weekend retreat. Rev. Alison Lane-Olson led discussions on the theme Dreams. I was asked to present an afternoon session on my work with the youth. I was also blessed to meet teen McKenzie Galliart, a bubbly 13 yr old girl from Pawnee Rock. The weather was unseasonably warm and sunny so we spent most of the time outdoors, walking the camp trails, wading in the Ninnescah River, talking on the swings and playing games. It was such a gift to be able to spend so much time with one teen in such a peaceful setting. Saturday evening a group of amateur astronomers from Wichita set up huge reflector telescopes at the camp and invited us to join them as they peered into the heavens. It never ceases to amaze me that the light from the Andromeda galaxy that I was viewing was over 2 million years old. It was a perfect end to both a dream-centered retreat and a busy month of teen activities. While walking in the woods, McKenzie mentioned to me that her science teacher instructed her that it was important to walk observantly. I smiled, nodded and told her that this was good advice. May we all remember to walk observantly and touch the souls of those around us with care and understanding.

Memories of Columbus Day 08

Random

Memories
from
Blairhaven









The Orc-powered Suburban death trap
Dying and going to the spirit world
Brownie batter sundaes
Disco bowling
MB's beautiful piano playing
The Newlywed Game
Killer Croquet
Late night Charades
Heavenly collages
Pitching shoes with Celie
Burning our mask chain
Would you rather
Learning & growing to understand that friends really can be friends forever

Columbus Day Retreat 08

What a great time was had by all at this retreat! Check out the pictures in the slide show! The theme was Friends are Friends Forever ~ Living in Heavenly Communities. I think we did a wonderful job living together as friends. How about some stories about this Blairhaven retreat from some of you teens who attended?