Opportunities to Serve
The Bell Tower
“We were not born for ourselves, but for others… For the kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom of uses.” – Emanuel Swedenborg
Swedenborgians feel that the sincerest form of worship is a useful life and there are many ways for people to be of useful service in our various church ministries as “we support spiritual growth through worship, education, fellowship, service & the arts.” Here are just a few uses to perform:
* Worship - All are welcome! Come! Get involved with liturgy or music on Sunday. Bring your unique gifts to bear in a variety of uses. Along with acknowledging and praising the divine, we try to honor the individual and who you uniquely are. Special features of Sunday’s worship include Special Music, a developing Prayer & Healing Service, and an “Angel Assembly” where the Sunday Spiritual Message ends with a dialogue between the congregation and the minister and also among one another. This time is for your thoughts, your reflections, questions, insights and testimonials. Perhaps you’d even like to give the spritual message. There is an opportunity at the end of each month to help plan worship.
* Education - There are many opportunities to serve in a teaching capacity. Perhaps you have a course you’d like to teach which intersects with Swedenborgian theology, or perhaps you would enjoy helping to develop the Sunday School for young children or assist in adult Sunday School. We have plenty of curriculum and lesson plans for children and Leader manuals to help guide small group study. A wealth of material is available on topics such as life after death, angels, body theology, the deeper meaning of scripture, nature and correspondences, dream-work through a Swedenborgian lens and perspective (Karl Jung drew his understanding and symbology from this material), as well as many others.
* Swedenborg Hall: In our ministry to the arts, we sponsor many opportunities to serve within the arts community by “chaperoning” a group during events such as plays, concerts, workshops, classes, and various community meetings. This might include opening the doors, helping orient and familiarize groups with the room and lights, occasional set-up of chairs and tables, light house-keeping, and locking up. Once a year in September, to honor all of the many famous Swedenborgian artists, craftsmen, musicians, and healers who were influenced by Swedenborg, we host a Swedenborgian Festival of the Arts in conjunction with University Heights Arts Association and the University Heights Community Development Center. This is a time when volunteerism from friends of the church is deeply appreciated re: scheduling, hospitality, ladder work and hanging of art, chair and table set-up, food preparation, organizational skills, light & sound, stage management, house-keeping.
* Historical Architecture and Gardens: To keep our historic neighborhood church and garden beautiful for all to enjoy, it takes a great many green thumbs. We have worked closely with Master Gardener, Laura Starr and craftsman Don Starr to restore the natural and historic beauty of the rock garden. Its ultimate use is as a place of contemplative peace with self-guided tour as we endeavor to share the rich heritage of the Swedenborgian perspective. A teaching garden that keeps with our green philosophy of sustainability while also explaining Swedenborg’s compatible religious cosmology and symbolic language. Knowing this ancient language of correspondences helps us not only interpret Scripture but also the “book of nature,” our dreams; helping guide the seeker in self examination, and in interpreting the narrative of life – the “writing on the wall” so to speak. We hope you will experience the joy of spiritual insight as you contemplate the garden and surrounding area. We also are grateful to serve the organic Co-operative farmers via Eden Organics who distribute from this location every Sunday morning from 8 – 10 am.
* Outreach to Mexico: Helping Real People in the Real World – We try to provide spiritual and practical help to our sister new church group in Tijuana, Mexico, Proyecto Hispanaya, A.C. In the future we hope to organize a chapter for making service trips. Proyecto Hispanaya is dedicated to helping families and young people learn, grow, and heal. Their motto is “Celestial love is love to the Lord, and spiritual love is love towards the neighbor.” Or in Spanish, “Amor Celestial es amar al Señor, y Amor Espiritual es amar al prójimo.” Swedenborg’s writings are more and more available in Spanish. Please call the office @ 619. 296. 5662 to inquire or visit this website: www.swedenborg.es
