Every Week on Sundays @ 5:00 p.m. EST
Spiritual growth, dialogue, and community.
Join us Every Week for the Holy City Sunday Church Service, Available In Person or Online!
Everyone is welcome to join our spiritual community on Sundays at the Church of the Holy City, held live every week in person in the church sanctuary or online via Zoom. Join Us!
Our Sunday in-person attendance is growing!
Every Week on Mondays @ 7:00 p.m. EST
CHC Read and Discuss: “The Singularity is Nearer” by Raymond Kurzweil
The CHC book group is reading “The Singularity is Nearer” by Raymond Kurzweil. Our CHC Read and Discuss Group meets on zoom and in person weekly, each Monday at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
We are creating spaces for spiritual seekers to meet & grow.
The mission of the Church of the Holy City is to be the place where anyone at any time can get support as they embark on their spiritual journey. We meet spiritual seekers where they are.
While other religious institutions see it as their mission to convert whoever they meet, our role is to support people where they are and offer them what we have to meet their needs.
We believe that faith exists only in action. We provide tools to spiritual seekers as they seek to live out their divine purpose.
Our vision is to reject the culture of contempt and build a community of belonging where we each live for the other.
We are united in purpose to be of use to our community
Our spiritual community is open to all
Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Whether meeting in person or gathering online for virtual church service, we welcome you to our services.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of our church functions have been online through Zoom. You are welcome to join our spiritual community virtually or any of our other events listed below in the events section.
Spiritual community events
Special Events
All Events
CHC Read and Discuss: “The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World” by Sharon Brous
Sunday Church Service
Swedenborgianism
Two easy options to hear our weekly message
Weekly service on Sundays, in person and online. To know when Reverend Tafel is physically in the church each week, please check the weekly newsletter.
Live Weekly
In Person or Via Zoom
Recordings
On YouTube
Healing communities from polarization
Healing communities from polarization
Healing communities from polarization
Healing communities from polarization
Healing communities from polarization
Bridging cultural and spiritual divides
Bridging cultural and spiritual divides
Bridging cultural and spiritual divides
Bridging cultural and spiritual divides
Bridging cultural and spiritual divides
Frequently asked questions
What do you believe?
Church of the Holy City is a Christian Church that seeks to follow the teaching of Jesus in the gospels for guidance in our lives.
We believe that our purpose in life is to follow our calling to be useful in doing good in the world.
We believe that all faith paths are good and lead to heaven.
We believe our goal in life is to love our neighbor by seeking to serve others.
We believe that Christ consciousness transcends religions.
We believe that people who live a life of love and service are connecting to Christ consciousness.
We believe the Bible is a holy book that offers wisdom in our lives.
We believe the Bible can be read at a deeper symbolic level for deeper wisdom.
We believe a new generation of spiritual entrepreneurs are rising up who integrate their spiritual life with their service to the world.
We believe that after physical death God condemns no one to hell, but that each of us gravitate to the spiritual community that shares are greatest love from our life on earth. For some their greatest love brings them into hellish communities.
We believe that the focus of Christianity should be to fight for inclusion, diversity, justice and equality.
We believe it is not so much what theology you espouse, but how you actually live your life that makes a meaningful life.
We believe that the secret to finding meaning and purpose in life is to live in community serving others.
How often do you meet?
Weekly service is held virtually every Sunday via Zoom, Sundays @ 5pm EST. To join, please click here.
What do we welcome as part of the community?
We welcome all spiritual seekers who sincerely want to grow in their compassion for others.
We welcome people of all faiths and no faith.
We welcome people with questions, not answers.
Who Was Swedenborg?
Emanual Swedenborg was a world renown scientist who pioneered brain studies. He was also an inventor. His drawing of an airplane hangs in the Smithsonian. Later in his life, he had mystical experiences that opened up a new dimension in his life. The mystical visions offered him insights into heaven and hell, which he wrote down.
He wrote more books than anyone in the 18th century recording what he saw. His insights challenged traditional Christian teachings, claiming that all faith paths were good. That having the correct theological statement was not important but living a life of love motivated to do good lead to a heavenly life. He claimed that our life on earth is very important, and we must live our lives being useful to others.
What impact has the tradition had?
You may never have heard of the Swedenborgian tradition, but it has had a huge impact.
Fighting Against Racism
Inspired by the mystical insights shared by Swedenborg on the importance and power of the African race, some the earliest abolitionist in the US were Swedenborgians, including proofed life stories of Carl Wadstrom and Lord Fairfax.
Fighting for Ecumenicism
Inspired by the mystical insights shared by Swedenborg on the importance of all faith paths, the many of earliest ecumenicists in America were Swedenborgians. Charles Bonney, the founder of the first World Parliament of Religions took place in 1893 launched by a Swedenborgian. This introduced eastern religions to the US.
Fighting for Women’s Rights
Inspired by the teachings of our church, the founder of Mother’s Day joined with others to create the right for women to vote.
Fighting for the Rights of the Disabled
Helen Keller championed the rights of the disabled and wrote about her Swedenborgian book in My Religion.
Fighting for LGBT Rights
Our current pastor was one of the earliest public champions for same sex marriage. Our church ordains gays and lesbians and also provides marriages for LGBT couples.
About Reverend Rich Tafel
Our Reverend, Richard L. Tafel, has been involved with social change in the political sphere for several decades. He believes that social entrepreneurism offers a new way to combine the best of capitalism and the social sector towards sustainable systems change worldwide.