Dear Friends,
One of the biggest challenges in our culture today is we have lots of knowledge and very little wisdom. That’s the thought that ran through my head as I listened to Dr. Malcolm Peck’s sermon. Here was a wise man sharing important wisdom. Malcolm walked us through the setbacks of grief, financial loss, and health crisis in an unvarnished manner. He then shared his wisdom on how he moved through each. What struck me was that in each situation he found a way to get outside of himself and serve others, and that made all of the difference. Miracles happened just when things looked the toughest. If you missed it, I encourage you to tap into the wisdom of Malcolm’s profound message. We are lucky to have him in leadership in our church.
You can listen to Dr. Malcolm Peck’s message HERE.
Last night, I joined a spirit-filled open mic night hosted by Rev. Kelly Crouch in our prayer room at Swedenborg House (see photos below). Twenty, primarily young, Washingtonians gathered to share a poem or song that struck them. Kelly sang a song they wrote using the words from St. Augustine that infused the room. It was a beautiful evening, and Kelly did a wonderful job hosting the event. After a few hours, we broke to eat, and participants were invited to return to the chapel space afterward if they had the time and inclination. Participants sang songs and shared poems from their Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian backgrounds.
While many needed to go, a small group stayed behind and sang songs. At one point, the night took a turn toward an old-fashioned Baptist hymn sing. One young person turned to me and said, “So this is what revivals were like.” I assured him we had plenty of water to baptize.
Thanks to our president, Jason, and house manager, Jimmy, who joined us last night and, with me, jacked up the average age.
Sunday, August 23
We look forward to welcoming Ziah from Mandala Whispers for her talk The Thread We Didn’t Know We Were Following.
What happens when we slow down enough to return to our center? Ziah will share a personal story of stillness and synchronicity, including a decades-old photograph that revealed a thread running through her life long before she could see it.
Ziah will be drawing on: Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1955), her reflection on solitude and the still center within a busy life, and A Reminder by Trevor Hall and East Forest, a song about returning to your own center.
With gratitude and blessings,
Rev. Rich Tafel
Important Fall Changes
Labor Day Weekend:
There will be no service on Sunday, September 6th, for Labor Day weekend.
Service Time Shift:
Starting Sunday, September 13th, our church service time will shift from 5 PM ET to 6 PM ET, based on member feedback.
That’s a Good Question Sermon Series:
Rev. Tafel is bringing back That’s a Good Question, and we want to hear from you! Have a question that’s been on your mind? This is your chance to have it explored right from the pulpit. See below for details on how to submit.
Our Sunday Speaker: Ziah from Mandala Whispers
Ziah is the founder of Mandala Whispers (mandalawhispers.com), an intuitive artist and energy healer based in Argentine Patagonia. Her work grew out of her own journey of slowing down, returning to center, and learning to listen more deeply. She moved from Texas to Patagonia in 2018 for what she thought would be a one-year adventure, and found instead the space to notice life’s unexpected connections and confirmations. Today, her work includes intuitive mandala painting and energy clearing and healing with the Hebrew Pendulum, a modality she learned in Argentina. She also leads retreats and gatherings for people to connect, listen deeply, and explore their own spiritual path and evolution, cultivating the inner certainty that comes when we learn to trust our soul’s compass.
Readings for the Coming Sunday
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 139:1–3
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
Swedenborg’s Insights
Arcana Coelestia §8455
Peace affects the inmost parts of all… it brings a lovely feeling into them; it brings bliss and happiness to the parts where his ideas form, consequently to his ends in life, and so makes his mind into a heaven.
Church Business
Summer may feel sleepy, but we’ve been hard at work at the church this August. Many thanks to our Membership Director, Katy, for getting four grant proposals out the door and filing reports for others. Also, a special thanks to the denomination’s Building Committee under the leadership of Mark Carrega. You may know that this July, after repeated repairs, the HVAC system crashed, forcing us to cancel some of our events. We had to bite the bullet and purchase a new system. We appealed to the Building Fund for a grant of $12,000 to defray costs, and they came through for us. Thank you!
Church News in Photos
Below you will see photos from our open mic night hosted by Rev. Kelly Crouch in the prayer room: poems, songs, and stories shared by twenty young Washingtonians, with a hymn sing to close out the evening.
That’s a Good Question Sermon Series
Last spring, Rev. Rich Tafel began a sermon series titled That’s a Good Question. We are seeking question submissions for when the series continues in September.
Each time he preaches, he will invite members of our community to submit questions they would like addressed. Submissions will remain anonymous unless the individual decides to share that the question was theirs.
The process will unfold as follows:
- After the readings, the question will be read aloud.
- Rev. Tafel will take a first shot at giving an answer.
- Afterward, attendees will be invited to contribute any additional insights that may support the person who posed the question. Follow up questions to Rev. Tafel’s response are also welcome.
- Attendees are invited to come with a story from their life that might help the person asking the question and, of course, be as concise as possible so others can also share.
- We invite you to send your questions for future sermons by completing THIS anonymous form. Need assistance? Email Katy at Katy@SwedenborgHouseDC.org
Community Connection Form
We would love to celebrate birthdays and special moments with you! Please fill out this form (linked HERE) which helps us stay connected, recognize important dates, and support one another as a community.
The form also asks for your mailing address and a few other pieces of information. We are collecting this information to help update our records and send future printed materials. All information is optional, and access is strictly limited to designated staff members.
Having trouble with the form or prefer to respond by email? Please contact Katy@SwedenborgHouseDC.org
Upcoming Events
The Divine Cobbler: Jakob Böhme and Swedenborg with Dell Rose
Swedenborg Library of Chicago
Thursday, August 20 | 7:00 PM Eastern Time
Jacob Böhme, the “Divine Shoe Cobbler” is one of the most enigmatic figures in Western mysticism. His visionary theology fused Christian, alchemical, and Neoplatonic thought, shaping later esoteric traditions.
Tonight, we will compare ideas from Bohme’s Aurora (1612) to key ideas. in Swedenborgian theology.
Join via Zoom using this link, or dial into their Zoom Room at 558 403 3057, Password: Swedenborg.
Swedenborg Salons: When Love Falls Apart (How to Break Up Well)
With Rev. Kelly Crouch | Wednesday August 26 | 7:00 PM
Is there a loving way to break up?
Romantic separations are widely recognized as among life’s most psychologically painful experiences. Research suggests that roughly three in ten adults have experienced being ghosted, with even higher rates among younger adults. When relationships come to an end, how do we balance caring for ourselves with what we owe the other person?
If heartbreak is one of the deepest forms of human suffering, what would it mean to bring greater compassion, honesty, and care to the ending of relationships?
In this Swedenborg Salon, we’ll reflect on our own experiences, explore the ethics of ghosting, closure, forgiveness, and shared community, and consider what spiritual wisdom might teach us about letting go with love. Whether you’ve experienced a difficult breakup, supported someone through one, or are simply curious about the moral and spiritual dimensions of endings, you’re welcome to join the conversation.
Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP HERE.
Spiritual Entrepreneur Fall Intensive
Saturday, October 24 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
How do you create work that matters while paying your bills? How do you charge for spiritual and creative work without selling out? How do you navigate the need to work within capitalism while also staying true to your values?
This intensive is for creatives and entrepreneurs wrestling with these questions. By the end of the day, you will have a clearer mission, a workable business model, and concrete next steps. You’ll also leave with greater confidence about pricing, marketing, and how to build something financially real without compromising your spiritual values.
Just as importantly, you’ll spend the day in a small group of like-minded builders navigating the same tensions between calling and livelihood. The intensive is designed to foster real connection, honest feedback, and meaningful networking, with the option to continue the conversation afterward through an ongoing peer coaching circle.
Find more detailed information and purchase your tickets HERE.
Thought of the Week
