Dear Friends,
I’m looking forward to preaching again this Sunday. Starting this Sunday, our church service time is changing to 6 PM EST. We’ll have a half hour before worship to meditate, guided by Kelly Crouch, with some music. I hope you’ll join us at 5:30 PM for meditation and 6 PM for the service.
For anyone coming in person, we’ll be hosting a potluck after the service. We hope you’ll join us as we welcome the fall season with good food, conversation, and fellowship. Please bring a favorite dish to share if you can, but whether you bring something or not, we’d be happy to have you join us. We hope you’ll stay, connect with one another, and celebrate the start of a new season with our church community.
We are looking forward to a jam-packed fall season at Swedenborg House. Do sign up for the various offerings, and please read carefully through our Upcoming Events section (see below). We hope to see you there.
This Sunday
We got a great question this Sunday that I’ll respond to. Please bring your own suggestions and thoughts to help give an answer. Here’s the question.
“I have thought for several years now that the root cause of the political dysfunction that we observe in this country today is not that the political system itself is undesirable, or at least inadequate, but rather that the religious/moral leadership has not been up to the task at hand. In other words, the political dysfunction is simply a symptom of this root cause. It has become increasingly apparent over the last several decades that the combination of our innate tendency toward selfishness and our technological wizardry has the capacity to do irreparable damage to humanity, and it is clear that this tendency toward selfishness is a spiritual issue, not a political one.
While I have mentioned this hypothesis to numerous individuals, it has generally been met with a yawn. While no one has attempted to refute this idea directly, the apparent lack of interest in the idea has been clear.
To me, the likelihood that there is at least some truth in this hypothesis is obvious regardless of one’s political persuasion. On the Democratic side, one observes that without the Christian vote, MAGA would be a mere footnote to history rather than the frightening reality it has become. On the Republican side, I am often taken aback by the vitriol, if not downright hatred, displayed by the more extreme elements of that party towards ‘Democrats and other Marxists.’
I am interested in Rich and other members of the congregation addressing these ideas. One final thought: for those of us interested in spiritual growth, I see this hypothesis as good news, if there is at least some truth therein. It means at least part of the solution to our besetting problems lies within us rather than fully in the hands of bewildering, distant forces that confront us and can subvert our capacity for hope.”
With gratitude and blessings,
Rev. Rich Tafel
Readings for the Coming Sunday
Isaiah 58:6–12
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
Matthew 7:1–5
Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?
Swedenborg’s Insights
Divine Love and Wisdom §47
Love means what is mine becomes yours. When your joy becomes my joy, that is love. When I only enjoy seeing myself in you, that is love of myself. Loving your joy is loving my neighbor.
Upcoming Events
Church of the Holy City DC Potluck
Sunday, September 13th | 7:00 PM ET
Following Sunday’s service, we’ll host a potluck dinner to kick off our fall season!
We hope you’ll join us after the service as we welcome the fall season with good food, conversation, and fellowship. If you’re joining us in person, please bring a favorite dish to share if you can. Whether you bring something or not, we’d be happy to have you join us. We hope you’ll stay, connect with one another, and celebrate the start of a new season with our church community.
The Parables (Part 2), with Rev. Robert McCluskey
Thursday, September 10th | 7:00 PM ET
“With many such parables he spoke the Word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples.” –Mark 4:34.
Parables lie at the center of the Gospels, and can be found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures as well. Outwardly, they seem to refer to a series of mundane and familiar events and objects: to vineyards and fields, to householders and stewards, to sheep, coins and spendthrift sons, and many other things. For the most part, the literal sense of the parables appears to be both memorable and entertaining, and in some cases, a bit threatening.
We know what they say – but what do they mean?
Join the Swedenborg Library of Chicago via the Zoom link HERE, or dial into their Zoom Room at 558 403 3057, Password: Swedenborg.
Defending Democracy: The Vital Role of People of Faith
Tuesday, September 15th | 7:00 PM ET
The next McClendon Scholar Program will feature Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, in a webinar on the role people of faith can play in defending democracy. You can register HERE to receive the Zoom link.
The program will explore current challenges to democratic institutions and ways people of faith can participate constructively in civic life.
Johnny Appleseed Festival
Sunday, September 27th | 7:00 PM ET
Did you know one of America’s most beloved folk heroes was also one of its strangest characters? Johnny Appleseed was a real man named John Chapman, known for wandering the frontier in a coffee sack instead of a shirt, refusing to wear shoes, and sleeping outdoors under the stars even in winter. But beneath the eccentric exterior was a devoted missionary: as he scattered apple seeds across the American wilderness, he was equally devoted to spreading the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, tearing pages from Swedenborgian texts to leave with the families who took him in for the night. His orchards, grown from seed, produced apples better suited for cider than for eating, which frontier communities relied on just as much.
Join us at Swedenborg House DC as we celebrate the legacy of one of the most beloved Swedenborgians of all time: the legendary Johnny Appleseed! Come learn the fascinating story of his life and his important Swedenborgian roots. Then settle in for a night of apple-themed bingo with fantastic prizes, a cider tasting featuring both non-alcoholic and alcoholic options, and a delicious spread of fall treats including pies, apple cider donuts, and more. We’ll cap off the evening with a cozy screening of Walt Disney’s Johnny Appleseed, so bring your appetite and your love of a good autumn story!
RSVP is required (HERE), and we’d love for you to bring your favorite apple-based dish to share!
Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 4th | 6:00 PM ET
Join us for our Blessing of the Animals, a beloved tradition observed on the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the animal companions who bring so much joy, comfort, and love into our lives.
You’re invited to bring your pet to church in person to receive a blessing or join online. We will also offer prayers for pets who have passed on and you’d like to honor their memory.
What we need from you in advance: Please contact the church ahead of time so we can add your animal to the prayer list and plan for anyone bringing a pet in person.
The evening will open with a special animal blessing, followed by a sermon on the spirituality of animals.
Spiritual Entrepreneur Fall Intensive
Saturday, October 24 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
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.
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 a few optional details to help update church records and future communications. All information is optional, and access is strictly limited to designated staff members.
Having trouble with the form or prefer another way to respond? Please contact the church office through the CHC website.
Thought of the Week
