Dear Friends,

As I write this article for the July Hurstville Newsletter, I'm still in Bryn Athyn teaching my courses, serving three small societies and officiating at Baptisms, betrothals and weddings, and doing my work on the Minor Prophets Study Guides. (If you have time check what I have done so far on www.dovepress.org. If you do I would recommend starting with Obadiah. It is one chapter with 21 verses.)

My bags are not packed but within a couple of days that will have to change. I must squeeze three months of clothing in those two suitcases staying within the weight limits set by the airlines. Lois and I are excited about coming to be with you and we look forward to meeting you and making new friends. I've never been to your country. I never imagined I would be given the opportunity for a visit. Isn't the stream of Providence marvellous in the way it works? As I look back over my life I can attest to the truth that the ride the Lord has given me on His stream of Providence has been absolutely breath taking and rewarding.

What do I hope to contribute to the life of the church while I'm with you? I envision implementing the following goals with your help: I want to be an instrument of the Lord to help you build spiritual IRA's that will pay eternal dividends. My hope is to teach and preach in such a way that it will inspire all with doctrinal Instruction. I hope that sound doctrinal instruction will help with your daily Reflection process. And lastly I hope the instruction and reflection will assist all in the Application of doctrine in the daily issues of life.

Psalm 119: 99 says that the instruction of the Lord and His Word will give us "more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients." The heavenly doctrines are rich and full of spiritual insights. Every truth has a myriad of avenues to follow. Every day in millions of ways the Lord seeks to help lift us up to overcome the proprium - to see yet another spiritual truth. Each moment has a series of consequences and new beginnings. Angels will study the Word to eternity never exhausting its infinite meaning. How do the Writings describe the process? The key to all knowledge is an understanding of continuous and discrete degrees. Continuous degrees are a movement from ignorance to wisdom. Discrete degrees are achieved when the Lord lifts us to a higher level of understanding.

The Writings teach us that in the doctrine of reflection there are more heavenly secrets to be learned than in any other doctrine of the church. Isn't that a powerful teaching? Let's believe and practice this promise. We can soar with the wings of an eagle into the realms of the Lord's beauty and order when we take the time to reflect daily on His Word.

What are doctrinal words and concepts without application but emptiness and sadness? CL 160 has a teaching that bears sound testimony to this point. "…love must go forth and be efficient or it will perish." Isaiah 6:10 points to a problem of the heart of his people being dull, and their ears heavy, and their eyes shut. Being committed to the Lord's instruction, reflection and application enlivens one's spirit. Our IRA's will pay eternal dividends. My prayer is that we, together, will commit to this goal so that our eyes will see and our ears will hear the Infinite beauty of the Lord. We will see the variety and spectrum of rainbow colours of His promises. AC 1871 presents us with this idea: "How the Word of the Lord appears before the angels cannot be described, but some idea can be formed by those who have seen in museums the optical cylinders (kaleidoscopes) in which beautiful images are represented…." Every turn of the cylinder of truth aligns the crystals in a new form or pattern enhanced by the sunlight of the Lord. Let's turn the cylinder of our minds with an active inquisitiveness to see things we would not have seen with our natural eyes.

Well, I must close for now. Lois and I will arrive in Australia the 18th of June. We are excited about coming to be with you. Would it be presumptuous if I said I hope that you are excited about our coming too?

George

George D. McCurdy

Ben Franklin was one of the brilliant men of history. As his 300th birthday was celebrated last year, you may have read tributes to his genius. And maybe you were reminded of some of his wholesome advice. He was full of helpful and practical thoughts that would benefit others. He advised people to be early to bed and early to rise. Wellbeing and prosperity come to those who are prudent, thrifty and hardworking. You are probably not aware of something he conveyed to a relative in a private letter. Ben's brother died in 1756, and the private letter was sent to his brother's stepdaughter. Her name was Elizabeth. Although there were no copying machines in those days, that letter was copied and passed from hand to hand among those close to Franklin. Eventually it was printed in various publications. For example, it was printed in 1790 (the year of Franklin's death) in the Philadelphia Daily Advertiser.

Here is part of that letter:
"Dear Child, I condole with you, we have lost a most dear and valuable relation, but it is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life; 'tis rather an embryo state, a preparation for living; a man is not completely born until he be dead: Why then should we grieve?"

Our "real life" according to Franklin, begins after death. When we view our present condition as a preparation or an "embryo" stage, it can change the way we view the totality of our life. Franklin had a spirit of optimism about that totality.

Six months before he died he was asked by the president of Yale University about his religious beliefs. Although Franklin had not been a churchgoer, he responded that he had "no doubt" about a life hereafter.

We can think of earthly life as "a preparation for living." Instead of morbidly reminding ourselves that we are surely going to die, we can remind ourselves that we are surely going to live! Emanuel Swedenborg was a contemporary of Franklin, and I will quote in a moment what he says about this life as a preparation. I want to mention a historic volume on display at the Swedenborg Library in Bryn Athyn. In the year 1789, a group of people supported the first printing in the United States of a book by Swedenborg. One of the group was Ben Franklin. The book was "True Christian Religion". An original copy with Franklin's name in it is being exhibited now.

Here is what Swedenborg wrote about this life as a preparation:
"The fact is that man is in this world in order to be initiated by his activities here into the things which are of heaven, and that his life in this world is hardly a moment in comparison with his life after death, for this is eternal."

If life is hardly a moment, it is not something to be squandered. It is rather to be valued and cherished. It may be brightened with hopeful thoughts.

As Swedenborg wrote, "Let him who wishes to be eternally happy know and believe that he will live after death. Let him think of this and keep it in mind, for it is the truth."

From Wikipedia:
Benjamin Franklin (January 17 1706 - April 17, 1790) was one of the best-known Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a leading author, political theorist, politician, printer, scientist, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat. As a scientist he was a major figure in the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As a political writer and activist he, more than anyone, invented the idea of an American nation, and as a diplomat during the American Revolution, he secured the French alliance that helped to make independence possible.

What a joy it is to share delights and blessings with others. Take away sharing delights and blessings with others and our joyfulness is greatly reduced. When people are happy they want to share their happiness with others. Sharing delights and blessings with others takes away the sense of isolation and the sense of separateness. Sharing brings us closer to others. When we share delights and blessings with others we feel a bond of kinship.

So we see that the heavenly nature is to share good things with others. It is very difficult to imagine a miser in heaven. We see that a miser would not want to be in heaven for a miser is one who wants to keep everything to themselves. Angels want to give to others what they have received from the Lord and from others.

Sharing is really a way of forgetting about ourselves. To share is to bring joy to others. When we reach out to others from love we are not thinking about ourselves but about others. Then we are trying to extend to others the delights and blessings we have received.

Life in our community has three areas of responsibility: moral, civic and spiritual. Living a communal life means accepting responsibility for our moral and civic actions. To obey the spiritual responsibility means we are looking beyond ourselves and actively seeking the welfare and happiness of others. To be truly a spiritual person means we are always conscious of the need to be thankful to the Lord and to the neighbour for the delights and blessings we have received. So we reach out to others by sharing our delights and blessings.

Everything we experience involves an amalgamation of small segments. Every time we use a phone or watch a program on TV involves labour and effort from countless members of the community. In the spiritual sense, the Lord and His angels sustain us every second by the inflow of life we receive from the Lord and His angels. Our very being depends on the inflow of life we receive from the Lord. Without that inflow of life, we would not exist.

Acknowledging our inestimable debt to the Lord and the neighbour encourages us to share our delights and blessings with others. This encouragement stimulates us to feel a sense of belonging to the community and, in the wider sense, to the entire human race.

When we recognise that every moment of our lives is a blessing that can lead us to ever-greater delights, then it is that we feel the joy of sharing our delights and blessings with others. For then we perceive that we do not have life in ourselves and that our experience of joy is from the Lord and from others.

Turning away from evil thoughts and feelings is much easier when we perceive that all life flows in: the good of life from the Lord and His angels; evil of life from hell. The Lord gives us the freedom to look to the Lord and to implore the Lord for help to turn away from evil thoughts and feelings, and then to accept what flows in from heaven.

Every moment of life is meaningful and significant in our pathway of life. Every moment we can experience joyfulness and cheerfulness.

When we acknowledge and recognise that the Lord equips us with the freedom and the power to turn to the Lord and to seek His guidance in all matters of life, then it is that our lives become filled with the delights and blessings which we find ever more delightful when we share with others.

Bill Hall. Saturday, June 16, 2007

Dear Pastor,

I am writing to all local schools, churches and local businesses to join together for a cause. Back in February I saw a documentary called the Invisible Children, when I saw this I knew I had to do something. I know I can't change the world, but I know I can make a difference.

Children as young as 8 are abducted and forced to serve as soldiers and sex slaves by the LRA (Lords Resistance Army). The United Nations has described the child Soldiers of Northern Uganda as one of the worst crimes against humanity on the planet today. These children are brainwashed into becoming killing weapons, under fear of death, and the atrocities they witness are almost unspeakable. If, by some miracle, they escape or are rescued, they are very few options for them to be rehabilitated. Many end up begging on the street or worse … being recaptured.

Short term, I am hoping to raise $38,000 dollars to build 1 home for 8 parentless children and a widow. The land for a village has just been approved and bought by www.watoto.com in Gulu for the escaped and rescued child soldiers. The village consisting of houses, clinics, rehabilitation, school and a caring church community will provide physical, emotional, educational care to some of Uganda's most vulnerable children. Long term I want to take it in to High Schools. Schools building schools. Children helping children is powerful and gives our own kids perspective and gives them a mission and goal.

How am I going to do this? I am calling on all churches, schools and local businesses in Penshurst to get involved. I must say I am getting a great response. I am holding 3 nights at Penshurst RSL Club to show this documentary and after the documentary I will be presenting a number of ways people can help these children.

1. Pay $10 and register for a 3-5kilometer walk on the 25th August.
2. I will have merchandise to sell
3. Sponsoring a child with www.compassion.com.au
4. Spread the word
5. Or just donate. All giving will be tax deductible

Kind Regards,
Christine Sutton
6/102 Arcadia St, Penshurst 2222.

Ph 9579 6628 Mob: 0412 585172 email uniting2worlds@optusnet.com

The Rev. Kurt Horigan Asplundh has served as editor of New Church Life for the past two years and will be retiring from this use this summer. During Mr. Asplundh's editorship, in addition to the print edition, New Church Life has been introduced on the New Church website where current and recent issues can be viewed online at www.newchurchlife.org. I wish to thank Mr. Asplundh for serving this use.

I am pleased to announce that the Rev. Dr. Erik E. Sandström has accepted appointment as editor to replace Mr. Asplundh. The transition will take place July 1st, this year.

Thomas L. Kline

Bishop

Rev George and Lois McCurdy arrived safely in Sydney on Monday 18th June and after a delay caused by the sniffer dogs in Customs taking a liking to some food in their belongings, have settled into living at the manse. They are wonderful, friendly people who are keen to serve the church in Australia for the next couple of months.

Pastoral travel planned so far is a visit to Brisbane in July. Rev Ian Arnold has invited George to attend and make a presentation to a Theological School seminar being held by the New Church in Australia. The seminar is being held from 16th to 19th July and the McCurdy's visit will include these dates.

Over the first weekend in August (exact departure and return dates to be finalised) the McCurdys will undertake a pastoral visit to Perth. It is also expected they will be able to visit Canberra during their stay in Australia.

A few weeks ago Graeme McLeay had a major operation on the right side of his neck to remove a cancerous growth. Graeme has come through this ordeal well though is still experiencing some discomfort and difficulty in eating. He has just begun six weeks of chemotherapy at the Jean Colvin Hospital (see below for details).

Graeme appreciated the card and visits from church people during his stay in St Vincent's hospital recently and we are sure he would love to see people during his current treatment. He is at:

Jean Colvin Private Hospital (a short walk from Edgecliffe station)
9 Loftus Rd,
Darling Point
Ph 9362 3429
Visiting hours are unrestricted during the day.

Many thanks to Margaret Ward for taking over the mailing of the newsletters and calendars while Patricia Walsh is overseas.

On Sunday 27th May Rebekah Horner's little baby Skye Ieysha was christened at Roseville by Rev Julian Duckworth. Skye who was born on 11th November last year at just 23 weeks has done remarkably well and we wish her all the best for her future.

A number of our congregation have been travelling overseas. Brian and Patricia Walsh are currently in Bryn Athyn staying with Erik and Lynn-Del Sandstrom arriving in time for the 19th June celebrations. Prior to this they had visited with Frank and Louise Rose in Tucson, Barry and Lynn Smith in Florida and Garry and Laurel Walsh and Deanna, Ashley and Heather in Washington. The Walsh family was able to get away for a few days holiday together at Chesapeake Bay.

Murray and Lori Heldon, along with Stuart, Naomi, Kristen and Sam Johnson have attended Jeffrey's graduation ceremony from High School in Bryn Athyn. Congratulations Jeff! Then the whole family along with invited guests Sarah and Julian Ralls who are working in the USA at present went off for a holiday in Costa Rica. Prior to meeting in Bryn Athyn Murray and Lori visited Mike and Ginny Gladish in Dawson Creek in Canada and the other members of the family pursued their independent itineraries in various parts of the USA and Europe (it would probably take half a newsletter to do justice to the travels of this family severely affected with the travel bug).

Shane and Lina Heldon have a new baby boy Kyan born 28/4/2007.

A Reminder. Don't forget to include the Summer Camp in your forward planning. See last month's newsletter for more details. Deadline for bookings is 1st September. Booking officer is Carolyn Heldon.

• 1st The Parable of the Merchant seeking the goodly Pearl (Matt 13: 45-46)
• 6th Dinner and Class
• 8th The Parable of the Draw Net (Matt 13: 47-50)
• 15th Tithes in the Storehouse (Malachi 3: 10-12)
• 22nd There is death in the Pot (2 Kings 4: 38-41)
• 27th Doctrinal Class (Map Reading Class!) - see below
• 29th The Floating Ax head (2 Kings 6: 1-7)

Please note that the second doctrinal class in July (or map reading class as George described them at the first class on Friday 22nd June) has been moved to the 4th Friday (27th). There will be no church service on August 5th due to a large part of the congregation being out of town for Norm Heldon's 90th birthday and the pastor visiting Perth. The Friday dinner and class for August will now be on the second Friday of the month (10th).

Happy Birthday: Lachlan Hinds (9th), James Kermond (10th), Babbette Horner (14th) and in August Norm Heldon (1st) and George McCurdy (2nd)

Note: All events are located at the church at 22 Dudley St, Penshurst 2222 (off Hillcrest Ave) unless otherwise stated. Contact the Hurstville New Church on (02) 9580 1589 for more information or email us at newchurch@optusnet.com.au All are welcome and refreshments are served after church each Sunday.
Sunday	July 1st	10 00 a.m. Worship ("The Parable of the Merchant seeking the Goodly Pearl")
Friday	July 6th	7.00 p.m. Dinner and Class
Sunday	July 8th	10 00 a.m. Worship ("The Parable of the Draw Net")
Sunday	July 15th	10 00 a.m. Worship ("Tithes in the Storehouse")
Sunday	July 22nd	10 00 a.m. Worship ("There is death in the pot")
Friday	July 27th	7.30 p.m. Doctrinal Class Map Reading Class
Sunday	July 29th	10.00 a.m. Worship (The Floating Ax Head")