While it may be something of an oversimplification, in today's world the tendency is to view science and religion as mutually exclusive, i.e. either one is true, or the other; and the nod goes to science, as it is discoverable and "provable." Why is this the case? Mostly because the literal sense of Sacred Scripture makes claims that are at odds with rational scientific thought. For example, in Genesis the Lord apparently made the world in six days, while scientific thought proposes a lengthy, gradual evolutionary process. This disparity seems to force a choice between the two; if we want to believe that the Bible is God's Word, we must close our minds to science; and if we choose to believe science, then we must reject the Bible.

But is this necessary? Is there some way to reconcile these enemies? The Writings for the New Church offer a new vision of Christianity to the human race. This new Christian vision proposes a meta-view, which unifies these irreconcilably opposed viewpoints, giving a place for spiritual and natural truth - in fact, showing that both are true.

Through His servant Emanuel Swedenborg, who was himself a scientist and theologian, the Lord Jesus Christ presents a new model for viewing and unifying religious and natural truth:

Truth is truth; therefore, scientific truth and religious truth if they are true, are part of the same universal system, and must work together. The challenge is to see how they fit together. It is our view that is at fault, not the truth itself.

To support this new paradigm, I propose nine statements, which together form a firm foundation for a unified vision of religion and science. Following each statement are references to passages from the Writings that will enable you to begin your own process of unification.

1) We live in two worlds at the same time. Science and Religion each describe one of those worlds (see The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 36)

2) There are levels of truth (see Arcana Coelestia 1904)

3) These Levels Work Together (see Arcana Coelestia 5670; The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 39)

4) There are levels of the human mind. Scientific Truth is of the lower or natural mind: Spiritual Truth is of the higher or Spiritual Mind. (see Arcana Coelestia 6525, 9030)

5) Scientific Truth can serve as spiritual nourishment; or it can lead to spiritual starvation (see Apocalypse Explained 507:2)

6) Science is the servant of Religion. It can therefore be used and useful or abused and harmful (see Arcana Coelestia 4760, 2568:3, 2588)

7) Scientific and Spiritual Truth form the body and soul of creation. A healthy Natural Mind is only possible if a healthy Spiritual Mind is formed (see Apocalypse Explained 790:9)

8) Scientific Truth is discovered; Spiritual Truth is revealed (see The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 249)

9) The Bible, as Revealed truth, does not contradict scientific truth…but it must be properly understood. The Bible has a Natural or Literal Sense for the Natural Mind, and a Spiritual or Inner Sense for the Spiritual Mind (see Doctrine of the Sacred Scripture 1-7, 20, 27, 40, 92, 95, 102; The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 252; Arcana Coelestia 66)

Through the Writings for His New Church, the Lord has shown us the wonder of His entire creation, and revealed for the first time how spiritual and natural truth work together. Truly, this pearl of great price will one day be known and accepted by more and more people. And the Lord Jesus Christ will be acknowledged and worshipped as the one God of heaven and earth.

Soon everyone will be receiving a full update on the next camp site [for January 2003]. The 2003 Family Camp will be held at Kiah Ridge in the Wollondilly region of New South Wales, just south of Sydney. Kiah Ridge is near Tahmoor, between Picton and Bargo in rural country with hills and valleys. The Camp is being hosted by the Canberra New Church group.

Although electronic registration via our website will be preferred, a manual registration form, and information booklets will be made available to every congregation when the final pricing structure has been confirmed. This should be within the next week or so. To find out more about the campsite go to: http://www.newchurch.org.au/camp/camp2003.html

People on our earth love to make scientific studies of just about everything; and nowadays a lot of attention is being given to the phenomenon of sleep. How much sleep do we need? What does it do for the mind and body? What differences are there in brain activity and respiration during sleep? And many other observations, lessons of which most of us know without being told by researchers - for instance, that mind and body begin to suffer fairly quickly if we are completely deprived of sleep. It is common experience to wake refreshed, and that even some problems are solved for us while we sleep.

Some brilliantly successful people have boasted that they manage with only four hours of sleep; but one, Winston Churchill, indulged in afternoon naps that he didn't exactly advertise. It is generally agreed that six to eight hours of sleep seems to be necessary for physical and mental health. One study claims, "Sleep deprivation is being blamed as a factor in many problems: the irritability and vagueness so familiar to new parents, right through to diabetes, obesity, and compromised immune systems, also to attention deficit disorder in children." (Penelope Long, "Sleep doctored." The Weekend Australian Magazine, March 30-31, 2002, pg. 30).

Shakespeare, without the help of science, wrote:

"Sleep, that knits of the ravelled sleeve of care,
the death of each day's life, some labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast." (Macbeth, Act 2, sc. 2)

Swedenborg wrote that he once had a sad dream. Evil spirits (sirens) were subtly trying to attack him; but punishing spirits were suddenly present. He marvelled that the evils spirits were so miserably punished, but the crime is enormous, from the necessity of man's being able to sleep in safely, without which the human race would perish (Arcana Coelestia 959).

The Writings tells us also that evil spirits burn to infest and attack people when they are sleeping, but that they are especially guarded by the Lord, for love does not sleep (see Arcana Coelestia 1983).

As the Psalmist wrote, I lay me down and slept; I awaked, for the Lord sustained me (Psalm 3:5). Compare this to what the Writings say about sleep as a state of tranquillity and serenity (see Arcana Coelestia 3696).

We learn also that as soon as we sleep we no longer breathe voluntarily, but involuntary respiration begins; and there are angels with us who are appointed to involuntary respiration (see Arcana Coelestia 3893). So we can see from these and many other things revealed about sleep that scientists cannot understand it fully without Divine revelation.

Back to Shakespeare. One of his best-known passages is Hamlet's soliloquy, that begins,

"To be, or not to be, that is the question."

Hamlet is considering suicide as a way out of his dilemma.

"To die - to sleep -
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
the heartache and the thousand natural shocks
that flesh is heir to - tis a consummation
devoutly to be wished. To die - to sleep -
to sleep! Perchance to dream: aye, there's the rub;
for in that sleep of death what dreams may come
when we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
must give us pause."

Hamlet goes on to list many things that plague us so during life, that could be ended with a dagger thrust, yet adds,

But that the dread of something after death -
the undiscovered country from whose bourn
no traveller returns - puzzles the will…."

Well, Shakespeare is in the spiritual world now, in heaven we hope. He may even have met Swedenborg, one traveller who did return from that "bourn," to describe it fully and show it as something not to be feared, unless, of course, we have chosen to live an evil life.

We are assured that there is protection for us form evil spirits while we are asleep, and that if there were not that protection the human race would be destroyed. However, somebody asked, "What about nightmares that afflict some people?" A good question, that must be considered carefully.

The writer can recall a nightmare that recurred on four successive nights, in which a man wielding a knife threatened him. However, in the end, he was not attacked. Evidence of protection by evil spirits?

P.S. Have a good night's rest.

Twenty Hurstville members found just the right way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon. After the April Family Service, we packed our picnic lunches and then packed ourselves into vans and cars for the 45 minute drive to Featherdale Wildlife Park, a beautifully designed and laid out facility west of Sydney.

After absorbing our lunches (the drive after church really made for hearty appetites), we spent the afternoon strolling through the park, enjoying all manner of native Australian wildlife. From Koalas to Echidnas, Kangaroos to Funnel Web Spiders, Featherdale had them all. While everyone seemed to have their own personal favourites, the very friendly and tolerant birds - Kookaburras, Kingfishers and Tawny Frog Mouths - were very popular (see photos). If you have not been to Featherdale Wildlife Park, it is a trip well-worth making.

Many thanks to Rhonda Hall for suggesting and organizing this outing.

Some unexpected trouble with the sign contractor has led to delays in completion of the new church sign. After several months of continued setbacks, the Hurstville Society decided at its recent semi-annual meeting to look for a new sign contractor.

In the meantime, work continues on our church facelift. Ralph Horner is close to completing the new path entrance, which will enable wheelchair access to the church. Kogarah Council has decided to remove the large fig tree from the front, which has caused so much damage to the front sidewalk path over the years, and replace the tree with something more suitable to the area. This should also help to improve the visibility of the church from Dudley Street.

The Hurstville Property Trust also authorised improvements to the Manse driveway, including the removal of the old retaining wall for the carport that existed there years ago. The entire area will be graded, earth will be removed, and a concrete driveway and parking pad installed. This will enable the Pastor's vehicle to be parked further down along the side of the Manse property, removing yet another obstacle to seeing the church from Dudley Street. Combined with a new sign and landscaping, we will be presenting our best and most visible face to the public in years. Now let's hope that leads to more visitors!

The Academy Collection of Swedenborg Documents ("Green Books"), is an extensive collection of loose leaf record books (11 volumes) in large green binders, which contains every known reference to documentary sources concerning the life of Swedenborg, including transcriptions of original documents and often translations.

These are now available on the Swedenborg Library's web page along with a brief history of the documents. You can find them at:
http://www.newchurch.edu/college/facilities/library/greenbooks.html.

The Hurstville Society needs someone (or someones) to help with grounds maintenance for the Church and Baringa properties. Norm Heldon does a lot of wonderful work in this area, but could really use some assistance - especially in the area of routine lawn mowing, weeding and edging to keep the properties looking well manicured. If you would like to donate time on some routine basis, we would love to have your help! Please contact the Pastor at 9580-1589 or Michael Lockhart, President of the Hurstville Society Property Trust, at 9570-4629.

Q. What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? A. Psalms 117
Q. What is the longest chapter in the Bible? A. Psalms 119
Q. What chapter is in the centre of the Bible? A. Psalms 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118
Add up these numbers and you get 1188

Q. What is the centre verse in the Bible? A. Psalms 118:8
Does this verse say something significant about the Lord's perfect will for our lives?
Psalms 118:8 (NKJV version): It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

Now isn't that odd how this worked out? Or was God in the centre of it?

Editorial Comment/Challenge: This piece comes from a traditional Christian perspective, which includes books in the Biblical canon that are not accepted in the New Church as part of the Word (according to Arcana Coelestia 10,325). If we extract those books that do not have an internal sense, and thus are not part of the Word, would a similar pattern emerge? Anyone want to give it a try?

Please mark your calendars on Saturday 11th May so that we can farewell the Ayers family in style. There will be an International Theme so keep this in mind when you are contributing to the evening whether it is food, an item, a game or even what you wear! We'll begin at 5 pm with games and snacks, followed by the main course about 6 pm (we will ask for voluntary dollars to help cover costs). Items and more games will precede dessert.

 RSVP by Sunday 5th May to Lori Heldon on (02) 9579 5248. We are requesting that everyone bring a dessert to share and an item of entertainment or a game for all ages to play - remember the International Theme. There will be prizes for best efforts! Let's make this a fun night with lots of happy memories. Don't forget to RSVP to Lori.

Congratulations to Angela and Michelle Heldon and the rest of their basketball team for winning their Grand Final at the end of last term!

We extend our good wishes to Gail Markou, who, during recovery from recent surgery, recently learned she now needs knee replacement surgery.

Best wishes to Tom Taylor who is recovering from a recent foot operation. Hope it is not too long before we see you around again Tom.

Happy Birthday to Dot Heldon (2nd) Ted Simmons (6th), Emma Stephenson (9th), Brandon Hinds (10th), Naomi Heldon (20th), Kendall Ayers (29th) and Brian Walsh (31st)

Note: All events are located at the church at 22 Dudley St, Penshurst 2222 (off Hillcrest Ave) unless otherwise stated. Contact the pastor Rev Dave Ayers on (02) 9580 1589 for more information or email Dave at newchrch@tpg.com.au All are welcome and refreshments are served after church each Sunday.
Wednesday	May 1st	10.00 a.m. Discussion Group
Friday	May 3rd	7.00 p.m. Dinner followed by Doctrinal Class
Sunday	May 5th	10.00 a.m. Worship and Sunday School followed by Theta Alpha Guild Meeting
Monday	May 6th	7.00 p.m. Young People
Wednesday	May 8th	10.00 a.m. Discussion Group
Saturday	May 11th	5.00 p.m. Farewell to Ayers Family
Sunday	May 12th	10.00 a.m. Worship and Sunday School (Mothers' Day)
Wednesday	May 15th	10.00 a.m. Discussion Group
Friday	May 17th	7.30 p.m. Doctrinal Class
Sunday	May 19th	10.00 a.m. FAMILY SERVICE (incl Baptism)
Monday	May 20th	7.00 p.m. Young People
Wednesday	May 22nd	NO DISCUSSION GROUP
Sunday	May 26th	10.00 a.m. Worship and Sunday School
Wednesday	May 29th	10.00 a.m. Discussion Group
Friday	May 31st	8.00 p.m. Sons of the Academy Meeting (Home of Tom Taylor)

May					June
		Ezekiel	Arcana Coelestia				Ezekiel	Arcana Coelestia
1	Wed	18:1-18	3836-3841		1	Sat	37:1-14	3922-3923
2	Thu	18:19-32	3842-3845
3	Fri	19	3846-3853		2	Sun	37:15-28	3924-3928
4	Sat	20:1-26	3854-3856		3	Mon	38	3929-3934.1-3
					4	Tue	39:1-16	3934.4-8
5	Sun	20:27-49	3857		5	Wed	39:17-29	3935-3938.1-3
6	Mon	21:1-17	3858.1-7		6	Thu	40:1-23	3938.4-8
7	Tue	21:18-32	3858.8-16		7	Fri	40:24-49	3939-3940
8	Wed	22	3959-3862.1-3		8	Sat	41	3941
9	Thu	23:1-21	3862.4-7
10	Fri	23:22-36	3863.1-7		9	Sun	42	3942-3950
11	Sat	23:36-49	3863.8-15		10	Mon	43	3951-3952
					11	Tue	44:1-14	3953-3956
12	Sun	24	3864-3868		12	Wed	44:15-31	3957
13	Mon	25	3869.1-7		13	Thu	45	3958-3961
14	Tue	26	3869.8-13		14	Fri	46:1-11	3962-3967
15	Wed	27:1-26	3870-3874		15	Sat	46:12-24	3968-3969.1-8
16	Thu	27:27-36	3875
17	Fri	28:1-10	3876-3880.1-3		16	Sun	Revelation 6	3969.9-17
18	Sat	28:11-26	3880.4-10		17	Mon	Revelation 12	3970-3974
					18	Tue	Revelation 21:1-8	3975-3982
19	Sun	29	3881.1-6		19	Wed	Revelation 21:9-27	3983-3987
20	Mon	30:1-12	3881.7-11;3882				Ezekiel
21	Tue	30:13-26	3883-3886		20	Thu	47	3988-3993.1-4
22	Wed	31	3887-3889		21	Fri	48:1-22	3993.5-13
23	Thu	32:1-21	3890-3894a		22	Sat	48:23-35	3994
24	Fri	32:22-32	3895-3896				Daniel
25	Sat	33:1-16	3897-3900.1-5		23	Sun	1	3995-4002
					24	Mon	2:1-16	4003-4006
26	Sun	33:17-33	3900.6-10		25	Tue	2:17-30	4007-4011
27	Mon	34:1-16	3901		26	Wed	2:31-49	4012-4014
28	Tue	34:17-31	3902-3907		27	Thu	3:1-15	4015-4020
29	Wed	35	3908-3912		28	Fri	3:16-30	4021-4027
30	Thu	36:1-15	3913-3914		29	Sat	4:1-18	4028-4032
31	Fri	36:16-38	3915-3921
					30	Sun	4:19-37	4033-4038