Sermons and Spiritual Messages

Hear "The Calling Of A Servant"
Sermon by The Reverend Junchol Lee, January 29, 2012
Scripture readings: Isaiah 6:1-13, Revelation 1:9-20
The San Francisco Swedenborgian Church is the name of our church. As the name itself indicates, the way we believe God and cultivate ourselves spiritually is based on the revelatory writings of Emmanuel Swedenborg. It would be a meaningful task to review how he became a servant of God and published many volumes of revelatory writings regarding the nature of God, salvation, heaven & hell and the process of our spiritual growth, especially on his birthday, which is Jan. 29, 1688.

The Life Without Diseases
or read it here in PDF format
Sermon by Kyungho Cho, January 22, 2012
Scripture readings: 2 Kings 20:1-7, 2 Chronicles 16:12-13

1. Let us pray even for the smallest disease.
2. Let our exterior yield submission to our interior.
3. Let us live ἐν the name of Jesus. (ἐν = in)

Kyungho Cho is a seminarian in the ordination track of the General Convention. He is a 5th generation Christian from Korea, and a scientist, scholar and life-long seeker of truth. In Korea, he worked at Korea Electric Power Corp as Senior Reactor Operator and taught international trade law and management at Sunchon National University as an adjunct professor. He has degrees in Nuclear Engineering, Computer Science, and International trade. Additionally, he almost completed a Ph.D. in International Business Administration at the Sunchon National University. In the US, he has studied at Henderson University, Gorden-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Bryn Athyn College. Currently, he is enrolled in Five Branches University taking classes for Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Swedenborgian House of Studies taking classes on Swedenborgian theology. He lives in Santa Clara with his wife and daughter.

Hear "How To Pray"
Sermon by The Reverend Junchol Lee, January 15, 2012
Scripture readings: 1 Chronicles 29:10-19, Matthew 6:5-15
Prayer is one of the most essential elements of the religious practices for all three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. According to Jesus, prayer is the essential act of connecting to God personally and intimately.

Hear "A Monday Kind of Sermon"
Sermon by The Reverend Doug Moss, January 8, 2012
Scripture readings: Genesis 1:1-5, Mark 1:4-11
"Behold, I make all things new" said the Lord [Rev. 21:5], and here we find ourselves in a new year, with new resolutions... a time of new beginnings. Yes, we want more time with family, to stick to our fitness plans, to tame the bulge (the top three New Year resolutions), but our spiritual life is constantly renewing also. What image shall we pursue? How shall we be guided? We need to shed a little light on these questions.

Rev. Doug Moss is an ordained minister in the Swedenborgian Church and has been both a member of this congregation and a Sunday school teacher here. He has served as pastor of our sister church in El Cerrito, Hillside Community Church. These days he serves the SF Swedenborgian Church by both regular preaching and the performance of our Rites & Sacraments Ministry, officiating over a large part of the weddings, baptisms, and memorials held in our sanctuary. He lives with his wife Melissa and two teenage daughters, Lizzie and Hannah, in Pacifica.

Hear "Stepping Out of the Boat"
or read it here in PDF format
Sermon by The Reverend Kim Hinrichs, January 1, 2012
Scripture readings: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Matthew 14:25-33
"With Christmas still fresh in our minds, it is good to contemplate the mystery of the incarnation. And as a new year dawns, the story of Peter stepping out of the boat to follow Jesus walking on water takes on new significance. What faith do you need to "step out of the boat" this year? How is God calling you forward on your path toward regeneration?"

Rev. Kim Hinrichs serves as Associate Pastor at First-Plymouth United Church of Christ in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she lives with her husband and daughters. She is ordained in the Swedenborgian Church and is a long-time member of this congregation.