Dear San Francisco Swedenborgian Church Community,

On Sunday, May 4th, we commemorated Ascension Sunday, the elevation of the Lord into heaven in the presence of His disciples the fortieth day after His resurrection. Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had been "clothed with power from on high," that they would be "baptized with the Holy Spirit."

During worship on Sunday, we explored the spiritual meaning of "staying in Jerusalem" and what it is that's worth our waiting for. I delivered the spiritual message. The choir anthem was "I Will Not Leave You Comfortless," by Everett Titcomb. Holy Communion was served.

You are warmly welcome to join us next Sunday.

The Love of God be with you,
Rev. Rachel

Scripture Readings

Luke 24:44-53 (New Revised Standard Version)
Then Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Acts 1:1-5 (New Revised Standard Version)
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

And From the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg:
"...by 'Jerusalem' in the Word is signified the Lord's Church; and the Lord's Church is with everyone who is in a state of reception of charity and faith from the Lord; for a person is the Church; and a number of people with whom the Church is make the Church in general.
(Arcana Celestia, paragraph 8938)

Sunday Worship Service

Our Sunday worship service starts at 11 a.m. The worship service is a traditional Christian Service and usually lasts about one hour. The spiritual message is delivered each Sunday by our Pastor, Rev. Dr. Rachel Rivers or by a Minister Intern or by a guest. Please see the schedule below for details. Join us for our coffee and fellowship hour in the Parish House following service.

Many Thanks Sunday to...

Lea Park and Peter Gottschalk for ushering; John Gwynn for setting up coffee hour; Katherine & Robert Franco for greeting; Kim Gray for teaching Sunday School.

Additional Worship Services

The purpose of these services is to help us grow in our relationship with the Divine—to help us enter into a place of inner stillness and sacredness where the deeper meaning of our lives is revealed. These spiritual practices are especially important for those of us who have the most to do, for it is in the doing that we often lose touch with our deepest self. Reconnecting with our greater spiritual purpose enables us to more fully and freely live a life of greater happiness and peace.

Contemplative Prayer & Communion Service
Every Thursday evening - 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. September through June
Contemplative prayer is an ancient Christian practice of inviting the mind to be still and resting in God. In this service, through gentle words from scripture we will enter into the stillness together, spend fifteen minutes in silent prayer, and conclude our time together with Holy Communion. Led by Rev. Rachel.

Hour of Peace
The second Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Join parishioner Linda Baker the second Tuesday of every month as she plays healing piano music in our candlelit sanctuary. This is a time for personal prayer, meditation and reflection. No words are spoken. It is simply an hour of peace.

On-Line Worshipping Community
Rev. Sage Currie is the minister of our denomination's first on-line spiritual community. If you live far from a local Swedenborgian church, or find yourself otherwise homebound, you may enjoy visiting www.SwedenborgianCommunity.org.

Preaching Schedule

May 4th
Rev. Rachel Rivers

May 11th
Rev. Rachel Rivers

May 18th
Parishioner Carrletta Price; Rev. Rachel liturgist
Carrletta Price Lindsay has been equally involved in the world of finance and multimedia for over fifteen years. After graduating from UC Berkeley with an Economics degree, she worked as a management consultant for a mutual fund firm for several years. After that, she took her business experience and planted that with her love of design. She worked as an independent consultant fielding everything from web and print design to digital photography and business strategy. Some of her past clients include Princeton University, Weinstein Gallery, IDG and various non-profits. After completing a Masters degree in Technology in Education from Harvard University, she and her husband, Alex Lindsay, formed a company called "Pixel Corps." Pixel Corps is a multimedia guild that trains thousands of individuals all over the world in digital media. Alex and Carrletta have been attending the San Francisco Swedenborgian Church for several years now.

May 25th
Tentative: Swedenborgian House of Studies student Sherrie Connelly

June 1st
Rev. Rachel Rivers

June 8th
Dr. Greg Comella; Rev. Rachel liturgist

June 15th
Dr. Nketchi Wan; Re. Rachel liturgist

June 22nd
Swedenborgian House of Studies Professor Dr. Ineze Radkins;
Rev. Rachel liturgist

June 29th
Rev. Rachel Rivers' concluding Sunday

Download Recent Sermons

For a Selection of Recent Sermons, click here.

From the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

"...heaven is refused to none by the Lord, but if our life is not the kind that enables us to exist together with angels, we are impelled to flee from it.” (Arcana Celestia, §4721)

“...we are born for heaven; although we do not enter heaven unless we become spiritual, and we can become spiritual only by means of regeneration.” (True Christian Religion, §574)

“All people who live good lives, no matter what their religion, have a place in heaven.” (Divine Providence, §330)

“In the Word, by eyes are meant the inner sight or the understanding... And so to lift up the eyes means to see and perceive things which are above one’s self. In the Word things that are deeper are expressed by things that are higher, as in the phrases: looking upward, lifting up the eyes to heaven, and thinking high things. This is because people suppose heaven to be on high, or above themselves; when yet it is not on high, but in what is internal – as when people are a heavenly state of love, their heaven is then within them.” (Secrets of Heaven, paragraph 2148)