Dear Swedenborgian Church Friends and Colleagues,
We are rapidly preparing for a wonderful annual convention in the Boston area from July 1 – July 4 that will be hybrid in format again. We are planning both a wonderful in-person setting at Bridgewater State University and will provide robust tech support for virtual participation in key happenings. Co-hosted with the Massachusetts New Church Union (MNCU), the in-person setting is only a few minutes from two of our historic and beloved churches—Bridgewater and Elmwood. The third church in the MNCU, the Swedenborg Chapel in Cambridge, has been working on the new Helen Keller Spiritual Life Center, and in celebration of this project our convention theme this year is the visionary concept of “The Practice of Optimism” that comes from Helen’s own spiritual writing.
We need your help in underwriting expenses. We all know about inflation. Costs continue to rise. Yet we very much wish to keep registration fees as low as possible, subsidize costs for the youth to participate, provide great music, and give you the best virtual convention experience that we can. Live streaming our Mini Courses, worship services, ordination service, and business meetings has generated a more full-bodied sense of presence and connection throughout our spiritual family.
When you donate to the 2023 Convention your money will go to:
• Keeping the cost of attending convention as low as possible for all
• Scholarships for children and youth and underwriting other expenses to enable them to attend
• Supporting the music program
• Supporting the technology needed for a hybrid convention
We will most gratefully recognize all givers!
There are several ways to give. Instructions and links can be found at swedenborg.org/donate:
• You can donate online with a credit card by clicking the PayPal button (no PayPal account necessary)
• You can use the QR code at the bottom of this letter to link directly to the PayPal account.
• You can use Zelle to transfer money directly from your account to the Swedenborgian Church of North America at accounting@swedenborg.org.
• You can donate with a check made out to “Swedenborgian Church of North America” with “Convention 2023” in the memo. You can mail your check to: Central Office Swedenborgian Church, 50 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA 02138
Please email Operations Manager Brittany Price at manager@swedenborg.org with any questions. Thank you in advance for your donations and support for a special convention.
—Rev. Dr. Jim Lawrence, President, Swedenborgian Church of North America and Rev. Susannah Currie, Chair, Council of Ministers
