News & Announcements
By Tom Neuenfeldt If you would like to watch the complete graduation ceremony, including the valedictorian speech given by Pastor Robert Hagan, it is available on our YouTube channel @TheSwedenborgianChurch. Having our Convention that celebrates the arts in Boston seems quite natural. Boston is the home of the Museum of Fine Arts. James Taylor was […]
Commencement Address Read More »
By Rev. Catherine Lauber The Convention Worship Service this year featured both music and poetry in the service. This is the reflection from Rev. Catherine Lauber, this year’s Convention Preacher. In addition to her reflection, several poems were shared at the service. If you would like to experience the full service and music, please visit
Poetry as Spiritual Practice Read More »
By Brittany Price The first thing my daughter asked when I got home was “Can I have your watercolors?” In her keynote, Bronwen Mayer Henry invited us to prioritize creativity as a spiritual practice, and make space for it in our everyday lives, not just once in a while. Convention 2026 did an excellent job
Editorial: Bringing the lessons of Convention home with me Read More »
By Rev. Dr. Jim Lawrence It started with a suggestion from Rev. Ken Turley to shape the theme of Convention this year around music. The Executive Committee of General Council thought the idea had merit and forwarded it to our Standing Committee on Educational Resources (SCER), which typically shapes the next theme of Convention to
A Vibe Shift This Year at Convention Read More »
By Brittany Price Who am I? What do I believe in? Who do I love? What do I value? Answering these questions helps shape our identities as individuals, communities, and organizations. It is tempting to answer these questions with negatives. Who am I not? What do I not believe in? Who do I dislike? I
Editorial: Identity Read More »
By Rev. Dr. Jim Lawrence Some might say there’s even a prior question to ask, which is “What is a polity?” And the simple answer is that polity is a governance theory. From its Greek roots (poleis), we get the common word “politics,” and in governance theory, it refers to the specific form of political
What is Our Polity? Read More »
By Rev. Kevin Baxter Perched atop historic Beacon Hill in Boston, the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem, affectionately known as the Church on the Hill, stands as one of the oldest and most enduring Swedenborgian congregations in the United States. Its story is one of intellectual curiosity, spiritual exploration, resilience through challenge, and a
A Living Legacy on Beacon Hill Read More »
By Brittany Price The May issue of the Messenger is filled with details about the 202nd Convention in Boston. Boston, Massachusetts, will always remind me of my sister, who passed away a few years ago. She used to work at the Paul Revere House and loved U.S. colonial history, living museums, and pretty much everything
Editorial: No One Leaves a Stranger Read More »
2026 Marks a Return to Convention Banners! This year, we will have a traditional procession of banners at the Convention opening ceremony! We are asking those who are attending Convention in person to bring their ministry’s banners with them. This will be the first time we have done this since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down
It’s a Banner Year! Read More »
