new church life: jan uary/february 2016
He recently married Patricia who most helpfully speaks excellent
English. (Brazil is similar to the United States – very large and geographically
somewhat isolated, so few people feel the need to learn any language other
than Portuguese.)
On Saturday Andy, Eduardo and I taped two shows on the New Church
for a local public television station, which can also be found on the website
www.arcanoscelestes.com. This has been an ongoing outreach effort. Each
segment discusses a different doctrine of the New Church.
That evening I gave a class on what is legitimate guilt and what is false
guilt, and then we held the ordination service at the art gallery. While the
gathering was small – about 20 – Eduardo has developed a strong core from
which to build.
We also had the opportunity to meet Daniel Rodrigues there. He is an
ordained minister who has found the New Church and is trying to bring his
congregation into it. His church is about a one-and-a-half-hour drive away,
but he made the trip to meet us and see the ordination. His efforts with his
congregation have met with some resistance, but he continues to learn more
about the Heavenly Doctrines and lead from those truths.
On Friday we traveled to Rio de Janeiro. Rio is one of the most beautiful
cities in the world. It has a large natural harbor and several long luxurious
beaches which are used year round for recreation. And with a backdrop of
lush mountains it creates a stunning visual setting. Our hotel overlooked the
Copacabana beach, was close to the church, and was within walking distance
of the church member’s apartment where clergy meetings were to be held.
On Saturday we traveled to Campo Grande, a far western suburb of the
city. It is between a one- and two-hour trip, depending upon traffic. We have
a church congregation there in addition to the original one at Fatima in Rio.
The Rev. Johny Villanueva and wife, Luciana, have set up a large downstairs
room as the church, with a magnificent stained glass window depicting the
two angels beside the golden table, upon which was the open Word. (See Brief
Exposition 120)
Johny came into the New Church as an adult and Andy trained him for
the priesthood. He is originally from Peru but now lives in Rio. He preaches
in both congregations every Sunday.
That morning the ministers, Andy, Eduardo, Johny and myself, and several
others studying for the ministry, met for the first of the clergy meetings in the
room where worship is held. Gretchen was invited to work with a number of
the wives on developing a Sunday School for both congregations, which was
held on a lovely upstairs veranda. A number of the Fatima congregation also
were present for this.
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