n e w c h u r c h l i f e : m ay / j u n e 2 0 1 6
changed the name to “Evangelization”
to emphasize the truth that the purpose
readings:
was not just to increase the church’s
(And finally, from the work on
membership but to preach the good
Conjugial Love, speaking of a husband
news of the Lord’s second coming.
and wife who have looked to eternity
Ever the trooper, at age 64, Doug
and have lived together in a loving
returned to Sydney and served as pastor
marriage):
in Hurstville for four years before finally
They “are not separated by the death of
retiring and returning to Bryn Athyn.
the one, since the spirit of the deceased
But even then he continued to serve
partner dwells continually with the
as the visiting pastor to the Baltimore
spirit of the one not yet deceased,
society until he was finally too old to
and this until the death of the latter,
make the drive safely.
when they meet again and reunite and
But his passion for sharing the
love each other more tenderly than
truths of the Heavenly Doctrine with
before because in the spiritual world.”
others never waned. He knew from his
(Conjugial Love 321.6)
own experience what a blessing they are,
and wanted to bring others into the New
Church so that they could share the joy
he found in its teachings, and the spiritual community founded upon them.
Just three or four weeks ago, Doug’s grandson Brahm Genzlinger paid him
a visit, and Doug read to him from his pamphlet, “Why Are We Here?” It’s a
warm picture: the 90-year-old priest reading to his grandson, evangelizing to
the end.
Doug’s earthly life began 90 years ago in Australia, but the passion and
work that gave his life meaning, and affected the lives of so many people whom
he served so faithfully, is eternal. It comes from the Lord, and lives within
Truth itself, and radiates from it. It is life, or love, which is the same thing. This
is the spirit within truths that make them like seeds, which are destined to
grow, and multiply, and bring forth fruit.
In closing, let us remember the parable the Lord told about the
dissemination of His Word and the various ways in which it would be received:
the Parable of the Sower. In the supreme sense, the Lord Himself is the Sower
– but all those who serve Him in the work of spreading the truths of faith
are also sowers. They serve the Lord in providing for the human goodness
and happiness that the truths of His Word produce. This is the story of the
Reverend Douglas Taylor:
“Behold, a sower went forth to sow . . . “ (Matthew 13:3)
Contact: [email protected]
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