new church life: november/december 2017
returning and spending more time in the community.
Michelle learned that Göran’s grandmother liked to point out that he
shared Swedenborg’s birthdate – January 29. Swedenborg’s remaining relatives
get together every three years, usually in Stockholm, and invite a speaker –
reportedly Lars Berquist one year. Göran and the Rev. Stephen Cole spent
some time chatting about genealogy.
Julia says glowingly, “It was an afternoon I will never forget.” Apparently
Göran Winqvist felt the same way.
(Carroll Odhner is writing up Göran’s visit to the Library – with photos –
in the Bi-Lines Newsletter. It is available at https://brynathyn.edu/swedenborg-
library/bi-lines/newsletter/
for the new year: daily bread by derek elphick
Michelle Chapin
General Church Outreach
Many of us know how important it is to spend
time on a regular basis focusing on our spiritual lives
and reading Scripture. Yet, committing actual time is
difficult. General Church Outreach has published a
new book, Daily Bread: 365 Readings & Inspirations
for Living Well written and compiled by the Rev.
Derek Elphick, senior pastor at Oak Arbor Church in
Rochester, Michigan.
For each day of the calendar year, this book offers
a brief reading from Scripture accompanied by commentary of how to bring
these Biblical verses into our lives. Just one page to read for each day, allowing
individuals a chance to practice integrating the Word into their lives however
it best fits.
Derek draws from his wealth of experience exploring the Lord’s Word over
the span of his career as a pastor to bring a New Church perspective into these
nourishing and informative readings. Daily Bread addresses a wide variety of
topics such as doubt, happiness, excuses, heaven and trusting God. These and
many more can be found in a topical appendix so that when an event in our
lives arises, we can read a daily offering specifically on that theme.
As Derek writes: “My prayer is that you will find something to help you
experience the daily care, comfort, hope and insight that the Lord provides in
His Word. Whether you are in between errands, on a lunch break, waiting at
a doctor’s office, finishing your day or having a morning quiet time, I warmly
invite you to engage the ideas here with an openness for how the Lord will lead
you today.”
Daily Bread is available to purchase at www.NewChristianResources.org for
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