Church Elects New Minister While the Former Continues Making Miraculous Recovery
A feel good story about a small, progressive church that celebrates its one year anniversary of the former minister's incredible, hospital bed selection of the same scripture that was read in his church the next day.
Redmond, WA, August 12, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Washington’s progressive Swedenborgian Church of Puget Sound (SCPS) announced today the election of a father-son team as new half-time ministers, after a year of inviting a variety of traditional and non-traditional leaders to speak. The Revs. Ernest and Paul Martin will maintain the previous minister’s tradition of regularly opening the pulpit to exciting teachers from other faiths. Steve Mason, a talented local musician, was hired as the worship coordinator.
The SCPS became known for welcoming other religious presenters under the leadership of the Rev. Eric Allison, who had a stroke in July 2008. The Rev. Eric Allison served the SCPS for nine years.
The Rev. Erni Martin presided over the denomination’s most famous location, the Wayfarer’s Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes in California from 1975-1984. The Rev. Paul Martin owns the Stonehouse Bookstore in Kirkland.
SCPS hosted the national denomination’s 285th annual convention in June 2009, at the University of Washington. “It was very moving to see Eric re-united with his minister colleagues,” said parishioner Michael Robbins.
The SCPS has an open invitation for guests to come on Aug. 16, 2009 to DanceWorks Studio in Redmond. Guests are invited to share their personal spiritual or life changing experiences. Services will be led by parishioner Michael Robbins, who will reflect upon his sermon, “Evidence for Faith,” which was delivered on July 20, 2008, three weeks after Rev. Allison’s stroke. During Robbins’s talk last year, he included a single verse from the Bible. Unbeknownst to him, it was the same sentence Rev. Allison reportedly pointed to the night before while in the hospital. Rev. Allison was unable to walk or speak, and he remains physically disabled today. However, his professional caregivers regularly state his progress is nothing short of remarkable. Robbins will discuss the impact Rev. Eric Allison’s prophetic scripture selection had on his faith while inviting others to share their stories.
About Swedenborg
Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) did not intend for a religion to be formed from his writings. Although he was acknowledged by his contemporaries to be one of the outstanding scientific figures of his generation, the last 27 years of Swedenborg's life were devoted to writing books on religion. As a result of Swedenborg's own spiritual questionings and insights, a church today exists to encourage that same spirit of inquiry and personal growth, to respect differences in views, and to accept others who may have different traditions. Swedenborgianism has attracted famous individuals such as Helen Keller and Johnny Appleseed. Dr. Oz’s wife is a member, and Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital coined the term “Swedenborgian space.”
About the Swedenborgian Church of Puget Sound
The Swedenborgian Church of Puget Sound meets at 11am at DanceWorks in Redmond, WA. The church’s web site HeavenOnEarth4U.org, has no relation to other groups with the same name. The SCPS does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status.
Media Contacts:
Steve Mason Michael Robbins
206.992.0997 206.355.3750
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The SCPS became known for welcoming other religious presenters under the leadership of the Rev. Eric Allison, who had a stroke in July 2008. The Rev. Eric Allison served the SCPS for nine years.
The Rev. Erni Martin presided over the denomination’s most famous location, the Wayfarer’s Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes in California from 1975-1984. The Rev. Paul Martin owns the Stonehouse Bookstore in Kirkland.
SCPS hosted the national denomination’s 285th annual convention in June 2009, at the University of Washington. “It was very moving to see Eric re-united with his minister colleagues,” said parishioner Michael Robbins.
The SCPS has an open invitation for guests to come on Aug. 16, 2009 to DanceWorks Studio in Redmond. Guests are invited to share their personal spiritual or life changing experiences. Services will be led by parishioner Michael Robbins, who will reflect upon his sermon, “Evidence for Faith,” which was delivered on July 20, 2008, three weeks after Rev. Allison’s stroke. During Robbins’s talk last year, he included a single verse from the Bible. Unbeknownst to him, it was the same sentence Rev. Allison reportedly pointed to the night before while in the hospital. Rev. Allison was unable to walk or speak, and he remains physically disabled today. However, his professional caregivers regularly state his progress is nothing short of remarkable. Robbins will discuss the impact Rev. Eric Allison’s prophetic scripture selection had on his faith while inviting others to share their stories.
About Swedenborg
Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) did not intend for a religion to be formed from his writings. Although he was acknowledged by his contemporaries to be one of the outstanding scientific figures of his generation, the last 27 years of Swedenborg's life were devoted to writing books on religion. As a result of Swedenborg's own spiritual questionings and insights, a church today exists to encourage that same spirit of inquiry and personal growth, to respect differences in views, and to accept others who may have different traditions. Swedenborgianism has attracted famous individuals such as Helen Keller and Johnny Appleseed. Dr. Oz’s wife is a member, and Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital coined the term “Swedenborgian space.”
About the Swedenborgian Church of Puget Sound
The Swedenborgian Church of Puget Sound meets at 11am at DanceWorks in Redmond, WA. The church’s web site HeavenOnEarth4U.org, has no relation to other groups with the same name. The SCPS does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status.
Media Contacts:
Steve Mason Michael Robbins
206.992.0997 206.355.3750
###
Contact
Swedenborgian Church of Puget Sound
Michael Robbins
206-355-3750
www.heavenonearth4u.org
Michael Robbins
206-355-3750
www.heavenonearth4u.org
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The national newsletter publishes the related article "Evidence for Faith."
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