Foundations
The Lord did not create the universe for the sake of Himself but for others. The church does not exist for the sake of itself, but for others. It is here to serve the surrounding community.
Heaven is a kingdom of uses, not a retirement home. A church congregation should find ways of serving the surrounding community. Each congregation, or part of the congregation, will do this in its own way. And the things done by the church will vary from time to time as well as from place to place.
This is an extension of the idea that each individual has been created to serve a special use in heaven. Each angel has a special niche or function to serve, and from contributing in that way derives tremendous satisfaction and heavenly joy. One of our tasks as human beings is to learn about our personal gifts and interests, and find ways of using them to serve others.
Swedenborg discovered that heaven is organized organically, like the body of a single individual. There are many organs and functions in the human body. Similarly there are many functions and uses in any human community, and so too on the largest scale in the community of heaven. Individuals do well to find what their special talents and loves are like, and how they can best use them for the good of others. So too congregations can look at their particular talents and gifts to see how they can serve the surrounding community.
Of course the main work of the church is supporting people in their spiritual life. The New Church has been defined as a Christian Church with a focus on your spiritual life. This goal is within the services and classes offered, as well as finding the opportunities to be a blessing to the surrounding community.