Service for Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008

Theme: Christmas

Hymn 417
Isaac Watts – Adapted

Joy to the world, the Lord is come,
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.

No more let sin and sorrow grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
Where'er he comes, his blessings flow,
And hope and joy abound.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love.

Readings from the Bible
Isaiah 9:6,7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Luke 2:1-20
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Note: Instead of selections from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, correlative passages are from Mrs. Eddy’s Prose Works and her book Christ and Christmas

Miscellaneous Writings 320:3-22 np
CHRISTMAS

This interesting day, crowned with the history of Truth's idea,--its earthly advent and nativity,--is especially dear to the heart of Christian Scientists; to whom Christ's appearing in a fuller sense is so precious, and fraught with divine benedictions for mankind.
The star that looked lovingly down on the manger of our Lord, lends its resplendent light to this hour: the light of Truth, to cheer, guide, and bless man as he reaches forth for the infant idea of divine perfection dawning upon human imperfection,--that calms man's fears, bears his burdens, beckons him on to Truth and Love and the sweet immunity these bring from sin, sickness, and death.
This polar star, fixed in the heavens of divine Science, shall be the sign of his appearing who "healeth all our diseases;" it hath traversed night, wading through darkness and gloom, on to glory. It doth meet the antagonism of error; addressing to dull ears and undisciplined beliefs words of Truth and Life.
The star of Bethlehem is the star of Boston, high in the zenith of Truth's domain, that looketh down on the long night of human beliefs, to pierce the darkness and melt into dawn.
The star of Bethlehem is the light of all ages; is the light of Love, to-day christening religion undefiled, divine Science; giving to it a new name, and the white stone in token of purity and permanence.
The wise men follow this guiding star; the watchful shepherd chants his welcome over the cradle of a great truth, and saith, "Unto us a child is born," whose birth is less of a miracle than eighteen centuries ago; and "his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
My heart is filled with joy, that each receding year sees the steady gain of Truth's idea in Christian Science; that each recurring year witnesses the balance adjusted more on the side of God, the supremacy of Spirit; as shown by the triumphs of Truth over error, of health over sickness, of Life over death, and of Soul over sense.
"The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth." "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Press on, press on! ye sons of light,
Untiring in your holy fight,
Still treading each temptation down,
And battling for a brighter crown.

Miscellany 122:16-29
Beloved brethren, another Christmas has come and gone. Has it enabled us to know more of the healing Christ that saves from sickness and sin? Are we still searching diligently to find where the young child lies, and are we satisfied to know that our sense of Truth is not demoralized, finitized, cribbed, or cradled, but has risen to grasp the spiritual idea unenvironed by materiality? Can we say with the angels to-day: "He is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him"? Yes, the real Christian Scientist can say his Christ is risen and is not the material Christ of creeds, but is Truth, even as Jesus declared; and the sense of Truth of the real Christian Scientist is spiritualized to behold this Christ, Truth, again healing the sick and saving sinners.

Miscellany 259:21-32 np
[New York World]

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS

Certain occasions, considered either collectively or individually and observed properly, tend to give the activity of man infinite scope; but mere merry-making or needless gift-giving is not that in which human capacities find the most appropriate and proper exercise. Christmas respects the Christ too much to submerge itself in merely temporary means and ends. It represents the eternal informing Soul recognized only in harmony, in the beauty and bounty of Life everlasting,--in the truth that is Life, the Life that heals and saves mankind. An eternal Christmas would make matter an alien save as phenomenon, and matter would reverentially withdraw itself before Mind. The despotism of material sense or the flesh would flee before such reality, to make room for substance, and the shadow of frivolity and the inaccuracy of material sense would disappear.
In Christian Science, Christmas stands for the real, the absolute and eternal,--for the things of Spirit, not of matter. Science is divine; it hath no partnership with human means and ends, no half-way stations. Nothing conditional or material belongs to it. Human reason and philosophy may pursue paths devious, the line of liquids, the lure of gold, the doubtful sense that falls short of substance, the things hoped for and the evidence unseen.
The basis of Christmas is the rock, Christ Jesus; its fruits are inspiration and spiritual understanding of joy and rejoicing,--not because of tradition, usage, or corporeal pleasures, but because of fundamental and demonstrable truth, because of the heaven within us. The basis of Christmas is love loving its enemies, returning good for evil, love that "suffereth long, and is kind." The true spirit of Christmas elevates medicine to Mind; it casts out evils, heals the sick, raises the dormant faculties, appeals to all conditions, and supplies every need of man. It leaves hygiene, medicine, ethics, and religion to God and His Christ, to that which is the Way, in word and in deed,--the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is but one Jesus Christ on record. Christ is incorporeal. Neither the you nor the I in the flesh can be or is Christ.

Miscellany 261:21-263:2
[The Ladies' Home Journal]

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

To me Christmas involves an open secret, understood by few--or by none--and unutterable except in Christian Science. Christ was not born of the flesh. Christ is the Truth and Life born of God--born of Spirit and not of matter. Jesus, the Galilean Prophet, was born of the Virgin Mary's spiritual thoughts of Life and its manifestation.
God creates man perfect and eternal in His own image. Hence man is the image, idea, or likeness of perfection --an ideal which cannot fall from its inherent unity with divine Love, from its spotless purity and original perfection.
Observed by material sense, Christmas commemorates the birth of a human, material, mortal babe--a babe born in a manger amidst the flocks and herds of a Jewish village.
This homely origin of the babe Jesus falls far short of my sense of the eternal Christ, Truth, never born and never dying. I celebrate Christmas with my soul, my spiritual sense, and so commemorate the entrance into human understanding of the Christ conceived of Spirit, of God and not of a woman--as the birth of Truth, the dawn of divine Love breaking upon the gloom of matter and evil with the glory of infinite being.
Human doctrines or hypotheses or vague human philosophy afford little divine effulgence, deific presence or power. Christmas to me is the reminder of God's great gift,--His spiritual idea, man and the universe,--a gift which so transcends mortal, material, sensual giving that the merriment, mad ambition, rivalry, and ritual of our common Christmas seem a human mockery in mimicry of the real worship in commemoration of Christ's coming.
I love to observe Christmas in quietude, humility, benevolence, charity, letting good will towards man, eloquent silence, prayer, and praise express my conception of Truth's appearing.
The splendor of this nativity of Christ reveals infinite meanings and gives manifold blessings. Material gifts and pastimes tend to obliterate the spiritual idea in consciousness, leaving one alone and without His glory.

CHRIST AND CHRISTMAS

1. Fast circling on, from zone to zone,--
Bright, blest, afar,--
O'er the grim night of chaos shone
One lone, brave star.

2. In tender mercy, Spirit sped
A loyal ray
To rouse the living, wake the dead,
And point the Way--

3. The Christ-idea, God anoints--
Of Truth and Life;
The Way in Science He appoints,
That stills all strife.
4. What the Beloved knew and taught,
Science repeats,
Through understanding, dearly sought,
With fierce heart-beats;

5. Thus Christ, eternal and divine,
To celebrate
As Truth demands,--this living Vine
Ye demonstrate.

6. For heaven's Christus, earthly Eves,
By Adam bid,
Make merriment on Christmas eves,
O'er babe and crib.

7. Yet wherefore signalize the birth
Of him ne'er born?
What can rehearse the glorious worth
Of his high morn?

8. Christ was not crucified--that doom
Was Jesus' part;
For Sharon's rose must bud and bloom
In human heart. [*]

9. Forever present, bounteous, free,
Christ comes in gloom;
And aye, with grace towards you and me,
For health makes room.

10. Thus olden faith's pale star now blends
In seven-hued white!
Life, without birth and without end,
Emitting light!

11. The Way, the Truth, the Life--His word--
Are here, and now
Christ's silent healing, heaven heard,
Crowns the pale brow.

12. For Christian Science brings to view
The great I Am,--
Omniscient power,--gleaming through
Mind, mother, man.

13. As in blest Palestina's hour,
So in our age,
'T is the same hand unfolds His power,
And writes the page.

14. To-day, as oft, away from sin
Christ summons thee!
Truth pleads to-night: Just take Me in!
No mass for Me!

15. No blight, no broken wing, no moan,
Truth's fane can dim;
Eternal swells Christ's music-tone,
In heaven's hymn.

Hymn 170
John Greenleaf Whittier – Adapted

Let every creature hail the morn
On which the holy child was born
And know, through God's exceeding grace,
Release from things of time and place.
I listen, from no mortal tongue,
To hear the song the angels sung,
And wait within myself to know
The Christmas lilies bud and blow.

The outward symbols disappear
From him whose inward sight is clear,
And small must be the choice of days
To him who fills them all with praise.
Keep while ye need it, brothers mine,
With honest zeal your Christmas sign,
But judge not him who every morn
Feels in his heart the Lord Christ born.

Hymn 11
Marion Susan Campbell

Angels at the Saviour's birth
Woke with music all the earth,
Shepherds in the eastern sky
Saw a pale star passing by,
Guiding them at break of day
Where the babe in meekness lay,
Born the gracious news to tell,
God with us, Immanuel.

Star of being, still thy light
Shines before us in the night,
By those radiant beams we find
Christ, the Truth, for all mankind,
Still the tidings angels bring
With their joyful caroling,
Telling that the dawn has come,
God and man fore'er at one.