Service for Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012

Subject: Christ Jesus

 Hymn 15 

 Based on the Danish of Bernhard S. Ingemann

 As gold by fire is tested,

   Its purity shown forth,

 So cleansing fires of Truth may prove

   To man his native worth.

 And as a mirror shows us

   A likeness clear and bright,

 So God forever sees His child

   Revealed in radiant light.

 'Twas thus the loving Master

   Saw man's perfection shine,

 Beheld God's child forever pure

   In radiance all divine.

The scriptural selections are from Colossians.

Colossians 2:1‑10 I would

I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.  For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Colossians 3:1,2,4,16,17

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Silent prayer, followed by the audible repetition of the Lord’s prayer, with its spiritual interpretation as given in the Christian Science textbook.

Our Father which art in heaven,

Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Adorable One.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Enable us to know – as in heaven, so on earth

God is omnipotent, supreme.

Give us this day our daily bread;

Give us grace for today; feed the famished affections;

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And Love is reflected in love;

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;

And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

For God is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All.

 Hymn 204 

 Based on the Swedish of Lina Sandell Berg

 O Father, Thy kingdom is come upon earth,

   Thou rulest in all Thy creation;

 Thou sendest Thy witnesses, telling Thy worth,

   To call and entreat every nation,

     With news of Thy mighty salvation.

 They lift up a light amid shadows of fear,

   And Love is Thy banner above them;

 No trouble shall touch them, no foes that appear

   Shall e'er from their loyalty move them;

     'Tis Thou dost uphold and approve them.

 They go in Thy strength, and they speak in Thy name,

   With power of Thy promise forth faring,

 And during the battle the victory claim,‑‑

   Their trust in Thy truth is their daring,

     Salvation to all men declaring.

Solo: “Come to the Waters”                     

The lesson-sermon from the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, read by the First and Second Readers.

The content of the Lesson Sermon may be found in the Christian Science Quarterly. You may also read the Lesson-Sermon for this week online by clicking here.

 Hymn 312 

 Charles Wesley*

 Soldiers of Christ, arise,

   And put your armor on,

 Strong in the strength which God supplies

   Through His eternal Son.

 Stand then in His great might,

   With all His strength endued,

 And take, to arm you for the fight,

   The panoply of God.

 From strength to strength go on;

   O wrestle, fight, and pray;

 Tread all the powers of darkness down,

   And win the well‑fought day.

 That, having all things done,

   And all your conflicts past,

 Ye may o'ercome through Christ alone,

   And stand complete at last.

"The Scientific Statement of Being" (S&H p. 468} and the correlative scripture according to I John 3:1-3.

There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual.

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p.468

1John.3

[1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

[3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Benediction

John 1:17 the

the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.