Service for Wednesday, March 27, 2013


Theme: Watch

 Hymn 183
 Horatius Bonar – Adapted

 Make haste, O man, to do
   Whatever must be done;
 Thou hast no time to lose in sloth,
   When all to Truth must come.

 The useful and the great,
   The thing that never dies,
 The silent toil that is not lost,‑‑
   Set these before thine eyes.

 Up, face the task and work;
   Fling ease and self away;
 This is no time for thee to sleep;
   Up, watch, and work, and pray.

Readings from the Bible.

Nehemiah 4:7‑9 it
it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.  Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

Psalms 141:1‑4 (to :)
Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.  Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.  Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.  Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity:

Proverbs 8:32‑35
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.

Habakkuk 2:1‑3
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.  And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Matthew 24:42‑47
#Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Matthew 26:36‑41
#Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mark 13:31‑37
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. #But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

I Corinthians 16:13
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Ephesians 6:13‑18 take
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I Thessalonians 5:5‑10
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Correlative passages from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.

1:1
  The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,‑‑a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love.  Regardless of what another may say or think on this subject, I speak from experience.  Prayer, watching, and working, combined with self‑immolation, are God's gracious means for accomplishing whatever has been successfully done for the Christianization and health of mankind. 

4:17
  Simply asking that we may love God will never make us love Him; but the longing to be better and holier, expressed in daily watchfulness and in striving to assimilate more of the divine character, will mould and fashion us anew, until we awake in His likeness.  We reach the Science of Christianity through demonstration of the divine nature; but in this wicked world goodness will "be evil spoken of," and patience must bring experience. 

15:14‑32
  In order to pray aright, we must enter into the closet and shut the door.  We must close the lips and silence the material senses.  In the quiet sanctuary of earnest longings, we must deny sin and plead God's allness.  We must resolve to take up the cross, and go forth with honest hearts to work and watch for wisdom, Truth, and Love.  We must "pray without ceasing."  Such prayer is answered, in so far as we put our desires into practice.  The Master's injunction is, that we pray in secret and let our lives attest our sincerity. 
  Christians rejoice in secret beauty and bounty, hidden from the world, but known to God.  Self‑forgetfulness, purity, and affection are constant prayers.  Practice not profession, understanding not belief, gain the ear and right hand of omnipotence and they assuredly call down infinite blessings.  Trustworthiness is the foundation of enlightened faith.  Without a fitness for holiness, we cannot receive holiness. 

47:31
  During his night of gloom and glory in the garden, Jesus realized the utter error of a belief in any possible material intelligence.  The pangs of neglect and the staves of bigoted ignorance smote him sorely.  His students slept.  He said unto them: "Could ye not watch with me one hour?"  Could they not watch with him who, waiting and struggling in voiceless agony, held uncomplaining guard over a world?  There was no response to that human yearning, and so Jesus turned forever away from earth to heaven, from sense to Soul.

253:32
  The divine demand, "Be ye therefore perfect," is scientific, and the human footsteps leading to perfection are indispensable.  Individuals are consistent who, watching and praying, can "run, and not be weary; . . .  walk, and not faint," who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement.  God requires perfection, but not until the battle between Spirit and flesh is fought and the victory won.  To stop eating, drinking, or being clothed materially before the spiritual facts of existence are gained step by step, is not legitimate.  When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path.  Imperfect mortals grasp the ultimate of spiritual perfection slowly; but to begin aright and to continue the strife of demonstrating the great problem of being, is doing much. 

324:7
  Unless the harmony and immortality of man are becoming more apparent, we are not gaining the true idea of God; and the body will reflect what governs it, whether it be Truth or error, understanding or belief, Spirit or matter.  Therefore "acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace." Be watchful, sober, and vigilant.  The way is straight and narrow, which leads to the understanding that God is the only Life.  It is a warfare with the flesh, in which we must conquer sin, sickness, and death, either here or hereafter,‑‑certainly before we can reach the goal of Spirit, or life in God. 

367:17‑29
  A Christian Scientist occupies the place at this period of which Jesus spoke to his disciples, when he said: "Ye are the salt of the earth."  "Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."  Let us watch, work, and pray that this salt lose not its saltness, and that this light be not hid, but radiate and glow into noontide glory. 
  The infinite Truth of the Christ‑cure has come to this age through a "still, small voice," through silent utterances and divine anointing which quicken and increase the beneficial effects of Christianity.  I long to see the consummation of my hope, namely, the student's higher attainments in this line of light. 

446:24
  Resisting evil, you overcome it and prove its nothingness.  Not human platitudes, but divine beatitudes, reflect the spiritual light and might which heal the sick.  The exercise of will brings on a hypnotic state, detrimental to health and integrity of thought.  This must therefore be watched and guarded against.  Covering iniquity will prevent prosperity and the ultimate triumph of any cause.  Ignorance of the error to be eradicated oftentimes subjects you to its abuse. 

468:25‑6
  Question.‑‑What is Life? 
  Answer.‑‑Life is divine Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit.  Life is without beginning and without end.  Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity.  One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized.  Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite.  Life is neither in nor of matter.  What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal.  Matter is a human concept.  Life is divine Mind.  Life is not limited.  Death and finiteness are unknown to Life.  If Life ever had a beginning, it would also have an ending. 

497:24 we
we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure. 

570:14
  Millions of unprejudiced minds‑‑simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert‑‑are waiting and watching for rest and drink.  Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences.  What if the old dragon should send forth a new flood to drown the Christ‑idea?  He can neither drown your voice with its roar, nor again sink the world into the deep waters of chaos and old night.  In this age the earth will help the woman; the spiritual idea will be understood.  Those ready for the blessing you impart will give thanks.  The waters will be pacified, and Christ will command the wave. 

Silent prayer followed by the audible repetition of the Lord’s Prayer.


 Hymn 30
 Love – Mary Baker Eddy

 Brood o'er us with Thy shelt'ring wing,
   'Neath which our spirits blend
 Like brother birds, that soar and sing,
   And on the same branch bend.
 The arrow that doth wound the dove
 Darts not from those who watch and love.

 If thou the bending reed wouldst break
   By thought or word unkind,
 Pray that his spirit you partake,
   Who loved and healed mankind:
 Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain,
 That make men one in love remain.

 Learn, too, that wisdom's rod is given
   For faith to kiss, and know;
 That greetings glorious from high heaven,
   Whence joys supernal flow,
 Come from that Love, divinely near,
 Which chastens pride and earth‑born fear,

 Through God, who gave that word of might
   Which swelled creation's lay:
 "Let there be light, and there was light."
   What chased the clouds away?
 'Twas Love whose finger traced aloud
 A bow of promise on the cloud.

 Thou to whose power our hope we give,
   Free us from human strife.
 Fed by Thy love divine we live,
   For Love alone is Life;
 And life most sweet, as heart to heart
 Speaks kindly when we meet and part.

Sharing of experiences, testimonies and remarks by members of the congregation.


 Hymn 237 
 Fay Linn

 O may we be still and seek Him,
   Seek with consecration whole,
 Listening thus to hear the message,
   Far from sense and hid in Soul.

 He hath promised we shall find Him,
   Love divine its promise keeps;
 God is watching with the watchful,
   God is Life that never sleeps.

 If we pray to Him in secret,
   Lift to Him the heart's desire,
 We shall find our earthly longings
   All made pure by Love's pure fire.

 Then upon the precious metal
   God's own image will appear,
 Faithfully to Him reflected,
   One with Him forever near.

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