Service for Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014

 Theme: Rejoice

 Hymn 10
 Frederic W. Root – Based on hymn by Martin Luther

 All power is given unto our Lord,
   On Him we place reliance;
 With truth from out His sacred word
   We bid our foes defiance.
     With Him we shall prevail,
     Whatever may assail;
     He is our shield and tower,
     Almighty is His power;
     His kingdom is forever.

 Rejoice, ye people, praise His name,
   His care doth e'er surround us.
 His love to error's thralldom came,
   And from its chains unbound us.
     Our Lord is God alone,
     No other power we own;
     No other voice we heed,
     No other help we need;
     His kingdom is forever.

 O then give thanks to God on high,
   Who life to all is giving;
 The hosts of death before Him fly,
   In Him we all are living.
     Then let us know no fear,
     Our King is ever near;
     Our stay and fortress strong,
     Our strength, our hope, our song;
     His kingdom is forever.

Readings from the Bible.

Deuteronomy 12:1,5 unto,7,10‑12 (to ;),17,18
These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the Lord God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. 

 unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee. 

But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord: And ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates;

#Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand: But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

I Chronicles 16:8‑12,27‑34
Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.  Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.  Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.  Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.  Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.  Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth.  O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalms 5:8,11,12
Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.  For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalms 9:1,2,4,7‑11
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. 
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. 

But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.  And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.  The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.  Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

Psalms 31:7
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

Psalms 33:1‑12
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.  Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.  For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.  He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.  By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.  He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.  Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.  For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.  The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.  The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Psalms 63:1‑7
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.  Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.  Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.  Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

Psalms 70:1,4
Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord. 

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

Psalms 86:1‑5
Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.  Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.  Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.  Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.  For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Psalms 105:1‑5
O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.  Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Isaiah 61:10,11
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.  For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Joel 2:21‑26
#Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.  Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.  And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.  And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.  And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Philippians 3:1 (to 1st .)
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.

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

15:14‑30
  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.

22:11‑29
  "Work out your own salvation," is the demand of Life and Love, for to this end God worketh with you.  "Occupy till I come!"  Wait for your reward, and "be not weary in well doing."  If your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race. 
  When the smoke of battle clears away, you will discern the good you have done, and receive according to your deserving.  Love is not hasty to deliver us from temptation, for Love means that we shall be tried and purified. 
  Final deliverance from error, whereby we rejoice in immortality, boundless freedom, and sinless sense, is not reached through paths of flowers nor by pinning one's faith without works to another's vicarious effort.  Whosoever believeth that wrath is righteous or that divinity is appeased by human suffering, does not understand God. 

28:32
  There is too much animal courage in society and not sufficient moral courage.  Christians must take up arms against error at home and abroad.  They must grapple with sin in themselves and in others, and continue this warfare until they have finished their course.  If they keep the faith, they will have the crown of rejoicing. 

34:29
  What a contrast between our Lord's last supper and his last spiritual breakfast with his disciples in the bright morning hours at the joyful meeting on the shore of the Galilean Sea!  His gloom had passed into glory, and his disciples' grief into repentance,‑‑hearts chastened and pride rebuked.  Convinced of the fruitlessness of their toil in the dark and wakened by their Master's voice, they changed their methods, turned away from material things, and cast their net on the right side.  Discerning Christ, Truth, anew on the shore of time, they were enabled to rise somewhat from mortal sensuousness, or the burial of mind in matter, into newness of life as Spirit. 

140:4‑22
  That God is a corporeal being, nobody can truly affirm.  The Bible represents Him as saying: "Thou canst not see My face; for there shall no man see Me, and live."  Not materially but spiritually we know Him as divine Mind, as Life, Truth, and Love.  We shall obey and adore in proportion as we apprehend the divine nature and love Him understandingly, warring no more over the corporeality, but rejoicing in the affluence of our God.  Religion will then be of the heart and not of the head.  Mankind will no longer be tyrannical and proscriptive from lack of love,‑‑straining out gnats and swallowing camels. 
  We worship spiritually, only as we cease to worship materially.  Spiritual devoutness is the soul of Christianity.  Worshipping through the medium of matter is paganism.  Judaic and other rituals are but types and shadows of true worship.  "The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth."

249:8‑19
Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine "powers that be." Such is the true Science of being.  Any other theory of Life, or God, is delusive and mythological. 
  Mind is not the author of matter, and the creator of ideas is not the creator of illusions.  Either there is no omnipotence, or omnipotence is the only power.  God is the infinite, and infinity never began, will never end, and includes nothing unlike God.  Whence then is soulless matter? 
  Life is, like Christ, "the same yesterday, and to‑day, and forever."

265:31
  The pains of sense are salutary, if they wrench away false pleasurable beliefs and transplant the affections from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good, "rejoicing the heart."  Such is the sword of Science, with which Truth decapitates error, materiality giving place to man's higher individuality and destiny.

342:21
  Christian Science awakens the sinner, reclaims the infidel, and raises from the couch of pain the helpless invalid.  It speaks to the dumb the words of Truth, and they answer with rejoicing.  It causes the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the blind to see.  Who would be the first to disown the Christliness of good works, when our Master says, "By their fruits ye shall know them"? 

354:26
  Sin should become unreal to every one.  It is in itself inconsistent, a divided kingdom.  Its supposed realism has no divine authority, and I rejoice in the apprehension of this grand verity. 

376:17‑5
  If the body is material, it cannot, for that very reason, suffer with a fever.  Because the so‑called material body is a mental concept and governed by mortal mind, it manifests only what that so‑called mind expresses.  Therefore the efficient remedy is to destroy the patient's false belief by both silently and audibly arguing the true facts in regard to harmonious being,‑‑representing man as healthy instead of diseased, and showing that it is impossible for matter to suffer, to feel pain or heat, to be thirsty or sick.  Destroy fear, and you end fever.  Some people, mistaught as to Mind‑science, inquire when it will be safe to check a fever.  Know that in Science you cannot check a fever after admitting that it must have its course.  To fear and admit the power of disease, is to paralyze mental and scientific demonstration. 
  If your patient believes in taking cold, mentally convince him that matter cannot take cold, and that thought governs this liability.  If grief causes suffering, convince the sufferer that affliction is often the source of joy, and that he should rejoice always in ever‑present Love. 

561:32‑21
  John the Baptist prophesied the coming of the immaculate Jesus, and John saw in those days the spiritual idea as the Messiah, who would baptize with the Holy Ghost,‑‑divine Science.  As Elias presented the idea of the fatherhood of God, which Jesus afterwards manifested, so the Revelator completed this figure with woman, typifying the spiritual idea of God's motherhood.  The moon is under her feet.  This idea reveals the universe as secondary and tributary to Spirit, from which the universe borrows its reflected light, substance, life, and intelligence. 
  The spiritual idea is crowned with twelve stars.  The twelve tribes of Israel with all mortals,‑‑separated by belief from man's divine origin and the true idea,‑‑will through much tribulation yield to the activities of the divine Principle of man in the harmony of Science.  These are the stars in the crown of rejoicing.  They are the lamps in the spiritual heavens of the age, which show the workings of the spiritual idea by healing the sick and the sinning, and by manifesting the light which shines "unto the perfect day" as the night of materialism wanes. 

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


 Hymn 304
 "Feed My Sheep" – with words by Mary Baker Eddy

 Shepherd, show me how to go
   O'er the hillside steep,
 How to gather, how to sow,‑‑
   How to feed Thy sheep;
 I will listen for Thy voice,
   Lest my footsteps stray;
 I will follow and rejoice
   All the rugged way.

 Thou wilt bind the stubborn will,
   Wound the callous breast,
 Make self‑righteousness be still,
   Break earth's stupid rest.
 Strangers on a barren shore,
   Lab'ring long and lone,
 We would enter by the door,
   And Thou know'st Thine own;

 So, when day grows dark and cold,
   Tear or triumph harms,
 Lead Thy lambkins to the fold,
   Take them in Thine arms;
 Feed the hungry, heal the heart,
   Till the morning's beam;
 White as wool, ere they depart,
   Shepherd, wash them clean.

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


 Hymn 342 
 Laura Lee Randall

 This is the day the Lord hath made;
   Be glad, give thanks, rejoice;
 Stand in His presence, unafraid,
   In praise lift up your voice.
 All perfect gifts are from above,
   And all our blessings show
 The amplitude of God's dear love
   Which every heart may know.

 The Lord will hear before we call,
   And every need supply;
 Good things are freely given to all
   Who on His word rely.
 We come today to bring Him praise
   Not for such gifts alone,
 But for the higher, deeper ways
   In which His love is shown.

 For sin destroyed, for sorrow healed,
   For health and peace restored;
 For Life and Love by Truth revealed,
   We thank and bless the Lord.
 This is the day the Lord hath made,
   In praise lift up your voice.
 In shining robes of joy arrayed,

   Be glad, give thanks, rejoice.

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