Theme: Ready
Hymn 58
Elizabeth C. Adams
Father, we Thy loving children
Lift
our hearts in joy today,
Knowing well that Thou wilt keep us
Ever in Thy blessed way.
Thou art Love and Thou art wisdom,
Thou art Life and Thou art All;
In Thy Spirit living, moving,
We shall neither faint nor fall.
Come we daily then, dear Father,
Open hearts and willing hands,
Eager ears, expectant, joyful,
Ready for Thy right commands.
We would hear no other voices,
We would heed no other call;
Thou alone art good and gracious,
Thou our Mind and Thou our All.
In Thy house securely dwelling,
Where Thy children live to bless,
Seeing only Thy creation,
We can share Thy happiness,
Share Thy joy and spend it freely.
Loyal hearts can feel no fear;
We Thy children know Thee, Father,
Love and Life forever near.
Readings from the Bible.
Psalms 86:1‑12
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. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend
to the voice of my supplications. In the
day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Among the gods there is none like unto thee,
O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come
and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous
things: thou art God alone. Teach me thy
way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all
my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
Isaiah 40:1‑8
Comfort ye, comfort ye my
people, saith your God. Speak ye
comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished,
that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double
for all her sins. #The voice of him that
crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the
desert a highway for our God. Every
valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the
crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of
the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth
of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice
said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the
goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the
flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the
people is grass. The grass withereth,
the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Matthew 25:1‑10
Then shall the kingdom of
heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to
meet the bridegroom. And five of them
were wise, and five were foolish. They
that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise
took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold,
the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us
of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us
and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom
came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door
was shut.
Mark 14:22‑38 Jesus
Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it,
and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of
the new testament, which is shed for many.
Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine,
until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
#And when they had sung an hymn, they went
out into the mount of Olives. And Jesus
saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is
written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before
you into Galilee. But Peter said unto
him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto
thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt
deny me thrice. But he spake the more
vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.
Likewise also said they all. And they
came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit
ye here, while I shall pray. And he
taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to
be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death:
tarry ye here, and watch. And he went
forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible,
the hour might pass from him. And he
said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from
me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and
saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into
temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Luke 12:32‑40
Fear not, little flock; for
it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide
yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not,
where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also. Let your loins be girded
about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for
their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and
knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find
watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to
sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or
come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the
house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not
have suffered his house to be broken through.
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye
think not.
I Corinthians 2:9‑12 as
as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him. But God
hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God. For what
man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even
so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are
freely given to us of God.
I Timothy 6:12‑19
Fight the good fight of
faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast
professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who
quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate
witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot,
unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times
he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and
Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man
can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and
power everlasting. Amen. Charge them
that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain
riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That
they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to
communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the
time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Titus 3:1‑7
Put them in mind to be
subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every
good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all
meekness unto all men. For we ourselves
also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and
pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God
our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus
Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life.
I Peter 1:3‑9
Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten
us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice,
though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold
temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of
gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye
love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the
salvation of your souls.
I Peter 5:2‑4
Feed the flock of God which
is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly;
not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's
heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of
glory that fadeth not away.
Readings from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
49:14
The meek demonstrator of good, the highest
instructor and friend of man, met his earthly fate alone with God. No human eye was there to pity, no arm to
save. Forsaken by all whom he had
blessed, this faithful sentinel of God at the highest post of power, charged
with the grandest trust of heaven, was ready to be transformed by the renewing
of the infinite Spirit. He was to prove that
the Christ is not subject to material conditions, but is above the reach of
human wrath, and is able, through Truth, Life, and Love, to triumph over sin,
sickness, death, and the grave.
54:1‑17
Through the magnitude of his
human life, he demonstrated the divine Life.
Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he defined Love. With the
affluence of Truth, he vanquished error.
The world acknowledged not his righteousness, seeing it not; but earth
received the harmony his glorified example introduced.
Who is ready to follow his teaching and
example? All must sooner or later plant
themselves in Christ, the true idea of God.
That he might liberally pour his dear‑bought treasures into empty or sin‑filled
human storehouses, was the inspiration of Jesus' intense human sacrifice. In witness of his divine commission, he
presented the proof that Life, Truth, and Love heal the sick and the sinning,
and triumph over death through Mind, not matter. This was the highest proof he could have
offered of divine Love.
61:4
The good in human affections must have
ascendency over the evil and the spiritual over the animal, or happiness will
never be won. The attainment of this
celestial condition would improve our progeny, diminish crime, and give higher
aims to ambition. Every valley of sin
must be exalted, and every mountain of selfishness be brought low, that the
highway of our God may be prepared in Science.
The offspring of heavenly‑minded parents inherit more intellect, better
balanced minds, and sounder constitutions.
131:13
Must Christian Science come through the
Christian churches as some persons insist?
This Science has come already, after the manner of God's appointing, but
the churches seem not ready to receive it, according to the Scriptural saying,
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Jesus once said: "I thank Thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise
and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes:
even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." As aforetime, the spirit of the Christ, which
taketh away the ceremonies and doctrines of men, is not accepted until the
hearts of men are made ready for it.
170:22
Spiritual causation is the one question to be
considered, for more than all others spiritual causation relates to human
progress. The age seems ready to approach this subject, to ponder somewhat the
supremacy of Spirit, and at least to touch the hem of Truth's garment.
223:14
The question, "What is Truth,"
convulses the world. Many are ready to
meet this inquiry with the assurance which comes of understanding; but more are
blinded by their old illusions, and try to "give it pause." "If the blind lead the blind, both shall
fall into the ditch."
322:3
When understanding changes the standpoints of
life and intelligence from a material to a spiritual basis, we shall gain the
reality of Life, the control of Soul over sense, and we shall perceive
Christianity, or Truth, in its divine Principle. This must be the climax before harmonious and
immortal man is obtained and his capabilities revealed. It is highly important‑‑in view of the
immense work to be accomplished before this recognition of divine Science can
come‑‑to turn our thoughts towards divine Principle, that finite belief may be
prepared to relinquish its error.
353:13
The age has not wholly outlived the sense of
ghostly beliefs. It still holds them
more or less. Time has not yet reached
eternity, immortality, complete reality.
All the real is eternal.
Perfection underlies reality.
Without perfection, nothing is wholly real. All things will continue to disappear, until
perfection appears and reality is reached.
We must give up the spectral at all points. We must not continue to admit the
somethingness of superstition, but we must yield up all belief in it and be
wise. When we learn that error is not
real, we shall be ready for progress, "forgetting those things which are
behind."
409:27‑21
We have no right to say that life depends on
matter now, but will not depend on it after death. We cannot spend our days here in ignorance of
the Science of Life, and expect to find beyond the grave a reward for this
ignorance. Death will not make us
harmonious and immortal as a recompense for ignorance. If here we give no heed to Christian Science,
which is spiritual and eternal, we shall not be ready for spiritual Life
hereafter.
"This is life eternal," says Jesus,‑‑is, not shall be; and then he defines everlasting life as a present
knowledge of his Father and of himself,‑‑the knowledge of Love, Truth, and
Life. "This is life eternal, that
they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast
sent." The Scriptures say,
"Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," showing that
Truth is the actual life of man; but mankind objects to making this teaching
practical.
Every trial of our faith in God makes us
stronger. The more difficult seems the
material condition to be overcome by Spirit, the stronger should be our faith
and the purer our love. The Apostle John
says: "There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casteth out fear. . . .
He that feareth is not made perfect in Love." Here is a definite and inspired proclamation
of Christian Science.
458:11
It is anything but scientifically Christian
to think of aiding the divine Principle of healing or of trying to sustain the
human body until the divine Mind is ready to take the case. Divinity is always ready. Semper
paratus is Truth's motto. Having
seen so much suffering from quackery, the author desires to keep it out of
Christian Science. The two‑edged sword
of Truth must turn in every direction to guard "the tree of life."
494:15‑29
The miracle of grace is no miracle to Love. Jesus demonstrated the inability of
corporeality, as well as the infinite ability of Spirit, thus helping erring
human sense to flee from its own convictions and seek safety in divine Science. Reason, rightly directed, serves to correct
the errors of corporeal sense; but sin, sickness, and death will seem real
(even as the experiences of the sleeping dream seem real) until the Science of
man's eternal harmony breaks their illusion with the unbroken reality of
scientific being.
Which of these two theories concerning man
are you ready to accept? One is the
mortal testimony, changing, dying, unreal.
The other is the eternal and real evidence, bearing Truth's signet, its
lap piled high with immortal fruits.
566:1
As the children of Israel were guided
triumphantly through the Red Sea, the dark ebbing and flowing tides of human
fear,‑‑as they were led through the wilderness, walking wearily through the
great desert of human hopes, and anticipating the promised joy,‑‑so shall the
spiritual idea guide all right desires in their passage from sense to Soul,
from a material sense of existence to the spiritual, up to the glory prepared
for them who love God. Stately Science
pauses not, but moves before them, a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by
night, leading to divine heights.
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 318
Based on the Danish of Nikolaj F. S. Grundtvig
Suffer the children to come to me,
This was the Master's tender plea;
Gentle and loving, they are mine,
Ah, will not ye who see this sign
Come unto me?
He who receiveth the Word as they,
Teachable, ready to choose my way,
He shall have peace of sin forgiven,
He shall in this wise enter heaven;
Come unto me.
See ye the lilies, how fair they grow,
Clothed in a glory kings ne'er know;
They, like the sparrows, praise the Lord,
Publish my call with clear accord,
Come unto me.
Sharing of experiences, testimonies and remarks by members of the congregation.
Hymn 176
Based on the Danish of Nikolaj F. S. Grundtvig
Long hast thou stood, O church of God,
Long mid the tempest's assailing,
Founded secure on timeless rock
Rises thy light, never failing;
Shining that all may understand
What has been wrought by God's command,
O'er night and chaos prevailing.
Let there be light, and light was there,
Clear as the Word that declared it;
Healing and peace to all it gave,
Who in humility shared it.
Ah, they were faithful, they who heard,
Steadfast their trust in God's great Word,
Steadfast the Love that prepared it.
Let there be light, the Word shines forth,
Lo, where the new morning whitens;
O church of God, with Book unsealed,
How its page beacons and brightens.
Living stones we, each in his place,
May we be worthy such a grace,
While Truth the wide earth enlightens.
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