Theme: Steadfast
Hymn 37
Samuel Johnson*
City of God, how broad and far
Outspread thy walls sublime;
The true thy chartered freemen are,
Of every age and clime.
One holy church, one army strong,
One steadfast high intent,
One working band, one harvest song,
One King omnipotent.
How gleam thy watch fires through the night,
With never fainting ray;
How rise thy towers, serene and bright,
To meet the dawning day.
In vain the surge's angry shock,
In vain the drifting sands;
Unharmed upon th' eternal Rock,
The heavenly city stands.
Readings from the Bible.
Psalms 89:1,2,8,9,11‑18
I will sing of the mercies of
the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all
generations. For I have said, Mercy
shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very
heavens.
O Lord God of hosts, who is a
strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the
waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
The heavens are thine, the
earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast
founded them. The north and the south
thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand,
and high is thy right hand. Justice and
judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy
face. Blessed is the people that know
the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy
countenance. In thy name shall they
rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and
in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
Psalms 111:1‑10
Praise ye the Lord. I will
praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the
congregation. The works of the Lord are
great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his
righteousness endureth for ever. He hath
made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of
compassion. He hath given meat unto them
that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath shewed his people the power of his
works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are verity and
judgment; all his commandments are sure.
They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and
uprightness. He sent redemption unto his
people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his
name. The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his
commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 4:1,2,5‑13,20‑23,25‑27
(to :)
Hear, ye children, the
instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not
my law.
Get wisdom, get
understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:
love her, and she shall keep thee.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy
getting get understanding. Exalt her,
and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost
embrace her. She shall give to thine
head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and
the years of thy life shall be many. I
have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be
straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not
go: keep her; for she is thy life.
#My son, attend to my words;
incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let
them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them,
and health to all their flesh. #Keep thy
heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Let thine eyes look right on,
and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy
ways be established. Turn not to the
right hand nor to the left:
I Corinthians 16:13,23
Watch ye, stand fast in the
faith, quit you like men, be strong.
The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you.
Galatians 5:1,7,13,14,16,22
the,23,25
Stand fast therefore in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the
yoke of bondage.
Ye did run well; who did
hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
For, brethren, ye have been
called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by
love serve one another. For all the law
is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself.
This I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such
there is no law.
If we live in the Spirit, let
us also walk in the Spirit.
Philippians 4:1 my,4‑9,13,19
my,20 (to 1st .)
my brethren dearly beloved
and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Rejoice in the Lord alway:
and again I say, Rejoice. Let your
moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God. And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are
true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these
things. Those things, which ye have both
learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace
shall be with you.
I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me.
my God shall supply all your need according to
his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now
unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever.
I Thessalonians 5:16‑21
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is
good.
II Thessalonians 2:1,2 (to
4th ,),3 (to 2nd ,),13‑17 we
Now we beseech you, brethren,
by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by
word,
Let no man deceive you by any
means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,
we are bound to give thanks
alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have
been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath
loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through
grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Hebrews 10:16,19‑24
This is the covenant that I
will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into
their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living
way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his
flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith
without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one
another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Revelation 3:11‑13
Behold, I come quickly: hold
that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in
the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him
the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem,
which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new
name. He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Readings from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
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.
60:24‑3
An ill‑attuned ear calls discord harmony, not
appreciating concord. So physical sense,
not discerning the true happiness of being, places it on a false basis. Science will correct the discord, and teach
us life's sweeter harmonies.
Soul has infinite resources with which to
bless mankind, and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more
secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul.
Higher enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal man. We cannot circumscribe happiness within the
limits of personal sense. The senses
confer no real enjoyment.
260:31
If we look to the body for pleasure, we find
pain; for Life, we find death; for Truth, we find error; for Spirit, we find
its opposite, matter. Now reverse this
action. Look away from the body into
Truth and Love, the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and immortality. Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the
good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience
proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.
414:21
The Scripture declares,
"The Lord He is God [good]; there is none else beside Him." Even so, harmony is universal, and discord is
unreal. Christian Science declares that
Mind is substance, also that matter neither feels, suffers, nor enjoys. Hold these points strongly in view. Keep in mind the verity of being,‑‑that man
is the image and likeness of God, in whom all being is painless and
permanent. Remember that man's
perfection is real and unimpeachable, whereas imperfection is blameworthy,
unreal, and is not brought about by divine Love.
417:3
Give sick people credit for sometimes knowing
more than their doctors. Always support
their trust in the power of Mind to sustain the body. Never tell the sick that they have more
courage than strength. Tell them rather,
that their strength is in proportion to their courage. If you make the sick realize this great
truism, there will be no reaction from over‑exertion or from excited
conditions. Maintain the facts of
Christian Science,‑‑that Spirit is God, and therefore cannot be sick; that what
is termed matter cannot be sick; that all causation is Mind, acting through
spiritual law. Then hold your ground
with the unshaken understanding of Truth and Love, and you will win. When you silence the witness against your
plea, you destroy the evidence, for the disease disappears. The evidence before the corporeal senses is
not the Science of immortal man.
418:5‑25
Stick to the truth of being in
contradistinction to the error that life, substance, or intelligence can be in
matter. Plead with an honest conviction
of truth and a clear perception of the unchanging, unerring, and certain effect
of divine Science. Then, if your fidelity
is half equal to the truth of your plea, you will heal the sick.
It must be clear to you that sickness is no
more the reality of being than is sin.
This mortal dream of sickness, sin, and death should cease through
Christian Science. Then one disease
would be as readily destroyed as another.
Whatever the belief is, if arguments are used to destroy it, the belief
must be repudiated, and the negation must extend to the supposed disease and to
whatever decides its type and symptoms.
Truth is affirmative, and confers harmony. All metaphysical logic is inspired by this
simple rule of Truth, which governs all reality. By the truthful arguments you employ, and
especially by the spirit of Truth and Love which you entertain, you will heal
the sick.
461:31‑19
Systematic teaching and the student's
spiritual growth and experience in practice are requisite for a thorough
comprehension of Christian Science. Some
individuals assimilate truth more readily than others, but any student, who
adheres to the divine rules of Christian Science and imbibes the spirit of
Christ, can demonstrate Christian Science, cast out error, heal the sick, and
add continually to his store of spiritual understanding, potency,
enlightenment, and success.
If the student goes away to practise Truth's
teachings only in part, dividing his interests between God and mammon and
substituting his own views for Truth, he will inevitably reap the error he
sows. Whoever would demonstrate the
healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement,
and advance from the rudiments laid down.
There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is
pointed out; but self‑denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone
win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life.
494:30‑24
Our Master cast out devils (evils) and healed
the sick. It should be said of his
followers also, that they cast fear and all evil out of themselves and others
and heal the sick. God will heal the sick
through man, whenever man is governed by God.
Truth casts out error now as surely as it did nineteen centuries
ago. All of Truth is not understood;
hence its healing power is not fully demonstrated.
If sickness is true or the idea of Truth, you
cannot destroy sickness, and it would be absurd to try. Then classify sickness and error as our
Master did, when he spoke of the sick, "whom Satan hath bound," and
find a sovereign antidote for error in the life‑giving power of Truth acting on
human belief, a power which opens the prison doors to such as are bound, and
sets the captive free physically and morally.
When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts
you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea.
Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought. Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your
clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious‑‑as Life
eternally is‑‑can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life
is not. Let Christian Science, instead
of corporeal sense, support your understanding of being, and this understanding
will supplant error with Truth, replace mortality with immortality, and silence
discord with harmony.
513:26‑19
God creates all forms of reality. His thoughts are spiritual realities. So‑called mortal mind‑‑being non‑existent and
consequently not within the range of immortal existence‑‑could not by
simulating deific power invert the divine creation, and afterwards recreate
persons or things upon its own plane, since nothing exists beyond the range of
all‑inclusive infinity, in which and of which God is the sole creator. Mind, joyous in strength, dwells in the realm
of Mind. Mind's infinite ideas run and
disport themselves. In humility they
climb the heights of holiness.
Moral courage is "the lion of the tribe
of Juda," the king of the mental realm.
Free and fearless it roams in the forest. Undisturbed it lies in the open field, or
rests in "green pastures, . . . beside the still waters." In the figurative transmission from the
divine thought to the human, diligence, promptness, and perseverance are
likened to "the cattle upon a thousand hills." They carry the baggage of stern resolve, and
keep pace with highest purpose.
Tenderness accompanies all the might imparted by Spirit.
Silent prayer followed by the
audible repetition of the Lord’s Prayer.
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.
Sharing of experiences, testimonies and remarks by members of the congregation.
Hymn 327
Author Unknown
The God who made both heaven and earth
And all that they contain
Will never quit His steadfast truth
Nor make His promise vain.
The poor and all oppressed by wrong
Are saved by His decree;
He gives the hungry needful food
And sets the captive free.
By Him the blind receive their sight,
By Him the fallen rise;
With constant care, His tender love
All human need supplies.
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