Service for Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014

Theme: Comfort

 Hymn 174 
 Maria Louise Baum

 Like as a mother, God comforteth His children;
   Comfort is calm, that bids all tumult cease;
 Comfort is hope and courage for endeavor,
   Comfort is love, whose home abides in peace.

 Love is true solace and giveth joy for sorrow,‑‑
   O, in that light, all earthly loss is gain;
 Joy must endure, Love's giving is forever;
   Life is of God, whose radiance cannot wane.

 O holy presence, that stills all our demanding,
   O love of God, that needs but to be known!
 Heaven is at hand, when thy pure touch persuades us,
   Comfort of God, that seeks and finds His own.

Readings from the Bible.

Psalms 23:1‑6
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalms 71:1‑3,16,17,21
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.  Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.  Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. 

I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.  O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

Isaiah 40:1‑5,10,11,13‑15,26,28‑31
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. 

Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. 

Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counseller hath taught him?  With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?  Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. 

#Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 51:3 the
 the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Isaiah 66:10,13
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

Mark 10:46‑52 they
they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.  And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.  And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.  And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.  And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. 

Luke 8:43‑48 a
a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.  And Jesus said, Who touched me?  When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?  And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.  And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.  And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Romans 15:4 whatsoever
 whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Philippians 2:1‑13
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

II Corinthians 1:2‑7
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

II Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

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

xii:23
  In the spirit of Christ's charity,‑‑as one who "hopeth all things, endureth all things," and is joyful to bear consolation to the sorrowing and healing to the sick,‑‑she commits these pages to honest seekers for Truth. 

18:1
  Atonement is the exemplification of man's unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life, and Love.  Jesus of Nazareth taught and demonstrated man's oneness with the Father, and for this we owe him endless homage.  His mission was both individual and collective.  He did life's work aright not only in justice to himself, but in mercy to mortals,‑‑to show them how to do theirs, but not to do it for them nor to relieve them of a single responsibility.  Jesus acted boldly, against the accredited evidence of the senses, against Pharisaical creeds and practices, and he refuted all opponents with his healing power. 

32:28‑26
  The Passover, which Jesus ate with his disciples in the month Nisan on the night before his crucifixion, was a mournful occasion, a sad supper taken at the close of day, in the twilight of a glorious career with shadows fast falling around; and this supper closed forever Jesus' ritualism or concessions to matter. 
  His followers, sorrowful and silent, anticipating the hour of their Master's betrayal, partook of the heavenly manna, which of old had fed in the wilderness the persecuted followers of Truth.  Their bread indeed came down from heaven.  It was the great truth of spiritual being, healing the sick and casting out error.  Their Master had explained it all before, and now this bread was feeding and sustaining them.  They had borne this bread from house to house, breaking (explaining) it to others, and now it comforted themselves. 
  For this truth of spiritual being, their Master was about to suffer violence and drain to the dregs his cup of sorrow.  He must leave them.  With the great glory of an everlasting victory overshadowing him, he gave thanks and said, "Drink ye all of it."
  When the human element in him struggled with the divine, our great Teacher said: "Not my will, but Thine, be done!"‑‑that is, Let not the flesh, but the Spirit, be represented in me.  This is the new understanding of spiritual Love.  It gives all for Christ, or Truth.  It blesses its enemies, heals the sick, casts out error, raises the dead from trespasses and sins, and preaches the gospel to the poor, the meek in heart. 
78:28
  Spirit blesses man, but man cannot "tell whence it cometh."  By it the sick are healed, the sorrowing are comforted, and the sinning are reformed.  These are the effects of one universal God, the invisible good dwelling in eternal Science. 

234:1‑18
  Spiritual draughts heal, while material lotions interfere with truth, even as ritualism and creed hamper spirituality.  If we trust matter, we distrust Spirit. 
  Whatever inspires with wisdom, Truth, or Love‑‑be it song, sermon, or Science‑‑blesses the human family with crumbs of comfort from Christ's table, feeding the hungry and giving living waters to the thirsty. 
  We should become more familiar with good than with evil, and guard against false beliefs as watchfully as we bar our doors against the approach of thieves and murderers.  We should love our enemies and help them on the basis of the Golden Rule; but avoid casting pearls before those who trample them under foot, thereby robbing both themselves and others. 
  If mortals would keep proper ward over mortal mind, the brood of evils which infest it would be cleared out. 

270:14‑30
  The prophets of old looked for something higher than the systems of their times; hence their foresight of the new dispensation of Truth.  But they knew not what would be the precise nature of the teaching and demonstration of God, divine Mind, in His more infinite meanings,‑‑the demonstration which was to destroy sin, sickness, and death, establish the definition of omnipotence, and maintain the Science of Spirit. 
  The pride of priesthood is the prince of this world.  It has nothing in Christ.  Meekness and charity have divine authority.  Mortals think wickedly; consequently they are wicked.  They think sickly thoughts, and so become sick.  If sin makes sinners, Truth and Love alone can unmake them.  If a sense of disease produces suffering and a sense of ease antidotes suffering, disease is mental, not material.  Hence the fact that the human mind alone suffers, is sick, and that the divine Mind alone heals. 

384:3
  We should relieve our minds from the depressing thought that we have transgressed a material law and must of necessity pay the penalty.  Let us reassure ourselves with the law of Love.  God never punishes man for doing right, for honest labor, or for deeds of kindness, though they expose him to fatigue, cold, heat, contagion.  If man seems to incur the penalty through matter, this is but a belief of mortal mind, not an enactment of wisdom, and man has only to enter his protest against this belief in order to annul it.  Through this action of thought and its results upon the body, the student will prove to himself, by small beginnings, the grand verities of Christian Science. 

578:4‑18
                       PSALM XXIII
  [Divine Love] is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
  [Love] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [Love] leadeth me beside the still waters. 
  [Love] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]:  [Love] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 
  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:  for [Love] is with me; [Love's] rod and [Love's] staff they comfort me. 
  [Love] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  [Love] anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 
  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [Love] for ever. 

582:4 (to 1st .), 9
  BENJAMIN (Jacob's son).
  Renewal of affections; self‑offering; an improved state of mortal mind; the introduction of a more spiritual origin; a gleam of the infinite idea of the infinite Principle; a spiritual type; that which comforts, consoles, and supports. 

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


 Hymn 390 
 William F. Sherwin – Adapted

 Why is thy faith in God's great love so small?
 Why doth thy heart shrink back at duty's call?
 Art thou obeying this:  Abide in me;
 And doth the Master's word abide in thee?

 O blest assurance from our risen Lord;
 O precious comfort breathing from the Word.
 How great the promise, could there greater be?
 Ask what thou wilt, it shall be done for thee.

 Ask what thou wilt, but O, remember this,
 We ask and have not when we ask amiss.
 If weak in faith, we only half believe
 That what we ask we really shall receive.

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


 Hymn 8 
 Henry Francis Lyte

 Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
 The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
 When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
 Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

 I need Thy presence every passing hour;
 What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
 Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
 Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

 I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
 Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
 Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?
 I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.



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