Service for Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011

Subject: God the Preserver of Man

 Hymn 293

 Frederic W. Root –  Based on hymn by A. M. Toplady

 Rock of Ages, Truth divine,

 Be Thy strength forever mine;

 Let me rest secure on Thee,

 Safe above life's raging sea.

 Rock of Ages, Truth divine,

 Be Thy strength forever mine.

 Rock of Truth, our fortress strong,

 Thou our refuge from all wrong,

 When from mortal sense I flee,

 Let me hide myself in Thee.

 Rock of Ages, Truth divine,

 Be Thy strength forever mine.

 Christ, the Truth, foundation sure,

 On this rock we are secure;

 Peace is there our life to fill,

 Cure is there for every ill.

 Rock of Ages, Truth divine,

 Be Thy strength forever mine.

Readings from the Bible.

I Corinthians 3:9‑11 we

 we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I Timothy 6:12‑16 (to 1st .),17‑19

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.

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.

Silent prayer, followed by the audible repetition of the Lord’s prayer, with its spiritual interpretation as given in the Christian Science textbook.

Our Father which art in heaven,

Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Adorable One.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Enable us to know – as in heaven, so on earth

God is omnipotent, supreme.

Give us this day our daily bread;

Give us grace for today; feed the famished affections;

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And Love is reflected in love;

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;

And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

For God is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All.

 Hymn 85 

 Edith Gaddis Brewer

 God of Truth, eternal good,

   Lift our hearts to revelation,

 That Thou mayst be understood,

   Thou, the Rock of our salvation;

 All Thy love we have for loving,

 All Thy truth is ours for proving.

 Open now our eyes to see,

   As the clouds of sense are riven,

 We behold reality,

   Know the glory of Thy heaven;

 So we seek Thy perfect healing

 Through the Truth of Thy revealing.

 All the way that we must go

   We will take at Thy direction,

 Where the floods of trouble flow

   Find Thy perfect, calm reflection;

 On the path that has no turning,

 Patience, courage, meekness learning.

Solo: “Powerful Guardian”

The lesson-sermon from the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, read by the First and Second Readers.

The content of the Lesson Sermon may be found in the Christian Science Quarterly. You may also read the Lesson-Sermon for this week online by clicking here.

 Hymn 99 

 Ninety‑First Psalm I – Adapted from Tate and Brady

 He that hath God his guardian made,

 Shall underneath th' Almighty's shade

   Fearless and undisturbed abide;

 Thus to myself of Him I'll say,

 He is my fortress, shield and stay,

   My God; in Him I will confide.

 His tender love and watchful care

 Shall free thee from the fowler's snare,

   From every harm and pestilence.

 He over thee His wings shall spread

 To cover thy unguarded head.

   His truth shall be thy strong defense.

 He gives His angels charge o'er thee,

 No evil therefore shalt thou see;

   Thy refuge shall be God most high;

 Dwelling within His secret place,

 Thou shalt behold His power and grace,

   See His salvation ever nigh.

"The Scientific Statement of Being" (S&H p. 468} and the correlative scripture according to I John 3:1-3.

There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual.

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p.468

1John.3

[1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

[3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Benediction

Isaiah 28:16 thus (to :)

thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: