Service for Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Theme: Delivered

 Hymn 216 
 From the German of Georg Neumark

 O he who trusts in God's protection
   And hopes in Him when fears alarm,
 Is sheltered by His lovingkindness,
   Delivered by His mighty arm;
 If ye God's law can understand,
 Ye have not builded on the sand.

 O wait on Him with veneration,
   Be silent in humility;
 He leads you after His own counsel,
   His will is done and still shall be;
 All good for you His wisdom planned;
 O trust in God and understand.

Readings from the Bible

Psalms 18:1‑6,17‑19,46‑50
I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.  The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.  In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. 

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.  He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.  It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.  He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.  Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.  Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

Psalms 31:1‑5
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.  Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.  For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.  Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.  Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

Psalms 34:1‑4
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.  O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.  I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 55:16‑18
As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.  He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

Psalms 56:3,4,10‑13
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. 

In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word.  In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.  Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.  For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Psalms 86:1‑13
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.  For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Matthew 6:9‑13 (to 1st .)
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Matthew 11:27‑30
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.  #Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

II Timothy 4:18 the
 the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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

xi:9‑21
  The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation.  Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural.  They are the sign of Immanuel, or "God with us,"‑‑a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and repeating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime,

    To preach deliverance to the captives [of sense],
    And recovering of sight to the blind,
    To set at liberty them that are bruised. 

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. 

67:25
  The lack of spiritual power in the limited demonstration of popular Christianity does not put to silence the labor of centuries.  Spiritual, not corporeal, consciousness is needed.  Man delivered from sin, disease, and death presents the true likeness or spiritual ideal. 

107:1‑14
  In the year 1866, I discovered the Christ Science or divine laws of Life, Truth, and Love, and named my discovery Christian Science. God had been graciously preparing me during many years for the reception of this final revelation of the absolute divine Principle of scientific mental healing. 
  This apodictical Principle points to the revelation of Immanuel, "God with us,"‑‑the sovereign ever‑presence, delivering the children of men from every ill "that flesh is heir to."  Through Christian Science, religion and medicine are inspired with a diviner nature and essence; fresh pinions are given to faith and understanding, and thoughts acquaint themselves intelligently with God. 

191:28
  The illusive senses may fancy affinities with their opposites; but in Christian Science, Truth never mingles with error.  Mind has no affinity with matter, and therefore Truth is able to cast out the ills of the flesh.  Mind, God, sends forth the aroma of Spirit, the atmosphere of intelligence.  The belief that a pulpy substance under the skull is mind is a mockery of intelligence, a mimicry of Mind. 

224:11‑4
  In the record of nineteen centuries, there are sects many but not enough Christianity.  Centuries ago religionists were ready to hail an anthropomorphic God, and array His vicegerent with pomp and splendor; but this was not the manner of truth's appearing.  Of old the cross was truth's central sign, and it is to‑day.  The modern lash is less material than the Roman scourge, but it is equally as cutting.  Cold disdain, stubborn resistance, opposition from church, state laws, and the press, are still the harbingers of truth's full‑orbed appearing. 
  A higher and more practical Christianity, demonstrating justice and meeting the needs of mortals in sickness and in health, stands at the door of this age, knocking for admission.  Will you open or close the door upon this angel visitant, who cometh in the quiet of meekness, as he came of old to the patriarch at noonday? 
  Truth brings the elements of liberty.  On its banner is the Soul‑inspired motto, "Slavery is abolished."  The power of God brings deliverance to the captive.  No power can withstand divine Love.  What is this supposed power, which opposes itself to God?  Whence cometh it?  What is it that binds man with iron shackles to sin, sickness, and death?  Whatever enslaves man is opposed to the divine government.  Truth makes man free. 

243:4
  The divine Love, which made harmless the poisonous viper, which delivered men from the boiling oil, from the fiery furnace, from the jaws of the lion, can heal the sick in every age and triumph over sin and death.  It crowned the demonstrations of Jesus with unsurpassed power and love.  But the same "Mind . . . which was also in Christ Jesus" must always accompany the letter of Science in order to confirm and repeat the ancient demonstrations of prophets and apostles.  That those wonders are not more commonly repeated to‑day, arises not so much from lack of desire as from lack of spiritual growth. 

390:27
  "Agree to disagree" with approaching symptoms of chronic or acute disease, whether it is cancer, consumption, or smallpox.  Meet the incipient stages of disease with as powerful mental opposition as a legislator would employ to defeat the passage of an inhuman law.  Rise in the conscious strength of the spirit of Truth to overthrow the plea of mortal mind, alias matter, arrayed against the supremacy of Spirit.  Blot out the images of mortal thought and its beliefs in sickness and sin.  Then, when thou art delivered to the judgment of Truth, Christ, the judge will say, "Thou art whole!"

405:5
  Christian Science commands man to master the propensities,‑‑to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty.  Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success.  They will deliver you to the judge, the arbiter of truth against error.  The judge will deliver you to justice, and the sentence of the moral law will be executed upon mortal mind and body.  Both will be manacled until the last farthing is paid,‑‑until you have balanced your account with God.  "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."  The good man finally can overcome his fear of sin.  This is sin's necessity,‑‑to destroy itself.  Immortal man demonstrates the government of God, good, in which is no power to sin. 

516:9
  God fashions all things, after His own likeness.  Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence.  Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light.  The grass beneath our feet silently exclaims, "The meek shall inherit the earth."  The modest arbutus sends her sweet breath to heaven.  The great rock gives shadow and shelter.  The sunlight glints from the church‑dome, glances into the prison‑cell, glides into the sick‑chamber, brightens the flower, beautifies the landscape, blesses the earth.  Man, made in His likeness, possesses and reflects God's dominion over all the earth.  Man and woman as coexistent and eternal with God forever reflect, in glorified quality, the infinite Father‑Mother God. 

568:24‑32
  For victory over a single sin, we give thanks and magnify the Lord of Hosts.  What shall we say of the mighty conquest over all sin?  A louder song, sweeter than has ever before reached high heaven, now rises clearer and nearer to the great heart of Christ; for the accuser is not there, and Love sends forth her primal and everlasting strain.  Self‑abnegation, by which we lay down all for Truth, or Christ, in our warfare against error, is a rule in Christian Science.

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


 Hymn 265 
 Samuel Johnson – Adapted

 Onward, Christian, though the region
   Where thou art seem drear and lone;
 God hath set a guardian legion
   Very near thee, press thou on.

 By the Christ road, and none other,
   Is the mount of vision won;
 Tread it with rejoicing, brother:
   Jesus trod it, press thou on.

 By thy trustful, calm endeavor,
   Guiding, cheering, like the sun,
 Earth‑bound hearts thou shalt deliver;
   O, for their sake, press thou on.

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


 Hymn 175 
 Violet Hay

 Lo, He sent His Word and healed them,
   Still that Word of God is here.
 Still its tender healing message
   Speaks to every listening ear.
 Truth divine, that overcometh
   All the ills that seem to be,
 In our hearts Thy Word abiding,
   We may know Thee and be free.

 Love divine, that faileth never,
   Still Thy presence and Thy power
 Mighty are to save and heal us,
   Guard and guide us every hour.
 Life divine, Thy Word proclaimeth
   All true being one with Thee.
 Sinless, fearless, whole, rejoicing,   Now and through eternity.

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