Service for Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014

Theme: Patience

 Hymn 6 

 William H. Burleigh – Adapted

 Abide not in the realm of dreams,

 O man, however fair it seems;

 But with clear eye the present scan,

 And hear the call of God and man.

 Think not in sleep to fold thy hands,

 Forgetful of thy Lord's commands:

 From duty's claims no life is free,

 Behold, today hath need of thee.

 The present hour allots thy task,

 For present strength and patience ask;

 And trust His love whose sure supply

 Meets all thy need abundantly.

Readings from the Bible.

Luke 8:10‑15 Unto

 Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. 

Luke 21:19

In your patience possess ye your souls.

Romans 5:1‑5 being

being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 8:16‑25

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint‑heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Romans 15:4‑6 whatsoever

whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:35‑37

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

James 1:2‑5

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

II Peter 1:2‑8

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

3:12

  The Divine Being must be reflected by man,‑‑else man is not the image and likeness of the patient, tender, and true, the One "altogether lovely;" but to understand God is the work of eternity, and demands absolute consecration of thought, energy, and desire. 

4:3‑26

  What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds.  To keep the commandments of our Master and follow his example, is our proper debt to him and the only worthy evidence of our gratitude for all that he has done.  Outward worship is not of itself sufficient to express loyal and heartfelt gratitude, since he has said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

  The habitual struggle to be always good is unceasing prayer.  Its motives are made manifest in the blessings they bring,‑‑blessings which, even if not acknowledged in audible words, attest our worthiness to be partakers of Love. 

  Simply asking that we may love God will never make us love Him; but the longing to be better and holier, expressed in daily watchfulness and in striving to assimilate more of the divine character, will mould and fashion us anew, until we awake in His likeness.  We reach the Science of Christianity through demonstration of the divine nature; but in this wicked world goodness will "be evil spoken of," and patience must bring experience. 

10:1

Prayer means that we desire to walk and will walk in the light so far as we receive it, even though with bleeding footsteps, and that waiting patiently on the Lord, we will leave our real desires to be rewarded by Him. 

20:24

  Material belief is slow to acknowledge what the spiritual fact implies.  The truth is the centre of all religion.  It commands sure entrance into the realm of Love.  St. Paul wrote, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us;" that is, let us put aside material self and sense, and seek the divine Principle and Science of all healing. 

139:4

  From beginning to end, the Scriptures are full of accounts of the triumph of Spirit, Mind, over matter.  Moses proved the power of Mind by what men called miracles; so did Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha.  The Christian era was ushered in with signs and wonders.  Reforms have commonly been attended with bloodshed and persecution, even when the end has been brightness and peace; but the present new, yet old, reform in religious faith will teach men patiently and wisely to stem the tide of sectarian bitterness, whenever it flows inward. 

242:15

  Self‑love is more opaque than a solid body.  In patient obedience to a patient God, let us labor to dissolve with the universal solvent of Love the adamant of error,‑‑self‑will, self‑justification, and self‑love,‑‑which wars against spirituality and is the law of sin and death. 

253:32

  The divine demand, "Be ye therefore perfect," is scientific, and the human footsteps leading to perfection are indispensable.  Individuals are consistent who, watching and praying, can "run, and not be weary; . . .  walk, and not faint," who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement.  God requires perfection, but not until the battle between Spirit and flesh is fought and the victory won.  To stop eating, drinking, or being clothed materially before the spiritual facts of existence are gained step by step, is not legitimate.  When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path.  Imperfect mortals grasp the ultimate of spiritual perfection slowly; but to begin aright and to continue the strife of demonstrating the great problem of being, is doing much. 

365:15‑2

  If the Scientist reaches his patient through divine Love, the healing work will be accomplished at one visit, and the disease will vanish into its native nothingness like dew before the morning sunshine.  If the Scientist has enough Christly affection to win his own pardon, and such commendation as the Magdalen gained from Jesus, then he is Christian enough to practise scientifically and deal with his patients compassionately; and the result will correspond with the spiritual intent. 

  If hypocrisy, stolidity, inhumanity, or vice finds its way into the chambers of disease through the would‑be healer, it would, if it were possible, convert into a den of thieves the temple of the Holy Ghost,‑‑the patient's spiritual power to resuscitate himself.  The unchristian practitioner is not giving to mind or body the joy and strength of Truth.  The poor suffering heart needs its rightful nutriment, such as peace, patience in tribulation, and a priceless sense of the dear Father's loving‑kindness. 

366:30

  If we would open their prison doors for the sick, we must first learn to bind up the broken‑hearted.  If we would heal by the Spirit, we must not hide the talent of spiritual healing under the napkin of its form, nor bury the morale of Christian Science in the grave‑clothes of its letter.  The tender word and Christian encouragement of an invalid, pitiful patience with his fears and the removal of them, are better than hecatombs of gushing theories, stereotyped borrowed speeches, and the doling of arguments, which are but so many parodies on legitimate Christian Science, aflame with divine Love. 

454:14

  He, who understands in a sufficient degree the Principle of Mind‑healing, points out to his student error as well as truth, the wrong as well as the right practice.  Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching.  Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way.  Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action.  Love is priestess at the altar of Truth.  Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept.  Patience must "have her perfect work."

514:26‑10

  Understanding the control which Love held over all, Daniel felt safe in the lions' den, and Paul proved the viper to be harmless.  All of God's creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible.  A realization of this grand verity was a source of strength to the ancient worthies.  It supports Christian healing, and enables its possessor to emulate the example of Jesus.  "And God saw that it was good."

  Patience is symbolized by the tireless worm, creeping over lofty summits, persevering in its intent.  The serpent of God's creating is neither subtle nor poisonous, but is a wise idea, charming in its adroitness, for Love's ideas are subject to the Mind which forms them,‑‑the power which changeth the serpent into a staff. 

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

 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.

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

 Hymn 234

 Washington Gladden* 

 O Master, let me walk with thee

 In lowly paths of service free;

 Tell me thy secret; help me bear

 The strain of toil, the fret of care.

 Help me the slow of heart to move

 By some clear winning word of love;

 Teach me the wayward feet to stay,

 And guide them in the homeward way.

 Teach me thy patience; still with thee

 In closer, dearer company,

 In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,

 In trust that triumphs over wrong.

 In hope that sends a shining ray

 Far down the future's broadening way;

 In peace that God alone can give,

 With thee, O Master, let me live.