Listen live on Sundays at 10 am Eastern time or hear a replay until midnight Saturday night (ET). The service lasts one hour and an organ prelude and postlude extend 7–10 minutes before and after the service. An audio replay is available within 30–60 minutes after the service ends.
Sunday services are conducted by a First and Second Reader and include music, hymns, prayer, and readings from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptural selections are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptural quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Mimi Oka, First Reader
Don Wallingford, Second Reader
Subject: GOD THE PRESERVER OF MAN
Prelude
Bryan Ashley, Organist of The Mother Church
Three Antiphons (from Vêpres du Commun) by Marcel Dupré
V. How Fair and How Pleasant Art Thou
II. His Left Hand Is Under My Head, and His Right Hand Doth Embrace Me
III. O Ye Daughters of Jerusalem
Hymn 53
based on a hymn by John R. Macduff, words
Melody by John Dowland, music
Everlasting arms of Love
Are beneath, around, above;
God it is who bears us on,
His the arm we lean upon.
He our ever-present guide
Faithful is, whate’er betide;
Gladly then we journey on,
With His arm to lean upon.
From earth’s fears and vain alarms
Safe in His encircling arms,
He will keep us all the way,
God, our refuge, strength and stay.
Scriptural Selection
Ps. 56:3–7 (to ?), 9–13
Mic. 4:2, 4 they, 5, 8
Prayer
Silent prayer, followed by the audible repetition of the Lord’s Prayer with its spiritual interpretation by Mary Baker Eddy
(Read in context)
Hymn 476
Friedrich Preller; eng. tr. CSPS, words
Werner Kuck, alt., music
Fearful heart, put all your cares
Completely in your dear God’s hands;
Love feeds you with Her great strength
And your faith will always stand.
Now as you go safely forward,
Walk securely in Love’s grace.
Give to God the praise and glory;
Fear and doubt have no more place.
Longing heart, don’t give up hope
When threats of evil overwhelm.
Love now keeps Her promise true,
God’s sure hand is at the helm.
Bringing joy when all seems darkness—
God will keep you safe, secure.
You go forward, loved and peaceful:
Victory is always sure.
English translation © 2017 The Christian Science Board of Directors.
Notices
Solo
Josh Henn, Soloist of The Mother Church
The Lord is My Light
The Lord is my light, and my salvation;
Whom, then shall I fear?
Whom, then shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life.
The Lord is the strength of my life,
Of whom then, shall I be afraid?
Though an host of men were laid against me,
Yet shall not my heart be afraid;
And though there rose up war against me,
Yet will I put my trust in Him.
For, in the time of trouble,
He shall hide me in His tabernacle,
Yea, in the secret places of His dwelling shall He hide me,
And set me up upon a rock of stone
The Lord is my light and my salvation,
Whom, then shall I fear?
Whom, then, shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life,
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom, then, shall I be afraid?
Of whom, then, shall I be afraid?
Words from Psalm XXVII
Music: Frances Allitsen
Explanatory Note
Golden Text and Responsive Reading
Golden Text:
II Chronicles 20:15 the battle
. . . the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Responsive Reading:
Psalms 27:1, 3, 5, 11, 14; 46:1, 2, 7, 9 (to 2nd ;), 10 (to :); 145:8 (to ;), 9, 18, 20 (to :)
27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
10 Be still, and know that I am God:
145:8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion;
9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him:
The Bible Lesson-Sermon, the Explanatory Note, Golden Text and Responsive Reading are from the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson, a publication copyrighted by the Christian Science Publishing Society.
Offertory and collection
During the offertory you're invited to participate in the collection via PayPal using a PayPal account or a credit card if you do not have a PayPal account.
Praised be Thou, Jesus Christ, BWV 604 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Hymn 532
verse 1 para. Numbers 6:24–26; verses 2, 3 Leide Lessa; eng. tr. CSPS, words
Dagmar P. R. Borges and Gelson Luíz, music
May God give us Her blessing,
May God lift up Her face upon us all;
May God give us Her peace,
May Love keep us safe forever, Amen.
May God illuminate us,
May Love send out Her light upon our path;
Her kingdom and Her love,
May they be in us forever, Amen.
May God give us Her blessing,
May Love’s protection ever guard our way;
Her comfort and Her peace
They forever bring us healing, Amen.
English translation all verses © 2017 The Christian Science Board of Directors. Music © 2000 Dagmar Borges and Gelson Luíz.
Scientific Statement of Being
From Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, p.468, line 8
Correlative Scripture
I John 3:1-3
Benediction.
Ps. 128:5, 6
Postlude
Now Come, Saviour of the Nations, BWV 599 by J.S. Bach
Now Come, Saviour of the Nations, P. 386 by Johann Pachelbel
Copyright.
Please note that the words to certain hymns and solos cannot be republished without permission due to copyright restrictions. Copyrighted Music included in today's streaming church service, including display of lyrics on this page if applicable, is either owned by the Church, directly licensed, or covered by one or more of the following licenses:
ONE LICENSE - Streaming/Podcast License #A-700000
Christian Copyright Solutions - WORSHIPcast License #5885
Christian Copyright Licensing International - CCLI Streaming License #3949277
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Meet the Pastor
The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy together serve as pastor for Sunday church services and Wednesday testimony meetings at all Christian Science churches, societies, and informal groups around the world.