METAPHYSICAL MEETING, November 12, 2012
Contents
| - Topic | |
| - Call to the meeting | |
| - Readings | |
| - Participant contribution A | |
| - Participant contribution B | |
| - Participant contribution C | |
| - Participant contribution D | |
| - Participant contribution E |
Topic
Abundant gratitude
Call to the meeting
Our Leader asks, “Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then, we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have; and thus be fitted to receive more?” (S&H 3:22-24) As we consider our spiritual topic for this month, “Abundant Gratitude,” we can nurture the unfoldment of church progress, and how this blesses us individually and collectively. Mrs. Eddy also reminds us in “The New Birth” … “progress is the law of eternity.”
As we celebrate this harvest season with joy, love, thanksgiving, and “abundant gratitude,” we can expect a bountiful harvest of blessings. Please join us for the next metaphysical meeting on Monday, Nov. 12th at 7:30 p.m.
In a Christian Science pamphlet called Branch Church Progress, an article titled, “The Mission of the Branch Church” includes this uplifting thought: “As we pray earnestly and daily for our branch church and the Cause of Christian Science, we shall witness the fulfillment of God’s promise, ‘So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.’” (Click here for full article.)
In what ways does this well-known mission statement from the Church Manual (Historical Sketch, p. 17) guide us today? “To organize a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity, and its lost element of healing.”
We look forward to our sharing on this topic, “Abundant Gratitude.” As always, you may join by phone or Skype.
Suggested preparation:
| The Bible | Science & Health | Prose Works | C.S. Hymns |
| John 14:12 | 323: 28-6 | Mis. 15:4-20:5 | 130 |
| Isa 55:11,12 | 35: 19-25 | Ret. 76:14-19 | 75 |
| Phil 2L1-5 | 16: 20-15 np | Pul. 4:9-11 | 342 |
| 570: 14-18,23-25 | Mis. 154:23-14 | 90 | |
| 592:25 | 65 | ||
| 585:9-14 | 207 | ||
| 3:22-26 |
Readings
The Bible
Ps 79:13 we
Ps 92:1,2,4
Isa 55:8-13
John 14:12
Phil 2:1-5
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy
vii 13-26
35:19-25 Our church
3:22-26
570:14-18
585:9-14
4:3-9
Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, by Mary Baker Eddy
155:7-14
Participant contribution A
Gratitude and blessings are paired. To gain the most benefit from our blessings, we must be grateful for them. And, an “attitude of gratitude” (sorry for the alliteration!), necessarily makes us alert to the abundance of blessings that are continuously flowing our way from God.
It would be easy to make a list of everything I’m grateful for with respect to our church and its members. The list continues to grow and I continue to see more and more progress.
As I was reading Science and Health last night, I came across this very familiar passage:
“Millions of unprejudiced minds — simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert — are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences...Those ready for the blessing you impart will give thanks” (570:14-18, 23-24).
Mrs. Eddy is clearly addressing the reader, telling the reader (me, in this case) to give the seekers and wanders a cup of cold water in Christ’s name. Suddenly, it occurred to me that other people, you included, besides me read this passage. I asked myself “Am I ready for the blessing that you are imparting, and am I giving thanks for it?” Each one of us is a seeker and we should expect to receive blessings from others who are giving that cup of cold water.
The reference to a “cup of cold water” is to Matthew 10:42, which reads, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” According to translation notes in a scholarly Bible commentary, this could be translated, “Whoever gives an ‘ordinary’ Christian a refreshing cup of water because he (the ‘ordinary’ Christian) is my disciple will be blessed” (my paraphrase, based on NIB, VIII, p. 263).
Here’s another new insight: sincere seekers are disciples of Christ Jesus. Of course they are! Each of us is a sincere seeker, each of us is a disciple, and each of us is an “ordinary” Christian. We study his teachings and search for the truth. And, because of this sincere searching for the truth, we are capable of helping others find it too.
Where’s the gratitude in this analysis? Well, I might not have thought this deeply about this passage from Science and Health unless we were having these metaphysical meetings. I think they have helped to raise the spiritual understanding of our church body and we are seeing the blessings from it. I know I have been blessed by being a member of this church. For this fledgling Christian Science practitioner, your support has been most helpful and very appreciated. The challenges we have faced together have strengthened my practice.
I’m grateful for the many cups of cold water I have received from fellow church members as I seek the truth. Hopefully, I’m not a weary wanderer much of the time, but I know that you would shore me up and put me back on the right path if that were the case.
Thanks to each of you for your contribution to this “structure of Truth and Love.”
Participant contribution B
I have felt very humble when contemplating the many blessings I have and thought about how humility and gratitude go together. In the chapter on Prayer, Mrs. Eddy writes, “If we feel the aspiration, humility, gratitude, and love which our words express, - this God accepts;…”
Also in the chapter on Prayer she writes, "Are we really grateful for the good already received?"
In applying this to church, I thought of all the aspects of church that have brought blessings. Would any of us had the great spiritual growth that has occured without church? I think not. The demonstrations of physical healings, of supply, of useful employment, of harmony in the minutia of life are all a result enhanced by our church endeavors. The testimonies shared on Wednesday evening benefit us all.
Our metaphysical meetings have helped focus our thought on the good we receive from church. Because of our love and appreciation and sincere gratitude for church, we have all prayed more deeply, listened more for God’s direction, and been blessed with great joy and renewed committment to the cause of Christian Science. Instead of dying, this gratitude for our church has resulted in a great resurrection, in a unity of fellowship and love.
In a letter to the Chicago churches thanking them for a gift of $10,000 to the Concord church, Mrs. Eddy wrote in part, “What is gratitude but a powerful camera obscura, a thing focusing light where love, memory, and all within the human heart is present to manifest light.
“A great sanity, a mighty something buried in the depths of the unseen, has wrought a resurrection among you, and has leaped into living love. What is this something, this phoenix fire, this pillar by day, kindling, guiding, guarding your way? It is unity, the bond of perfectness, the thousandfold expansion that will engirdle the world, — unity, which unfolds the thought most within us into the greater and better, the sum of all reality and good.
“This unity is reserved wisdom and strength. It builds upon the rock, against which envy, enmity, or malice beat in vain. Man lives, moves, and has his being in God, Love. Then man must live, he cannot die; and Love must necessarily promote and pervade all his successs.
“The best help the worst; the righteous suffer for the unrighteous; and by this spirit man lives and thrives, and by it God governs.” (Mys 164:10-13,18-1, 165:7-10)
Participant contribution C
I am so blessed and we at this meeting are all blessed. First of all to know and understand that there is one supreme and infinite God who cares for us and who spiritually created us. Second, to know and understand that we as God’s children are spiritual, whole, complete, perfect and are reflecting the light of God. Third, that we as students of Christian Science are studying to know and understand our mission stated by our beloved leader, Mary Baker Eddy, “to organize a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master,” in other words to heal (Church Manual 17:10-11.) Fourth, we have the opportunity to demonstrate this statement and apply it in our daily lives. Fifth, that we are blessed to have a church membership filled up with love, healing, dominion and the divine principles that Jesus set forth for us.
I am so grateful for our church and every single individual who steps into our edifice, Reading Room, Sunday School. Blessed with those who Skype and teleconference so each can participate and join in this abundance Truth. Each one of us is reaching out our spiritual talents to share our individual higher understanding to heal, comfort, support, and encourage others in their journey of finding this Truth.
In Deuteronomy, chapter 30:9-10, it states: “And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good… If thou shalt harken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statues which are written in this book of the law,” — that is, if we follow His principles.
For the past six years our church membership has been trusting God’s law, and there has been no fear in His guidance. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, and the Father by him.” (Col. 3:17)
We do feel an abundant gratitude to God and are expressing it daily in our church. First Church of Christ, Scientist, La Cañada is amply supplied when needs are presented. We have willing and capable individuals attending to these needs. Obstacles are being brought down. Possibilities are abundant.
I love my church, which is the structure of Truth and Love. I hold it dear and cherish all who enter in and are blessed with the teachings of Christian Science.
Participant contribution D
As the U.S. celebration of Thanksgiving approaches us in the coming week, it’s appropriate to embrace the thought of gratitude regarding our church. And yes, it is abundant. The expression of divine Love knows no limitation or restriction, and flows forth with the unstoppable energy of infinite Principle.
Gratitude for church is like expressing gratitude to God, or to take it further, a growing sense of love for God. If we understand man’s relationship to God as divine Mind and its expression, then it’s natural to realize how God directs, governs, and orders each of us here in this church, and each of every other individual’s true being. Acknowledging that inevitably constitutes loving God, and that brings to fruition the reality of the relationship between God and man. This means divine activity is naturally active, and that divine activity within man is church, in its highest and most practical sense. It’s there, it’s God-created, it’s relevant, and it embraces the whole of God’s creation.
I’m especially grateful for the opportunities that branch church provides for me to focus on divine Love’s expression beyond my own desires into the larger community. Each of our church members is a valued member of that community, as we put our feet forward in demonstrating divine Science together. This naturally blesses those outside of our church membership, and we can expect increasing awareness and support from a broad range of folks. One small indication of this is the obvious friendly neighborliness of the church next door to ours.
The critical role of our church, of course, is the practical demonstration of Christian healing. this is a natural activity of God’s idea, man; in fact, the whole community of God’s children naturally possesses the dominion to set aside sin and sickness. The reality of man naturally expressing the substance and progress of Spirit is established. Realizing this provides a profound basis for gratitude at ths Thanksgiving time, and this realizing will bless all of those embraced by our thoughts and prayers.
Participant contribution E
We are so abundantly grateful for the Cause of Christian Science and for the opportunity to serve this Cause in our work for church. We are thankful for the many ways we serve in this blessed purpose and for the unfoldment of God’s plan of goodness for all of God’s children. We dwell in the kingdom of God and this healing Christ Truth is available to all.
We are so filled with abundant gratitude to have a wonderful membership in our beloved Christian Science church. We are thankful for all of the family connections within our church family. We know that we are sharing our joy and love within our church family and toward the community. It’s through divine Love that we are expressing and manifesting God’s abundant good to all. We know that as we continue “to fill our thoughts with Truth and Love” that only good can enter into our church and flow out from it, too. (“What our Leader Says” by Mary Baker Eddy) We know that we “serve the Lord with gladness and we come unto His presence with Thanksgiving.” (Psalms) We are helping to feed the “famished affections” and we are “ready to give a cup of water in Christ’s name.” (S&H)
We are keeping our thoughts pure and holy and ready to “listen for Thy voice,” as we sing our beloved hymn verse, “Shepherd Show Me How to Go.” Mrs. Eddy reminds us, “The effects of Christian Science are not so much seen as felt. It is the “still small voice” of Truth uttering itself. We are either turning away from this utterance, or we are listening to it and going up higher. Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear, - this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony. The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” (S&H 323:28-6)
Our abundant gratitude is boundless as we are a healing church and blessing others in all that we say and do. We are thankful to share Science and Health by our Leader Mary Baker Eddy. We are meeting the needs of others as we listen for the divine calling to share Christian Science. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High.” (Psalms)
We are so filled with gratitude for our way shower, Christ Jesus, and for the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy.