First Church of Christ, Scientist, La Cañada Flintridge

Wednesday Meeting Readings

w210929
Be prepared to receive the Christ
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
The Bible
  1. II Chron. 23:6 all

    6all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord.

  2. Ps. 61:1-4 (to 1st .), 5, 8

    1Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

    2From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

    3For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

    4I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.

    ... 5For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

    ... 8So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

  3. Matt. 25:1-13

    1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

    2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

    3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

    4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

    5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

    6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

    7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

    8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

    9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

    10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

    11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

    12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

    13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

  4. Matt. 26:30 when, 31, 33-45

    30when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

    31Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

    ... 33Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

    34Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

    35Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

    36Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

    37And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

    38Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

    39And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

    40And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

    41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

    42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

    43And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

    44And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

    45Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

  5. Hab. 2:1-4

    1I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

    2And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

    3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

    4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

  6. Ezek. 38:1, 7, 8 2nd and

    1And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

    ... 7Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.

    8and they shall dwell safely all of them.

  7. II Tim. 2:1-7, 15, 16, 19-21

    1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

    2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

    3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

    4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

    5And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

    6The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

    7Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

    ... 15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

    16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

    ... 19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

    20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

    21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.


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

  1. SH 208:20

    Let us learn 21of the real and eternal, and prepare for the reign of Spirit, the kingdom of heaven, — the reign and rule of universal harmony, which cannot be lost nor remain 24forever unseen.

  2. SH 47:31-6

        During his night of gloom and glory in the garden, Jesus realized the utter error of a belief in any possi-4848:1ble material intelligence. The pangs of neglect and the staves of bigoted ignorance smote him sorely. His stu -3Gethsemane glorifieddents slept. He said unto them: “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” Could they not watch with him who, waiting and struggling in voice-6less agony, held uncomplaining guard over a world?

  3. SH 49:17

    Forsaken by all whom he had 18blessed, this faithful sentinel of God at the highest post of power, charged with the grandest trust of heaven, was ready to be transformed by the renewing 21of the infinite Spirit. He was to prove that the Christ is not subject to material conditions, but is above the reach of human wrath, and is able, through Truth, 24Life, and Love, to triumph over sin, sickness, death, and the grave.

  4. SH 54:8-5

        Who is ready to follow his teaching and example? All 9must sooner or later plant themselves in Christ, the true Inspiration of sacrificeidea of God. That he might liberally pour his dear-bought treasures into empty or sin-12filled human storehouses, was the inspiration of Jesus’ intense human sacrifice. In witness of his divine com-mission, he presented the proof that Life, Truth, and 15Love heal the sick and the sinning, and triumph over death through Mind, not matter. This was the highest proof he could have offered of divine Love. His hearers 18understood neither his words nor his works. They would not accept his meek interpretation of life nor follow his example.

    21     His earthly cup of bitterness was drained to the dregs. There adhered to him only a few unpretentious Spiritual friendshipfriends, whose religion was something more 24than a name. It was so vital, that it en-abled them to understand the Nazarene and to share the glory of eternal life. He said that those who fol -27lowed him should drink of his cup, and history has con-firmed the prediction.

        If that Godlike and glorified man were physically on 30Injustice to the Saviourearth to-day, would not some, who now pro-fess to love him, reject him? Would they not deny him even the rights of humanity, if he enter-5555:1tained any other sense of being and religion than theirs? The advancing century, from a deadened sense of the 3invisible God, to-day subjects to unchristian comment and usage the idea of Christian healing enjoined by Jesus; but this does not affect the invincible facts.

  5. SH 55:15

    15    Truth’s immortal idea is sweeping down the centuries, gathering beneath its wings the sick and sinning. My weary hope tries to realize that happy day, when man shall 18recognize the Science of Christ and love his neighbor as himself, — when he shall realize God’s omnipotence and the healing power of the divine Love in what it has done 21and is doing for mankind. The promises will be ful-filled. The time for the reappearing of the divine healing is throughout all time; and whosoever layeth his earthly 24all on the altar of divine Science, drinketh of Christ’s cup now, and is endued with the spirit and power of Christian healing.

  6. SH 333:19-23

    Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spirit-21ual idea, — the reflection of God, — has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth.

  7. SH 410:1

    410:1If here we give no heed to Christian Science, which is spiritual and eternal, we shall not be ready for spiritual 3Life hereafter.

  8. SH 195:19 Observation

    Observa-tion, invention, study, and original thought are expansive 21and should promote the growth of mortal mind out of it-self, out of all that is mortal.

  9. SH 367:17-29

        A Christian Scientist occupies the place at this period 18of which Jesus spoke to his disciples, when he said: “Ye The salt of the earthare the salt of the earth.” “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill can -21not be hid.” Let us watch, work, and pray that this salt lose not its saltness, and that this light be not hid, but radiate and glow into noontide glory.

    24    The infinite Truth of the Christ-cure has come to this age through a “still, small voice,” through silent utter-ances and divine anointing which quicken and increase 27the beneficial effects of Christianity. I long to see the consummation of my hope, namely, the student’s higher attainments in this line of light.

  10. SH 571:10-12 (to .)

    Who is telling mankind of the foe in ambush? Is the informer one who sees the 12foe? If so, listen and be wise.

  11. SH 458:11-15 (to 2nd .)

        It is anything but scientifically Christian to think of 12aiding the divine Principle of healing or of trying to sus-Divinity ever readytain the human body until the divine Mind is ready to take the case. Divinity is always 15ready. Semper paratus is Truth’s motto.

  12. SH 131:22

    As afore-time, the spirit of the Christ, which taketh away the cere-24monies and doctrines of men, is not accepted until the hearts of men are made ready for it.

  13. SH 497:13, 24

        4. We acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as the evi-dence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man’s unity 15with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the 18Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.

    24    6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and 27to be merciful, just, and pure.


From the Christian Science Hymnal:  
Hymn 67: “Gird thy heavenly armor on”
Hymn 183: “Make haste, O man, to do”
Hymn 540: “O gentle presence, peace and joy and power”