First Church of Christ, Scientist, La Cañada Flintridge, California
Wednesday Meeting Readings
- Matt. 4:12-17
12¶ Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
13And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
17¶ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Matt. 5:13-16
13¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
- Matt. 10:1, 7, 8, 19, 20, 27, 40, 41
1And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
... 7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
19But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
... 27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
40¶ He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
- John 8:12, 47 (to :)
12¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
47He that is of God heareth God’s words:
- Mark 3:13-15, 31-35
13And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
14And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
31¶ There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
- Matt. 28:18-20 Jesus (to 1st .)
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19¶ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
- Rom. 1:1, 8
1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
... 8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
- Rom. 10:3-5, 11, 12, 14, 15
3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
... 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
... 14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
- I Cor. 9:13, 14, 24, 25
13Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
... 24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
by Mary Baker Eddy
- SH 367:17
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.
- SH 473:18
In an age of ecclesiastical despotism, Jesus introduced the teaching and practice of Christianity, affording the Jesus not Godproof of Christianity’s truth and love; but to 21reach his example and to test its unerring Sci-ence according to his rule, healing sickness, sin, and death, a better understanding of God as divine Prin-24ciple, Love, rather than personality or the man Jesus, is required.
- SH 422:22-26 (np)
Let us suppose two parallel cases of bone-disease, both similarly produced and attended by the same symptoms. 24Bone-healing by surgeryA surgeon is employed in one case, and a Christian Scientist in the other. The sur -geon, holding that matter forms its own conditions and 27renders them fatal at certain points, entertains fears and doubts as to the ultimate outcome of the injury. Not holding the reins of government in his own hands, he 30believes that something stronger than Mind — namely, matter — governs the case. His treatment is therefore tentative. This mental state invites defeat. The belief 423 423:1that he has met his master in matter and may not be able to mend the bone, increases his fear; yet this belief 3should not be communicated to the patient, either ver-bally or otherwise, for this fear greatly diminishes the tendency towards a favorable result. Remember that the 6unexpressed belief oftentimes affects a sensitive patient more strongly than the expressed thought.
The Christian Scientist, understanding scientifically 9that all is Mind, commences with mental causation, the Scientific correctivetruth of being, to destroy the error. This cor-rective is an alterative, reaching to every part 12of the human system. According to Scripture, it searches “the joints and marrow,” and it restores the harmony of man.
15 The matter-physician deals with matter as both his foe and his remedy. He regards the ailment as weakened or Coping with difficultiesstrengthened according to the evidence which 18matter presents. The metaphysician, making Mind his basis of operation irrespective of matter and regarding the truth and harmony of being as superior to 21error and discord, has rendered himself strong, instead of weak, to cope with the case; and he proportionately strengthens his patient with the stimulus of courage and 24conscious power. Both Science and consciousness are now at work in the economy of being according to the law of Mind, which ultimately asserts its absolute supremacy.
- SH 182:1
- SH 375:17
- SH 365:15-19
- SH 359:29-21
A Christian Scientist and an opponent are like two 30Two different artistsartists. One says: “I have spiritual ideals, indestructible and glorious. When others see them as I do, in their true light and loveliness, — and 360 360:1know that these ideals are real and eternal because drawn from Truth, — they will find that nothing is lost, and all 3is won, by a right estimate of what is real.”
The other artist replies: “You wrong my experience. I have no mind-ideals except those which are both mental 6and material. It is true that materiality renders these ideals imperfect and destructible; yet I would not ex-change mine for thine, for mine give me such personal 9pleasure, and they are not so shockingly transcendental. They require less self-abnegation, and keep Soul well out of sight. Moreover, I have no notion of losing my old 12doctrines or human opinions.”
Dear reader, which mind-picture or externalized thought shall be real to you, — the material or the spiritual? 15Choose ye to-dayBoth you cannot have. You are bringing out your own ideal. This ideal is either temporal or eternal. Either Spirit or matter is your model. If you 18try to have two models, then you practically have none. Like a pendulum in a clock, you will be thrown back and forth, striking the ribs of matter and swinging between the 21real and the unreal.
- SH 366:24-9
The sick are terrified by their sick beliefs, and sinners should be affrighted by their sinful beliefs; but 27the Christian Scientist will be calm in the presence of both sin and disease, knowing, as he does, that Life is God and God is All.
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 367 367:1of spiritual healing under the napkin of its form, nor bury the morale of Christian Science in the grave-clothes 3Genuine healingof its letter. The tender word and Christian encouragement of an invalid, pitiful patience with his fears and the removal of them, are better than 6hecatombs of gushing theories, stereotyped borrowed speeches, and the doling of arguments, which are but so many parodies on legitimate Christian Science, aflame 9with divine Love.
- SH 462:13
Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every state-15ment, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and 18persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life.
- SH 458:25-28 The
- SH 459:24
To mortal sense Christian Science seems abstract, but the process is simple and the results are sure if the Science Certainty of resultsis understood. The tree must be good, which 27produces good fruit. Guided by divine Truth and not guesswork, the theologus (that is, the student — the Christian and scientific expounder — of the divine 30law) treats disease with more certain results than any other healer on the globe. The Christian Scientist should understand and adhere strictly to the rules of divine meta-460460:1physics as laid down in this work, and rest his demonstra-tion on this sure basis.
- SH 442:16-22
Neither animal magnetism nor hypnotism enters into the practice of Christian Science, in which truth cannot 18Christ the great physicianbe reversed, but the reverse of error is true. An improved belief cannot retrograde. When Christ changes a belief of sin or of sickness into 21a better belief, then belief melts into spiritual understand-ing, and sin, disease, and death disappear.
Hymn 394: “Lo, the ripening fields we see”
Hymn 297: “Science, the angel with the flaming sword”
Hymn 95: “He leadeth me, O blessed thought”