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, March 16, 2025
Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptural quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Mimi Oka, First Reader
Don Wallingford, Second Reader
Subject: SUBSTANCE
Prelude:
Bryan Ashley, Organist of The Mother Church
Largo (from Sonata No. 2 in C minor) BWV 526/2 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Prayer by H.M. Higgs
Hymn 15
based on the Danish of Bernhard S. Ingemann, words
C. Christian Hoffman, music
As gold by fire is tested,
Its purity shown forth,
So cleansing fires of Truth may prove
To man his native worth.
And as a mirror shows us
A likeness clear and bright,
So God forever sees His child
Revealed in radiant light.
’Twas thus the loving Master
Saw man’s perfection shine,
Beheld God’s child forever pure
In radiance all divine.
Scriptural Selection
Ps. 118:19–23
I Cor. 3:9–15, 18–23
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 162
Mary Baker Eddy, words
Percy Whitlock, music
It matters not what be thy lot,
So Love doth guide;
For storm or shine, pure peace is thine,
Whate’er betide.
And of these stones, or tyrants’ thrones,
God able is
To raise up seed—in thought and deed—
To faithful His.
Aye, darkling sense, arise, go hence!
Our God is good.
False fears are foes—truth tatters those,
When understood.
Love looseth thee, and lifteth me,
Ayont hate’s thrall:
There Life is light, and wisdom might,
And God is All.
The centuries break, the earth-bound wake,
God’s glorified!
Who doth His will—His likeness still—
Is satisfied.
Notices
Solo
Nitya Thomas, Guest Soloist of The Mother Church
The Kingdom Within
“The Kingdom of God is within you”
Were the words the Master said;
If you listen you’ll hear the small voice ever near,
If you look for the light you’ll be led.
You build this wonderful kingdom within,
With your thoughts, your words and your deeds,
And as you unfold you His glories behold,
For Love meets your wants and your needs.
Love reigneth supreme in this kingdom within,
The chief cornerstone of the whole.
You must love friend and foe alike as you go,
And love God with your heart and your soul!
The Truth you shall know in the kingdom within,
The Truth that heals sickness and sin,
You shall mount up with wings, and o’er come all things
In this wonderful kingdom within.
You shall mount up with wings, and o’er come all things,
In this wonderful kingdom within.
Words by Sarah Roberts Wallbaum
Music by William Lester
© 1924 Clayton F. Summy Co.
Explanatory Note
Golden Text and Responsive Reading
Golden Text:
Luke 12:32; 17:21 the
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
. . . the kingdom of God is within you.
Responsive Reading:
I John 1:1–4
Hebrews 12:12 lift, 13, 28
I John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life
2 (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us);
3 that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:
4 and these things we write, that our joy may be made full.
Heb. 12:12 . . . lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;
13 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:
The Responsive Reading is from the American Standard Version of the Bible.
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.
Meditation by Edward M. Read
Hymn 119
John Christian Jacobi, Tr., adapted, words
Sicilian Melody, music
Holy Spirit, source of gladness,
Come with all Thy radiance bright;
Lift all burdens and all sadness;
O’er Thy children shed Thy light.
Let the Love that knows no measure,
Now in quickening showers descend;
Bring to us the richest treasure
Man can wish or God can send.
Send us Thine illumination;
Banish all our fears at length;
Rest upon this congregation,
Spirit of unfailing strength.
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:
II Cor. 4:6 God
Postlude
Tu es petra et portæ inferi non prævalebunt adversus te by Henri Mulet
(Thou art the rock and the gates of hell shall not prevail against thee)
Copyright
The Responsive Reading for "Substance" is from the American Standard Version of the Bible, 1901.
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 licences:
ONE LICENSE - Streaming/Podcast License #A-700000
Christian Copyright Solutions - WORSHIPcast License #5885
Christian Copyright Licensing International - CCLI Streaming License #3949277
For branches of The Mother Church streaming their hybrid services, please see the guidelines. For all other requests to use music owned by the Church, email permissions@csps.com.
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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.