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 14, 2025
Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptural quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Lisa Rennie Sytsma, Guest First Reader
Robert Witney, Second Reader
Subject: GOD THE PRESERVER OF MAN
Prelude
Bryan Ashley, Organist of The Mother Church
Adagio e dolce (from Sonata No. 3 in D minor) BWV 527/2 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Cantilene (from Sonata No. 11 in D minor, Op. 148) by Josef Rheinberger
Hymn 136
Violet Hay, words
Irish Melody, music
I love Thy way of freedom, Lord,
To serve Thee is my choice,
In Thy clear light of Truth I rise
And, listening for Thy voice,
I hear Thy promise old and new,
That bids all fear to cease:
My presence still shall go with thee
And I will give thee peace.
Though storm or discord cross my path
Thy power is still my stay,
Though human will and woe would check
My upward-soaring way;
All unafraid I wait, the while
Thy angels bring release,
For still Thy presence is with me,
And Thou dost give me peace.
I climb, with joy, the heights of Mind,
To soar o’er time and space;
I yet shall know as I am known
And see Thee face to face.
Till time and space and fear are naught
My quest shall never cease,
Thy presence ever goes with me
And Thou dost give me peace.
Music by permission of H. Walford Davies.
Scriptural Selection
Acts 27:1, 14, 20–26, 39 (to :), 41–44
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 570
Mary Baker Eddy, words
Natsumi Malloy, music
Saw ye my Saviour? Heard ye the glad sound?
Felt ye the power of the Word?
’Twas the Truth that made us free,
And was found by you and me
In the life and the love of our Lord.
Mourner, it calls you,—“Come to my bosom,
Love wipes your tears all away,
And will lift the shade of gloom,
And for you make radiant room
Midst the glories of one endless day.”
Sinner, it calls you,—“Come to this fountain,
Cleanse the foul senses within;
’Tis the Spirit that makes pure,
That exalts thee, and will cure
All thy sorrow and sickness and sin.”
Strongest deliverer, friend of the friendless,
Life of all being divine:
Thou the Christ, and not the creed;
Thou the Truth in thought and deed;
Thou the water, the bread, and the wine.
Music © 2017 The Christian Science Board of Directors.
Notices
Solo
Josh Henn, Soloist of The Mother Church
Dear God, Thank You
Once I woke up in the middle of the night
It was dark and cold and something wasn't right
As I tried to realign with the source that is divine
I saw clearly my mistake
And I said this prayer as day began to break:
Dear God, who loves me
Dear God, who cares for me
and gives me all I need
Thank You
Dear God, who mothers me
Dear God, who watches me
and guides me on my way
Thank You
I'm so amazed at all the good in my life
The lessons I've learned
Remembering Your grace gently guides me every day.
I am so thankful for the love in my life
Abundantly shared
Giving and receiving with an over-flowing heart.
You are the source of all the joy in my life
Peaceful and sure
The quiet moments gazing at the beauty of it all
I want to raise my voice and sing!
Dear God, who gives us life
Dear God, who loves us all
We turn to you and say
Thank You
Music and Words by Peter Allen
© 2020 by Peter B. Allen
Explanatory Note
Golden Text and Responsive Reading
Golden Text:
Psalms 107:1 (to :), 29
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: . . . He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Responsive Reading:
Isaiah 54:11, 13; 42:5 (to 1st ;), 6
Matthew 14:14; 8:23–27
Isa. 54:11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
42:5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out;
6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Matt. 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey 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
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Of the Father's Love Begotten by Christopher Uehlein
Hymn 172
Celia Thaxter, adapted, words
Robert P. Stewart, music
Lift up thy light, O man, arise and shine,
Steadfast while loud the storms of life assail;
Immortal ray of that great Light divine,
’Gainst whose all-power no tempest shall prevail.
Hold high thy lamp above earth’s restless tides,
Beacon of hope to those who watch afar.
Falsehood and fear shall pass, but Truth abides;
Thine be the splendor of her deathless star.
Should the world’s sin and sorrow round thee rave,
Pierce thou the dark with Truth’s undaunted ray,
Send out its light of joy to help and save,
That more and more shines to the perfect day.
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
Psalms 34:8
Postlude
Thou Art The Rock (from Byzantine Sketches) by Henri Mulet
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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