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 21, 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: IS THE UNIVERSE, INCLUDING MAN, EVOLVED BY ATOMIC FORCE?
Prelude:
Bryan Ashley, Organist
The Nativity (from Poèmes Évangéliques) by Jean Langlais
The Manger, The Angels, The Shepherds, The Holy Family
Cradle Song (from 24 Pièces en style libre) by Louis Vierne
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.
Scriptural Selection
Luke 1:5-9, 11-15 (to 1st ,), 15-17 and he, 19 I
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 368
John Bowring, words
Lowell Mason, music
Watchman, tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are;
Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height
See that glory-beaming star;
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
Aught of hope or joy foretell?
Traveler, yes; it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel.
Watchman, tell us of the night,
Higher yet that star ascends;
Traveler, blessedness and light,
Peace and truth its course portends;
Watchman, will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages are its own;
See, it bursts o’er all the earth.
Watchman, tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn;
Traveler, darkness takes its flight,
Doubt and terror are withdrawn;
Watchman, let thy wanderings cease,
Hie thee to thy quiet home.
Traveler, lo, the Prince of Peace,
Lo, the Son of God is come.
Notices
Solo
Evan Bryant, Soloist of The Mother Church
Christmas Morn
Blest Christmas morn, though murky clouds
Pursue thy way,
Thy light was born where storm enshrouds
Nor dawn nor day!
Dear Christ, forever here and near,
No cradle song,
No natal hour and mother’s tear,
To thee belong.
Thou God-idea, Life-encrowned,
The Bethlehem babe—
Beloved, replete, by flesh embound—
Was but thy shade!
Thou gentle beam of living Love,
And deathless Life!
Truth infinite,—so far above
All mortal strife,
Or cruel creed, or earth-born taint:
Fill us today
With all thou art—be thou our saint,
Our stay, alway.
Words by Mary Baker Eddy
Music by Don Humphreys
Explanatory Note
Golden Text and Responsive Reading
Golden Text:
Psalms 118:27 (to :)
God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light:
Responsive Reading:
Isaiah 9:2, 6 (to 2nd :), 7
Psalms 148:1–6 (to :), 11–13
Isa. 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Ps. 148:1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever:
11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
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.
A Child is Born in Bethlehem by [Anon. 14th Cent]
Hymn 310
John Randall Dunn, words
Mendelssohn—Cummings, music
Sing, ye joyous children, sing,
Glorious is the Christ, our king,
Truth has come again to earth,
Through the lowly Saviour’s birth.
Men and angels, anthems raise;
Hymns of joy and shouts of praise.
Hear th’ angelic song again:
Peace on earth, good will to men.
Sing, ye joyous children, sing,
Glorious is the Christ, our king.
When the stars together sang,
Then the Truth triumphant rang:
Be there light; And there was light.
Gone are chaos, fear and night;
Truth hath rolled the mists away;
Dawns on earth harmonious day.
Hear th’ angelic song again:
Peace on earth, good will to men.
Sing, ye joyous children, sing,
Glorious is the Christ, our king.
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:
Ps. 115:15
Postlude
Hallelujah! (from Messiah) by G.F. Handel
Copyright
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ONE LICENSE - Streaming/Podcast License #A-700000
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