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, September 27, 2026
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: REALITY
Prelude
Bryan Ashley, Organist of The Mother Church
Dorian Choral by Jehan Alain
Tiento (from Medieval Suite) by Jean Langlais
Hymn 537
Ruby Nilson, alt., words
William J. Reynolds, music
O church of God, built on a firm foundation,
Standing secure amid the storms of life,
Where all may come to learn of true salvation
And find release from discord, pain, and strife.
We hear the Word, in song and sermon spoken,
In silent prayer, we turn to God today;
Our humble hearts receive the blessed token
Of Truth that guides us in the upward way.
O Spirit, feed us with Your bread from heaven,
We drink Your living water and are free;
And every lesson that Your love has given,
Oh, may we learn it with humility.
We feel Your peace, Your arms of Love enfolding,
We lift our hearts in praise and gratitude.
We, from this hour, a glimpse of heaven beholding,
Go forward with our joy and strength renewed.
Words © 1955, renewed 1983 The Christian Science Board of Directors. Words alteration © 2017 The Christian Science Board of Directors. Music © 1975 Van Ness Press, Incorporated (administered by Music Services).
Scriptural Selection
Neh. 9:6, 7, 9–15, 19–22 (to :), 23
Ps. 25:5, 9, 10
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 301
Mary Baker Eddy, words
G. O’Connor-Morris, 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.
Notices
Solo
Christa Seid-Graham, Guest Soloist of The Mother Church
An Honest And Good Heart
When a large crowd from many towns
Had gathered around Jesus,
He told them this parable:
A farmer went out to sow his seed,
And as he sowed some fell on the path.
As people walked by they crushed it down,
And the birds came and ate the seed.
And some seed fell on rocky soil,
And when they grew, they soon dried up,
For they had no roots, and no water.
And some seed fell among the thorns,
And the thorns sprang up and choked the seed.
But the rest of the seed fell on good ground,
Where it grew and brought forth thirty times,
Or sixty times, or a hundred times what was sown.
If you have ears to hear, listen.
Planted in the soil of an honest heart,
Planted in the soil of a good heart,
Are they that hear the word and hold it close,
And bring forth much fruit.
Text from The Bible
Music by Peter B. Allen
Copyright © 2002 Peter B. Allen PBA Music Publishing All Rights Reserved
Courtesy of Watchfire Music
Explanatory Note
Subject: REALITY
Golden Text and Responsive Reading
Golden Text:
Psalms 119:89,105
For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. . . . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Responsive Reading:
John 1:1,14
Matthew 4:17 Jesus; 7:7, 8, 24 whosoever, 25; 24:35
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Matt. 4:17 . . . Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
24 . . . whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
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.
Improvisation-Pastorale by Joseph Jongen
Hymn 101
Maude de Verse Newton, words
Nicolas Herman, music
He sent His Word, His holy Word,
And grieving hearts were healed;
Uplifted they beheld in light
Man’s heritage revealed;
For this we bless Thee, Lord.
He sent His Word, His shining Word
Of Truth, forever one,
And sons of men rejoice to know
The dream of sorrow done;
For this we bless Thee, Lord.
He sent His Word, His faithful Word,
And hosts who toil in vain
Reject the falsehood ages taught
And rise to Life again;
For this we bless Thee, Lord.
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
I John 2:5 whoso (to :)
Postlude
Plein Jeu & Caprice sur les grands jeux (from Suite du Deuxième Ton) by Louis-Nicolas Clérambault
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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