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, August 2, 2026
Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptural quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Susan Booth Mack Snipes, First Reader
Robert Witney, Second Reader
Subject: LOVE
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
Melody in F Major by Eric Thiman
Hymn 588
Fenella Bennetts, alt., words
British melody; arr. Fenella Bennetts, music
Though I may speak with moving words,
Which can inspire the human heart,
But have no love to seal their worth,
They are but sham and empty art.
Though I may give my worldly goods
Without a thought of self or gain,
Unless they bear the fruits of love,
They are as clouds without their rain.
Though I may search the deepest books,
Companion with the wisest men,
God’s loving voice still calls to me,
It bids me turn and look again.
Now I would learn to know this Love
Through meek and patient ministry,
Until my life has grown anew
And Love is All-in-all to me.
Words and Music arrangement © 2008 Fenella Bennetts.
Scriptural Selection
Josh. 22:5 take
John 13:31 Jesus, 34, 35
Matt. 20:30–34
I Cor. 13:4–8 (to :), 13
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 452
Mary Baker Eddy, words
James Leith Macbeth Bain; adapt. and harm. Robert Rockabrand, music
Brood o’er us with Thy shelt’ring wing,
’Neath which our spirits blend
Like brother birds, that soar and sing,
And on the same branch bend.
The arrow that doth wound the dove
Darts not from those who watch and love.
If thou the bending reed wouldst break
By thought or word unkind,
Pray that his spirit you partake,
Who loved and healed mankind:
Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain,
That make men one in love remain.
Learn, too, that wisdom’s rod is given
For faith to kiss, and know;
That greetings glorious from high heaven,
Whence joys supernal flow,
Come from that Love, divinely near,
Which chastens pride and earth-born fear,
Through God, who gave that word of might
Which swelled creation’s lay:
“Let there be light, and there was light.”
What chased the clouds away?
’Twas Love whose finger traced aloud
A bow of promise on the cloud.
Thou to whose power our hope we give,
Free us from human strife.
Fed by Thy love divine we live,
For Love alone is Life;
And life most sweet, as heart to heart
Speaks kindly when we meet and part.
Music adaptation and harmonization © 2008 The Christian Science Board of Directors.
Notices
Solo
Kendra Fogg, Soloist of The Mother Church
In Heavenly Love Abiding
In heavenly Love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear;
And safe is such confiding,
For nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me,
My heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me,
And can I be dismayed?
Wherever He may guide me,
No want shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me,
And nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh,
His sight is never dim;
He knows the way He taketh,
And I will walk with Him.
Green pastures are before me,
Which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o'er me,
Where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure,
My path in life is free;
My Father has my treasure,
And He will walk with me.
Words by Anna L. Waring
Music is a Traditional Irish Air, Arranged by Richard Donovan
Explanatory Note
Golden Text and Responsive Reading
Golden Text:
I John 4:8 God is, 19
. . . God is love. . . . We love because he first loved us.
Responsive Reading:
Romans 5:5 God’s
Philippians 1:9–11 it
Romans 12:9 (to 1st .), 10 (to 1st .), 12, 13, 16 (to 1st .), 17
Philippians 2:1–4 if, 13 it
Rom. 5:5 . . . God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Phil. 1:9 . . . it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Rom. 12:9 Let love be genuine.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
16 Live in harmony with one another.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
Phil. 2:1 . . . if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
13 . . . it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
The Golden Text and Responsive Reading are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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.
Song by Flor Peeters
Hymn 139
Minny M. H. Ayers, words
Henry Carey, music
I walk with Love along the way,
And O, it is a holy day;
No more I suffer cruel fear,
I feel God’s presence with me here;
The joy that none can take away
Is mine; I walk with Love today.
Who walks with Love along the way,
Shall talk with Love and Love obey;
God’s healing truth is free to all,
Our Father answers every call;
’Tis He dispels the clouds of gray
That all may walk with Love today.
Come, walk with Love along the way,
Let childlike trust be yours today;
Uplift your thought, with courage go,
Give of your heart’s rich overflow,
And peace shall crown your joy-filled day.
Come, walk with Love along the way.
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
Jer. 31:3 Yea, 4 2nd thou
Postlude
I. Introduction-Choral, II. Menuet gothique (from Suite Gothique, Op. 25) by Léon Boëllmann
Copyright
The Golden Text and Responsive Reading for "Love" are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
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.
Replays are not available by phone.
Dial: 1-646-558-8656
Access code: 969 9392 8161#
Phone charges, if any, are the responsibility of the caller.
Toward the end of the service, a collection is taken. You're welcome to make a secure online donation via PayPal using a PayPal account or a credit card if you do not have a PayPal account. You may also make donations by mail.