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, January 18, 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: LIFE
Prelude:
Stephen Loher, Assistant Organist
If Thou Are Near by Johann Sebastian Bach
Hymn 575
Mary Baker Eddy, words
Robert Rockabrand, music
Shepherd, show me how to go
O’er the hillside steep,
How to gather, how to sow,—
How to feed Thy sheep;
I will listen for Thy voice,
Lest my footsteps stray;
I will follow and rejoice
All the rugged way.
Thou wilt bind the stubborn will,
Wound the callous breast,
Make self-righteousness be still,
Break earth’s stupid rest.
Strangers on a barren shore,
Lab’ring long and lone,
We would enter by the door,
And Thou know’st Thine own;
So, when day grows dark and cold,
Tear or triumph harms,
Lead Thy lambkins to the fold,
Take them in Thine arms;
Feed the hungry, heal the heart,
Till the morning’s beam;
White as wool, ere they depart,
Shepherd, wash them clean.
Music © 2008 The Christian Science Board of Directors.
Scriptural Selection
I Kings 19:1–12
Ps. 46:10 (to :)
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 534
composite para. Psalm 23 Thomas Sternhold and Isaac Watts, alt., words
American melody, Lewis’s Beauties of Harmony, 1828; harm. Erik Routley, music
My shepherd is the living God,
There’s nothing that I need;
In pastures fair, near pleasant streams,
I settle down to feed.
You bring my wandering spirit back
When I forsake Your ways.
And lead me for Your mercy’s sake
In paths of truth and grace.
When I walk through the shades of death,
Your presence is my stay;
A word of Your supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Your hand, in sight of all my foes,
Lays out my table’s spread;
And fills my cup to overflow,
Your oil anoints my head.
The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Your house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others come and go—
No more a stranger or a guest,
But like a child at home.
Music harmonization © 1976 Hinshaw Music (administered worldwide by Fred Bock Music Company, Incorporated). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Notices
Solo
Evan Bryant, Soloist of The Mother Church
God Is My Shepherd
God is my shepherd,
I want for nothing.
My rest is in the pleasant meadows,
He leadeth me where quiet waters flow!
My fainting soul doth He restore,
And guideth me in the ways of peace,
To glorify His name.
And though in death's dark valley
My steps may wander,
My spirit shall not fear,
For Thou art by me still;
Thy rod and staff are with me,
And they shall comfort me.
Thou preparest me a table
In front of my enemies.
Thou anoint’st my head with finest oil,
Thou pourest my cup to overflowing!
And even more shall goodness
And mercy follow me.
And mercy follow me
For all the days of my life!
I will dwell in the house of the Lord,
Both now, and for length of days.
Words from Psalm 23 (Bible of Králice, 16th century)
2nd verse adapted by Evan Bryant
Music by Antonín Dvořák
Explanatory Note
Golden Text and Responsive Reading
Golden Text:
Hosea 1:10 2nd You
. . . You are the children of the living God!
The Golden Text is from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition.
Responsive Reading:
Acts 17:24, 25, 28 (to ;)
Psalms 23:1–6
Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
Ps. 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
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.
Voluntary on Ewing (Hymn 148)
Hymn 148
Anna L. Waring*, words
Alexander Ewing, music
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.
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:
Matt. 28:20 lo (to 1st .)
Postlude
Processional by Sir Geoffery Shaw
Copyright
The Golden Text for the Bible Lesson on Life is from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
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.
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.