First Church of Christ, Scientist, Canberra   3 comments

Located on the corner of Macquarie and Bligh Streets in Barton, ACT, Australia.

Sunday Services and Sunday School are at 10.00 am. Wednesday Testimony Meetings are at 6.15 pm. Both these sessions are available via Zoom: One tap mobile +61370182005,,84673365039# or +61280156011 Meeting ID 84673365039 or via https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84673365039#success

Reading Room: Monday-Friday 11.00-2.00 – Phone 02 6273 1715

The podcast beginning on Tuesday 19 May is: How childlikeness heals with Lisle Staley Stigler

To listen to the current interview click on the Podcasts tab in the menu bar above.

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Posted February 25, 2021 by cscanberra in Christian Science Canberra, Church

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How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?   2 comments

Interesting question! When I first came across this question, my initial thought was to try to pick a number – an age that I would like to be – and to think of myself as that age. Then I realised that I didn’t want to be the me that I was back then. I’ve learned too much in meantime. The next question that occurred to me was: What if I didn’t attribute a number to myself at all? How would I feel if I thought of myself as ageless? That’s a very freeing concept!

Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, wrote in her textbook on spiritual healing, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p246): 

Never record ages. Chronological data are no part of the vast forever. Time-tables of birth and death are so many conspiracies against manhood and womanhood. Except for the error of measuring and limiting all that is good and beautiful, man would enjoy more than threescore years and ten and still maintain his vigor, freshness, and promise.

This is interesting to think through and liberating to put into practice. Christian Science helps me to do this.

Christian Science is based on the Bible. It provides important truths that help us live harmonious and productive lives. In the book of Genesis we are told that man is made in the image of God – that we are God’s likeness. God, we are also told, is Spirit – not a material being. This means that man’s true nature is spiritual. Spirit doesn’t age.

Our society gives common consent to ageing. We are conditioned to expect to slow down as the years go by, to be physically less able. How often do we hear people say when they have aches and pains: What can you expect at my age? We can take back this permission  by claiming our agelessness – ageless because we are spiritual, the image of God who never ages, never tires, never wears out.

I have proved this often. Once, after not having been on a horse for many decades, I did an eight-hour day of horse riding. I was allocated a large frisky mount that challenged my strength all day. By the end of the ride every muscle in my body screamed and ached, and I could hardly move. As I lay moaning I realised that I had given myself permission to be affected by this. So, I mentally took back permission by reminding myself that as the likeness of God, Spirit, I could say ‘No’ to this situation. I dwelt on this and trusted these thoughts. Within half an hour all pain and tiredness had left. I participated fully in the evening’s activities and remained completely free.

Nowadays when people ask me how old I am, I reply that I try not to have a number. Without a number, I can be the ageless me – free and healthy.

This article, submitted by a member of the Canberra Christian Science community, was first published in the 21 May issue of the Canberra Weekly.

Personal Discipline   Leave a comment

Christian Science commands man to master the propensities, — to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty. Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success.

(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p405: 5)

Images of Thought   Leave a comment

These readings are from the Bible (KJV) and from the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy and are on the topic of Images of Thought.

A material body only expresses a material and mortal mind. A mortal man possesses this body, and he makes it harmonious or discordant according to the images of thought impressed upon it. You embrace your body in your thought, and you should delineate upon it thoughts of health, not of sickness.

(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p208:25)

Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.

(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p261:4)

Value of Kindness   Leave a comment

Woman Rubbing Noses with Puppy ca. 2002

… be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

(The Bible KJV – Ephesians 4: 32)

Healing   Leave a comment

These readings are from the Bible (KJV) and from the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy and are on the topic of  Healing.

I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord;

(The Bible KJV – Jeremiah 30: 17)

A God of Love   Leave a comment

(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p140: 25)

Fear Not   Leave a comment

These readings are from the Bible (KJV) and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. They are on the topic of: Overcoming Fear.

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

(The Bible KJV – Daniel 4: 5)

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

(The Bible KJV – Proverbs 3: 24-26)

The understanding, even in a degree, of the divine All-power destroys fear, and plants the feet in the true path, — the path which leads to the house built without hands “eternal in the heavens.”

(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p454: 5-9)

The Wisdom of Peace   1 comment

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

(The Bible KJV – James: 1: 3; 3: 17,18)

Safety   Leave a comment

These readings are from the Bible (KJV) and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. They are on the topic of: Safety.

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

(The Bible – II Samuel 22: 2, 3)

Step by step will those who trust Him find that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p444: 10)

Individuality – Distinct and Eternal   1 comment

(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p70:12-13)