Archive for September 2021
A Living Prayer Leave a comment
Practical Prayer Leave a comment
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
Yesterday I had a lovely example of the practicality of prayer as practised in Christian Science.
Ours seemed to be a rather grumpy household last night.
I had spent some hours searching for one piece of information that I needed to send to our accountant for our annual tax return. I couldn’t find it and had finally contacted the investment company that issued the original document, asking if a new copy could be sent. This communication was sent by email and I received a reply, also by email, that they couldn’t send me the document by email because my email address was not officially on their records – such irony! But even a sense of the ridiculous nature of this response did not ease the sense of frustration I felt as I went around in seemingly never-ending circles.
Then my husband came home, and he had just heard the news that the Canberra lockdown had been extended for another month. As the owner of a small business that depends on customers coming to his premises, he could see no way forward to stay financially viable.
However, after he tramped off to bed, I sat still – something I should have done much earlier – and thought of the verse from the Bible ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Ps 46).
What I see this as saying is: ‘Just stop running around in circles and thinking you have all the answers, that you have a mortal mind of your own that can actually solve anything. The universe is God’s – God is the only Mind and keeps all the wheels running smoothly if we get out of His way. Ask God what He/She knows about the situation and listenfor the answer.’ And I did.
In a very short time, I remembered that I probably had received the document I needed and had put it in a special place, ready for the tax return. And there it was. I was able to scan it and send it to the accountant right then and there.
And I found, by checking on guidelines from the ACT Government about the lockdown, that a way forward was possible for my husband’s business.
God really does have the answers – we just need to ask – and I’m very grateful.
God – An Ever Present Help in Trouble 2 comments
Wednesday Testimony Meeting Readings
This recording is of readings on the topic: God – An Ever Present Help in Trouble
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Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from they presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
(The Bible – Psalms 139: 7, 8,11)
Every Wednesday at 6.15pm a Testimony Meeting is held at the Christian Science church in Canberra (corner of Macquarie and Bligh Streets, Barton). At these meetings short readings on a particular topic are followed by time for members of the congregation to share how they have been helped and healed through prayer.
Everyone is welcome.
How to Hug a Cactus Leave a comment
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A Daily Lift by Brian Webster
In this 3 minute podcast Brian talks about how to come to terms with people whose views seem so opposite to ours. He explains that by taking a spiritual perspective it is possible to love and appreciate the good in everyone.
Spiritual Being Leave a comment
When spiritual being is understood in all its
perfection, continuity, and might, then shall man be found in God’s image.
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(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p325:13)
Chest Infection Healed Quickly Leave a comment
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
Just before the lockdown began, I came down with a chest infection. If I walked upstairs or tried to talk, I coughed uncontrollably making it very difficult to hold a conversation, talk on the phone or take part in online meetings. It was also difficult to sleep at night. To allay the fears of family members who were concerned that I might be infectious and so should not be babysitting, I agreed to take a Covid test.
Throughout this time, I had been at home praying asking God to show me what I needed to know and not mixing with others. Eventually I remembered the statement in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, (p 420)
“If students do not readily heal themselves, they should early call an experienced Christian Scientist to aid them. If they are unwilling to do this for themselves, they need only to know that error cannot produce this unnatural reluctance.”
I decided to contact a Christian Science practitioner who was unimpressed by the symptoms and likened the coughing to a “performance wanting to get my attention”. She assured me that “Spirit (my true substance) can’t irritate or distress itself” and agreed to pray for me.
That night I slept peacefully and in the morning I found a text on my phone saying that my Covid test was negative. Over the next two days, the coughing disappeared and I was able to fulfill care commitments for my family with no problem.
I am deeply grateful for this healing and for the lessons that I continue to learn from the experience.
A cherry on the cake came a few days later. I realised that my ribs were sore on one side – and found myself thinking that this was due to the violent coughing that I had been doing. I realised that as the cough had never actually been part of me, there was no reason for there to be any after-effects. I rejected the suggestion and concentrated on the reading that I was doing. When I had finished reading, I realised that all feeling of aching had disappeared.
This whole experience was really a ‘wake-up call’ – a nudge to draw closer to God and to feel his love not only for myself but everyone around me.
Desire is Prayer Leave a comment
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What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p1)
Wisdom Leave a comment
… 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.
(The Bible – James 3: 17)
Where is God When Bad Things Happen? Leave a comment
From the pandemic to political division to climate disasters, today’s news begs the question “Where is God when bad things happen?” And if God is here, why doesn’t it seem to make a difference?
This podcast series investigates different aspects of this large question. Each of the speakers shares a different view of God that can help you find your own peace and experience the kind of stability we all want these days.
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Here are the links to the four sessions in this series:
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Where is God When Bad Things Happen – Part 1: The Basics with Scott Preller
Where is God When Bad Things Happen – Part 2: Responding to Emergencies with Diana Davis Butler
Where is God When Bad Things Happen – Part 3: Finding Hope with Hilary Harper-Wilcoxen
Where is God When Bad Things Happen – Part 4: Getting Out of the Mess We’re In with Deborah Huebsch
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A new podcast is produced each week and can be accessed via the PODCASTS tab in the menu line at the top of this home page.
Brothers and Sisters Forever 1 comment
A Daily Lift by Joel Magnes
In this 4 minute talk Joel tells of the sense of unity and cooperation that he felt living in New York in the days following the 9/11 attack. He describes how not religion, ethnicity nor background seemed to separate people – there was deep feeling of pulling together for the common good.
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? (The Bible – Malachi 2: 10)
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Christian Science Canberra 