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Mark Swinney, a full-time Christian Science healer and teacher, is interviewed on the topic of spiritual parenting. This audio chat was originally aired on 18 January 2011. To listen, or to read the text of the interview, click here.
Archive for March 2025
Inspired Parenting Leave a comment
God as Father-Mother Leave a comment
This article by Mark Swinney was first published in the 8 May 2009 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel. In it Mark talks about how he found confidence in parenting by understanding the nature of God as the Father-Mother of us all. Here is a small sample of what he writes. To read the full article click here.
… If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a parent, it’s this: Truly effective prayer for children results from a conscious acknowledgment of their oneness with God. Just seeing a child as near God, or extremely close to God, is not good enough. Oneness—that’s the true model of God and His offspring. Good parenting holds to the beautiful oneness of God as cause, and child as God’s effect—divine Parent and offspring. I’ve found that if I have even the slightest notion of a separation between God and my child, I become afraid. Yet, as soon as I behold God and my child as one, everything falls into place. Fear dissolves and everything is right. …
Classes with a Difference 1 comment
Children today are growing up in a vastly different world to the one their parents experienced. The fast pace of technological change, the lure and risks of social media, the prevalence of cyber bullying, the easy availability of drugs and alcohol, and even the sensational reporting of world events all put pressures on our youth. How can we help them to navigate these challenges and give them the tools they need to cope with the everyday life challenges of school, study, work in 2025?
Today more than ever, our young people need to have a strong moral compass to help them make wise decisions, and an inner resilience that helps them meet life’s challenges and rise above adversity. Hara Estroff Marano, Editor-at-Large for Psychology Today, wrote in her article “The Art of Resilience”: “At the heart of resilience is a belief in oneself—yet also a belief in something larger than oneself. Resilient people do not let adversity define them. They find resilience by moving towards a goal beyond themselves, transcending pain and grief …” So how do we fortify our children and develop in them an understanding of their innate ability to rise above adversity? As parents, we cannot be with our children 24/7 how can we help them to know that they are safe and loved?
At the Christian Science Sunday School in Canberra we do just that. In small groups with a teacher, students discuss the qualities that help us live successful and harmonious lives. Lessons are based around the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus including the Lord’s Prayer. Students discuss the issues that come up in their own lives in light of these invaluable character guides.
Classes for students from pre-school up to age 20 are held every Sunday at 10.00 am. Babies are cared for in the creche. New students are always welcome. The Sunday School is located with the Christian Science Church at the corner of Macquarie and Bligh Streets in Barton. Local students attend in person, but Zoom is available for those who are more distant. For more information click on the Sunday School tab in the menu bar at the top.
The Psalm of Comfort – Psalm139 1 comment
1 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence.
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
God the Father-Mother Leave a comment
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
(The Bible KJV – Job 33: 4)
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He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:
(The Bible KJV – Ecclesiastes 3: 11)
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Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation. … “For we are also His offspring.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p332)
Tackling the Underlying Threat to Democracy Leave a comment
A Sentinel Watch interview with David Brown and Mark Sappenfield, Editor of the Christian Science Monitor.
Click here to listen.
At the moment, it would seem that the world is politically quite polarised. In the media more attention is paid to the things that divide us than to the things that unit us. Sentiments are felt strongly resulting in divisions even within families. With US election fresh in thought and the expectation of an election in Australia early this year, this discussion is very timely. David and Mark share ideas on how we as individuals can support a genuine sense of unity and peace.
A Divine Promise Leave a comment
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight.These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.”
(The New King James Version Bible – Isaiah 40: 28-31; 41: 10; 42: 16; 65: 21, 23, 25)
Christian Science Canberra 