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Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.
Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p57)
A Sentinel Watch interview with Bob Cochran
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When Bob last joined Sentinel Watch, he made a startling statement: He’d been praying two to three hours at a stretch each day. “Really?” asked listeners. “How does he do that?” Bob joins us again to share his insights about prayer—what it means to pray and how to stick with it.
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Holding to the spiritual fact of everyone’s unbreakable unity, safety, and life in God brings hope, and strength to go forward.
An article by Suzanne Smedley posted in the Christian Science Sentinel, 13 October 2023.
In light of the brutal attack on Israel and its punishing response, many are seeking comfort in prayer. More than anyone, those still anxiously waiting for news about their loved ones’ safety and whereabouts, and those grieving their loss, need to feel God’s loving presence and almighty protection.
I thought of a Jewish family that my tour group crossed paths with several months ago in Israel. The family had fled from their home to escape sporadic rocket fire and was unsure if their home would still be there when they returned. I wondered, too, about a Palestinian friend who had essentially been stateless his whole life. All were gentle, peaceful individuals caught up in a cycle of fear, misunderstanding, and hatred. Were they safe?
During grievous times, prayers may sometimes seem futile and words hollow. But there are beautiful promises in the Bible that unburden the heavy heart and wing it with hope. For instance, in the book of the prophet Isaiah: “For thus saith the Lord…. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you” (66:12, 13).
And in Psalms: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me” (139:7–11).
What could be more comforting than to feel in the deepest recesses of our heart that not a single one of God’s children can be separated from Her love and saving power? … Continue reading …
Wednesday Testimony Meeting Readings.
This recording is of the readings on the topic: The Brotherhood of Man
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For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
(The Bible KJV – II Corinthians 8: 13, 14)
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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.
… 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 KJV)
A member of the Christian Science community in Canberra offered this testimony of a recent healing.
A couple of weeks ago I played in a golf competition at a golf course in near home.
It was a team event played in teams of 4 over 18 holes of golf.
My team was finishing up on the 16th hole when I heard a loud shout followed by the sound and impact of a golf ball hitting the back of my hand. Someone from another team had hit a wayward shot.
I jumped around shaking my hand, my team-mates and the guys from the team that hit the wayward shot rushed to see what had happened.
There was concern that my hand might be broken, that I should leave and have my hand looked at, that we should immediately get ice to put on my hand.
While there was pain, I was mainly affected by the shock of the sudden and unexpected impact.
I don’t remember what I was thinking at the time, but I do remember becoming calm and reassuring everyone that I was okay and able to complete the last two holes of the competition.
I had previously been thinking about the reality of harmony and unreality of discord that had been in the weekly Bible Lessons around that time. So, as we continued, I started praying with the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer – “Our Father which art in heaven – Our Father Mother God all harmonious” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p16-17), and tried to hold to the thought that there is only harmony.
While we were sitting having drinks in the club house after the game, I remember being aware that the pain had lessened and only concerned me if the back of my hand came into contact with something, but there was swelling and bruising.
I drove home and continued to pray “Thy kingdom come” – to know that we all live in the kingdom of heaven where all is harmonious and there is no pain or any other discord.
Over the next few days, I prayed with ideas from the weekly Bible Lesson.
Since the incident happened, I have in no way been restricted from using my hand and the swelling, bruising and any pain disappeared over a few days.
I’m very grateful for this proof of the power of prayer to heal and God’s presence and care for me and everyone.
The good in human affections must have ascendency over the evil and the spiritual over the animal, or happiness will never be won.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p61:4)
Unselfish ambition, noble life-motives, and purity, — these constituents of thought, mingling, constitute individually and collectively true happiness, strength, and permanence.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p57:7)
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The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
(The Bible KJV – Jeremiah 31:3)
A member of the Canberra Christian Science community, currently living overseas, shared this testimony which was printed in the July 31, 2023 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.
I was introduced to Christian Science by a friend who regularly gave me copies of the Sentinel. I really liked what I was reading because it spoke of God as infinite Love, in which evil has no place.
I was reluctant to pursue the study of this Science at the time, as I believed the religion of my upbringing to be the one true religion. But the Christian Science publications nevertheless piqued my interest in things spiritual, and I was inspired to start reading the Bible, something I had not done before. Through this reading, I was coming to know and trust God better as divine Love. …
…Since beginning the study of Christian Science, I have had a number of healings, one of which is particularly dear to me. I had been drinking alcohol since the age of seventeen. Continue reading …
Christian Science Canberra 