March 9, 2008
Facilitated by Marilyn Bradshaw

The meeting was opened with Hymn 218 from the Christian Science Hymnal,
"O Life that maketh all things new…"

Click on a citation to read the passage

Each bullet represents one speaker. The speaker’s own words are in italics.

• When we're working metaphysically for a church or for High Ridge House we can be absolutely open to any possibilities. God's blessings are infinite and we shouldn't in any way limit the scope of that.
  
  
• I discovered Christian Science when a doctor said I needed an operation. When I told my husband, he gave me the book, Science and Health. I didn't know he had been studying Christian Science. The Chapter on prayer answered questions I had since childhood. The problem vanished so I didn't have the operation. It was like a new life. A marvelous journey."
  
  
• I discovered Christian Science when a doctor said I needed an operation. When I told my husband, he gave me the book, Science and Health. I didn't know he had been studying Christian Science. The Chapter on prayer answered questions I had since childhood. The problem vanished so I didn't have the operation. It was like a new life. A marvelous journey."
  
  
• Isa 43:19 — Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
  
  
• II Cor 5:17 — Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
  
  
• S&H 561:16 — John saw the human and divine coincidence, shown in the man Jesus, as divinity embracing humanity in Life and its demonstration,--reducing to human perception and understanding the Life which is God. In divine revelation, material and corporeal selfhood disappear, and the spiritual idea is understood.
  
  
• I Cor 15:22 — For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
  
  
• S&H 427:23 — Immortal Mind, governing all, must be acknowledged as supreme in the physical realm, so-called, as well as in the spiritual.
  
  
• Mis 17:27 — With the spiritual birth, man's primitive, sinless, spiritual existence dawns on human thought - through the travail of mortal mind, hope deferred, the perishing pleasure and accumulating pains of sense - by which one loses himself as matter, and gains a truer sense of Spirit and spiritual man.


• Hymn 218:4 —
  The freer step, the fuller breath,
  The wide horizon's grander view;
  The sense of Life that knows no death,
  The Life that maketh all things new.
  
  
• We don't have to make it new. God makes it new.
  
  
• Lam 22, 23 — It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
  
  
• God's mercies are new every morning. That's a law of God. We don't have to make it happen. Newness and life are perpetuated by God. Don't just read about Spirit through the lens of matter. Only see God through spiritual sense. Renewal is not something we have to do. Life maketh all things new.
  
  
• "Love and Church Renewal" by Dewitt John in 1981 — Even on the human level we don't find church in buildings or organizational structure but in the Christ like consciousness - the love expressed by the members. If we seek renewal in our church, then let there be a renewal of spiritual love. If we want revival, then let there be a revival of invigorating Christian affection. If we yearn for a feeling of freshness in our church, let there be an influx of kindliness and charity. If we want regenerated activity in our church, let there be increasing consideration for others and generosity of heart. If we want a resurgence of healing power, let there be less destructive criticism and more gratitude and gentleness. Love is the source of all vitality. Our need is to translate Love as theory into Love in action.
  
  
• Letting go of the old before we take on the new is highly important. Let go of limitations, fear and any sense that God isn't present. We are precious and valuable to him in all ways. Express gratitude for the possibility to get together and discuss the importance of doing things that are new and refreshed.
  
  
• Ps 133:1 — Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
  
  
• Ps 111:10 — The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endures for ever.
  
  
• I was directed to Christian Science when yearning for something new. I knew this was it, and have had many blessings. Recently, I yearned for a deeper understanding of Science and am working on that. Being a part of this meeting brings me joy.
  
  
• Misc 279:17 — We in this classroom are enough to convert the world...
  
  
• Mrs. Eddy told her last class of 75 students this. She reminded them of Joshua going seven times around the wall of Jericho, like seven days of creation.
  
  Misc 279:18 — six days to find out the nothingness of matter and the seventh a day of rest when it is found that evil is naught and good is all.
  
  The disciples in the upper chamber were all of one mind. For Joshua they all had to shout together. The disciples had to be of one mind. What is needed are renewal and transformation of thought from a material belief to a spiritual sense of Life, God, and only one Mind. This change of thought is progressive. The caterpillar changes into a butterfly never to return to the worm stage.
  
  
• S&H 74:29-30 — In Christian Science there is never a retrograde step, never a return to positions outgrown.
  
  
• We may be tempted to think we have to renew a physical body or an organization. But as we understand and accept that there is one Mind only. It forever unfolds good and right ideas that govern our thoughts and lives harmoniously.
  
  
• Although I was brought up in another faith, the idea of Christian Science came to me. I was looking for something new and went to God in prayer. It was so wonderful to go and find this newness of life. It gave me a whole new life.
  
  
• Express gratitude for new eyes and a new heart, knowing as God knows, seeing as God sees. This is such a beautiful way of looking at everyone. High Ridge is such a wonderful place to share and support each other, hold each other up, and know that God is in control.
  
  
• Six months ago I struggled with a long claim. It came to me that I need not treatment, per se, but a total transformation. Finally, I gave up ego and human desires. The whole world is crying out for transformation and renewal. The new religious ideas springing up in the world indicate a desire for spiritual renewal. Christian Science is the highest explanation of truth on this planet. The drama of mortal life may repeat itself every morning. However, one can discipline oneself to check in with God and stay there. Walk in the spirit during the day. It takes practice. One day I was struggling with the problem and a thought came: "If I were as completely possessed by God as I am by this problem… if I allowed God to overtake me to the degree that this problem has then I would be walking on water and raising the dead!" I realized that this difficulty is nothing. It is screaming for life but it has none. It is not only anti-Christ. The other side of it is Divine Love calling me to submit to become the embodiment of Divine Love. There was great progress and I am able to feel the presence of God.
  
  
• Rom 12:2 — Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The Message: "Here's what I want you to do...Take your everyday, ordinary life and place it before God as an offering...Fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out...Recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it."
  
  
• I would like to share with you the poem "Teach Me to Love" by Louise Knight Wheatley. It can be found in The Christian Science Journal, October 1908, vol 26, p. 408.
  
  
• The most important thing we can do as Christian Scientists is to express love. After growing up in a different church, I came to Christian Science late in life. My aunt drew me in through projecting a sense of love. Mrs. Eddy spoke of not being judgmental about other people. I saw this in my aunt. She was disciplined about herself but not judgmental of others. In a very caring and nurturing way she showed love. This drew people toward her. It was very transforming.
  
  
• This meeting is renewing and transforming us right now as we speak. It affects our individual lives, churches, world and High Ridge House. In thinking about the topic I briefly thought: "What's the matter with the old way?" We all need to give thought to that and answer it.
  
  
• S&H 248:8 — Immortal Mind feeds the body with supernal freshness and fairness, supplying it with beautiful images of thought and destroying the woes of sense which each day brings to a nearer tomb.
  
  
• It sounds renewing but also like a lot of work. What is it that really does the work?
  
  
• Isa 66:22 — For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.
  
  
• It's God that makes the new heavens and new earth. It's our responsibility to see that and reflect it. That's our responsibility, our opportunity, our actual being. My responsibility is to listen.
  
  
• S&H 323:28-30, 32-4 — The effects of Christian Science are not so much seen as felt. It is the "still, small voice" of Truth uttering itself. We are either turning away from this utterance, or we are listening to it and going up higher. Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear,--this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony.
  
  
• Ultimate harmony is what this sense of renewal brings to thought - willingness to become as a little child. Humbleness, yearning, and striving for all that we've heard about. Giving up what isn't a part of us or a part of God's man. It requires a change of thought. Sometimes it's hard. But it's not a matter of having to renew a structure or body, put things in place, tear down the old and build up something new. We might be led to do something but, really, it's renewing our thought by letting the Christ consciousness shine through. That itself is the renewing and transformative experience. We can stand solidly on what we’re sharing today. We’ll feel that renewal in our own lives and in our churches and in our communities. This whole tri-state will feel the effect of this meeting today.
  
  
• No one has anything to fear about coming to High Ridge House. It’s an opportunity to heal and prove that Christian Science heals. What blesses one blesses all. Love is work and love must fit. Supply and demand are the same. When I was a nurse, a “change of shift” meeting closed with the last verse of a hymn:
  
  Hymn 253:7 —
  My prayer, some daily good to do
  To Thine, for Thee;
  An offering pure of Love, whereto
  God leadeth me.
  
  
• Are we ready to receive infinite blessings without limitations? Semper paratus. How can we always be ready? We need not personalize any positive quality or personal state of readiness but yield to a law of divine readiness. God is always ready to bestow everything we need and much more. The quality of readiness is not personal. Many might think of themselves as absolutely ready to consecrate themselves to branch church work provided that God doesn't require that we give more than 49% of what we have to give. All that God is waiting for is for us to go to 51%. If we all gave 51%, our church would be transformed. God doesn't require us to get to where Jesus was or even to be ready to unloose the latchet of his sandals. God would pour forth a blessing beyond anything that you can possibly believe that you deserve. Be ready to really believe that God is doing all the work.
  
  
• John 20:27 — ...be not faithless but believing.
  
  Jesus spoke those words to Thomas after the resurrection. To Thomas, seeing was believing. Jesus asked for a higher sense: Believing is seeing. What and who we believe constitutes the nature of being and of our human experience. As we believe, so do we see expressed the very nature of what we believe. Jesus is asking us to bear witness to immortality, to truth, to life, to perfect being. Having inspiration, faith, and trust leads us to see what we believe.Truth emerges. We see God, good, in all things. Our vision clears to behold reality, harmony.
  
  
• Rom 12:2 — Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
  
  Recognize that one Mind is what we have. We can start with the reality that there is nothing that needs to be transformed or renewed. At this moment, infinite love fills all space, right here right now. Become as little children. Take that reality, hold to it. If anything comes into it that would suggest anything other than infinite Love we can say "Aye, darkling sense, arise, go hence! Our God is good" (Po 79:10)
  
  
• Embrace the thought of all things new, of discovering yourself and your relationship with your Creator.
  
  
• S&H 468:10 — All is infinite mind and its infinite manifestation, for God in All-in-All.
  
  
• S&H 3:14-15 to (to,) — To understand God is the work of eternity.
  
  
• II Cor 3:18 — We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
  
  When we turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there we are face to face. God is present, a loving spirit. There is nothing between us and God. God enters our lives and we become like him. There is no veil over His face. We all reflect as in a mirror the splendor of the lord. Thus, we are transfigured into his likeness.
  
  
• Ezek 47:12 (to 2nd ;) — And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because the waters they issued out of the sanctuary:
  
  All things new are already here - constantly going. We must open our eyes and see what we already have, and express gratitude.
  
  
• High Ridge House is a sanctuary. The pure water that flows from it is the healing work of all those involved. Those who come here for healing will get more than just a healing. They get a clearer understanding of divine Love. They will reap the glory from the pure waters of the sanctuary. As they leave, others will come to get that pure water. It is like a cycle, of only good to give and only love to be received and to be given back again. It can be expressed in our churches, in our communities. It’s already here. We just have to open our eyes and see it and give constant gratitude.
  
  
• It's ever refreshing to work with 2008 Annual Appeal. Not looking at the past - something not done right or not done well enough. God makes all things new. Water is a symbol of newness. What it must be like to be a drop of water in a river! Always flowing and always being somewhere new: in a river, in a tree, on the ground, in a lake, up in a cloud. Constantly flowing water. We can reflect that idea and accept real newness.
  
  
• Hymn 51 —
  Eternal Mind the Potter is,
  And thought th' eternal clay:
  The hand that fashions is divine,
  His works pass not away.
  Man is the noblest work of God,
  His beauty, power and grace,
  Immortal; perfect as his Mind
  Reflected face to face.
  God could not make imperfect man
  God's will is done; His kingdom come;
  The Potter's work is plain.
  The longing to be good and true
  Has brought the light again.
  And man does stand as God's own child,
  The image of His love.
  Let gladness ring from every tongue,
  And heaven and earth approve.
  
  It's already done.
  
  
• Rom 11:34 — Who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor?
  
  
• Rom 12:1, 2 — I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
  
  If we do not conform to this world, our mind is transformed. Then we know the will of God. Let's say we have trouble changing our mind or believing what we know is true while our actions show otherwise. Remember, it's a matter of really doing and following directions - meekness, and being a living sacrifice. When we have done the will of God, then we will be transformed.
  
  
• S&H vii: 1-2 — To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.
  
  As Christian Scientists, we feel that so dramatically. We know we're leaning on God. We stand for truth and know the way grows brighter. I have seen many wonderful healings at High Ridge House and am very grateful.
  
  
• How very easily we tend to fall into accepting things in the world and in our communities. Are we really transforming ourselves? Staying awake as we should? We can keep thought so clear that nothing can interfere with it.
  
  Mat 8:22 — Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead;
  
  When the full significance of this saying is understood, we shall have better practitioners, and Truth will arise in human thought with healing in its wings, regenerating mankind. We don't need to let things get to us. Our primary focus is to love and not let the mortal sense be reacting to mortality. We can instantly change thought.
  
  
• Isa 42:9 — Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
  
  
• I would like to express my gratitude for Christian Science and a change of thought, a new way of thinking.
  
  
• We can pray daily: open mine eyes that I might see. I pray to see the perfect man.
  
  
• S&H 35:2-6 — Convinced of the fruitlessness of their toil in the dark and wakened by their Master's voice, they changed their methods, turned away from material things, and cast their net on the right side. Discerning Christ, Truth, anew on the shore of time, they were enabled to rise somewhat from mortal sensuousness, or the burial of mind in matter, into newness of life as Spirit.
  
  The disciples were learning anew and we too can learn anew. We can renew our minds and be as children and go in that direction. As a Sunday School teacher, I thought my class needed a change of teachers. There wasn’t anyone else to do it. So, I changed my methods and it worked.
  
  
• Christian Science Soloist, unknown —
  To see God's perfect man is all there is to see,
  For there is nothing greater than his love eternally
  Day by day we find the way to see
  God’s perfect man.
  
  
• It is great being a Christian Science nurse. It brings many joys.
  
  
• We can start with a receptive thought - open to all ideas. Sort out those that truly come to us from God. Next, evaluate each idea in such a way that we can judge its merit. We can then know that we have approached it correctly.
  
  
• I began nursing in the 70's. My foundation at High Ridge House and in Christian Science is a foundation for my work with children.
  
  
• I am grateful for this subject - how broad it is in scope. We're all searching for renewal. Do not bar your mind. Instead, renew your mind.
  
  
• Mrs. Eddy explains "restoreth my soul", in the 23 Psalm, as "restoreth my spiritual sense." According to Strong's Concordance, the word translated as "restore" could also have been translated as "renew." God is constantly renewing our spiritual sense.
  
  S&H 209:31-32 — Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God.
  
  S&H 505:20-21 — Spiritual sense is the discernment of spiritual good.
  
  Our ability to discern good and our capacity to understand God is continually being renewed by divine Love. Love restores our soul, our spiritual sense.