Welcome to First Church of Christ, Scientist
Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Welcome, and thank you for visiting First Church of Christ, Scientist, Chattanooga online. We love the fact that you are taking a genuine interest in finding out more about Christian Science. We are here to help you make your journey a pleasant and joyful one!
We offer Sunday Services and Sunday School, Wednesday evening testimony meetings, a service on Thanksgiving Day morning, childcare at all in-person services, a Christian Science Reading Room, and an annual talk on Christian Science.
Our services include gathering in-person
as well as by video- and tele-conference on both Sunday mornings
The weekly Bible Lessons in the Christian Science Quarterly offer ideas and inspiration that comfort, heal, and lead to a deeper understanding of God’s goodness. Each year the Quarterly includes a special Thanksgiving Lesson, which is studied by individuals and shared at Thanksgiving church services around the world. The Chattanooga Thanksgiving Service is on Thanksgiving Day at 10am ET. Join by phone or online here.
In the Thanksgiving Lesson, we discover God as the source of all good and see how natural it is to experience and rejoice in His daily gifts of mercy, grace, and abundance. You're invited to dive in, explore, study, and share this special message of love with family, friends, and neighbors.
Download the Thanksgiving Bible Lesson, read or listen to it online in English, German, Spanish, or French here.
Listen to The Mother Church Thanksgiving service (from 11:30a - 12:30p ET) here.
Read an article by the Research Staff of The Mary Baker Eddy Library, giving the historical background of the creation of this special service called "The Thanksgiving Day Service and 'the good already received' " here.
THANKSGIVING 2022
GOLDEN TEXT
Psalms 23:5 my cup
. . . my cup overflows.
The Golden Text is from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®.
RESPONSIVE READING
Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:20 Blessed, 21, 30–32 (to ?), 33 (to ?), 34 (to ?), 35, 36, 45 (to ;)
10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
20. . . Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye?
33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye?
34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye?
35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good;
ORDER OF SERVICES
THANKSGIVING DAY
1. Hymn.
2. Reading the Thanksgiving Proclamation of the President of the United States, or the Governor of the state, or both.
3. Reading a Scriptural Selection.
4. Silent Prayer, followed by the audible repetition of the Lord's Prayer with its spiritual interpretation.
5. Hymn.
6. Reading the Explanation Note on the first leaf of the Quarterly.
7. Announcing the subject of the Lesson-Sermon, and reading the Golden Text.
8. Responsive Reading by the First Reader and the congregation.
9. Reading the Lesson-Sermon prepared by the Bible Lesson Committee.
10. Solo.
11. Testimonies by Christian Scientists, appropriate for the occasion.
12. Hymn.
13. Reading the Scientific Statement of Being, and the correlative Scripture according to I John 3:1-3.
14. Pronouncing Benediction.
Hymn 593
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing,
To sing of God's goodness as year turns to year.
We gather professing Your grace and Your blessing,
With thanks for the gospel that gathers us here.
Your Spirit consoles us. We're safe in Your keeping.
When roads are uncharted, Your love shows the way.
Where new hope is springing You fill us with singing;
Your presence delights us with each dawning day.
What, then, can we give You in praise for our journey,
When all the earth's treasures were Yours from the start?
We offer our labor, our love for our neighbors,
Our gifts and the worship of each hand and heart.
Hymn 465
Dear Shepherd, You are Love divine,
You meet my every need.
Where fields are green and waters still
I rest, I drink, I feed.
Your love restores my thirsty soul,
And leads me from the wild
To walk in ways of Truth and Life
As Your beloved child.
And even when the shade of death
Suggests that we can part,
No fear of evil enters here;
Your strength and guidance, ever near,
Bring comfort to my heart.
Your goodness spreads before my eyes;
No enemy You know.
Your oil is poured upon my head;
My cup, it overflows.
Your grace and mercy every day
Bring blessings from above.
I'm living in the house of God,
The consciousness of Love.
Hymn 283
Praise we the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever.
Let us extol Him with joyous and loving endeavor;
Come let us sing,
Praising our God and our King,
Should we be silent? Ah, never.
Praise we the Lord, who our footsteps
still holdeth from sliding;
Daily He campeth about us, protecting and guiding;
E'en while we sleep
Watch doth He tenderly keep;
Ever new mercies providing.
Praise we the Lord with a joyous and glad adoration;
Lo, unto them that believe there is no condemnation;
Now will we raise
Songs of thanksgiving and praise,
Christ is become our salvation.
~~~
SOLO
"Blessings Overflowing"
Sung by Ann Stephan
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