And again this one of the synonyms for God that Mary Baker Eddy identified. In reality Love isn’t some vague human emotion – nor can it be dismissed as an evolved pschological trait. In Christian Science God is Love – the very source and grounds of our being. In CS Love isn’t abstract and wooly it is practical and what’s more Love is identified with Principle (note how this crops up in this week’s  lesson – if you have a print out of the lesson mark all the places Principle is mentioned).

The first Bible citation in Section 1 points out:

Section 1 really sets the scene for the whole lesson, bringing out how God=Love is infinite, All-in-all – and how this light shines on all. Section 2,3,4 bring out how God’s love for us is made practical and tangible on the human scene.

How many different types of relationships and love can you find featured in this week’s lesson?

Many of the Science and Health passages in section 4, are taken from the chapter on Marriage – the ideas in this chapter aren’t just for married people they are good for all relationships.

• What does S&H say about “beauty wealth and fame”?
• Instead what should one look for in a partner?
• What 4 things lead to happiness strength and permenance?
• What’s is needed for “happy and permenant companionship”?

You may also be intersted in checking out this video podcast at TMC Youth.com

http://tmcyouth.com/media/library/love-and-sexuality

The speaker Ginny Leudeman came and spoke to us here in Scarborough a few years ago.

The subject this week which we’ll be considering in our Sunday Youth Discussion Group at 11am is “Soul”. Mary Baker Eddy identifies Soul as one of the seven synonyms for God (the other six are Principle, Mind, Spirit, Life, Truth and Love). Each of these synonyms helps us to understand God’s nature better. Soul is often misunderstood. I have to admit Soul was the one that it took me longest to get! But I finally realised what Soul was all about during a two week course of Class Instruction in Christian Science. And Soul really is so cool! So this week enjoy finding out more about what Soul is really all about.

As we go through the week, I’ll post ideas on the different sections of the Bible lesson and then we can talk about it all – or whatever you choose – on Sunday.

As I read the responsive reading this morning, I was struck by this verse from Psalm 66:

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

Before today, I think I always read verses like that (and there are other similar verses in the Bible) to mean that the older generation would pass on knowledge to the younger generation and so on down the centuries – after all that’s how the ideas of Christianity have been passed down for millennia. But today I was really struck at how today’s younger generation can teach the older generation a thing or too about God’s works!

Mary Baker Eddy begins her chapter “The Science of Being” in Science and Health with these words:

In the material world, thought has brought to light with great rapidity many useful wonders.

Today “useful wonders” seem to be coming to light very rapidly indeed, facebook, twitter, google, wikipedia. The world is changing, and the younger generation understands these tools – these “useful wonders” – in a way that much of the older generation doesn’t yet. So the Psalmist is right – here’s an oportunity for the younger generation to praise God’s works to another – and declare His might acts!

When Mary Baker Eddy was asked what she thought of the pursuite of modern material inventions she replied:

“Oh, we cannot oppose them. They all tend to newer, finer, more etherealized ways of living. They seek the finer essences. They light the way to the Church of Christ. We use them, we make them our figures of speech. They are preparing the way for us.” (First Church and Miscellany page 345)

Let’s hope this blog encourages some more young people to join our discussion group on Sundays – anyone up to the age of 20 is most welcome.

P.S. If you’ve over 20 you are of course most welcome to join our Church Services where the Weekly Bible Lesson forms the Sermon.