Article December 5, 1914 Issue

Offerings

MANA WILLIS FISHER

The one short hour of our church service is surely rich in blessings. The opening voluntary brings peace, a quietness which lifts thought in praise and impels to a joyous participation in the hymns of praise. Then come the Scripture reading, the silent prayer, and the Lesson-Sermon, that declaration and unfoldment of spiritual truth which realized and winged with prayer goes forth on its ministry of healing. Who can measure the good received by all who are present!

Mrs. Eddy has said that "success in life depends . . . upon the improvement of moments more than upon any other one thing" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 230). In the Sunday service there are many moments which may be profitably employed. In keeping with the spirit of the offertory these moments should be spent in returning thanks to the Giver of all good, and in prayer, pure desire, for the entire congregation, as we are taught in the Manual. (See Art. VIII, Sect. 5.) What a blessed privilege to know that God's word has indeed been spoken, that it has enriched the affections of those hearing it, and that it does "govern them" (Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 4). The realization of what true supply is and whence it comes, will help to destroy all sense of lack, or fear of the "rainy day." This is an important part of the true offertory, and we have the promise that unselfish giving blesses all, and not ourselves alone.

The one thing which impressed the writer when attending her first Christian Science service, was the fact that every one within her view contributed to the collection, and great regret was felt that she had neglected to come prepared.

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