Thanksgiving Service

DOROTHY M. KINGDON

Perhaps nothing impresses the newcomer just within the gates of Christian Science so quickly and so strongly as the great importance which Christian Scientists attach to gratitude and thanks, and to giving; that is, to the expression of these qualities. Gratitude has a healing effect both on the one who expresses it and on those who see and hear it expressed. Our Leader, knowing its beneficent influence, instituted the Wednesday evening testimony meetings, where we have the opportunity each week to express our gratitude for God's mercy and love, thus helping and encouraging each other with new proofs of the healing power of Truth. She also instituted our annual Thanksgiving service, which is a feast of spiritual good.

The word "thanksgiving," linked with the word "service," is particularly inspiring, and is typical of the work of all earnest Christian Scientists. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 35), in setting forth the only way we can unite with the Church of Christ, Scientist, Mrs. Eddy shows one of the essentials to be that of "bringing forth the fruits of Love." In order to fulfill this requirement each individual for himself must go through the necessary preliminaries of preparing the ground, sowing the seed, protecting and tending it lovingly; and, eventually, through faith and understanding, must bring forth the desired fruits.

Every service, every bit of work undertaken, is really a "giving" service. It lies with us whether we are loving enough to make it a thanksgiving service, a service given with spontaneous joy and thankfulness for the opportunity of serving.

On page 40 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "It is sad that the phrase divine service has come so generally to mean public worship instead of daily deeds." If, then, we interpret "divine service" to mean "daily deeds," lovingly accomplished, we shall find it illuminating to consider it in conjunction with the definition of "Church" given on page 583 of Science and Health, where we read, in part, that "the Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility." In this connection we may also consider the striking headline "Services Uninterrupted" (Church Manual, Art. XVII), under which are set forth several By-Laws, one of which governs the services of The Mother Church. Obedience to the spirit of these By-Laws will keep us happily rejoicing all the year in a continuous round of thanksgiving service, which will be ever pouring forth goodness and love in one unending stream to heal and help. The By-Law immediately below this headline shows us that far from being fatigued by this uninterrupted service, we shall find ourselves rested thereby. True rest brings renewed strength; therefore this By-Law is one by which we may prove the Scripture, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

A thanksgiving service always springs from love. Unless there is love behind what we do, we can accomplish nothing. Paul says, "Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." What a waste of time and effort it is, then, to work without love in our hearts. Work done grudgingly, work done with indifference, with a cold sense of duty or self-righteousness, with a sense of burden or irritation, having no love in it, profiteth nothing—is not crowned with "the fruits of Love."

Love makes burdens light, makes service vital, makes it productive. Love holds the key to every heart, to every situation, to every problem. Nothing flowers so quickly as love. Many of us know that inexpressibly beautiful sense that comes to us when someone, reflecting the Christ, does for us a thanksgiving service, a service springing from his own recognition of and joyous gratitude for Love's allness. It does not leave us where it found us; such service heals, uplifts, and awakens within us a fervent desire to go and do likewise.

Christianity is a religion of love; and Christ Jesus, its Founder, our Way-shower, in his life of sacrifice and service taught us the meaning of love. Because of his perfect consciousness of God as Love, Jesus was able to give thanks at all times, as when he lifted his thought to God at the tomb of Lazarus, when he fed the multitude, and when "he took the cup, and gave thanks."

It was the perpetual thanksgiving service of our dear Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, which gave Christian Science to this age, and which established this great movement with all its healing activities reaching throughout the world. It is the thanksgiving service of thousands of consecrated Christian Scientists which is perpetuating it and causing it to grow so rapidly; and it is only the joyous, spontaneous service of each individual Christian Scientist, faithfully and uninterrruptedly given, that can enable this movement to accomplish the "greater works" spoken of by Jesus.

In the Gospel of John we read, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

A life of thanksgiving service is not too much for us to give. Jesus, whom we follow, gave his all; Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, gave her all; and those who owe all they have and are to Christian Science feel they can do no less than give their all, with the thankfulness and joy that come from the understanding of God as perfect Love.

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