Article November 22, 1930 Issue

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.

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