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Rejoice in the “Empowe(her)ment” of Christ, WOW!
Metaphysical Application Ideas from the Cedars Camps: 
for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on “Christ Jesus” for February 20 — 26, 2012 
by Rick Stewart C.S., of Dresden, Germany, (Telephone 49-351-312-4736, RickStewartCS@aol.com)
 
 [These application ideas from a past CedarS Camps' Resident Christian Science Practitioner are provided primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of study and application of the Christian Science Bible lessons daily throughout the year, not just at camp! You can sign up to have them emailed to you free — by Monday each week in English; or by each Wednesday you can get a FREE TRANSLATION: in French, thanks to Pascal & Marie-Helene; in German, thanks to Helga and Manfred; or in Spanish, thanks to a team of Ana, Erick, Claudia and Patricio. YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP for weekly emails from past CedarS staff of fun approaches & possible ways to teach lesson ideas to older and to younger Sunday School classes at www.cedarscamps.org/newsletters  Enjoy! Warren Huff, CedarS Director & editor of these notes.]
 
WOW !!!! Women on Watch, maintaining our Master's church.
If any of you know our beloved and much appreciated newsletter editor, Warren Huff, Executive Director, of CedarS, you know how much he loves acronyms. (A word formed from the initial letters of other words.)   Warren always has a wonderful list of acronyms that just make an idea stick in your thought. So in thinking about this  Lesson, I thought of what I hope is a very accurate acronym,  “WOW, Women on Watch.” What fun to explore this week the life of our Master, Christ Jesus, from the perspective of a key element of Church, the contribution of the women that were looking for a Redeemer, a Saviour, and found one in the life of Christ Jesus.
 Daughters of the Church, where would we be without them? For thousands of years they have been a source of practical, practiced religious education and inspiration. How many of us could testify to mothers and grandmothers that have taught us, encouraged us, and demonstrated to us the importance of learning about and loving God? I think of how my mom, my mother-in-law, my grand-mother-in-law, my aunts, my Sunday School teachers, my Christian Science teacher, and many other women have inspired me to know my Saviour better.
 
One of my favorite, “Gramma and church” stories came from a phone conversation with a fellow named, Tony Roberts. Back in 1986 I heard Tony share his testimony on television. I was so impressed that I called the television studio and asked for his number. I gave him a call. Tony told me of a dark time in his life. He had been a member of the Black Panther party, a radical Black activist group in the 1960's. He had been involved in drugs  and violent crime. And he had hijacked a plane to Cuba. He was arrested and held in terrible conditions. He would work long hours in the sugar cane fields and then return to a horrible prison cell. He had no hope of ever being released. Then one night he found himself remembering his grandmother.
 
 Tony remembered when he was 7 years old and his Gramma took him to church. Tony said he liked the way this memory made him feel. So, each day as he returned to his prison cell. Tony would try to remember everything he could about that time with his grandmother.  Suddenly one night he heard a message, ” I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.”
 
Some of you might recognize that phrase as coming from the Bible, Joshua 1:5. It is in God's promise to Joshua that God will be with Joshua as He was with Moses. And God affirms, ” I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.” Now Tony, had never, ever studied the Bible. He had only gone to church with his Gramma. But when Tony heard that voice he liked the way it made him feel. And almost like someone inviting a guest for dinner, every night Tony would think about his Gramma, church, and the promise from that voice.
 
Suddenly things began to change around Tony. He had been told he would never leave that prison alive. But he was soon transferred to another prison that had much better conditions. Tony had been told he would never be returned to the United States. But he soon found himself on his way to prison in America. It might seem a funny thing to be happy about going to prison, but Tony was. Because the conditions he had in his cell in America were like heaven compared to Cuba. And he also had access to the Library and the Bible. He began to read the Bible. And his life continued to change. When I was talking to Tony in 1986 he was a free man, married, with a family, and active in church.  
 
Hasn't the role of women  always been a key to a Church that lives and saves.    An honest and unprejudiced examination of Scripture, and specifically the Gospel narratives, makes it clear, without women, the Christian church  would not and could not exist. And it most certainly would not exist in its vital, living, practical and practiced form of a Church that lives for a message, the saving, redeeming power of God's Love. When you think about the story of Tony, it might be interesting for you to know that the Hebrew name for Jesus is “Yeshua” or “Yehoshua”, and it is identical with Joshua! And the name means to deliver, to rescue, to save.
 
This week's Bible Lesson is an inspired document establishing the facts of “woman's”  place in the mission of the Master.   These inspiring women keeping watch and recognizing the Saviour, the Redeemer, the Christ. Let's see what the ladies have to say about the Master.  WOW,   Enjoy!
 
Golden Text: 
Isaiah 62:11   ….“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes!' ” (NIV)
 
According to the theologian, John Wesley,(Founder of Methodism), his Bible Commentary compiled 1754 -1765, identifies the phrase, “Daughter Zion,” as referring to what we would call “the Church” and for the Jews, this church was the Temple at Jerusalem.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley
 
Those who wrote Chapter 62 in Isaiah  were referring to the rebuilding of the “Temple ” in Jerusalem, their church.   This chapter and this portion of Isaiah were written by Jews who were released from exile in Babylon around 539 BCE.  Cyrus the Great from Persia conquered Babylon. He freed the Jews that were living in Babylon in exile and sent them home with a mandate to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. With Cyrus' support, over the next 23  years, the work proceeded.  “Daughter Zion” had been redeemed and saved.  You can read about the rebuilding in Ezra, Chapters 1 – 6. Really interesting! Also there is lots of background information at the following links:
www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/108.htm
 
In thinking of our Golden Text as the key to our Bible Lessons, it might be interesting here to consider what Mary Baker Eddy has to say about, “Zion.” She writes in the glossary of Science and Health, page 598,   “ZION. Spiritual foundation and superstructure; inspiration; spiritual strength.”
 
In our Bible Lesson this week we will meet a number of women who according to the Bible found a place in Jesus' life. Each of them in individual ways glimpsed his fulfilling of the role as Saviour, Christ, Messiah. This glimpse gave their faith a foundation, a superstructure that resulted in physical healing, in redemption. And each of them joined in a faithful watch bearing witness to the fact that the Christ had come.
 
Responsive Reading:
In our Responsive Reading we meet our first female witness to the Christ at a well in the Samaritan town of Sychar. Jesus did not have to walk through Samaria, most honorable Jews would have gone to great lengths to avoid Samaria. The “Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans.” It was noon, super hot. Most women would have been drawing water in the cooler time of day. Jesus was there because he knew she was coming.   Her life was so messed up that she probably wanted to avoid contact with the respectable people. The accepted law also said the Master should not talk to a woman in public.    But not only did Jesus talk to this sinning woman, (she had had five husbands and was living with another man unmarried,) Jesus offered the water that always refreshes, the water of life, a knowledge of God. And something else really interesting, Jesus tells the woman that he is actually the promised Messias or Christ !  (John 6:24)  Have you realized that Jesus never directly stated this fact again until he stood before Pilate! What was it that made this woman so special to Jesus and you might say to us? “Is not this the Christ?” (John 4:29) She was so spiritually discerning that she readily admitted that this was “the Christ.” That is a pretty darn good introduction to our “WOW” Lesson. 
 
Section 1: – Mary, wow what a teenage mom! The conception and birth of Jesus.
 I am sure it has occurred to you before that Mary must have been a teenage mom. The normal age of marriage in Judaism of that time was 12 or 13 years old. And also another note, we are told that “Mary was espoused to Joseph.” The promise or betrothal at that time was actually more important than the wedding ceremony. It was serious. More than today's concept of “engagement.” (See: http://www.myjewishlearning.com)
Obviously the conception and the birth of Jesus completely overturned the so-called laws of biological birth.  As Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (S-1) “The illumination of Mary's spiritual sense put to silence material law and its order of generation, and brought forth her child by the revelation of Truth, demonstrating God as the Father of men. ”   The facts surrounding  Jesus' birth will always amaze mortal thought that is perhaps not ready to accept “that with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26, Mk. 10:27) After all even the author or authors of Isaiah found it incredible to contemplate, “Have you ever heard of a woman who gave birth to a child before having labor pains? Who ever heard of such a thing or imagined it could happen?” (B-2 Isaiah 66:7) CEV    But it did! Another big, WOW.
 
But just to add a little balance, don't want you gals to get all the good press here. Wasn't Joseph a real “stand-up” guy? Even when the testimony looked pretty bad regarding his betrothed bride, he was a “just man, and not willing to make her a public example.” (B-3)   When God's angel appeared to him and assured him he did not have to be afraid, or we might say “embarrassed” to take Mary as his wife , because “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
 
If I went on Mary and Joseph's Facebook page today, I would definitely give them both a “like” or thumbs up. They were both perceptive and tuned into spiritual sense.   Just goes to show that both moms and dads can be on watch and receptive to the Christ.       
 
Section 2:  Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, WOW       
This past week I had a talk with someone about retirement, time to stop work, time to take it easy.   Do you really need to do that? I thought of that conversation as I read this section of the lesson. Here in (B-5, Luke 2) we are introduced to Anna. Anna worked or perhaps better “watched” in the Temple. She was 84 years old, did not leave the Temple, fasted and prayed and was continually watching for the “redemption,” the saving of Jerusalem. What if she had retired when she was 83?   What if Anna had said, “Oh it's time to let some of the younger girls take care of the church work.” What would she have missed? 
 
Mary and Joseph according to the Mosaic law from Leviticus 12, brought in six week old Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, “to present him to the Lord.” (B-5)
Anna's response to Jesus
 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years.37 She was now an eighty-four-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (CEB)
 
Beside the “WOW,” I have to add a “WTGA,” Way to go, Anna !!! She watched and she saw her Saviour, her Redeemer, her Messiah,  in the six week old baby, Jesus.   Now that is real spiritual, feminine intuition. Good thing she stuck around to see that baby.
 
Section 3:   Dinner with Jesus: Cherishing the Christ when others don't.
Here is the well known story of “Simon the Pharisee” inviting Jesus for dinner. 
 (B-8, Luke 7:36 -50) But what was Simon thinking, what were his motives,  was it a sincere invitation? Normal courtesy of the time was not shown. No, Simon did not show Jesus the common courtesies of the day which included a kiss of greeting, washing the sandaled feet of road dust, and anointing the head with perfume because of the dry climate.  Simon did not even provide water for Jesus to wash His own feet.   Jesus pointed this out in Luke 7:44-46. So it is obvious Simon was not interested in honoring his guest. Instead he neglected his guest.
 
But Jesus was not neglected.    Luke 7: 37″ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” (NIV)
 
This woman came with the intent to honor the Master. She knew that everyone around would know what kind of woman she was, but she did not let anyone deter her from showing her affection for Jesus.  She was not shamed into inaction. And Jesus commended her, Luke 7:47 “Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much:”
 
The Science and Health citations, (S-9) – (S -12), are taken from the first pages of the Chapter, Christian Science Practice, (S&H, pages 362 – 365.)  Mrs. Eddy explains how the affection shown by this woman for Jesus serves as the model for how we must love, to heal.  WOW.
 
Section 4: Another, WOW, willing to risk all to be healed.
In this section we read of a woman willing to risk all to be healed by the Master. Her “issue of blood,” had not been stopped in 12 years of normal medical treatment. She was desperate. Even though she was not allowed out in public by Hebrew law, she watched for Jesus, and when he was close she took her chance. In faith, she simply touched the hem of his robe and she was healed.  Jesus sensed what had happened and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” The woman could have remained silent, but instead she came to Jesus and humbly told him all the truth. Jesus simply said, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
 
In the Science and Health citations of this section there is a clear explanation as to the “how” of this healing and all physical healing.   And when I read this healing I always think of a favorite hymn based on a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier entitled, “The Healer” It is Hymn 96 in our hymnal and you can actually listen to it through the online edition of “Concord” produced by the Mother Church.   Currently there is a free online trial of the Concord program at: https://www.concordworks.com/
 
 Mary Baker Eddy , herself, was never hesitant in sharing the healing effect of Christian Science even in the early days of its development in her thought.   This is evident in a visit she made to Whittier in 1868.   The result of the visit was healing, the account is below.
 
“In 1868, Eddy was living in Amesbury with her student Sarah Bagley, a family friend of Whittier's. In July of that year they paid a call on the poet, who was suffering from a variety of ailments, as he had throughout most of his life. In previous months, he had written frequently to friends complaining of his precarious health, canceling engagements, and apologizing for not returning their letters sooner. In fact, when Sarah Bagley proposed the visit to Whittier, she did so with the warning that he might not live much longer. The two women arrived to find Whittier in a frail state, coughing constantly and shivering despite a roaring fire in midsummer. Mary Baker Eddy commented that it was likely a much more comfortable atmosphere outside than in, to which Whittier replied, “If Jesus Christ was in Amesbury, he would have to have brass-lined lungs to live here.” (Manuscript A11063)   Mary Baker Eddy spoke with him for some time, “in the line of Science,” and by the end of their conversation he seemed much improved. As she left, Whittier called to her and said, “I thank you, Mary, for your call; it has done me much good.” (A11063) She received word the next day that he had left his sickbed to walk down to the village.” http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/files/Newsletter%20Fall%2008.pdf
 
In 1875 Mrs. Eddy sent Whittier an inscribed copy of Science and Health. Whittier remarked that he found it to be a work that would require a lifetime's worth of study. That same copy of Science and Health was found among his belongings after his death. (Ibid.)   Obviously he did not succumb back in 1868, but lived until 1892 and the ripe old age of 85 !!
.
(Hymn 96 )
 John Greenleaf Whittier* 

He stood of old, the holy Christ, 
Amid the suffering throng, 
With whom his lightest touch sufficed 
To make the weakest strong. 
That healing gift God gives to them 
Who use it in His name; 
The power that filled the garment's hem 
Is evermore the same.

So shalt thou be with power endued 
Like him who went about 
The Syrian hillsides doing good 
And casting demons out. 
The Great Physician liveth yet 
Thy friend and guide to be; 
The Healer by Gennesaret 
Shall walk the rounds with thee.
 
Section 5:  Wow, solid in faith and love.
Pilate's wife cautioned him, “Have thou nothing to do with that just man.” One might say, husbands listen to your wives. Pilate questioned Jesus, Are you King of the Jews? “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.” Pilate saith, “What is truth?”
 
In Science and Health citation, (S-19) Mrs. Eddy writes, “The women at the cross could have answered Pilate's question. They knew what had inspired their devotion, winged their faith, opened the eyes of their understanding, healed the sick, cast out evil, and caused the disciples to say to their Master: “Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”
 
These women stood by faithfully watching, they did not flee. Mary, Jesus' mother.   His mother's sister.   Mary the wife of Cleophas.  Mary Magdalene. And with them, the disciple, “whom he loved” and to whom he gave the charge to care for his mother.   These stood by because they had seen the love. They had seen the babe arrive in humble meekness. They had seen the young man question and speak with the doctors and lawyers. They had been healed, redeemed, saved, loved. So they stood by.
 
They did not yet see the final triumph of the Christ, but they would. They remained faithful disciples, the women on watch. Mrs. Eddy writes, (S-2, 52:19 -23) The “man of sorrows” best understood the nothingness of material life and intelligence and the mighty actuality of all-inclusive God, good. These were the two cardinal points of Mind-healing, or Christian Science, which armed him with Love.” Their faithful watching would prepare them for this next demonstration. Story continued.
 
Section 6: WOW, spiritual love sees the risen Jesus.
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to care for Jesus body, she left rejoicing in Jesus triumph over the body.  He had risen from the grave. And when she told the disciples? They did not believe her. Do you think the disciples were embarrassed when Jesus stood before them?   He scolded them, he reproached them, he gave them a hard time because they had not believed her. Did they try to talk their way out of it, did they just drop their heads in shame, or did they take the rebuke to heart?   I think they took it to heart. After Jesus ascended  (B-14. Mark 16:20) says, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”
 
Another woman who stood faithfully watching, Mary Baker Eddy, writes (S-22) “He proved Life to be deathless and Love to be the master of hate. He met and mastered on the basis of Christian Science, the power of Mind over matter, all the claims of medicine, surgery, and hygiene.” (S-23, 314:10-22), “The Jews who sought to kill this man of God, showed plainly that their material views were the parents of their wicked deeds. When Jesus spoke of reproducing his body, — knowing, as he did, that Mind was the builder, — and said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” they thought that he meant their material temple instead of his body…. This materialism lost sight of the true Jesus; but the faithful Mary saw him, and he presented to her, more than ever before, the true idea of Life and substance.”
 
Section 7: Wow, seeing the risen Saviour and the eternal Christ.
 (S-25, S&H page 561) “The Revelator beheld the spiritual idea from the mount of vision.   John saw the human and divine coincidence, shown in the man Jesus, as divinity embracing humanity in Life and its demonstration, – reducing to human perception and understanding the Life which is God. In divine revelation, material and corporeal selfhood disappear, and the spiritual idea is understood.”
 
How amazing that we continue to learn from the life of Jesus. So many years ago, and so few years among us and yet the story of Jesus lives. Over the last few days as I have worked on this MET I have heard from living witnesses that the Christ is active and still redeeming, saving, restoring. They are in Argentina, and America, in Europe and Africa, in Norway and England. Little babies and radiant Grannies.   Like the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus lifted our hearts to see the rebuilding of a life seemingly destroyed by hate. The faithful women who stood by to the end of his mortal life, were witnesses to his resurrected life. And in his ongoing demonstration and dominion we are led to an eternal Christ. We witnessed the divinity of the Christ made manifest in the humanity of Jesus. 
 
As we have seen in this week's lesson, our Master, Christ Jesus, was served well by those women who followed him in their lives. Often they were the most faithful and most discerning.   From Mary, to Anna, to Mary Magdalene, to the Samaritan woman, to the woman healed by simply a touch, each discerned the Saviour, the Redeemer, the Christ. 
 
And Wow, the Women on Watch, had a special addition as Mary Baker Eddy put on record the Science of the Christ, that Jesus demonstrated every day. 
 
As Mrs. Eddy writes in citation (S-27, S&H 565), “The impersonation off the spiritual idea had a brief history in the earthly life of our Master; but “of his kingdom there shall be no end,” for Christ, God's idea, will eventually rule all nations and peoples — imperatively, absolutely, finally – with divine Science. This immaculate idea, represented first by man and, according to the Revelator, last by woman, will baptize with fire; and the fiery baptism will burn up the chaff of error with the fervent heat of Truth and Love, melting and purifying even the gold of human character.”
 
And “Daughter Zion,” the Temple built not of wood and stone, but of “spiritual foundation and superstructure,” will be restored.



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[Help CedarS share the applicable principles of Christianity: Our Fall-season outreach led us to give tours of our new Bible Lands Park to show Bible-loving churches and youth groups of other denominations as well as our own how Christian Scientists love and “take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.” (S&H497:3)  As shown in video clips we are currently working in our Bible Lands Park to expand our ability to share applicable New Testament insights by building a trail with activity, learning stations that follow Paul's teachings and trips from Antioch to Ephesus, Corinth, Athens, Rome … We welcome gifts to help us make these inspiring “Home Improvements” as weather allows.]

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 [Camp Director's Note: This sharing is the latest in an ongoing, 11-year series of CedarS Bible Lesson “Mets” (Metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians.  (Ask and look for “Possible Sunday School Topics “and “Possible Younger Class Lessons” in subsequent emails.) These weekly offerings are intended to encourage further study and application of ideas in the lesson and to invigorate Sunday School participation by students and by the budding teachers on our staff. Originally sent JUST to my Sunday School students and to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study, application and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson “mets “and Sunday School ideas are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension and background as well as new angles (and angels) on the daily applicability of some of the ideas and passages being studied. The weekly Bible Lessons are copyrighted by the Christian Science Publishing Society and are printed in the Christian Science Quarterly as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms or online at eBibleLesson.com or myBibleLesson.com. The citations referenced (i.e.B-1 and S-28) from this week's Bible Lesson in the “Met” (Metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the Bible (B-1 thru B-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (S-1 thru S-30). The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of the Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of the ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.]
 
[Enjoy!    And, please contact us for more info about “all things CedarS”!]

[PSST-Recognize and respond to the Christ as many women did and do!]
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on
Christ Jesusfor 2-26-12
By Steve Henn, C.S. St. Louis, Missouri steven.henn@gmail.com 
[Steve's been a CedarS Program Director & teaches English at The Principia School.]

PSST-Golden Text (GT) & Responsive Reading (RR)
Are we ready to witness the goodness of Christ?  Do we recognize that his is a present promise?  How much would it take for us to be convinced and listen to the Christ before us?  Will we recognize the Christ more readily than the woman at the well?  Will we take longer to recognize Christ's presence before us?  And how will we respond?  Will we leave our ‘waterpot' (our present task)  to tell others about Christ? 
Much of this story is useful only in metaphor today, but the lessons are still valuable. We can talk with our students this week about how to recognize the Christ around us and how to respond to the Christ presence.
PSST-Section 1
Why does it matter so much that Jesus' birth was foretold in prophecy? What does that signify about the Christ idea?  Was it only available when Jesus was born?  Is it less available after his death?
PSST-Section 2
Do we continue to look higher than our human concepts allow – like the prophets of old?  What can we learn from characters such as Anna?  What is the Christ? How does Mrs. Eddy define it? Look for each time she defines it and learn how Mrs. Eddy's definitions can help us see Christ more clearly today.
PSST-Section 3
What is redemption?  Do your students know the definition of this word?  Consider looking it up with them.  Do we love as fully as the woman who comes up behind Jesus and washes and wipes his feet? What qualities does she express that we can more fully embody?  If we loved that fully, that humbly, how would we relate to others around us?  How easily could we recognize Christ in her state of mind?  Do your students understand the significance of Mrs. Eddy's reference to Hindoo-pariahs and high-caste Brahmans? They may appreciate this story more if they recognize just how difficult it is for the Magdalene to approach Jesus.  This may also open up thought to a whole new world of lessons we can learn from her and qualities of hers that we can embody.
PSST-Section 4
What does Jesus call the woman who touches him by the hem of his garment?  Do your students recognize the importance of Jesus calling her ‘daughter'?  Do they recognize how much she was risking to approach Jesus?  Here we have two different women who are breaking laws considered to many as sacred – and yet what is Jesus doing for these women?  Do your students ever feel like they need to be raised up to a higher level of humanity?  Can they look to Christ for this support? (yes!) Will they follow the example of these women?
PSST-Section 5
How do your students feel when they are wrongly accused?  How do they respond?  Are they willing to follow Jesus' humble example?  What was the outcome of his humble defiance?  What allowed him to stand firm, even though he was wrongly accused? Are we willing to be ‘above the reach of human wrath'?  This is perhaps the toughest demand of this week's lesson.  How can we help our students to approach this lofty standard gradually?
PSST-Section 6
Why does Jesus appear to Mary Magdalene first? (this isn't necessarily the same woman from section 3)  What does Jesus' crucifixion teach his disciples?  What helped them begin to perform wonderful works?  What wonderful works has your class witnessed and been part of this year? Take a moment to celebrate healings that your students have had.  How important is demonstration to Christian Science? (look throughout this lesson for answers to this question)
 PSST-Section 7
When is salvation?  When is strength come?  When is the kingdom of God and the power of his Christ available?  How do we recognize these in our days that are so infiltrated by material suggestions? Continue to define “Christ” as you read through this lesson.  What is the impact of this Christ on our characters?  How does Mrs. Eddy's definition of Christ reach beyond denominations – how does it support the unity of all mankind?  Encourage your students to embrace that unity in their own community.
 
[Addendum by Warren: Please help spread the word to promote and to financially and prayerfully support the great sharing of the Christ in our age with our youth and the future of church at the Texas Regional Youth Conference,Saturday, April 21, 2012, in Houston!
Explore how Christian Science can make a difference in your life, and how you can make a difference in the world.
  • Talk with three Christian Science youth speakers and your friends about how to be happier, have better relationships, make big decisions, and cope with stress and competition.
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[PYCL: Recognize and welcome the Christ all around you!]
CedarS PYCL–Possible Younger Class Lessons for:  
 
Christ Jesus
The Christian Science Bible Lesson for February 26, 2012
by Kerry Jenkins, CS, House Springs, MO (314) 406-0041
[Bracketed titles by Warren Huff, PYCL Editor]
 
[PYCL: Recognize and welcome the Christ all around you!]
This lesson is full of examples of people recognizing the Christ.  Some, as in Mary and Joseph, recognized the Christ before Jesus was born!  Some, like Anna, knew him when they brought the baby Jesus in to the temple for certain rituals.  The woman by the well recognized him and she wasn't even his religion.  Mary in section three knew him when she brought spices and oil to anoint his feet at Simon's house.  The woman with the issue of blood recognized the power of the Christ when she had the temerity to touch his clothes even though it was “illegal” for her to even be out in a crowd of people.  And obviously his disciples too recognized him for who he was even before he was out doing many great healing works.  Talk with your pupils about what they were recognizing.  What qualities, what were they perceiving?  Are we perceiving the Christ around us today?  What is the difference between the Christ and Jesus the man?  Since the Christ has eternally been with us, can they come up with other examples even before Jesus where they can recognize the Christ's activity? Can they come up with examples of Christly activity in their own lives or in others that they have witnessed?  How do they know it is the Christ at work?  I know a lot of these questions are similar, but perhaps the slight differences will coax different thoughtful answers.
 
[PYCL-RR: Don’t settle for less than “living water” that kids can really draw from the well!]
In the Responsive Reading we hear the story of the Samaritan woman by the well.  Talk about what the water represents and what Jesus meant when he told her that he had “living water” that he could give her.  Come up with a list of qualities that this kind of water might do.  When you have a list, cut out the thoughts and attach a paper clip to each idea.  Drop them in a “well”, maybe an oatmeal container, something kind of deep.  Bring to class a string with a magnet attached to the end, if you feel creative, you can attach the magnet to a mini “bucket” as if you were lowering the bucket into the well to get water.  Have the kids lower the magnet into the well and check out what “living water” ideas they can get from the well.  Talk about how those ideas are active in their lives today.  How did they help the people in the Bible?  How did Jesus share these Christ ideas with those around him?
 
[PYCL-1st section: Talk about purity, clean the windows, soaking up the sun & lessons!]
In the first section we have an opportunity to talk about purity, what that is. How can we keep our thoughts like clear windows, so that the sunlight of the Christ can shine through for all to see and feel.  Have they ever sat in a pool of sunshine in front of a window on a sunny day?  Have they watched a kitty or dog stretch out in these patches of sunshine?  What if the window was super dirty and the sunlight couldn't come through?  Would that mean the sun wasn't shining?  Have them go to a corner of the Sunday School where they can use a marker to color the window black (white board markers work), and then give them paper towels and Windex to clean it off.  My littlest guys love to wash the windows; they love spraying the Windex and wiping off the dirt.  So I'm pretty sure this could be a good object lesson that would hold their interest.  Just keep sharing thoughts as they wipe and spray!
 
[PYCL-2nd section: List the differences between Jesus and Christ!]
When you talk about the difference between the Christ and Jesus, you can use a white board or paper divided into two long columns and write their thoughts on either side. When they are done brain storming look at the different thoughts and qualities embraced in each column.  What makes them different?  What makes them the same?  Hopefully they can see that it is the Christ qualities that are most abundant, and always eternal– lasting.
 
[PYCL-3rd section: Why introduce the chapter on Christian Science Practice with Mary M.?]
Why is the story of the Magdalene [B8], (not considered her now actually), the first story in the chapter [p. 362-365] of Christian Science Practice?  This is a great discussion topic.  Think about the love that this story illustrates and the healing of sin.  Think about the sincerity expressed and the essential elements that it takes to be a good healer.  I'm sure that this could provide a good foundation for some interesting discussion about the practice of Christian Science healing and the most essential elements.  What qualities did Mary express that made her so ready to be healed?  Don't forget to talk about the shame that she felt and the great moral courage it took for her to show up in this public space and express her respect and love for Jesus.  How can we embrace this same humility and make ourselves ready for such progress as she did?
 
[PYCL-4th section: Calling all healers! Reach out today! That means YOU!!]
Section four calls us to heal.  What does citation B9 mean?  What is balm?  There is plenty to discuss in this story in citation B10 [Mark 5:25] about the woman who reached out to Jesus-to the Christ, for healing despite her “unclean” state.  Talk about the rules of the day so they understand that as in the previous story, this woman was stepping out of the set rules of the day in order to approach this Christ-like man for healing.  How are we stepping out today to reach out to the Christ?  Do you have personal examples?  Do they?  Citation S16 tells us that the Christ is ever present in our consciousness; can they see ways that this is true for them?  Look at citation S17 and discuss what can prevent us from healing like Jesus and what we can do to counteract a lack of faith in God?
 
[PYCL-5th section: 2 cardinals can make you “World Champs”! Become loyal fans of them!]
Check out the “two cardinal points” of healing in citation S20.  What are they?  Have a careful discussion of them and talk about how many religions have important rules or tenets, but here she lists “two”. (of course there are the tenets as well, and if you wish to bring these in as well you may.  [S&H 497] In that case see how they [esp. the 5th tenet] relate to the “two cardinal points”.)  What is a “cardinal” point?
 
[PYCL-6th section: Recognize and welcome the Christ all around you!]
In section 6 you may wish to talk about the symbolism in citation B14.  What about the time of day, “the rising of the sun”, what about the stone (too heavy to remove by one man alone)?  Look at citation S23 and discuss how “…material views were the parents of their wicked deeds.”  What does that mean?  What is the “parent” of our deeds?  In citation S24 why couldn't the disciples do many works until Jesus showed himself to be risen from the dead?  What does that symbolize to us today?
 
[PYCL-7th section: Recognize and welcome the Christ all around you!]
And finally in section 7, how does Christ “rule” you? S27. Come up with examples. And look at S25 and discuss what this means. If you've already discussed the difference between Jesus and the Christ this should be easy. You could also fold this citation into a discussion of Jesus and the Christ.
Have a wonderful Christlike Sunday!!
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