We will be focusing on Hymn 453 from the Christian Science Hymnal Supplement, “Rise up and Walk” with words and music by Peter B. Allen. This hymn, and the many Bible quotes it references, will launch our exploration of healing, freedom, purpose, harmony, belonging, being “right in this moment, doing God’s will” (verse 2). . .
For campers taking on new challenges at camp— be it living in a cabin for the first time, making new friends, or trying a new program or activity— we love the comforting promise of the hymn’s line, “Carefree and strong, you are His song, perfect for all to see.”* This line will also offer great opportunities to address the differences between being carefree and careless!
And in working and praying that every dear one who comes through CedarS’ gates feels a divine sense of home and belonging, we love the hymn’s promise: “Heaven is here, harmony’s bliss to everyone belongs.”
We will also use Hymn 453 to dive more deeply into our Pastor. The hymn quotes so many of Jesus Christ’s commands related to healing, including the following:
- “rise up and walk” (Luke 5:23; John 5:8; Acts 3:6, as uttered by Peter);
- “take up your bed” (Matt 9: 6; Mark 2: 9 & 11; John 5: 8, 11 & 12);
- “stretch forth your hand” (Matt 12:13; Mark 3:5; Luke 6: 10; as well as 10 Old Testament references);
- “receive your sight” (Mark 10:51-52; Luke 18:41-42; Acts 22: 13, as uttered by Ananias);
- “heal the sick, cleanse the leapers, raise the dead, cast out demons” (Matthew 10:8).
The hymn also references Jesus’ promise that such healing will continued today: “These works shall you do, and greater still” (see John 14:12).
And we will certainly explore the hymn’s line, “Holding your thought to the good and the true, Spirit will form you anew” through the lens of the passages in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy that read: “Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts” (SH 261: 4) and “Correct material belief by spiritual understanding, and Spirit will form you anew” (SH 425: 24-25).
