From the Directors:

The order of services in branch churches

From time to time questions are raised about a change made on page 120 of the 89 th edition of the Manual of The Mother Church, which was published a few weeks after Mary Baker Eddy's passing. This change consisted in the addition of three words "and Branch Churches" in the heading of the order of services in The Mother Church.

It has sometimes been assumed that Mrs. Eddy did not authorize the added words. On the contrary, she both saw and gave her handwritten approval to the proof sheets of the 89th edition containing this and several other small changes, thus making that edition the last of the "subsequent editions" with changes approved by her after the 73 rd that "shall be cited as authority" (Church Manual, Art. XXXV, Sect. 2).

There is no reason for surprise that Mrs. Eddy authorized this final clarification of her purpose in regard to the order of Sunday services. Even before the order as first prescribed was introduced into the Manual, she unequivocally stated on several occasions her intent that branch churches adopt the same order as The Mother Church.

As early as December 1891 she introduced a notice in The Christian Science Journal with the words: "That there be uniformity among Christian Scientists in their Church services, I submit the following Order of Exercise." In her statement in the Journal printed in Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 313-316, she provided the format of "the Sunday services of our denomination." When she added the reading of the "scientific statement of being" and the Explanatory Note, she requested in the issues of the Journal for February 1896 and April 1897 that the branch churches incorporate these new items in their proper place in the order of service. Again, in the Sentinel of March 21, 1901, she announced in regard to the newly added correlative reading from I John 3: "All the Churches of Christ, Scientist (from this date), are requested to read at the close of services, and before benediction, the 'Scientific Statement of Being.' . . . And the correlative Scripture according to I John 3:1, 2, 3."

Other similar statements regarding the uniform order of services in The Mother Church and its branches were made by Mrs. Eddy in her public announcements and private letters at various times. Her final addition to page 120 of the Manual, along with a similar addition on page 127, was not an afterthought but rather represents a culmination of two decades of her consistently expressed desire that "the same form of religious worship shall be observed by all the churches of our denomination" (Journal, May 1896).

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

These branch members put spiritual growth first

For the members of a small branch, it was a watershed experience. Tentative plans for alterations to the church edifice had been drawn up and early bids were unexpectedly high, leaving the members uncertain about what to do.

Rather than become mired in human reasons for and against the project, the membership adopted a study program that encouraged each member to discover the qualities Mrs. Eddy required and expected in The Mother Church and its branches. In particular they noted her prayers for the churches.

An excerpt from a letter by Mrs. Eddy to a branch church succinctly stated the reason for the program: "The praiseworthy success of this church, and its united efforts to build an edifice in which to worship the infinite, sprang from the temples erected first in the hearts of its members—the unselfed love that builds without hands, eternal in the heaven of Spirit. God grant that this unity remain, and that you continue to build, rebuild, adorn, and fill these spiritual temples with grace, Truth, Life, and Love."^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 195.}

The members studied references that gave the spiritual meaning of structure, foundation, and cornerstone. They examined the nature of true Christian activity as seen in the life of Christ Jesus and St. Paul. They also looked at how the Church Manual by Mrs. Eddy was designed to nurture the individual Christian Scientist and protect the human institution. As they studied they became increasingly aware of the need for that temple "erected first in the hearts of its members . . . ." And as in all good building programs, there were tests for checking out the "structural soundness" of their Christianity.

A deep love developed among the members as they became more aware that the purpose of their branch was to foster an understanding of spiritual individuality. This love found expression in help given to several members experiencing temporary difficulties.

The building project ceased to be an issue as the members saw the demand was not for physical expansion, but for a fuller recognition and demonstration of the spiritual qualities of Church. This enlarged understanding of Church which cannot be limited or confined within four walls, is meeting all the various needs of the entire membership.

Church building: it begins within the individual . . .

In Miscellany Mrs. Eddy writes: "Divine Love has strengthened the hand and encouraged the heart of every member of this large church."^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 132;} For one Mother Church employee, this sentence summed up an experience that was a turning point in her church work. She found herself having to cope with some severe difficulties, and one day the situation reached such a point she had to call a friend.

"He told me quite simply that I should love my work. And that really shook me up, because I couldn't see how I was going to do that. As I thought about loving my job, it occurred to me to read Mrs. Eddy's article, 'Love Your Enemies.'^{See Miscellaneous Writings, p. 8-13.} While reading, I was impelled to look up the dictionary meaning of enemy.

"I always thought I had known what an enemy is ... either it is someone you dislike or someone who dislikes you. But to my surprise I discovered a more basic meaning. It said an enemy is anyone who opposes your interests. Well, that definition opened my eyes. What I had been feeling at work was a conflict of interests and a clash of wills.

"I realized I didn't have to accept this as real; I knew better. I knew what Church really is. And as this thought broke over me, I had such a beautiful feeling of what it means to be a true Christian—someone who feels how much God loves everybody, including himself. This meant I could love my job, for it was that very job that was providing me with opportunities to demonstrate my own Christliness.

"This did away with the fear. I saw that everyone lives in the one Mind and that differences of opinion and attitudes can't hide the spiritual fact that in Church everyone is fulfilled, and a true understanding of Church works to support this. It was obvious that everyone has his or her place, and no one can interfere; there is no mortal will to exercise an influence. In Church, everyone is cherished as an individual."

. . . and grows to include fellow church members . . .

After five years of a dwindling membership, the remaining members of one small European society were facing the decision as to whether or not they should dissolve.

At a special members' meeting there was a straightforward discussion of the problem—it was very obvious to each member that the faults of the others were the cause of the society's inharmony and disunity.

As the meeting progressed, it was apparent what had to be done—the members saw they each had to start behaving like the expressions of God they truly were, and see others in the same light. After that renewed commitment, the decision to continue as a society was easy to make.

In the weeks that followed, the atmosphere decidedly improved. Now the corrosive criticism is gone. One member who resigned has returned. Newcomers are using the Reading Room, and sales have increased. Collections are up, too, and the society is once again on a sound financial footing.

The members report that as they continue to destroy the animal magnetism that would parade as their own thought, the society grows stronger and more attend services.

. . . then overflows to embrace the community

When a branch in the western United States was burglarized and the Subscription Edition of Science and Health taken, the members prayed for a solution.

After some time had elapsed, the book hadn't been located and the insurance company sent a check to cover the loss. It was at this time that a second act of vandalism occurred. When the issue came up at a meeting, one member stood up and flatly stated she had no intention of accepting either the theft of the book or the needless destruction as a part of Church.

Others were stirred to see that the Church Universal includes everyone and for that reason no one can be outside or beyond its embrace. One new member committed herself to diligent daily work for a healing. The woman reasoned that the truth found in the pages of Science and Health would be the basis for a healing solution.

Soon afterward a call came from a distant Reading Room, reporting that the Subscription Edition had been left on the doorstep, unharmed.

What does it mean to be a branch member?

Being a branch church member can make great demands for individual spiritual growth. One longtime student of Christian Science, who is a practitioner, described branch church membership this way:

To me, it has always meant a sense of love that teaches each of us how to discover the kingdom of heaven within ourselves.

From your experience, how would you describe what took place as you began to discover your spiritual identity?

Church membership fostered and fed my understanding of spiritual individuality in much the same way that an individual is supported and strengthened by a good family situation. As I understood more about man's total dependence on God—an understanding encouraged by branch church membership—I grew to recognize a responsibility to fellow members, which then overflowed to include the community.

How did you see this growth as affecting your branch church and the surrounding community?

Well, from my own experience I began to realize that the branch church's success in the community depended upon how far the individual church member, meaning me, was willing to practice unselfed love. The better I understood Mrs. Eddy's concept of Church, the more I realized how important both the Manual-authorized actvities—such as services, meetings, and Sunday School—and the discipline of the Church Manual are in providing an understanding of unselfed love.

At one time I belonged to a branch church where it became obvious to all of us that we needed to become more practical in our efforts to really live our Science. We saw that we individually needed to understand more clearly our own inseparability from God, and that the church was there to nurture and support this understanding for everyone in the community. We saw that we had to live Christian Science as individuals, live it in our homes, and in our families. We also realized that the overflow from this exercise of spiritual living would embrace the community.

It was quite obvious that reaching the community was not an end in itself, but was the result of what we were doing in our own individual lives.

What developed was remarkable spiritual cooperation and tender encouragement for individual spiritual growth.

There were instances in which people were temporarily troubled or ill and everyone rallied to help.

Can you give an example of this kind of support?

Yes. A Sunday School teacher had a teen-age class that wanted to apply what it was learning about Church and Christianity. Several of the pupils had said they felt as though they weren't needed, adding that they felt the church seemed like a place for older people. This teacher prayed to know what to do. The first thing he did—he couldn't think of anything else—was to ask them if they would like to help him work in the church grounds on Saturday afternoon. The response was so enthusiastic he suddenly realized how eager these young people were to apply what they knew of God's great love for man to some unselfish activity.

The teacher realized that this enthusiasm could be used to benefit the entire membership; he saw it as a means of expressing appreciation to some longtime members who, over the years, had done much to support the church.

It transpired that an older member—actually one of the founding members of the church—was having a difficult time. His wife was ill, and because he was looking after her, there was some work in their garden that needed doing. So, the Sunday School teacher asked the class if they would like to help—not just doing the needed chores but using the experience as an opportunity to learn more about some basic spiritual truths.

The children were eager to get started and the four oldest classes volunteered to participate. The senior class took on a metaphysical assignment—they worked out complete treatments on subjects related to the project. On the assigned Saturday they all met beforehand in a church workroom and shared ideas on safety, stamina, and harmony. Despite there being an important football game at the local school and a number of other activities that day, a large group set forth. The day was devoted to fixing up the garden, putting up storm windows, and cleaning gutters. Everybody had a wonderful time, a genuine need was met, and the lift it gave that couple was enormous.

Did anything further come from that experience?

Yes. Two of the girls in the class said they would really like to help people who couldn't get out. As a result, they started to visit two members who were shut in, reading the Bible Lesson and doing chores for them. What these young people did was not a string of little acts. They were learning something of the nature of unselfed love and discovering some basic truths about man's spiritual identity. It was their participation in a branch church as Sunday School pupils that provided the opportunity for them to glorify God, apply their understanding of Church, and see how this spills over as goodwill to the community.

'We are here to demonstrate unselfed love'

Many of you by now have received telephone calls from the Publishing Society. For several months workers in the Circulation Department have been calling Monitor subscribers instead of sending a third renewal notice. Much benefit has come from this change. In many cases it has meant avoiding an interruption in service by learning that a payment is on its way or that the subscriber intended to renew but had not gotten to it.

However, the service has developed into more than a personalized reminder that the subscription is about to lapse, for the caller frequently has an opportunity to help a subscriber understand more about the Monitor and its purpose. Occasionally, there are those who are very irritated with the Monitor's editorial policy and who berate the caller as though he or she is personally responsible. One caller explained how she approaches such situations: "In all my conversations I remind myself that I am a Christian, and when I speak with honesty and love, people will know that the Monitor cares about what they think and feel.

"One night shortly after President Carter's inauguration, a man exploded when I asked him about renewing his subscription. He said the paper didn't give Mr. Ford a chance. I explained that it was inevitable for a newspaper to present various political views. I also reminded him that some people feel the Monitor is too conservative politically.

"During our conversation he said he had not paid his per capita tax to The Mother Church for three years because he was so mad at the Monitor. By that time we had already talked for a few minutes, and I felt free to say that differing political viewpoints seemed insufficient reason for canceling a subscription and not paying the per capita tax. He saw the point, and when the discussion ended he said he was going to pay the tax and seriously think about renewing his subscription.

"One woman was very upset because she saw the paper's Middle East position as pro-Arab. I felt I had to point out that people also object because they feel the paper is pro Israeli, and went on to say that a newspaper, if it is to do any good, has to keep an open mind in controversies, and be as objective as possible when reporting. I added that, as readers, we didn't necessarily have to take sides. In fact we could do more good by carefully weighing all sides of the issue, and support the good on both sides rather than tear down or destroy. The woman agreed and renewed her subscription."

There is also the subscriber who is "mad" at either a reporter or the editors. What does a caller do? One suggests the subscriber send a letter to the writer concerned, then she reminds the subscriber that the role of a good newspaper goes far beyond appealing to one class of people or espousing the views of one political party. When the purpose of the Monitor is presented in this way, people begin to judge the paper a little differently. They often come to realize that disagreement over an issue should not affect their appreciation and support either of the Monitor or the particular writer.

People are often grateful to be reminded their subscription is about to lapse. Sometimes they are obviously annoyed. But as one caller expressed it: "When people decide not to renew, I want them to know that they are loved regardless of whether they subscribe or not."

One caller talked with a doctor, a man whose wife had passed on recently. "He said he couldn't afford to take the paper anymore, and that it was his wife who had been the Christian Scientist. However, he did say that he had often gone to church and to lectures with her. When he told me how unhappy and lonely he was, I encouraged him to study his Bible, and to go to a branch church where he would always be welcome. I sensed his great loneliness, and we talked for a while. Afterward I made arrangements to send him a three month subscription to the paper.

"The important thing I have found is that we are here to express unselfed love. It isn't one individual trying to reach another individual out there. It is divine Mind expressing itself as All, and the Monitor, as a practical expression of Church, provides endless opportunities for demonstrating this fact."

Science and Health, p. 583.

Trends worth noting: Christian healing in churches

At first glance, the evidence may seem slight—a church bulletin board announcing a prayer meeting for Christian healing, a newspaper article, or a book on the same subject.

As isolated examples they may not seem significant, but in growing numbers they tell of a stirring taking place in some Christian churches.

More people are asking questions about the subject at talks held under Committee on Publication auspices. Speakers increasingly report thoughtful consideration of divine healing among prayer groups in neighborhood churches. A few non-Scientists are even conversant with the ideas found in Science and Health.

There is much that vigorously counterfeits true Christian healing. Attempts to cure through will, blind faith, and the emotionalism of mass meetings have nothing in common with the healing activity of the Christ. On the other hand, there are small signs that some Christians are beginning to realize quiet Christian prayer can be deeply effective in healing. As Mrs. Eddy indicates in her comment in Pulpit and Press,^{Pulpit and Press, p. 22;} even such an approximation of Christian Science healing is worthy of note.

In recognition of the interest in Christian healing, a new exhibit has been placed in the lobby of the Church Administration Building which explains to the visitor that Christian Science healing is Christian healing. Tracing spiritual healing from the works of Christ Jesus, the exhibit introduces Mrs. Eddy's discovery and then proceeds to show how it is related to her study of the Scriptures. It then goes on to show the wider implications of her discovery to universal humanity: "Now, as then, signs and wonders are wrought in the metaphysical healing of physical disease; but these signs are only to demonstrate its divine origin,—to attest the reality of the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world."^{Science and Health, p. 150.}

One panel sums up the purpose of the exhibit and captures the deep meaning of Christian healing: "When people are healed by turning to God and finding Him more present, more real, than they have ever supposed Him to be, they often feel as though they are seeing life for the first time. Their healing is just the beginning of a hunger to know more of Life as God, not limited by material circumstances but discovered in spiritual reality."

Information for all our readers: A new leaflet on the Bible

Have you wanted to delve more deeply into the spiritual meaning of the Bible? A new leaflet, "The Inspired Word of the Bible," contains two articles that encourage exploring the biblical record of spiritual being. The authors, lifelong students of Christian Science, show how the Bible is an invaluable "life-resource" that reveals the spiritual dimension of daily life.

The leaflet is a reprint of two Sentinel articles and costs 20¢.

Paul the Missionary Apostle

This book—The Continuity of the Bible: Paul the Missionary Apostle—is the last in the series by Thomas L. Leishman.

In his foreword the author says, "The enormous contribution of Paul, that fearless pioneer Christian, can never be overestimated or overshadowed in the history of the Christian Church." This theme is developed to present Paul and his distinctive achievements in a book for all Bible students.

Available in green cloth binding, the book costs $3.50.

Both the leaflet and the book are available in most Christian Science Reading Rooms, or can be ordered from The Christian Science Publishing Society, One Norway Street, Boston, MA, U.S.A. 02115.

A Compilation of Solos

Branch churches, soloists, and music committees have been asking for a list of solos—other than Mrs. Eddy's poems—that could be used to form a convenient nucleus for planning.

This recent compilation by the Publishing Society includes an alphabetical listing of more than 200 works suggested as appropriate and effective by branch church soloists around the world. Composer and voice range are given as well as publishers' addresses, so the music can be readily ordered.

Available in an 8 1/2 x 11 looseleaf format and punched to fit a 3-ring binder, the price is $1.50 for each list. It can be ordered through your local Reading Room or direct from The Christian Science Publishing Society, One Norway Street, Boston, MA, U.S.A. 02115.

(Please note: Solo settings of Mrs. Eddy's poems are listed in the Reading Room catalog and may be ordered at a Reading Room or direct from the Publisher's Agent.)

More about Words'

Starting in January 1978, "Words of Current Interest" will appear one month ahead in all issues of the Journal. Initially, this change was to be done just for points outside the continental United States, but now everyone will receive "Words" well in advance of the first Bible Lesson each month.

This means that the January issue will have "Words" for January and February; then the February Journal will carry March "Words," and so on.

Special offer: Free Sentinels

The Publishing Society has a special offer to help branch churches share Christian Science. Any bulk order for at least 100 same-date issues of the Sentinel will be matched, upon request, with an equal number of the same issue at no extra cost.

When a branch is having a lecture, special mailing, or outreach activity requiring 100 or more Sentinels, ask your librarian to order them on bulk order form RM 38.74 and write on the form "Matching Order." Below the number of copies being purchased, write in the number of additional copies you'd like up to the purchased amount.

Please allow a minimum of five weeks for the order to be filled.

Do you do institutional work?

If you do, you'll be interested to know that an "Information Sheet on Institutional Work" (July 1977) is available in English for participating individuals, branches, and committees worldwide. This replaces the now obsolete "Guidelines for Institutional Work" (January 1970).

This notice is not intended to persuade branches or members to participate in this work but to make some practical standards and procedures available to those doing institutional work.

For those branches working together to provide this special ministry, "Guidelines for Institutional Committee Bylaws" will be available by the year's end. These will be sent to existing joint institutional committees, and can be requested by branches considering formation of such a committee.

All institutional activities, including the bylaws of joint committees, should be reviewed periodically for conformity with current guidance. Use of the new "Information Sheet" and the bylaw "Guidelines" will help ensure that institutional activities are organized and conducted along wise and orderly lines and in harmony with the Church Manual.

Inquiries or comments, as well as requests for the "Information Sheet" and "Guidelines" should be made to: The First Church of Christ, Scientist; Department of Branches and Practitioners; Special Ministry Division; Boston, MA, U.S.A. 02115.