Dear Members of The Mother Church:
From El Bolsón, a small mountain town in the Argentine Patagonia, I send you all my affection and gratitude. I was first introduced to Christian Science here where a small group of students met to read the weekly Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly.
I still have some copies of the Herald, Journal, and Sentinel that were shared with me, containing articles and testimonies that were probably written by some of you. How many blessings and how much progress they offered me! Thank you! I soon discovered that there was a large family of church members around the world that made this possible as they allowed themselves to be moved by divine Love—the Christ in action—in their lives.
This honest, consistent work of so many united Christian disciples throughout the years continues to be necessary today. The church, as an organization, must continue to give proof of its utility by helping mankind, because the world seems to parallel the description given by Mary Baker Eddy in the textbook when she says: “This material world is even now becoming the arena for conflicting forces. On one side there will be discord and dismay; on the other side there will be Science and peace” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 96). Mankind will continue to strive for a higher sense of things until the allness of good, Spirit, is demonstrated. In these pages she also tells us what role we will need to play: “... those who discern Christian Science will hold crime in check. They will aid in the ejection of error. They will maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection” (Science and Health, p. 97).
As we rise to the understanding of God as One, as All, we will feel the sacred impetus of working together as one church. Let us watch, let us be alert to recognize that any argument that would seek to separate us from this oneness of church does not proceed from divine Love; it is only materialism and false beliefs centered on a separate sense of self that suggest acting in a contrary manner. Our natural inclination is living together in peace and doing good one to another, fulfilling the commandment of the Master, Christ Jesus, to “love one another.”
Each one of us is exactly where a Christian Scientist and our church are needed. This can be seen in the many healing ways the members of The Mother Church support this holiest of causes.
Thank you for fulfilling your post with so much love.
With deep gratitude and united in Christ,
Fabián Smara
President of The Mother Church
