Dear cherished Members,
With joyful anticipation we’re looking forward to being together at Annual Meeting on Monday, June 8, 2015. For Christian Scientists, Annual Meeting day has always been special, perhaps because it makes us more conscious of how all of us are working together in this unique Cause, and everyone is so greatly needed and valued. Our hearts go out with gratitude for all the evidences, past and present, of Christian Scientists around the world working, alone and together, to find more of the reality of Spirit’s supremacy on earth. Each step of demonstration is a necessity.
Whether you’re planning to come to Boston this year or will be joining online—it feels to us like the return of family. We’ve been touched by reading your testimonies, and also by your growing commitment to the healing practice itself. We’re encouraged by your refreshing response to some of the meetings in the Field about the practice, healing in our churches, Christian Science nursing, and The Christian Science Monitor. What’s particularly heartening is that you’re seeing all these activities—healer, subscriber, member—not merely as options for some and not others, but as calls to action for all of us.
You may have participated in one of these meetings or seen one of the reports that have begun appearing in The Christian Science Journal under the section heading, “Commitment to Healing.” If you have, we hope you’ve been feeling what we have, which is that what’s happening isn’t a series or variety of church-related meetings taking place. In fact, what’s really been going on has been one thing, the essential thing, the new thing—a reawakening to the spiritual power that accompanies thought that opens itself up to the possibility of Christ-healing.
We’re discovering that in the midst of challenges, we can still choose love over indifference, God’s Allness over finite mortal belief, and trust over fear, which is why we’ve all been encouraged to continue studying our Leader’s article, “ ‘Choose Ye’ ” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 3). There was a choice to be made then; and there’s a choice to be made now. And there’s growing evidence that when and as that choice is being made, we as members and as a church are experiencing Mrs. Eddy’s instruction, “Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine ‘powers that be’ ” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 249).
So we expect there will be lots to share with one another as we gather for this year’s Annual Meeting, and what we share will all be focused on what we’ve all been learning about how to partake of the Christ-healing that is the foundation of our Church and the hope of our world.
Warmly,
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Robin Hoagland, Allison W. Phinney, Scott Preller, Margaret Rogers, Lyle Young
Annual Meeting Events and Information
Saturday, June 6 through Tuesday, June 9
“ ‘A spiritual foundation of Christ-healing’*: continuing to build”
The events planned for the four days are:
Saturday, June 6, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.—”Building on the foundation of Christ-healing: From the Collections of The Mary Baker Eddy Library”Saturday, June 6, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.—The Christian Science Monitor New England Field MeetingSunday, June 7, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.—“Hearts given to a Cause,” focusing on Christ-healingMonday, June 8, 1:00 to 2:45 or 3 p.m.—Annual Meeting of The Mother Church: “ ‘A spiritual foundation of Christ-healing’: continuing to build”Tuesday, June 9, (morning and afternoon)—Christian Science Practitioner Roundtable discussionsTuesday, June 9, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.—”Conversation on Christian Science Nursing with our Church family”
You can get more information about Annual Meeting and these events online.
Please let us know if you are planning to come to Boston to attend Annual Meeting and other events by filling out this brief poll. Your answers will be a great help to staff in making preparations. This is a poll and not registration; you won’t need a ticket to attend most events. You will need a ticket for Christian Science Practitioner Roundtables, as registration is required and seating is limited.
* “Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 136).
