Dear Members and Friends,
It is a pleasure to invite you to this year’s Annual Meeting on Monday, June 7, which we expect will take place mostly online again this year. We are still waiting to see if we will be able to offer any in-person attendance. Stay tuned to christianscience.com/annualmeeting for more details during the next few months.
As the Board has considered this past year and also the coming year, we were reminded of a verse from Hymn No. 278 in the Christian Science Hymnal:
Truthful and steadfast though trials betide thee,
Ever one thing do thou ask of thy Lord,
Grace to go forward, wherever He guide thee,
Gladly obeying the call of His word.
(Peter Maurice)
And we found our theme for this year.
Grace to go forward.
There have been trials, yes. But there is so much good to share with you. And there is continued gratitude for the work that has been accomplished both throughout the Field and here in Boston. We have proof once again that “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). There can be no separation from God or each other as we continue to do God’s work. We are united with Church even if we have not been able to unite in church for much of these last months.
Grace to go forward.
We are all looking forward, listening and praying for Spirit’s grace and guidance in 2021.
We are seeing a new sense of church emerge as the natural result of what we are learning during this time. Many have shared with us that they have a greater appreciation for what really matters in church. We’re hearing of a purer, more spiritual sense of church, and while we don’t know exactly how this will be expressed, we do know that Christ will be leading us in the right way to meet the individual and community needs at this time.
Along with the fresh sense of church, what will continue to bless is the good that is already being demonstrated by each Church of Christ, Scientist, through every member's study and practice, love for each other, and our working and praying together for our communities.
Grace to go forward.
Referring to moving forward together through the guidance of God, Mary Baker Eddy writes: “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).
We would love to hear from you or your branch about what you’ve been learning. If you have a “report from the Field” to share, please be in touch with the Clerk of The Mother Church by April 30 at clerk@christianscience.com or by calling 1-800-288-7155 or +1-617-450-3481 (outside the US/Canada).
With much gratitude for each of you and for each branch church, society, and informal group throughout the world—you are making a world of difference!
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
