Articles

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I attended a Bible conference where participants washed one another's feet as a reenactment of Jesus washing his disciples' feet (see John 13:4–15). I chose not to attend, as the idea of a stranger touching my feet made me uncomfortable, but those who did participate were deeply moved on a spiritual level.

AROUND THANKSGIVING LAST YEAR, my family had to move my dad into a Christian Science care facility in California. A long-standing condition seemed to require more assistance than my mom could give on a frequent basis.

EVER SINCE JESUS EMBARKED on his ministry there has been confusion and disagreement about who he was. Increasing discord over his identity among fourth century Christians—especially his relation to the Father and to the Holy Spirit—caused the Roman emperor Constantine to call together a council of bishops in 325 AD to settle the matter and restore harmony in the Church: Was Jesus Christ—the promised Messiah—God, or the Son of God; coexistent with the Father, or created by Him? At this Council of Nicea the bishops drafted a document known as the Nicene Creed declaring that the Son is "true God from true God," who came down from heaven and "by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

Today there are over 180 students' associations with active teachers of Christian Science, and yet even more associations (about 220) continue to meet yearly although their teachers have passed on. What does it take to be a vital, active association when the teacher is no longer present to teach and guide students? How can an association without its teacher continue to promote the students' spiritual growth? Can associations change aspects of their yearly gatherings? (In our October 2009 issue, the officers of the Board of Education, along with Allison "Skip" Phinney, discussed Christian Science students' associations: Why did Mary Baker Eddy establish them, and what's their educational and healing mission in the Christian Science movement's second century?) J.

MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY have lived on a homestead settled over 250 years ago when America was still a British colony. Evidence of their pioneering efforts is all around—massive stone walls, cleared fields, and granite steps and posts cut from the hill above.

While surfing the Internet, I ran across a fairly recent critique of Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy written by an evangelical Christian. He said Mrs.

WHEN I WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD, I decided to apply for church membership. I was so excited about doing something important! After I was accepted as a member, the people in charge (I learned later they were called "the board"), asked me what I would like to do for the church.

IT WAS early spring, but the landscape was still frozen beneath a thick blanket of snow as our bus slowly navigated the many potholes waiting in ambush under slushy puddles on the road ahead. It was difficult to think, much less read, because of the lurching, bumping, and vibrating motion as we inched our way along the winter-ravaged highway.

WE HAVE A NEW NAME! After nearly 100 years of being First Church of Christ, Scientist, we're now the Christian Science Society of Waukesha, Wisconsin. We love that the Church Manual identifies both churches and societies as branches of The Mother Church.

"This was the most important meeting for me in 85 years. " "I've been a Mother Church member for 40 years and I've never been treated with such respect and been taken as a mature Christian Scientist that can be trusted.