Of Good Report

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.

Editor’s note: Heloísa, the author of this article, has been asked by the Christian Science Board of Lectureship to be available this lecture year (July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019) specifically to give lectures in Spanish and Portuguese, sponsored in the United States and abroad. Picture yourself in a small village in Brazil sometime in the 1600s or 1700s.

From early childhood we are all taught certain basic rules and laws that can keep us safe from harm. They help us to live alongside our neighbors in harmony.

Dedication of a branch church or society is a public affirmation of the importance of Church in the lives of Christian Scientists and in the community. When an edifice is free of debt, churches and societies often hold a dedicatory service.

I am so grateful to have served as First Reader in my branch Church of Christ, Scientist, in New York City. I have so appreciated learning what it means to let go of a too-personal sense of responsibility and trust that each church service is really God’s service, and that God has a specific message for His congregation.

Is it really worthwhile to have Christian Science Primary class instruction from an authorized teacher listed in The Christian Science Journal? Is it worthwhile to spend the money on travel, food, lodging, to take time off from work, and to pay the modest $100 fee to the Christian Science teacher for this two-week class? I would say … absolutely! I decided when I was twenty that I wanted and needed Primary class instruction in Christian Science—that this step would be invaluable for my spiritual growth. When I met my teacher, who was also a Christian Science lecturer, I was quickly convinced that he was the right teacher for me.

It was a beautiful spring day in April of 2010. When I woke up that morning, I couldn’t imagine wanting to reconnect with the Church of Christ, Scientist, the Church I had willingly left as a young mother and housewife some fifty years before.

Following Annual Meeting 2017, with its upwelling spirit of love and unity, the Christian Science Board of Directors felt the immense value of Christian Scientists continuing to bear witness to the power of Spirit itself in bringing new energies and fresh devotion to our Cause. As of this date, the Board has journeyed to 16 regional meetings for church members, attendees at church services, and others seriously studying Christian Science.

The Psalms are so full of insights into the spiritual nature of home. Throughout the Psalms, words such as abide, dwelling place, refuge, secret place, green pastures, and house of the Lord have helped me to gain a sense of home as where my thought rests on and in God’s presence and power.

Many years ago , I was asked to take on the duties of a substitute Reader at a Christian Science informal group I attended, which meant that some weeks I would need to read the weekly Bible Lesson-Sermon to the congregation. But for about as long as I can remember, any activity that required speaking in public, even talking to a clerk at a store, was fraught with anxiety for me.