What do we come to church to see, Principle or person? Do we come to see a performance, the way the Readers look, move, enunciate? Do we come to see personal preachers? The Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, are our preachers —they are the messenger and the message, preparing, step by step, the way for the Christ, Truth, to unfold in us.
Having to answer questions such as these is like taking inventory of our own attitude: renewing and strengthening our concept of our individual part in the church service, learning what it really means to us, what we expect to get out of it, and what we intend to put into it, to give to it.
A friend wanted to know at what time the Sunday service began in our local Church of Christ, Scientist. I told her when it officially started; yet, realizing her genuine interest in our religion and her ardent desire to learn more about it, I added, "But for us the service begins individually the very moment we enter the auditorium, no matter how early we are." The Readers' part is to present the Lesson-Sermon set forth in the Christian Science Quarterly; ours is to prepare our hearts, making them receptive to Truth. When we enter the auditorium, we endeavor to leave all worldly thoughts behind and to fill our consciousness with the prayerful recognition of divine Love's presence and power. Mrs. Eddy says, "Science speaks when the senses are silent, and then the evermore of Truth is triumphant."Miscellaneous Writings, p. 100;
