To strengthen the healing thrust of our movement, thus improving our ability to respond to the needs of mankind by spiritual means.
—the Healing Goal of The Mother Church
Heavy rains were threatening portions of a Michigan community that had just dried out from spring floods. Panicked by water that had already reached their doorsteps and was coming into their basements, people in the floodplain were calling the housing office where city emergency personnel were already planning evacuation procedures.
A Christian Scientist working in the housing office called the local Reading Room and asked the librarian if she would join her in doing specific prayerful work on flooding and displacement. In less than an hour the radio reported the water receding naturally, and no evacuation was necessary.
This was the start of what has since become a community alert committee in this Michigan branch. Its purpose: to quickly identify present or impending dangers, needs, or inharmony in the community and to work to heal them through Christian Science treatment, and to support good government and worthwhile community endeavors throughout the year.
"The committee's work is completely metaphysical," the branch reports, "making it one of the most effective means of outreach we have. And it gives us specific opportunity to apply the truth in areas and situations where human intervention wouldn't be effective."
The community alert concept, too, is based securely on the branch's chosen spiritual goal, "To lift thought individually, with a healing thrust of activity, and demonstrate an enlarged spiritual expectation."
Here's how the committee works. It being a church-wide activity, each member is invited to participate and be alert to special needs as well as emergencies in the community. A core group within the committee stands ready to receive calls, communicate the need among the members, and report fruitage. And meetings are held as needed to focus support on unsolved problems.
During the first month of its operation, the committee worked on crime in the community. Within two months the local newspaper was reporting a significant decrease in burglaries.
More recently the committee was alerted to an impending ice storm. Twenty-nine counties in Michigan were named disaster areas, but their community was not harmed. Neither did a predicted flu epidemic develop. In a so-called "undesirable neighborhood" conditions have improved to the point where a committee member says she now feels safe walking there.
"A branch Church of Christ, Scientist, is evidence of the activity of the Christ in the community," the committee says, and points to Mrs. Eddy's reminder in Unity of Good (p. 11), "Jesus taught us to walk over, not into or with, the currents of matter, or mortal mind. ... He annulled the laws of matter, showing them to be laws of mortal mind, not of God. He showed the need of changing this mind and its abortive laws. He demanded a change of consciousness and evidence, and effected this change through the higher laws of God."
It takes only one to get started
When the First Reader of a church in Wisconsin finished his term on the platform, he volunteered to be superintendent of the Sunday School. Only problem was there was no Sunday School. It had dwindled away to the point where the only youngster left attended church with her mother.
"It seemed at the time an almost hopeless situation," the church reported.
But the new superintendent was intent on reestablishing the activity. The first four or five Sundays he went to the Sunday School room alone (their Sunday School is held at the same time as the church service) and prayed for God's help. It was quite discouraging at first. But after the third week he knew the Sunday School was already established.
"I prayed," he explained, "something like this: 'God, this Sunday School is established now, and we are ready for Your students.' "
"The fourth or fifth week we got one pupil, and we were so grateful," the branch reported. "From that time on the increase was slow but sure, and at the end of the first year we had enough pupils for three classes —but only the superintendent for a teacher."
As they realized, however, that the church depended on God, not personalities, it wasn't long before the Sunday School had its needed teachers and substitutes and four classes with as many as five pupils each.
One of the most interesting things about the demonstration: this isn't a very large church by any means. In fact there are times now when they have more pupils in Sunday School than they have people in church.
The branch also has a predominantly older membership and little use at present for a Children's Room. But they expect their growth to continue and so are going ahead this year and outfitting one anyway so they'll be ready when the need arises.
The versatile Quarterly speaks another language
Patience. Perseverance. Integrity. Intuition. These are qualities that have made possible the new Japanese Quarterly.
Of course, some basic translation skills were crucial: mastery of two 52-character syllabaries, some 4,000 Chinese symbols, and an above-average fluency in English. And if you think learning these would be a monumental task, you might be able to appreciate some of the less obvious problems the translators encountered.
The differences between Japanese and English are formidable. The same noun can be both singular and plural. There are no definite or indefinite articles. There is no clear distinction between present and future verb tenses. Japanese doesn't possess an equivalent of the verb "to be." Traditional English usage depends mainly upon logical, legal, and philosophical judgments. Japanese is more a language of relationships and intuitive subtleties. A single verb can indicate the social relationships of the person speaking, the person spoken to, and the person spoken about.
It has taken years of dedicated work first by Bible societies translating both Old and New Testaments, followed by Mother Church committees translating Science and Health, to arrive at the present step of progress.
In Christian Science certain words, such as the synonyms for God, are capitalized to convey an idea or concept apart from general usage. As there are no capital letters in Japanese, it was decided when translation work was begun on the Japanese Herald to set such terms in bold-faced type. All this care has resulted in a precise, careful translation that captures Mrs. Eddy's original vision in good, contemporary Japanese.
With the recent publication of Science and Health and now the Quarterly (both with Japanese and English on facing pages), a need is being met for the Japanese people in their own language that the English texts alone couldn't hope to fill.
The new Japanese translations of Science and Health and the Quarterly are available worldwide through Christian Science Reading Rooms. The Quarterly can be subscribed to also through circulation representatives in many branch churches or directly from The Christian Science Publishing Society. Single copies, 75¢; one-year subscriptions, $2.50.
Finding opportunities to share Science and Health
Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy is something that most Christian Scientists, quite naturally, want to share with others. But how to find the opportunities? They come from a Christian love for people close at hand, by perceiving when someone is searching for God, as this woman found.
"For a time," she writes, "I had exchange teachers living in my home. One young man became quite interested in Christian Science. He had two lovely healings, of a severe cold and of stomach flu, by reading Science and Health. He asked many questions about Christian Science, and I always answered him with something from Mrs. Eddy's writings.
"A lady who lived with me for a time became interested and bought Science and Health. She phoned recently to say she had been healed of a badly sprained ankle. At night she couldn't stand, as it was swollen and painful. She went to bed and read the textbook for some time. In the morning the ankle was completely healed. She said, 'I have heard you give testimonies of quick healings, but I could never see how it could happen. Now I know.' She said she walked into town that day perfectly free."
Later, the Scientist moved into an apartment. The opportunities to share Science and Health continued.
"A woman stopped me and said, 'You're a Christian Scientist, aren't you? I would like to know something about it.' I had a short talk with her and loaned her a copy of Science and Health. When I met her again, she said she wanted to buy the book so she could keep reading it.
"A few months ago," the Christian Scientist's report continues, "my neighbor's sister came to visit her and became quite interested in Christian Science. I loaned her a textbook, and she was so thrilled with it she too wanted to buy her own. She has had two healings and says she knows they occurred through reading 'that book.' Now she has bought Science and Health for two of her daughters. She was delighted to learn that another daughter had also become interested in Christian Science while living in England and is an earnest student."
Branches in central Europe reaching out more readily
One Sunday afternoon, a branch in Bavaria reports, a woman passed the Christian Science Reading Room as she had done many times before. But this time she stopped, attracted by the colorful literature in the window. She read at the window for a few minutes and felt impelled to go in. The Reading Room, however, was closed this day. It was then she discovered a literature distribution box near the door.
She took a Herald, went home, and started reading immediately. Greatly satisfied, she felt she had found what she had long been looking for. The next day she called a Christian Science practitioner listed in the Herald and shortly after began attending church services and eagerly studying Christian Science.
Churches and societies in many parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland report sales of literature have increased considerably in their Reading Rooms through introduction of free literature in convenient distribution boxes. A society in southwestern Germany writes, "We constantly have to refill our distribution box at the railway station." And a church in Switzerland, "We know we're getting subscriptions to the German Herald and the Monitor from people who take copies of these publications from the distribution box."
In many areas, branches are reaching out to people of various nationalities in their communities by distributing literature in Italian, Greek, Spanish, French, Indonesian, and Portuguese.
Much of the fruitful literature distribution activity in German-speaking Europe stems from the interest of one member in designing a simple clear plastic display box of minimal cost. Today nearly 200 of these are being used in central Europe and filling a definite need, especially when placed in areas not immediately connected to the church quarters.
In some larger cities branches are working together to maintain joint showcases and distribute literature to prisons, youth hostels, and retirement homes. And more and more individual members are finding opportunities to share literature on a one-to-one basis.
"Some people are hesitant to enter Reading Rooms and ask for information or literature," one member observes. "So a periodical taken from a distribution box or shared one-to-one may very well be their first contact with Christian Science."
In a major port city in northern Germany a branch is making further inroads into the community—some quite striking—by manning information tables (temporary, bookmobile-type extensions of the literature distribution activity) in a popular flea market and local shopping center.
"At the shopping center," one branch member reports, "our table stood among many political information stands and young people who had draped themselves with posters and newspapers. They looked us over critically, but not with hostility. They were there every Saturday, but our table was something new. They showed open surprise at our presence.
"After a while one of them came up and got some of the small pamphlets. He was very polite. With time many of them came, examining what we had, some taking items; all of them quiet and friendly, never making any derogatory remarks; a few of them eventually engaging in fruitful conversation that cleared away many misunderstandings."
At the flea market the information table faced a row of houses inhabited almost exclusively by students, the majority of whom belonged, again, to various political groups. On one particular day they were protesting the restoration of this residential area. They hung giant posters from windows, put a large loudspeaker on a balcony just opposite the church's information table, and began blaring their songs and slogans.
When the police asked the students to break off their activities and they refused, a big crowd began to gather and the situation got more and more heated—all this taking place right in front of the Christian Scientists' table.
"We prayed earnestly for a peaceful resolution," one member recalls. "Slowly the situation became normal. There were no violent outbreaks. The confrontation had, in fact, only brought more people to our table— indeed, insured that it was given particular attention!"
An obviously important part of the church's preparation for this outreach to the community was full-membership inspirational meetings. "It became particularly clear to us at these meetings," the committee reported, "that we didn't need to have pat answers ready for any questions we might be asked. But the most important thing was to protect the entire project through prayer and to have all members support it; also to try to be constantly in conscious unity with God, infinite, all-knowing divine Mind, who enables us to meet every situation lovingly, intelligently, clearly, in a healing manner. And this is the way it has been.
"We've had many fine experiences, and not once have we been given any kind of aggressive challenge. All of us who serve at the table feel the prayerful support of all the church members. And the openness and receptivity of the public continue to fill us with gratitude."
A new series of meetings in support of the Monitor
A series of meetings to enlist greater support of the Monitor is being planned for some 35 or more cities in the United States and Canada in the coming months. Alex Swan, Advertising Director, and Jack Thornton, Circulation Sales Department Manager, will conduct the meetings.
All branch church members in and around the selected cities will be notified by their local executive boards. Featured in the meetings will be an 11-minute color film on the Monitor. Ample time will be provided, too, for questions and discussion.
"We hope through these meetings to actively involve more church members in earnestly supporting the Monitor and its mission," Mr. Swan explained. "Today, perhaps more than ever, the world, our community, our neighbors—particularly our own family—need the penetrating analysis and unique solution-oriented inspiration our newspaper provides. Each one of us, through our loyalty to Mrs. Eddy's great vision for the Monitor and our love for mankind, can do much to extend its blessing."
The meetings were scheduled in June for northern California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado; in July for Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ontario, Canada; in August for New York and Connecticut; in September for Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri; in October, southern California, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma; in November, Florida, Georgia, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; and in December, Massachusetts.
Following this series of meetings the film will be made available for individual branch church use.
Nurse trainees learn about a spiritual standard of freedom
A patient in a sanatorium for Christian Scientists suffered a relapse and was unconscious. His nurse summoned her supervisor, who called the Christian Science practitioner on the case. The supervisor returned to the room to find the patient repeating "the scientific statement of being" See Science and Health, p. 468; with the nurse. The next day the man was radiant. A few days later he left the sanatorium completely well.
Have you ever thought of a Christian Science nurse as a champion of individual self-government? That's how one trainee sees himself in his future career. "We're taught to nurse to independence, not dependence," he said, "because we're acknowledging man cannot be in slavery. A nurse must express dominion and provide an atmosphere that supports healing."
The Nurses Training Catalog defines the relationship between nurse and practitioner: "It is the responsibility of the nurse to support the work of the practitioner on the case with a clear spiritual thought and with conduct which is above reproach." For this reason, the training program includes careful screening and emphasis on the metaphysical basis of each task. Small classes, closely supervised instruction, teamwork, personal interviews, tests, and practical working experience are vital to each course.
What are the qualities needed for nursing? In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith,—receptive to Truth and Love." ibid., p. 395;
These qualities are demonstrable by individuals regardless of their backgrounds. One trainee, an ex-accountant, observed, "Christian Science nursing is largely a Christian Science education. A lot of emphasis is placed on researching ideas in the Bible and Science and Health." This study focuses thought on the mental climate conducive to healing.
Another trainee, a mother with two small children, put it this way. "The experience brings out the fatherhood and motherhood of God, and you learn to recognize this as active in everyone."
This was confirmed by another trainee, a young woman schooled in sociology. "This concept of nursing gives you insights into the nature of man; it clarifies. A whole new world has opened up for me," she said. "Manhood and womanhood are not separate. True motherhood is a universal, spiritual fact.
"A Christian Science nurse lifts up this spiritual standard; it's an atmosphere of peace, of fulfillment, of home. It's only natural that [Christian Science nursing] should be a Manual-provided activity of The Mother Church."See Church Manual by Mrs. Eddy, Art. VIII, Sect. 31.
Members of The Mother Church interested in receiving information about Christian Science nursing as a career may write to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Personnel Department, Christian Science Center, Boston, MA, U.S.A. 02115, or to the Department of Care, Committee for Europe, Room 308, Arundel House, 13 Arundel Street, Strand, London, England WC2R 3DX.
Wednesday meetings are for everyone
"Our Wednesday evening meetings are well attended," writes the First Reader of a branch in Australia. "A number of Sunday School pupils attend—some occasionally, some regularly." He felt, however, it would be useful to specifically encourage the young people to understand this meeting is for everyone— including them.
He discussed the idea with the executive board and they agreed to have the Sunday School teachers invite their pupils to attend a Wednesday meeting and bring their parents.
The result? "For the first time on a Wednesday evening," the First Reader reports, "the church was filled to capacity and even with extra seats overflowed into the foyer. Included were Sunday School pupils who rarely if ever had attended a testimony meeting before and some parents who were there for the first time."
While there is no provision for "special" Wednesday meetings or announcing the subject of the readings —instead, each individual member is encouraged to do his own work in spiritual preparation for each service —a goodly number of branches are inviting their youth committee to supply ushers on Wednesdays periodically. Or, where no youth committee exists, the branch may simply invite older members of the Sunday School to help out occasionally.
"This can be an effective way of encouraging more young people to attend," one member observes. "They tend to come out to 'support their own,' so to speak, and they keep coming back because they find the readings and testimonies inspire and strengthen them spiritually."
At least one branch we know of let the young people handle all the ushering at their Thanksgiving service this past year—adding a touch of special warmth to an already beautiful "family" service.
Talk about complete turnarounds!
This item of fruitage was contained in a lecture report we received recently.
A few days before a lecture, a woman said, a fellow worker found out she was a Christian Scientist and had gone into a tirade about how awful he thought it was and that he thought Mrs. Eddy was a blasphemer. He told this woman he had read a few random pages of Science and Health and was convinced this was so.
The Christian Scientist went into another room and turned to God in prayer. She decided to tell the man how wrong he was and that the only way he could make an honest judgment would be to read the entire textbook. She also offered him an invitation to the lecture.
She learned later that he went to the Reading Room to borrow a copy of Science and Health—to prove her wrong.
He attended the lecture. And a few days later, when they met, he was all smiles. He said it was the most wonderful thing he had ever heard of and that he was reading the book and hoped to buy his own copy—and, what's more, he was now reading the Lesson-Sermon 1 at the Reading Room!
'A Church of Christ, Scientist, is there to serve the community'
A branch church decided to try an experiment in order to better meet the needs of its neighbors. Over the years the community had gradually changed. Once English-speaking and middle-class, it is now 80 percent Spanish-speaking and middle-class.
When the membership received five unsolicited offers from Spanish-speaking groups wanting to buy the large edifice, the members knew the time had come to make a decision. A vote on whether or not to stay in the area brought an almost unanimous decision not only to remain but to keep the present building.
The chairman of the executive board proposed to the members that the church try holding weekly services in Spanish. Arrangements, however, would have to be innovative and specifically adapted, he explained, because there were only two Spanish-speaking members in the congregation.
A request went to other branches in the area asking for volunteers who speak the language fluently to help with the project. Letters were sent also to The Mother Church and to branches holding Spanish services. The replies contained some good recommendations. Soon there were enough volunteers—including a Spanish-speaking practitioner—to set up a rotating system for Readers, soloists, and organists.
The service was set for three o'clock Sunday afternoon, an hour best suited to the community and one that let the volunteers participate without affecting their own branch activities.
"Our congregation isn't large, frequently just a few people," one member said of the Spanish services. "But a Church of Christ, Scientist, is there to serve the community. Ever since the decision to stay was made, we've been moving ahead. Two Spanish-speaking members have been added, one from Cuba, the other from Mexico. In fact just about every Latin-American country has been represented in the congregation at one time or another."
One cold, snowy afternoon, the Second Reader brought six relatives who were visiting from Central America. They listened very intently. After the service, one of the in-laws said how impressed he was with both the service and the dedication of the small group. "I never imagined people were capable of caring so much for their neighbors," he said.
