Mary Baker Eddy has characterized her Church as "the mouthpiece of Christian Science." The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 247 An experience I had at my branch Church of Christ, Scientist, many years ago helped me understand what this means. While I was praying in support of the service one Wednesday evening, my prayer included a heartfelt desire to be of comfort to someone feeling a need for love.
We were a small church, so a stranger was always evident in the group. I noticed that the woman sitting in front of me was a visitor. At the close of the service I spoke to her, feeling much love and warmth. She leaned on my shoulder and burst into tears, saying she had prayed that someone would speak to her. We had a special conversation in which I shared some spiritual truths, and she left feeling comforted and uplifted.
Indeed, the branch churches are the mouthpiece of this movement—voicing the healing message of Christ, Truth, to their communities. Church members need to strive to live this Truth, expressing great love for their neighbors. With unselfed eagerness we can "let [our] light so shine," Matt. 5:16 as Christ Jesus put it, that the lonely or fearful in our communities may find light, hope, and courage to meet their problems with confidence in God. We can help others feel assured that the great power of God, infinite Love, is sufficient to meet the daily and, oftentimes, hourly needs of mankind.
