MY FIRST EXPERIENCE with silent prayer occurred when I was quite young. Our family was attending an important dinner, and before we ate, the hostess invited us to engage in silent prayer. At that point in my life, getting through a meal without spilling something or making a disturbance of one sort or another was rare. So during silent prayer, I pleaded with God to get me through the meal without a mishap. Apparently, the prayer was answered, for I have no memory of that dinner being traumatic, as dinners typically were back then.
During the silent prayer, I was instantly and permanently healed.
Some time later, our family was taken to a Christian Science church service. There, we were invited to unite in silent prayer, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then, many years later, as an adult, I began attending Christian Science services regularly. Before applying for membership in the church, I bought a copy of the Manual of The Mother Church by the Founder, Mary Baker Eddy. There I discovered the designation that silent prayer occur in both Sunday services and Wednesday testimony meetings. I also found this special instruction about those prayers: "The prayers in Christian Science churches shall be offered for the congregations collectively and exclusively." Manual, p. 42.
