I am deeply honored to be serving as President for the coming year, and feel especially privileged to be here as our worldwide family celebrates the first Annual Meeting convening in Berlin, Germany, and Boston, US, as well as over the Internet. Mary Baker Eddy's followers throughout the world can indeed be "in one place" and "of one mind" See Mis., p. 134. no matter where they are! Wherever we are participating today, each one of us is part of a historic moment for this Church.
I'd like to read excerpts from two welcoming letters we've received. The first is from the Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit: "Berlin is a place of dialogue. Here people from all over the world live together peacefully. It's a meeting place of cultures and religious denominations. The Ecumenical Church Conference just concluded here in our city, where [Protestant and Catholic] believers taught, prayed, and celebrated together.
"I am happy that The Mother Church is also presently holding its Annual Meeting in Berlin. People from all over the world have come to our city and are enriching the international flavor of our metropolis.
