Lesson-Sermon—As the term implies, a message used both for individual study during the week and as the sermon text at Sunday services. The Lesson now includes six sets of selections from the Bible and Science and Health. Each "section" amplifies a different aspect of the week's subject. There are 26 subjects, established by Mary Baker Eddy, which rotate twice yearly. Subjects range from explorations of the nature of God ("Love," "Mind," and so on), to contemporary issues such as "Soul and Body" and the question "Is the Universe, Including Man, Evolved by Atomic Force?" Lessons are published in the Christian Science Quarterly, in citation and full-text versions, and in various audio and video formats.
Pastor—Congregations in Churches of Christ, Scientist, are lay bodies in which the pastor is the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Employing books instead of ministers to preach and counsel is a radical departure from tradition, even today—a century after Mary Baker Eddy chose that course. Yet this approach adapts readily in a world of diverse cultures and languages. This kind of pastor also encourages a direct relationship with inspired texts, is available 24 hours a day, takes no vacations, and gives clear answers when personal pastors might offer opinions. The Church Manual does not specify which version of the Bible should be used in services.
Reader—First and Second Readers are elected by fellow branch church members. (At The Mother Church they are appointed by the Board of Directors of The First Church of Christ, Scientist.) In delivering the Lesson-Sermon, the two Readers alternate in reading passages from the Bible (read by the Second Reader) and Science and Health (read by the First Reader). Some branch churches elect Readers for a multi-year term, others rotate the readership among various members.
