As a nursery rhyme has reminded generations of children, gardens do grow. Neighborhoods are a little different, though. They tend to grow as you and I do—or as our concept of them grows. Your neighborhood expands as the circle of people you care about, love, and even pray for, expands. And, as Jesus showed us, the more people you and I tenderly help and pray for as "neighbors," the better.
Letting your heart's neighborhood grow and grow—until it encompasses all humanity with practical, healing love—is at the heart of this issue. It's also at the heart of the mission of The First Church of Christ, Scientist (The Mother Church)—and of each of the reports given at its June 7 global Annual Meeting, in Boston and on the Web. The meeting is featured on pages 6 through 41.
"Are we truly seeing our neighbor's needs? Are we understanding and hearing their cries for help and healing?" asks Virginia Harris, Chairman of The Christian Science Board of Directors, in her report. Voices from Puerto Rico, Germany, French-speaking Canada, and Brazil confirm that Christian Scientists around the world are responding to these needs with the message of Mary Baker Eddy's book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. And in "SRO crowd celebrates 100 years of Christian Science organizations at colleges and universities," you'll read how young readers of Science and Health are doing the same.
