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Church Alive

CHURCH. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle.
 The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.
 – Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

Finding fellowship

From the February 2012 issue of The Christian Science Journal


After a very disagreeable relationship with a member of another Christian Science church, for years I avoided attending any joint church events such as lectures or meetings where I could possibly see this individual. I knew this was wrong, but didn’t make the effort to pray about it.

One day when I was studying the Manual of The Mother Church, I read Article XXIII, Section 12, regarding eligibility for a church or society to be listed in The Christian Science Journal. The By-Law states that all said churches and societies are “required to acknowledge as such all other Christian Science churches and societies advertised . . . and to maintain toward them an attitude of Christian fellowship” (p. 74). That woke me up! I truly wanted to live in Christian fellowship with all church members, no matter where I was. I immediately began to see the spiritual qualities that this other individual expressed, and I found myself forgiving him and myself for believing that man can be anything but God’s reflection. A heavy weight was lifted off me.

Later that day, in a way that only divine Love could provide, we came face to face with each other, shook hands, and chatted like the good friends we had always been. 

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