Article brings healing
Thank you for the wonderful series on the Church Manual By-Laws. The March issue focusing on prayer in church brought healing to me one Sunday morning. Before leaving for church, I read Marian English’s article “Prayer in Church—A Call to Action.” In the article, she wrote, “When we take a good look at the mental baggage we’re carrying, what a relief to check it all at the door of prayer. Then shut the door!”
As I walked from the parking lot to the church, I was thinking about this article and how prayers in church require us to turn away from self to pray for the congregation. Not far from the front door, I stepped oddly on the edge of the curb and twisted my ankle. This thought about the pain I was feeling came strongly: “Check it at the door!” I resolved I would—that I would not take inside this focus on self.
As I stepped through the door, the pain left, and this clear thought came immediately, “And don’t pick it up again!” I loved this clear message handling any superstitious thought that the problem could return. That was the end of the problem. I was free from that moment and remained so.
I know the hard work that goes into each issue of our periodicals, and each worker at The Christian Science Publishing Society has my gratitude.
Elsah, Illinois, US
Each service a complete prayer
I have recently been giving thought to “Present Order of Services in The Mother Church and Branch Churches,” in the Manual. Like all the By-Laws in the Manual I realize that Mary Baker Eddy had a good reason for including it. Of course she wanted a service based on our impersonal Pastor—the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
But why this order? She saw our services as healing services. As I see it, the order of service must contribute to this healing purpose by capturing all aspects of prayer. The service, therefore, constitutes a complete prayer, a healing prayer. Anyone attending a Christian Science service can expect to feel the healing outcome of this prayer.
Marian English’s article, “Prayer in Church—A Call to Action,” in the March Journal brings out the healing power of all aspects of prayer in church, something that must help us all realize the effectiveness of wholehearted prayerful participation in our services.
Phil Davis’s article in the same issue, “Teaching Sunday School with Patient Love,” is very helpful for my first term of teaching Sunday School, particularly his comment, “So much depends on the follow-up prayer after each class.”
Thank you for this article and for all Church Alive articles. They are certainly giving our concepts about church an overhaul.
Kaikohe, New Zealand
Each one instructive
Every one of the articles, testimonies, and poems in the March issue I found to be very inspiring and instructive. I was especially moved by Laura Remmerde’s article “The Evolution of a Spiritual Diary.” It is a beautiful, heartfelt expression of childlike trust in the goodness of God. The article will be added to my own “spiritual diary,” where it will continue to inspire me. Thank you for publishing these healing messages in our periodicals.
Elsah, Illinois, US
Extremely helpful interview
I have been a Journal subscriber for well over 30 years, and for over 20 years I have been reading every article and testimony in them, and have found untold inspiration, answers to questions, and direction for my prayers and daily life. In recent years I have particularly loved reading interviews with long-time practitioners and teachers.
I just finished reading in the March Journal “To be a Christian Science Healer,” Rosalie Dunbar’s interview of Robert Stranathan, C.S.B. Their discussion about giving healing Christian Science treatment for patients was extremely helpful to me. For about seven months I have been devoting my full time and attention to the public practice of Christian Science healing, and have just recently been praying about some specific issues and questions I have had in working with a patient.
My Christian Science teacher is no longer around to talk with about my questions, and this article was just the answer. It is always inspiring to read how teachers explain their approach to giving Christian Science treatment.
And I especially appreciated the discussion in this article, including Rosalie’s specific queries and Bob’s further discussions, in dealing with various patient issues. This article not only answered my current questions but presented other useful thoughts and ideas that will be helpful to me going forward in this healing ministry.
Franklin, Massachusetts, US
Love and respect for Christ Jesus
I recently was so excited about the article “Living Christly Love” by Tony Lobl in the February Journal. I appreciated how Tony brought out the love and reverence our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, had for Jesus and how Christian Scientists are to look to him as our “Ensample.” I shared the article with someone investigating the teachings of Christian Science.
According to Mary Baker Eddy, who strove when starting her church, “to organize a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing,” Jesus’ teaching and healing practice certainly had returned (Church Manual, p. 17). Our Leader’s love of Jesus and his works was my first attraction to Christian Science many years ago.
Elkhart, Indiana, US
Bravo!
I was highly impressed with Shirley Paulson’s informative article called “Scientology or Christian Science” in the February 2012 Journal. As a journalist, I know how difficult it can be to stay neutral when contrasting two issues. The article was completely free of criticism and condemnation.
She certainly followed Mary Baker Eddy’s precept in the Church Manual on page 41: “When it is necessary to show the great gulf between Christian Science and theosophy, hypnotism, or spiritualism, do it, but without hard words.” Bravo, Shirley!
Burbank, California, US
The need to be compassionate
May I request that you send my deepest thanks to John Tyler for his answer to the FAQ in the February issue. The subject of compassion is one I have been wrestling with for some time. The Bible says repeatedly that Jesus was “moved with compassion” for the crowds that followed him. John Tyler quotes Mrs. Eddy on the subject of being compassionate.
Then how is it that so often Christian Scientists—granted, with the best of intentions—come across as being just the opposite? It would appear that the essential listening part has gone by the wayside. At least, such has been my experience.
Mr. Tyler has given me great comfort, and I have shared the article with others having the same struggle as I.
Le Pecq, France
