Upon becoming a lay Reader in my church, First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Ottawa, Canada, I was entrusted with a key to the church building. Having that small, metal object in my possession made me feel like it really was my church.
In the worldwide branches of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, the only church authorities are the members, and in my branch, keys were distributed to whichever members needed access to the building and to those responsible for opening and closing it for services.
Later, when I served as a Reader in The Mother Church, I felt the same sense of awe and humility when I received the key to that building and carried it in my pocket with my house and other keys.
