“What our churches need is that devout, unselfed quality of thought which spiritualizes the congregation” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 249). These words are part of a statement relative to “Readers in Church” by Mary Baker Eddy, who is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. It encapsulates what is divinely demanded of Readers in Christian Science churches: a consecrated effort to reflect the spiritually pure and real and holy so that the truths of being may go forth free from personal sense to inspire, uplift, and heal.
The assignment to serve as a First Reader is a privilege, but also a responsibility. Conducting Sunday services and the Wednesday testimony meetings in Christian Science Societies and branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, is different from being a pastor or minister. The Reader is not there to instruct, teach, or educate. It is the Church’s Pastor—the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures—that does this; and it does it for both Readers and listeners. While the Sunday services consist largely, but not exclusively, of citations from the Pastor as outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly, the Wednesday meeting selections are prepared from the Pastor by individual First Readers in communities around the world.
In seeking an unfoldment of ideas for the content of each Wednesday service, including at some point a definite theme, First Readers will turn in prayer to the divine Mind. For myself, I have found it best to listen humbly and patiently for direction and inspiration from Spirit and to continue looking prayerfully to God to unfold from the Pastor fitting citations to elucidate whatever subject develops in thought through such prayer. Then the selections from the Bible and Science and Health, the Christian Science textbook, will bless, uplift, comfort, and heal.
