Articles

Barbara Vining , former Associate Editor of the Journal and a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, told how her new take on the periodicals and the events of 9/11 has caused her to build bridges of peace and mutual understanding in her community. Mary ("Trinka") Trammell spoke with her about these experiences.

Imagine being brought in front of a magistrate to answer for your radical and unorthodox religious views. Trembling and quaking would probably come with the territory.

Over the last five months, momentum continues to build from the 2002 Annual Meeting & Conference of The Church of Christ, Scientist. The meeting explored three overarching messages: the universality of Christian Science; Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as a resource for everyone; and Mary Baker Eddy's design for a Church to respond to today's demand for spiritual answers.

Mary Baker Eddy's design for her Church includes a provision for practitioners and teachers of Christian Science, who are available to pray for people looking for spiritual healing. A list of practitioners and teachers of Christian Science can be found on page 73 of this issue.

Can you tell us a bit about your spiritual journey? I had been studying a variety of spiritual texts, when a minister I met mentioned Christian Science. Throughout my life, I had always been interested in spirituality, and loved to read books on metaphysics.

Millions of people struggle with depression. In fact, more than 40 million new prescriptions were written for antidepressants during the year 2000.

During a special service at a local church, I asked myself, why has peace escaped us? Why is it that people only seek it out at Christmas or when governments are entering a military conflict? When the pastor began his sermon I hoped he would talk about how peace can come to the world. After the sermon the next minister said to the audience, "May the peace of the Lord be with you," and told us to repeat this to our seat mates.

Does your family have any special Christmas traditions? Perhaps you make cookies for all your friends at the holidays. Or maybe you volunteer at a soup kitchen on Christmas Eve, or buy a present for a kid who doesn't have as much as you do.

This time of year is special to so many people the world over. In New England, it's crisp, often dusted with snow, and the wonderful smell of hearth fires is in the air.

Christmas was coming . There were so many things I had to do.