Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to header Skip to footer
All Sections

Articles

Exploring in depth what Christian Science is and how it heals.

Branch churches Overcoming Obstacles

Heidi Biever next moderated a panel of four branch church members to explore how they overcame obstacles and began to glimpse the promise of Church in their own communities. They were Rita Robles from Fredericksburg, Virginia; Jim Mathiott of Palo Alto, California; Mónica Esefer Passaglia from Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Kodi Sylvester of Oneida, New York.

Experiencing this revolution in thought, people begin to be healed by reading Science and Health. Also, some come together to read with each other and to talk about what they are learning.

Introduction

Heidi Biever, a Christian Science practitioner who lives in the Boston area, welcomed conference attendees to the second general session of the afternoon—"The Promise of Mary Baker Eddy's Church in the 21st Century. " She outlined the session, which would cover the following topics concerning the Church of Christ, Scientist: • The Church's roots • Where the Church is today • Where the Church is going Heidi then introduced Karyn Mandan, Manager of Board Research, Development, and Projects, and Gary Jones, Manager of Committees on Publication, who talked informally about the Church's history from the 1870s to 1910.

Hope and transformation

As people arrived from all around the globe, the Christian Science Plaza filled with thousands of people—reading, talking, milling about as large, happy groups at conferences usually do. It was a symphony of color and movement.

Meanwhile ... at the children's conference

Among the thousands of conference attendees strolling on the Plaza between events, you couldn't miss the groups of young children—with their bright red or navy blue backpacks—walking purposefully to their tour of the Mary Baker Eddy Library or The Christian Science Monitor or The Mother Church—or hunting for clues on their Plaza scavenger hunt. 2002 Annual Meeting & Conference not only had meetings and events for adults, it also provided childcare for children up to five years old, and a three-day schedule of sessions, tours, and activities for children between 6 and 14.

The Book's Universality

You have come from around the world to put on record your own powerful contribution to the chapter on "Fruitage 2002. " You've come from very different worlds—from being a Buddhist, a minister, college student, Reiki healer, hair stylist, lawyer, business professional, mother, father, performing artist, occupational therapist, doctor.

First-Time Readers

Before finding Science and Health in 1992, I was a medical nurse. I was practicing Zen Buddhism, and was struggling with depression and suicidal tendencies.

Introduction

On Monday afternoon of 2002 Annual Meeting & Conference, 33 new readers of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, from countries including Uganda, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Mexico, and the US, gathered on stage in The Mother Church Extension to share the transforming effect that Science and Health has had on their lives. All 33 new readers—former and current medical practitioners, holistic healers, members of the clergy, and college students, all spiritual seekers—spoke from the heart about how they found the book and what it has meant to them.

Practice 'dissolving' hate!

Hate is like sediment in water. It builds up layer upon layer to “clog” the natural flow of relations between individuals or groups till situations explode.

Summer reading 100 years ago

In thumbing through issues of the Journal from the summer of 1902, we found the kind of vitality and variety we're still striving for 100 years later. In addition to articles, testimonies, and editorials—and a transcript of a Christian Science lecture given by William P.