Articles

Why we do things can sometimes take a back seat to the demands of what we're doing. Yet the "why," our purpose, influences the "what" and so can have a significant impact not only on us but on our world.

We have several new appointments to announce, and we know you'll want to share in the good news with us. We would like to begin this announcement with the new editorial positions for the religious periodicals, which our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, established and so faithfully nurtured during her lifetime.

In 1907 Mrs. Eddy foresaw the importance of identifying who we are in the community when she specified, "My Beloved Christian Scientists :—Because I suggested the name for one central Reading Room, and this name continues to be multiplied.

A READING ROOM WITHOUT WALLS "If we can break down our own mental walls—the limits of place and environment—and reexamine how we pray, how we think .

Throughout the ages, people have felt the presence of God. Some experiences were so vivid that afterward the action and the place with which God was connected took on a special identity.

As we were readying this issue for press, several letters written to Mrs. Eddy by a few of her students came to our attention.

Chances are we're pretty familiar with our branch church, or, at least, we think we are. But if someone were to say "branch church," and we were to respond as in one of those word association games, what would be the first thing that popped into our heads? Would we picture a certain style of edifice, the way the auditorium looks, the familiar faces of fellow churchgoers, the comfortable greetings, the particular challenges of too few people for too many committee posts? Then, if someone were to say "your branch church's real spiritual purpose for existing," would it be harder to come up with an immediate response? If so, we think the contributors to this feature can help us all out greatly Bringing clarity and tangibleness and structure to our sense of spiritual purpose is what Christianly scientific prayer does.

A branch church in Australia recently wrote to The Mother Church telling about an important decision they had made. "At our last [members meeting].

Getting out the message of Christianity challenges each new generation of the followers of Christ Jesus. Our works—the living of the message—reach out to those looking for answers.

As a novice sailor, I quickly learned to respect ocean currents. On one of our early coastal cruises I volunteered to take a turn at the helm.