Branch Church News

I love Wednesday evening testimony meetings.   What has always struck me about these meetings is how the heartfelt and sincere expressions of appreciation have lifted me up in much the same way the experience helped and healed the testifier.

My experience as a church member was getting dull. I wished to feel love and joy.

Last summer, I moderated a panel discussion on branch church membership at the New York City Church Alive Workshop. Here are some of the questions we considered: Why join? What is the purpose of membership? What does membership promise in return? The NYC Church Alive workshop panel was titled, “Membership: Its Purpose and Promise.

Many people support their churches through volunteer work. This can be rewarding for the volunteer, and it can help a church reach out to its local community to provide succor and aid.

Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “In the words of St. John: ‘He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.

The Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate and connect. Recently, I have received tangible proofs of how good news travels fast and misses no seeker for Truth.

I want to share a short lesson I learned the other day. I think it’s one that can give us some insight into how we approach the changes that might result from wanting to make church more “alive.

Sunday School at our church is a happy place, where students and teachers often arrive early to chat and visit together before it’s time to start. Sometimes the students help prepare past copies of the Christian Science Sentinel , The Christian Science Journal , and The Christian Science Monitor to place in literature distribution boxes our church maintains around town.

I love teaching in Christian Science Sunday Schools. I’ve had the opportunity of membership in several Christian Science branch churches over the years and have taught Sunday School in all of them.

After a very disagreeable relationship with a member of another Christian Science church, for years I avoided attending any joint church events such as lectures or meetings where I could possibly see this individual. I knew this was wrong, but didn’t make the effort to pray about it.