About the cover:

From In Defense of Mary Baker Eddy, and the Remnant of Her Seed, by Paul R. Smillie:

In the Christian Science Sentinel of September 6, 1913 on page ten, Archibald McLellan stated three most important points about the cover of the Sentinel and a minor change made at that time on its cover. Speaking of this change he said, “Beyond this there can be neither desire nor occasion for change in the Sentinel, because,” he said, “Mrs. Eddy’s instructions forbid any change.” He explained this by saying, “Mrs. Eddy likewise gave instructions.” The word “instructions” is most important. Speaking then of the two women, the lamps and the inscriptions beneath them, he said they had been “preserved as expressive of our Leader’s thought. ...” Mrs. Eddy requested that the cover of the Sentinel be light blue in color.”

The Twenty-Third Psalm

King James Bible (1611)

¹ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Christian Science Sentinel, July 16, 1904

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” — Psalm 23.

In Christian Science we learn that our enemies are any thoughts that would try to displace harmony in our consciousness. Whatever would assert itself as a power apart from God is an enemy; whatever would try to convince us that we have cause for fear or anxiety or sorrow is an enemy. When we realize that man reflects the Divine energy and intelligence, that in reality all that comes to man or goes from him is an emanation from divine Mind, this is a table spread before us in the wilderness of human doubts, fears, and perplexities.

Jesus said, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” This “meat” which sustained him was his constant realization of the omnipotence of Spirit, God, and this is the meat that divine Love places before us in the wilderness, in the very presence of our enemies. This gives us real nourishment and strength, and with its sustaining power we can “fight the good fight of faith;” we can conquer every enemy, and our faces will shine with the light of life and love. At a time when fear, anxiety, doubt, were besieging on every hand; when perplexity would have prevented clear thought, when worry would have destroyed all sense of peace, — then came these words: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies,” and they proved the “Peace, be still!” that brought the calm.

Excerpt from Mary Baker Eddy, Her Spiritual Footsteps

On the surface, the Psalms seem to represent the Christian side of thought more than the scientific. Yet, that Christian side has its distinct place in aiding thought, when the claim is that it is heavy, weary or depressed. It must be recognized, however, that Science represents the only permanent attainment, and the Psalms fulfill their greatest mission through the Science they contain.

The Christian side of the Psalms, which inculcates a childlike faith in God, sets forth the possibility of rising temporarily above difficulties, although one still believes in the reality of error, which is never the scientific process. After the student has learned, however, to understand the unreality of error, its falsity, foolishness and deception, he must not believe that, if his thought once more sinks back into the belief in its reality, Science is the only way out. It is, to be sure, the only permanent way out, yet the Christian side of the Psalms represents a temporary way of escape, which may be necessary at times.

This point can be illustrated by the old fable of the lion and the mouse. The lion permitted the mouse to escape with its life, because the mouse promised to repay the lion when the opportunity arose. Although the lion laughed at the proposition, the day came when the mouse was able to set the lion free from a snare of strong ropes by gnawing them in two.

The mouse might illustrate a human faith in God, a childlike trust that we find present in the teachings of old theology; while the lion might represent the scientific understanding of God’s allness and man’s power when he reflects this divine Mind. Furthermore, it might typify that state of fearlessness which enables man to face mortal belief in all its manifestations, because he recognizes its scientific nothingness.

When Christian Science salvages from the wreck of old theology a simple faith in God, this mouse-like quality might thank Christian Science and say, “I will help you some day.” It is obvious that the one armed with spiritual understanding would laugh at this promise, knowing how far from his thought such a human sense of God was. Yet, the day comes, when his thought becomes tired and bound up in fear; the logic of scientific argument no longer seems efficacious; he cannot see the unreality of sense testimony. Then comes the thought, illustrated by the mouse, a childlike trust in God, to help to release his thought from this snarl.

Thus, a wise Christian Scientist, no matter how scientific his understanding may be, never scorns a childlike faith in God, because, even though not the scientific method, it may be the means of helping him in time of need, aiding him to float when too weary to swim.

On page 23 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy makes this distinction, calling the mouse quality, trustfulness and the lion quality, trustworthiness. She speaks of these as two kinds of faith; one, that trusts one’s welfare to others, and the other, a self-reliance that includes spiritual understanding.

Science and Health, page 577-578

In the following Psalm one word shows, though faintly, the light which Christian Science throws on the Scriptures by substituting for the corporeal sense, the incorporeal or spiritual sense of Deity: —

PSALM XXIII

[DIVINE LOVE] is my shepherd; I shall not want.

[LOVE] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [LOVE] leadeth me beside the still waters.

[LOVE] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: [LOVE] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for [LOVE] is with me; [LOVE’S] rod and [LOVE’S] staff they comfort me.

[LOVE] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: [LOVE] anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [LOVE] for ever.

Christian Science Sentinel, May 9, 1931

How many sore hearts have been comforted and strengthened by the words of the Twenty-third Psalm! Yet a deeper sense of its beauty and power is gained when we study the simple interpretation which Mrs. Eddy gives it in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. This interpretation shows the tender light with which Christian Science illumines even the best-loved portions of the Scriptures, as the spiritual concept of God supersedes finite material belief.

“[Divine Love] is my shepherd; I shall not want.” All the world is crying out for Love, but it looks for it in every direction except the right one. Mrs. Eddy's own character manifested unselfishness and loving-kindness. Her tender heart had been so purified by constant prayer that she was fitted to give to the world the wonderful revelation of Truth and Love which she reverently called “Christian Science.”

“I shall not want”! Materiality is always in want. Its hourly cry is, I want! It is never satisfied, never content. Whether living in extravagance or squalor, it is pursued by a wretched sense of lack, of unfulfilled desire, unstilled longing. It tries one form of amusement after another, only to find in each the same dissatisfaction. Not until thought begins to turn away from materiality to purify its desires, to recognize something of man's true spiritual selfhood and the folly of self-will, does a sense of tranquility replace anxiety, depression, and fear for the future to confidence in divine Love's ample provision. This has healed many a hopeless case of disease.

There is no more peaceful picture than that of a shepherd and his flock. A sheep is so gentle and inoffensive, a lamb so innocent, so light-hearted, with the shepherd caring wisely for them, night and day. Just as the human shepherd is careful and vigilant, what assurance of safety comes with the realization of divine Love's infinite care for His whole creation! The shepherd knows just where to lead them, knows what waters of comfort are waiting for them. Nothing is asked of the flock but that it should follow in orderly fashion where it is led, not allowing the panic of fear to stampede it.

At first we may take the assurance of supply as applying largely to material things, such as food and raiment; but later we come to understand that the things of the Spirit are far more necessary. If we are obediently following divine Love, then we can lack nothing—neither wisdom nor strength, inspiration nor courage. Love does not overdrive us, nor overwork us, when we are wearied with the way. Love makes us to “lie down in green pastures,” makes us rest awhile “beside the still waters,” gives us more inspiration, quietly leading our infant thoughts and refreshing us with the pure, invigorating truth. If fear and sorrow have dimmed our sense of joy, let us remember the assurance, “[Love] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense].” The spiritual sense of God and man is quickened anew, and our wandering feet are brought back to the plain path. We see the error, gladly abandon it, and again walk humbly with God.

What if we still have foes in ambush, still have errors not yet destroyed. Divine Love always provides the strength to go on. The oil of gladness is poured out on us, and our gratitude overflows. Even if we are harassed and pursued by erroneous thoughts, they cannot really disturb our harmony, for “goodness and mercy” are following us, and Love goes on ahead as well as beside us. To dwell forever in the consciousness of divine Love is harmony, heaven, where Love is supreme.

To gain this beatified consciousness, we must obediently follow the Good Shepherd, the Love divine that cares for even the smallest spiritual idea; and step by step we shall be able to declare with faith and confidence, “I shall not want.” We shall be satisfied, fearing no experience on our earthly road, knowing that we are being led to find all that we need. Out of the depths of her own experience, Mrs. Eddy wrote for our encouragement, “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.” Can we ask for more?

Christian Science Sentinel, June 6, 1908

In II Kings, 4th chapter, we read of a woman who came to the prophet Elisha in great distress. She had no money to pay her debt, and the creditor had come to take her two sons to be bondmen. Elisha said: “What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house?” The woman answered that she had nothing but a little pot of oil. Then Elisha told her to borrow all the vessels she could get from her neighbors. He said also, “When thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.” The woman obeyed; the vessels were filled. Then said Elisha, “Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.”

When the woman said that the pot of oil was all she had in her house, Elisha did not say, “Your oil is worthless. I will find you a post at court;” or, “Go and ask such and such a man for what you need, and he will give it you.” He did not even say, “Go and plead with the creditor to wait for his money.” He fixed her attention on the thing she had in her house, — the thing that represented to her material sense her whole substance and supply. He knew that all substance is Mind and that God's supply is unlimited; that the divine source is inexhaustible. The woman trusted and obeyed, and the demonstration was complete.

There are several points in this narrative worthy of our deepest thought. The first is the fact that our supply can come to us in the way we can best understand at present; that is to say, through the work we are doing to-day; through the thing we have in the house. If our pictures do not sell, we do not have to abandon painting in order to live. Whatever we do best is our work here to do; it is the means by which we live, to mortal sense. There can be no failure for that work when we realize that God is our Life, our substance, our source of supply, and our sole employer. There is no middleman between divinity and us. There is no obstruction in Love. God's blessing rests on every right effort, and there is no other power to defeat what God has blessed. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit,” and the same Spirit blesses and hallows all gifts alike.

Too many of us are not like that woman. We do not go to God trusting. We fear and worry, and borrow not “vessels” but trouble. As we do that we are neither Christians nor Scientists; for we are making for ourselves an idol, a power opposed to God. We are quitting our sole employer for a delusive master called error; and so we collect fears and failures instead of the wages of Love. The woman did not know what to do with that little pot of oil until the prophet directed her, and he directed her only after she applied to him. We need this lesson, we workers. We do not know what gift, what talent or power we have in us, until God opens our eyes to see it. Mrs. Eddy says, “We are all capable of more than we do” (S&H page 89). When we do see our gift as of God and unlimited, He directs us in all our use of it, and “giveth the increase.”

If we would do our daily work in the world with the 23d Psalm ever in our hearts, there would no longer be thoughts of failure, nor mortal fears, to mock us. There are two assurances in that psalm which should accompany every line or stroke of our work: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want;” “I will fear no evil.” We must go in and “shut the door,” — get away from material sense, — be alone with God, and work out the problem in obedience and trust.

Forum post from week of March 22-26, 2021

Throughout World War II, a shocking number of U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Army Transport Service vessels were attacked and sunk, resulting in heavy casualties. In the face of such danger, Marine Captain J. Rogers composed this “Mariner’s Version” of Psalm 23, filled with powerful angel-thoughts that he entertained day and night, which preserved him from fear and gave him a sense of divine protection throughout the war.

Repeating this psalm meaningfully many times, the captain was able to crowd out fear-thoughts in such a way that the God-thoughts (angel-thoughts) eventually far outnumbered the fear-thoughts. Thus, the captain developed an immunity to fear, avoiding the trap that Job fell into, “The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me.” (Job 3:25)

     The Lord is my Pilot;

I shall not drift.

He leadeth me across the dark waters

and steereth me in the deep channels.

     He keepeth my Log

and guideth me by the star of holiness

for His Name’s sake.

     Yea, though I sail amid

the thunders and tempests of life,

I shall dread no danger,

For Thou art with me;

     Thy love and Thy care, they shelter me.

Thou preparest a harbor before me

in the homeland of eternity;

     Thou anointest the waves with oil,

and my ship rideth calmly,

     Surely sunlight and starlight

shall favor me all the days of my voyaging,

and I will rest in the port of my Lord forever.

Christian Science Sentinel, February 16, 1924

How often the Old Testament records the exhortation, “Fear not.” It is a reminder of the extent to which the ancient Hebrew was the prey of fears, arising in all kinds of ways. There must have been many times and seasons in their lives, when their feelings were akin to those of sheep, wandering through a deep and dark ravine, only preserved from panic by the presence of the shepherd.

While the conditions under which we live are immeasurably happier than those of the Psalmist, we have not got rid of fear in our lives. To a large number of people, God and death, to mention but two, are sources of fear. The cure of fear can only be effected in the way indicated in the Twenty-third Psalm. It lies in the realization of the divine presence.

Everybody has read of the fashion in which some personalities can inspire confidence in all who come near them. If that can be accomplished by a human being, it stands to reason that the sense of the divine presence will be proportionately more effective in producing the same happy result. If God be with us, we can go anywhere in the sure confidence that no evil will befall us. O Spirit of Holiness, shed abroad in our hearts the love which casteth out fear!

Christian Science Journal, December 1890

There is no power in error to limit us in doing good; we are children of Divine Mind and reflect dominion. Mortal mind has no ability or power to give or deprive us of Truth. If we look to Divine Principle for all, we shall be supplied with all good. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” “The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?”

We are being deprived of the bread of Life — conscious realization of Truth and Love, the Spirit of Christian Science — by entertaining wrong thoughts. We need to learn the falsity of (so called) material joys and pleasures, in order to commune with the pure thought and teaching of Science and Health. This book shows how far material beliefs are from the reality of being, and the great need there is of learning Truth. False sense or consciousness is what (in belief) separates us from God, and we should pray as the publican “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

What a joyful message to know there is but one Mind, the Immortal, and that is God, Good, Life, Truth, Love; that we are all children of one common Parent, perfect ideas of this one Divine Mind; that sin, sickness, and death are no part and have no place in this Mind but are only beliefs of mortal sense that can and must be, put off. Thus consciousness is gained of our inheritance, and liberty as sons and daughters of God. Prayer of daily desire and earnest effort for a higher, purer, better thought and life, will help us to reach it, and consciously live in Truth and Love — the Spirit of Christian Science.

Christian Science Sentinel, October 19, 1907

Jesus proclaimed abundance for all when he said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” When the great Master said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” he emphatically asserted of his followers that good things should be added unto them, not subtracted from them.

Christian Science, in full conformity with the words of Jesus, works by the rule of addition, not subtraction, of good. To a multitude it has added abundant health. Because of its teachings, the Christian Scientist rejoices in the daily fellowship of the truths of the inspiring “Shepherd Psalm.” This loving shepherd leads the way to abundance. In His presence hunger is satisfied and thirst is quenched. Since he has made “the good shepherd” his guardian and guide, good things have been continually added unto him. He gratefully exclaims, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

He acknowledges, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” The cup of blessing contains not only a supply for his own needs, but it overflows with good for others. Indeed, at all times he can say, “My cup runneth over.” This abundance is not a transient and uncertain guest; it is a permanent and abiding reality.

When divine Love — God — is understood and His presence realized, there is added an abundance of strength. Weakness is the child of fear; and “fear hath torment”; but the Scripture declares: “Perfect love casteth out fear.” Our healing gospel teaches us that the one and only power is God. The study of the Bible, illuminated by Science and Health, banishes all weakness and ushers in the eternal day of that strength which is from on high. Then let us “be strong and fear not.”

The understanding of Christian Science means the addition of love. The Master declares: “Ye are my disciples if ye love one another;” and we know that the sum and substance of Christian Science is love. Fear and hate abide only where God is not known; they should be regarded as danger signals evidencing that the sense of love is absent. The understanding which Christian Science gives of the ever-presence and the all-power of divine Love annihilates fear.

The dawn of a new day is here. As the true understanding of divine Mind — God — is destroying sin, sickness, and death, so is it ushering in that new era when the fear of poverty is waning and the confidence in the inexhaustible riches which belong to all true believers is being made manifest. The miser hoards his gold for the supposed pleasure of possession; the Christian rejoices in abundance because of the joy of dispensing it.

We should know that abundance belongs to all the sons of God. We should know that God, who is all substance, bountifully supplies His children with good. We do not doubt that there is provided for us an ample supply of light and air; no more should we doubt that God has for us an abundance of life, health, harmony, and substance. No one doubts his own ability to prove himself to be honest, and if we also know that it is no less natural and in harmony with the law of God to furnish the proofs of infinite supply for all human need, we will give unmistakable evidence that the words of Jesus are true.

The dwelling-place of the man of understanding is the consciousness of everpresent Love in overflowing abundance, and he declares, “Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

“My cup runneth over,” so sang David the shepherd King. This dynamic Truth breathes the calm of Shekinah into any and all material conditions, thereby proving itself to be an immortal absolute of God — spiritual bounty appearing where there would seem to be material barbarity.

Mrs. Eddy has shown that where materiality (sin, disease, death) would seem to be a kingdom, there exists only the Kingdom of the eternal Father-Mother-God. He prepares a table of blessings that we had not planned for, a table that we ourselves had not orchestrated. We look within and find that every struggle has further revealed our Lord to us — He who, eternal in the heavens, is the Lord of heaven and earth. He ever guides, governs and guards us all, each one, with tender compassion beyond compare.

Green pastures and still waters are laid above the clamoring materiality of the world; above inflexible human hatred, dishonesty, and fear, so that we each may walk over the wave of the human; in the very footsteps of the Divine. We walk upon currents of immortal Love and Truth whenever we turn in loving trust to Him who restoreth the Soul.

Every moment of our existence has within it the anointing oil and the path for consecrated footsteps to be blessed by the “King of kings.” He waits ever ready to help, direct and protect. He only asks that we love Him and keep His commandments. That we feed His sheep by loving our fellow man. That we trust Him in every event of our lives. That we do these things faithfully in all circumstances. That we love Him purely and truly, no matter what material life would try to present. That we glorify Him in every good thing that comes to us. To never question Him, but to do His will as far as we are capable. And we all do this willingly and easily, when we take our consciousness to the house of the Lord. In Mrs. Eddy’s interpretation: “[DIVINE LOVE] is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

We are right now, at this very moment, the eternal, spiritual children of His care. We can each cherish Him and know Him profoundly within our own soul. In loving our Lord entirely, we are in the righteous path. And we have been promised the certainty of our ability to know God and love Him in this profound way, for: “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

In the house of the Lord we find refreshment, release, and restoration — every struggle fully recompensed. Years restored and tears wiped all away, nothing lost and nothing harmed. Life, Truth, Love — strength, courage, resilience, beauty, intelligence, and the perfect reflection of our God, good, Divine and “Adorable One” — who never forgets us and who ever loves us. The entirety of our life, viewed in the reality taught to us by Mary Baker Eddy, reveals the Truth of all our ways, for: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

“In the Pasture” by Anton Mauve

Christian Science Journal, December 1909

“You are sick,” they said. “But that isn’t the truth”

And the woman shook her head.

“The Bible declares, he that dwelleth in God

Shall not say, I am sick,” she said.

And she held to the truth through a starless night,

‘Till the morning proved that her words were right.

“You are tired,” they said. But she smiled at that.

“How can I be tired,” said she,

“When the only work is work for God,

And He is my Life, you see?”

And she quietly went her busy way.

With a happy song in her heart all day.

“You are poor,” they said. But she only thought,

How little they know! God speed

The day when the world awakes to find

That Love is its only need.

And she still maintained, as her fortune grew,

Not money, but Love — if they only knew!

“You’re afraid,” they said. But she whispered low,

As if talking to some one near,

“Father, since Love is the only power,

What is there left to fear?”

And giving her hand to that unseen guide,

She crossed through the waters at His side.

“You are sad,” they said. But a brave heart shone

Through the glimmer of tears unshed;

And the answer came. “We are told to rejoice,

To rejoice evermore,” she said.

And she faced her grief with such steady eyes

That the world looked on in a dazed surprise;

For the world knows not of the peace that comes

To a soul at-one with God.

It is only those who are toiling on

In the path the Master trod,

Who can feel, through the dark, that loving hand,

And, holding it fast, can understand.

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From Mrs. Eddy

Items by and about Mary Baker Eddy

Hezekiah asked Isaiah what sign the Lord would give that he would be healed, and he was given two options. The one he chose was: “let the shadow return backward ten degrees. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward.” (II Kings 20:8-11).

And then, in the Bible story about Joshua and the Lord delivering up the Amorites before the children of Israel, we read: “and the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. And there was no day like that before it or after it.” (Joshua 10: 12-14)

These verses brought to mind what I read recently in the Doris Grekel biography of Mrs. Eddy, which records a celestial phenomenon that occurred on the day that our Leader, at age 12, was immediately healed of a fever that befell her as a result of the harsh doctrine of her father’s church regarding predestination. The biographer notes that this occasion was when young Mary’s “religious experience was culminating. To culminate means to reach the highest point of altitude.” She continues: “In 1833, the stars fell from heaven. This phenomenon of shooting stars pointed to Boston, though Mary knew not that her future lay in that city. It was computed that on the morning of November 13, 1833, no fewer than two hundred forty thousand meteors were at the same time visible above the horizon of Boston. A professor of astronomy at Yale University wrote: ‘The morning of November 13th, 1833, was rendered memorable by an exhibition of the phenomenon called shooting stars which was probably more extensive and magnificent than any here-to-fore recorded.’” (Discovery of the Science of Man, Vol. 1,  pp. 7-8).

I am so happy to have been guided to the 3-volume Grekel biography that was mentioned recently during a Roundtable discussion. What an eminently important thing it is for us to continue to increase our understanding of the true history of Mrs. Eddy, and her proper place in Bible prophecy, the acknowledgment and understanding upon which the prosperity of the Cause, and the ability to heal successfully, so much depends, as has been stated clearly on multiple occasions, such as:

Mrs. Eddy: “People seem to understand Christian Science in the exact ratio that they know me and vice-versa. It sometimes astonishes me to see the invariableness of this rule.” — (Mary Baker Eddy — The Prophetic and Historical Perspective, by Paul R. Smillie, p. xviii)

“In proportion as the Movement overcomes its resistance to Mary Baker Eddy, so will the world begin to overcome its resistance to Christian Science.” (ibid, p. xix)

“We have work to do, and this work is to break the mesmerism that keeps Christian Scientists from loving their Leader. It is this love for her that will prosper her Cause.” (ibid, p. x)

“… the time has come for a proper recognition, or ‘true sense,’ of our beloved Leader.” (ibid, p. xx)

Essays and Other Footprints left by Mary Baker Eddy (the “Red Book”)

The Principle of Christian Science is Love, and the effect of Love is to destroy all sense of corporeality. Whatever tends to diminish the sense of love and increase the sense of corporeality diminishes the understanding of Christian Science and the demonstration of the Principle which is Life and Love.

The war is the fight between the world, the flesh and the devil; and their weapons are hatred and personality. Whatever diminishes the sense of love and increases the sense of personality casts your influence on the side of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and helps evil to destroy the idea of good — in other words, to kill the person who represents in the highest degree this idea and so to shut out the true sense of love.

The moral is: Watch and be sure that your love is increasing and your false sense of personality is diminishing, and make everything that you say and do tend to produce this effect. A strong sense of the false personality retards the growth of yourself and of those around you, the same as a strong sense of disease would prevent your healing and prevent your patient’s recovery.

Christian Science is mentalizing the universe. It is touching human consciousness here and there and changing it, and the human mind does not know what is producing the change. It is a law of metaphysics that the truth relating to health and being, when brought to bear upon mortal mind, acts favorably on the body. The term Mind and body literally means God and man, for man is the expression of Mind, and the manifestation of Mind is the embodiment of Mind. Body is, therefore, the aggregation of spiritual ideas forever governed and controlled by the law of Life, harmonious and eternal. It was never born, never had a claim, never suffered, never sinned, and never left heaven. The understanding of perfect body is the Savior of the belief of body, for it is the law of recovery to any and every claim of error.

Jesus had a perfect fleshly body; then went a step further and demonstrated by an enlarged understanding the Christ, or perfect spiritual man. Jesus was not ashamed when he hung on the cross.

When we are pushed into tight places, and facing the most severe problems, we are gaining big steps in our lessons and progress.

“The Shepherdess” by Anton Mauve

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History Corner

In the 1880s and 1890s there were “dispensaries” in towns and neighborhoods, dispensing Truth both by means of literature and healing. Some of these missionaries went from door to door, others had rooms and held meetings. Below is one interesting account.

Christian Science Journal, May 1891

My experience in Dispensary work began about the middle of June 1890. For a year I had been saying (I believe sincerely) “Here am I, Lord, send me”; yet when this work opened before me, and I stood face to face with it, I could only say: “Not my will but thine.” It was not the path I would have chosen. I had learned from one who had had experience, what it means to open and hold a Dispensary at this time (that is, as much as one can learn from another's experience).

I attended the Association in New York; and just before my return home I said to my teacher, who was going in another direction: "Are you not going to say something to me about that dispensary?" Her answer came, clear and decided: “I cannot tell you anything about it. You must go higher.” I said, “I want to do what is right.’ Her reply was: “I know you do, and you will be shown the way.” And with the thought of Love, trust, and assurance that came to me with those words, I rested, knowing that Divine Wisdom could and would decide everything for me.

I gave the subject no thought after this, until one morning, a few days after my return home, I found myself making preparations for going into the Dispensary, as naturally as though I had never thought of anything else. I went to one of our number, and began talking about the work, at which she remarked, “Then you have decided to take it up?” “Oh yes,” I answered, feeling and knowing that I had nothing to do with that decision. So I went on willingly, submissively, glad to do His will, but I cannot say joyfully.

We had secured very pleasant rooms in a good location; and though for a time the work seemed to progress slowly, I can see now how the thought was changing all the time. Every day brought hard work; claims of error arising constantly that must be met and overcome. But every hour of earnest, faithful work brought its sure reward. We commenced our Sunday services right away, taking up the lessons in the Quarterly. We had a very good attendance, and it has increased slowly, but surely.

A great deal of Missionary work has been done the way of house to house visits, and distributing literature which has usually been well received. I have never, since my work began, met with open antagonism to Christian Science; nor have I ever met ridicule: in fact most of the people whom I meet show a great deal of reverence for Christian Science; and usually with patients, the spiritual healing is the first to be recognized.

One day, as it was nearing its close, a young man came in, apparently very much broken up and discouraged. He had been in beliefs some time. Said the doctors told him he must not think of going to work for a month, but he could not afford that. Then he said, “I’ll be honest. I don't know as I have any faith in this at all, but I thought I would see what you would tell me.” “Well,” I said, “I would not ask any one, I would go to work whenever I wanted to.” After talking with him a while he went away, saying he felt better, and was going away tomorrow if he was able, but would come in again before leaving the city. In the morning, I heard a quick step in the hall, and a moment later the young man came in, and his first words were: “I believe in Christian Science this morning with all my heart. I have been at work all the morning, and am now going on this ten o’clock train.” He went, and a week later he wrote: “I am on the right track, bless the Lord! I have been at work ever since I came here. Tell all the people that I know God saves from sickness as well as sin. I never was so happy in my life!” Letters received later have the same tone. Another gentleman said to me, “I see that if one reads your books, and lives by them, they must be well physically, morally and spiritually.” Still another said, “It is the spiritual healing the world needs, I see that as I never did before.”

The lessons come as stepping stones to a higher life. They have been, and are to me a light to show us the way that grows brighter unto the perfect day. The change in public sentiment here is very marked. A year ago we had some difficulty in getting rooms for our work. A few days ago I learned that a lady in the neighborhood said that if for any reason we wanted to make a change, she would be glad to have us take the entire first floor of her house, and would arrange everything for our convenience. I believe there are hundreds in this town who are longing to come over on the Lord's side, but lack the moral courage to do so. But there is no power that can hold them back. They will come.

Now as I go back and sum it all up, I see that this has been just the discipline I needed; and though there have been seeming struggles; there have been hours, yes days, filled with a consciousness of that ever-present Love, that comes only from the Father, “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

This is the heart that waits on God,

Reverent, listening, still;

Seeking to know what it may do

To work the Father’s will.

This is the heart that stands for Truth,,

Faithful, wherever its post;

That puts God first when all is well

Or when it needs Him most.

Unselfed and seeking holy things,

Ready when God appoints,

This is the heart that serves Him best,

The heart that God anoints.

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Interesting Squibs

A man is what he thinks about all day long.

We have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because the Lord is my shepherd.

When at night you cannot sleep, talk to the Shepherd and stop counting sheep.

Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God no matter what the conflict.

What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other?

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.

With every deed you are sowing a seed, though the harvest you may not see.

He whom prosperity humbles, and adversity strengthens, is the true hero.

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your own riches, but to reveal to him his own.

When I first open my eyes upon the morning meadows and look out upon the beautiful world, I thank God I am alive.

Though we cannot by our prayers give God any information, yet we must by our prayers give Him honor.

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.

Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.

Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.

Great men are they who see that the spiritual is stronger than any material force, that thoughts rule the world.

Change your thoughts and you change your world.

A happy life consists in tranquility of mind.

To-day I got out of every danger, or rather, I got every danger out of me; for the dangers are not without, but within, in my own opinions.

The Wright brothers flew right through the smoke screen of impossibility.

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Watches to Work with Often

Watch Message from August 17, 2017

“From this standpoint of Christianity, the institutions of error and wrong crumble and pass away; sin dies out; the human yields to the divine; the mortal and erring thought falls before the immortal and unerring; and the prayer is fulfilled — ‘thy kingdom come’ — and the supremacy of Spirit is seen, the omnipotence and omnipresence of God are understood.”

from Essays and Other Footprints, (the "Red Book"), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 94

Evil’s wicked attempt to divide this nation, or any nation, is doomed and will fail! There is no ignorant mortal mind to be misled and manipulated by evil to hate or resent, and to succumb to mass mesmerism. Gender politics is not of God and can only destroy itself. God is the only Mind present, governing every one of His ideas, and He is the Power that holds crime in check and is elevating the race above and beyond the illusion of a feeble mortal existence. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Our unity with God and with each other exists right now. It has never been, and never can be, severed or broken. God’s answer is, Let brotherly love continue!

“Let all that now divides us Remove and pass away, Like shadows of the morning Before the blaze of day. Let all that now unites us More sweet and lasting prove, A closer bond of union, In a blest land of love.”

from verse 2 of Hymn 196 in the Christian Science Hymnal

Watch Message from January 10, 2017

“The fact remains, that the textbook of Christian Science is transforming the universe. ... Christian Science is more than a prophet or a prophecy: it presents not words alone, but works, — the daily demonstration of Truth and Love.”

Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy p.372

The power and attraction of Christian Science and our textbook is an indisputable fact. All are drawn to this ever-operating Truth. Every aspect of our service tomorrow night shows proof of the works, to the glory of God. It awakens the sleeper and motivates all to follow Him in humble obedience. Animal magnetism is powerless to interfere with God's perfect plan unfolding for the good of all mankind!

“We must realize that our treatment is the truth of divine Principle, it will be efficacious; no evil mentality exists to render it otherwise.”

— Anna E. Herzog

Watch Message from June 22, 2017

“Jesus did not go anywhere to get the loaves and fishes. He turned at once to his own Mind for his needed supply. Jesus knew that loaves and fishes were purely mental; they were thought forms, or forms of thought. He knew that each individual consciousness already included loaves and fishes and all other good, as well.”

from Addresses, by Martha Wilcox, page 371

Hunger, lack, and poverty are illegitimate! Every individual, everywhere, is a complete idea of God, and already includes within himself everything needed for a good life — food, clothing, a home — all good. God’s law of abundant supply rules everywhere, right now, and cannot be interfered with in any way! Holding to these truths will clear the way, break down any obstruction, and bring abundance to those in need. It is inevitable!

“God gives to each and every one of His children abundantly all they need, and that supply is not — cannot be — hidden at any time by any mortal law or claim, for all laws and claims of mortal mind are false laws, and of the no-mind, which has no real existence. It is destroyed by Truth now.”

from Watches, Prayers, and Arguments, given by Mary Baker Eddy, page 119

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From the Early Workers

Christian Science Journal, January 1889

What if the little rain should say:

“So small a drop as I,

Can ne'er refresh the thirsty fields,

I'll tarry in the sky”?

What if a shining beam at noon

Should in its fountain stay,

Because its feeble light, alone,

Cannot create a day?

Doth not each raindrop help to form

The cool refreshing shower,

And every ray of light to warm

And beautify the flower?

As I was looking over an old book of poems today, I came across the foregoing lines. I hope they may impress others as forcibly as they do me, for I have felt quite unhappy, thinking how little I am doing to influence those around me. These little simple verses have made quite a commotion in my mind, and have led me to resolve to do more, to watch more for opportunities; and to study how to impress those around me with the benefits they may derive from and give to others, by forgetting self and working only for Good. I have done enough to be convinced that there is no pleasure on earth to be compared with well-doing.

I am also convinced that I have been waiting for opportunities to come to me, instead of seeking them. How slothful it is in us, after having the way opened for us, to be indolent or thoughtless, and fail to do the little things which lie in our pathway. Let us bear constantly in mind the long weary years our dear Pastor Mrs. Eddy has labored to elevate humanity. No matter how hard we work, we can never work as she has,— all alone, with the world against her.

May we never cease to love and bless her, and please her by working and using our influence for good. Let us remember:

Little deeds of kindness,

Little words of Love,

Make this earth an Eden,

Like the one above.

Christian Science Journal, July 1923

The Psalmist sang, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Who does not long to accept that joyous invitation? Who does not yearn to be so sure of God, good, that good may be exalted in his thinking and in his whole experience?

How are we to carry on this process of magnifying the divine power? A very simple rule has been given us by Mary Baker Eddy in Science and Health (page 261), where she says, “Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.” That will certainly magnify good and diminish and destroy evil.

The Bible is full of instances of dominion given men by magnifying their sense of God's immanence. What a glorious magnifying of the presence and protection of God came to Elisha's servant when, in answer to his master's prayer, he saw the mountains full of “horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha”! What a magnifying of the sense of supply came to the widow of Zarephath who saw that the “barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail”! What golden riches ever gave its possessor such a magnified wealth of dominion as that expressed by Peter when he said to the man at the temple gate, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” And in our own age, what an amazing example of the help and support derived from a magnified concept of God, was our beloved Leader's work in establishing the Cause of Christian Science!

Every case of Christian Science healing to-day is proving to each of us, and to the world, the actual present fact that what is needed to prove man’s dominion over the whole earth is to “magnify the Lord;” to let every thought give to God infinite power, till at last there shall be no pretense of evil power left anywhere.

Then we shall see the truth of all men as God's children, and therefore free and perfect. Then shall our magnified understanding of God and man, as perfect Creator and perfect creation, be expressed as Paul refers to it: “And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.”

Christian Science Sentinel, August 24, 1918

Scripture constantly refers to hills and mountains, thus pointing to an important spiritual significance. Moses went up into the mount to receive the Ten Commandments, Jesus preached his Sermon on the Mount and was transfigured on a mount, and Paul addressed the Athenians about their unknown god, and his own known God, from Mars Hill.

When spiritually interpreted, hills have a tendency to turn thought upward, to produce mental elevation by symbolizing strength, exaltation, and endurance. In that wonderful analysis of creation which Mrs. Eddy has given us in the chapter entitled “Genesis” in her book Science and Health, she states, “Spiritually interpreted, rocks and mountains stand for solid and grand ideas.” To be “poor in spirit,” to be meek, to “hunger and thirst after righteousness,” to be merciful and “pure in heart,” and to be a peacemaker, are all qualities which prepare one to rise into the hills of God and learn of His “solid and grand ideas.”

That character is safe which is built on the rock upon which Jesus said he would build his church, upon the spiritual understanding of man's real nature, — “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” To be spiritually in the heights permits the dust to return unto dust, vanquishes that which is “of the earth, earthy,” and makes the clouds servants of the most high God.

Christian Science Sentinel, October 4, 1900

A certain rich man had a large, beautiful estate, covering many acres of ground. It was laid out with nice walks, and planted with choice flowers and fine shrubs; not a weed was to be seen; all was as perfect as money and labor could make it. The house was built of best material and furnished throughout with costly and tasteful fittings. He was called away on business. He discharged all his servants, locked up his house, closed the grounds against all intrusion, and departed. He was gone several years; when he returned he found his once beautiful place overgrown with weeds and wild brush. The flowers and shrubs seemingly choked out by them, the house was decayed and the furnishings moldy and rotten.

He viewed the ruins thoughtfully and then said, “This house and grounds are mine, but this condition of things is not mine and does not belong to me, and I deny their right to be here;” but would this denial remove them? No. Would the fact that they did not belong there remove them? No. Would the people of the town or city come forward and offer to remove them? No. He must hire labor and, at his own expense, remove and refit if he wanted his property to resume its former perfect condition.

During centuries of material thought our lives have become filled with material ideas which do not belong to our perfect condition. We must not only deny, but we must root out the material thoughts and replace them with the spiritual thought, and this will take weeks, months, and years of hard, watchful work. Destroying an error is not the work of a moment. You may push it out of sight but it reappears; you pluck off the blossoms, but it blooms again; you break off the whole weed, but leave the roots and they grow another weed; you pull up the root, but it has many roots, and enough are left to start another plant, and so you must keep faithfully and prayerfully at work until every root is destroyed, and even then you must watch and pray lest you again enter into temptation.

Christian Science Journal, October 1885

The fifteenth chapter of Luke is a story of the heart; a story of David, a story which is ever new to us all — the story of the prodigal son. To a large extent it brings to our remembrance many things in our own life. It is a beautiful story; the epitome of a life struggle, — the result of ignorance and inexperience. A whole chapter is devoted to the story. The first ten verses are a preface necessary to round it out.

Believing that things seen were the real; that the pleasures of life were only to be derived through the avenues of the senses; that success in life consisted in the acquisition of earth riches and honor such as the world esteems, the prodigal son departs from his father, and goes away to a far country. This departure, this change of his belief, was a radical change.

The characteristic of thoroughness is the material that moves mountains. It makes a man hot or cold; cold in trespass and sins, or alive and warm in truth and love. Descending into the depths of materiality, finding that the statements of the senses were false from the beginning, he came to himself through the logic of comparison, the logic of facts.

The lowliest paid of my father's servants are better off than I, — I who am his son! Joys of Soul are the only joys. Belief of pleasure in eating, drinking, passional indulgence, gratifying ambition, all, all are Dead Sea apples, rotten to the core.

What shall I do? Shall I continue this belief that brings such discontent to my heart? Shall I give up the prospects of wealth and eminent position among men? This I well know: that which is most esteemed by men, — by the world, — is an abomination with God! “I will arise and go to my Father; and I will say, Father! Source of all life, light, and love, — seduced by the false opinions of men, the false statements of matter, — I forgot that I was created in Thine own likeness and image. My soul is born again into the knowledge of the dominion of Spirit over matter; into knowledge that the body is but the expression of Spirit, and subject to its dictation. Therefore, Good, My Father, I approach Thee, not with the wisdom of men, nor in the belief of musty traditions, but as a trusting child approaches his father, I approach Thee, Thou source of my life.”

A faint understanding of God brings its reward. A knowledge of God (of Good) is evinced by demonstration. It should; for that which is not capable of demonstration is not worth having. Demonstration is the meat; profession is but the outside, or husk. Thus the approaching prodigal, while yet a great way off, received the life-giving Principle, Truth and Love.

Brave and truthful soul! He recognized and openly admitted the cause of his tribulations. “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no longer worthy to be called thy son.” My Father Thou art — and in thy likeness and image I am. But through this false belief of intelligence in matter, of pleasure in sensation, — this false conception of reality in matter, I have sold my birthright for a mess of pottage. All my suffering is not the result of imperfection of Thy love or Thy Law. I recognize it is all from my ignorance; that I am thy child; and that the healing of my transgressions is in simply doing Thy will, coming back to Thee, as I now do.

When the erring son found himself clothed in the beauty of holiness, — then it was he could look up and say: “Abba, Father!”

There was rejoicing, for “This my son was dead and is alive again; was lost and is found.” We are lost to joy, hope, and life, unless we are made alive by the holy spirit of Good.

And now, we reach another character, — a character which is found to-day in the church, and out of the church: among the rich and the poor; among the learned and the unlearned. It is the spirit of error which antagonized Jesus most, when He, the pure and holy, walked the earth; yea, and with jibes and sneers, with buffetings and persecutions, drove Him on to Calvary's hill, and nailed Him to the cross; a character more subtle than any of the beasts of the field; for cruelty and error are hid under the guise of morality and religion, a religion that observes all the traditions of the elders, and whitens the outside of their sepulchres, yet by self-righteousness has driven all love of God from the heart, — a character cold, censorious, calculating. Jesus himself says of such: “Woe unto you, scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites!” and in the eleventh chapter of Luke, describes the spirit which actuated the brother of the repenting prodigal to complain of the welcome back to his father's house.

Let us remember that “the greatest of all is Charity.” The returned Prodigal was clothed in the best robes in his Father's house, and in honor of his return the fatted calf was killed. Thomas N. Doutney, the celebrated temperance lecturer, in relating his experience of how he was saved from the hell of drink, said: “I have always had a deep sympathy for the unfortunate. It is the sweetest kind of labor for me to do them good. I say this without egotism; for this love for humanity in me is of God. All good is from and of Him. But what I wish to impress upon you is, that any one who has this principle of love in his soul for humanity, in some way, at some time, that man will be saved from the hell of appetites.”

It is so little, Lord, the widow’s mite,

This faltering word of thanks that would speak.

So faint it seems, some may not hear

My gratitude above my fear,

In trembling voice, uneloquent and weak.

Yet of the widow did the Master say

That she had given more than all the rest.

And he did not distain the heart

That ventured to bestow its part

And, in a humble way, its gratitude expressed.

Then let my thanks to God be testified;

If He accept it, then I ask no more.

And hearts that yearn as mine may yearn

For messages of Love will learn

That faithful lives can worship and adore.

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Current Articles

One of the most important lessons I have learned since finding Christian Science is the power of love. Love can heal any condition. The power of love is ever present and there is no place where Love is not felt. Christian Science is teaching us how to live it on a daily basis. The power of love, when properly applied, can do wonders. It works instantaneously.

In 2011, before I came to the United States, I was in Mauritania on missionary work and I had the privilege of witnessing love in action on a daily basis. Mauritania is an Islamic nation, and at the time Christianity was not welcomed. In fact, after the 9/11 attacks on the United States, the situation became very intense, and hatred and attacks on Christians got worse. But we had unfinished work that must go on. God had plans for them that must be accomplished.

One Sunday afternoon as I was coming home from church I boarded a bus. In Mauritania males and females do not sit on the same seat or rows. They sit opposite of each other with a huge space in the middle separating them. I usually carried my Bible openly. I never thought it could provoke anyone. As soon as I came onboard, they saw the Bible in my hand and became very furious and immediately requested that I leave the bus or they will throw me out. I responded no. They pointed out to me that because I was a Christian, and holding a Bible, that I was not supposed to be in the bus with them and they would throw me out from a moving vehicle. The driver and his conductor pleaded with them to calm down, but they got louder and started to conspire in their language.

While they were busy with their hateful behavior, I sat down very calmly and started to pray and refused to accept the false evidence that hate has any power or presence. I continued to remind myself about how God loves us all, equally. I reminded myself of all the wonderful things God has done among us. The work we were doing in their communities, the extraordinary people I have met. I could feel the hate starting to melt away. The light of Truth was beginning to shine through.

At this time in my life I had already found Christian Science and was very active in my study and learning of the principles of Christian Science and how to apply them. I’m sure that was what helped me, not just this time, but many times afterwards. I stood my ground and did not bow to their false claims. With the driver and conductor on my side, we told them that if anyone would leave this bus it was not going to be me, but the rest of them; or they can choose to stay and be quiet. We spoke to them very forcefully and with authority, and we meant it. At the end Truth prevailed. Hatred gave way to Love, and error surrendered to Truth.

Love does and always will overcome hate when understood, even the most severe form of hate does not stand a chance. I made it to my destination unharmed. The work of God continues. Christian Science found me at the right time, and I am very grateful for all I am learning here in the Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent.

A recent Roundtable talked about the hand of God and how ever present that support is, regardless of where we may find ourselves. This brought to mind an experience I had several years ago that demonstrated to me that God’s hand can be manifested in forms not expected and in ways that the recipient of such support is both the giver and the receiver.

My wife, Linda, and I had signed up for a guided mule train tour on the Island of Molokai, one of the many Hawaiian Islands. From the island’s sea cliffs down to the ocean, this was to be a difficult, steep descent of 2,000 feet with 26 switchbacks, on uneven, rocky surfaces, all on the back of a mule. Our destination was a leper colony that had existed in the late 1800s through the 1940s. I had never been on the back of a mule, nor was I particularly enamored with height. In fact, height was a fear I had not fully come to terms with.

My mule was a gentle old soul, named Puka, who had been doing this ride for quite some time. His experience and calm demeanor did not quell my initial apprehensions which went on high alert when we encountered the first switch back. He stopped just short of the cliff’s edge. I found myself looking straight down to a distant, tiny shoreline with nothing between me and it but this mule’s long nose. Upon stopping, his backend side stepped ninety degrees and he continued on down the trail, following the mule in front of him. This was to happen twenty-five more times over the next ninety minutes. By the time we reached bottom, my respect and admiration for this animal had grown, and I felt a great gratitude for the service he had provided me.

After a tour of the colony, it was time to head back up the trail to the mainland. On the way down the trail, we were instructed to lean back in the saddle and hold on to the saddle’s horn. On the way back up, it was just the opposite. I was able to lean forward and literally hug my big companion’s neck. During the ascent I felt a deep sense of connection and gratitude. I was grateful for the spiritual qualities being expressed by my new friend. Puka embodied fearlessness, strength, loyalty, patience, steadfastness and an abiding trust. I felt intimately connected to these qualities and expressed my gratitude inwardly and vocally to him on our journey upwards.

Upon our arrival at the starting point, I dismounted, expressing one final show of gratitude with a rub on Puka’s forehead before joining Linda a short distance away. As she and I were getting our legs back and sharing what we had just experienced, this mule made his way toward us. I watched as he nudged Linda aside and came directly up to me. He lowered his head and put his forehead gently onto my chest. In silence, I felt the power of this moment deeply. I understood it to be an expressed acknowledgment of a meaningful connection we had shared. That gesture, though brief, has endured in my awareness. For me it was a powerful affirmation that the hand of God is ever present, supporting, demonstrating and enlightening the way.

I am extremely grateful to Mary Baker Eddy, her early students, and the Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent for pointing the way to the Reality of God’s kingdom. It is through their efforts that this slow learner is learning how to discern what’s true and enduring about any situation I may find myself in. Christian Science teaches it’s never person, place or thing but, rather, spiritual qualities that drive God’s kingdom. That’s the back on which to ride and sometimes that may take the form of a big animal in a far-away place to drive that Truth home.

Many years ago I heard someone say that whenever she told her mom about something not good that had happened to her, her mom would say, “You’re alright now, aren’t you?”

This statement came back to me one morning when feeling better after an uncomfortable night. I decided that this was all that was true, and this was all that mattered, and to begin confirming only this when working with a practitioner.

But why was this true, that statement, “I’m alright now”? Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” His righteousness is, “I AM ALL, RIGHT NOW!”

So the statement, “I’m alright now,” is the added thing, not a human feeling, but the Divine expression showing itself.

I am so grateful to be witnessing this Divine overcoming the human in many unique ways that God is showing Himself to me. So, now I say, with much gratitude:

I’m alright now,

Because

I AM ALL, RIGHT NOW!

I loved a recent Roundtable discussion, which brought up the gift of facing challenges and welcoming any necessary rebukes that keep us focused on the Allness of God. It reminded me of something that happened on a three-day road trip I took the week before.

I had been praying before and throughout the road trip never to waiver from seeing everything and everyone I encountered as God's ideas, and as opportunities to listen to God instead of human will, and to turn every experience over to God.

Early one morning, as I was leaving the place I was staying in the dark, I smacked my head hard into a low beam. I immediately fell to the ground and began to pray, as we are taught: There is no pain in Truth. After a few moments of prayer, I got up, finished packing up my car, and got on the road. But as I drove off into a beautiful sunrise, I felt bombarded by fearful thoughts that I couldn't seem to shake. So I began doing what we are taught here at Plainfield: I demanded the blessing from this experience. What was it I needed to learn?

Two things came to me: First, that when I am reading the news in order to pray for the world, I need to be sure not to let all the focus on medical and material solutions become in any way real to me. Second, that I had to take a stand against the belief of aging. I knew that when I was younger I would have bounced right up and laughed at the lie of a bump on the head instead of being afraid that it could have dangerous consequences.

Both of these insights pointed out areas where I was not vehemently claiming the Allness of God in my life and the world. So I began listening to the previous night's testimony meeting for inspiration. I was literally moved to tears by the powerful expressions of the power of God's Love for us all!

Somehow this brought back a memory of something that had happened twenty-five years earlier when I decided to learn how to snowboard. Initially, I took a group lesson with a young instructor and five seven-year-old boys. Well, the boys took to it immediately. They fell down and bounced up laughing and soon were snowboarding away. Whereas, when I fell down, I literally saw stars. I didn't bounce up, laugh and snowboard away. But I wasn't about to give up. So I decided to take a private class the next time.

My instructor was about 18 years old. We took a run and once again, I kept falling. On the lift ride up together, I complained about how much I hated falling, and how it wasn't any fun to fall when you get older. Well, this guy looked at me like I had somehow missed the class where they taught the meaning of life. And then he said, “Duuuuude, you have to get over the idea that falling is bad.” I looked at him and burst out laughing. Because, of course, he had just given me the Cliffs Notes for that class on the meaning of life.

As we continued up the lift, I looked down and saw that, whereas all the skiers were upright and making beautiful turns down the mountains, the snowboarders often fell or were sitting down. I could see that they were having a completely different experience of the mountain than the skiers, and loved it. After that, I loved snowboarding — and I often use that instructor's insight whenever I feel like I've needed a shift in perspective or a good spiritual wake-up call.

That memory made me realize that before coming to Plainfield, I hoped Christian Science would be like skiing — schussing down mountains, making gorgeous S-turns in my lovely ski outfit, heading straight for some convivial apres-ski experience in front of a roaring fire.

But here at Plainfield, I really am getting over the idea that falling is bad — and instead learning that a well-placed rebuke, a challenge that gets me to demand the blessing, finding joy and gratitude in the difficult days, and always, always holding to the Allness of God, is the only thing we are all here to do.

Suddenly I was filled with joy and all the fear dissipated. That's when I heard God say, “Well, you do always tell your practitioner how much you enjoy a good spiritual kick upside the head.” With that I burst out laughing, and I spent the rest of the road trip filled with gratitude for Plainfield, my practitioner, all the resources and opportunities offered here for those of us willing to jettison our old ideas of Christian Science and instead recognize that the more we are willing to let the old human ideas of God or religion or life fall away, the more we know the Truth of the Allness of God's Love that really does set us free!

The hymns in our hymnal are filled with powerful statements of Truth. Recently I was doing a proofreading project for the church that involved several of our hymns. As I read through Hymn 172, it seemed to overflow with such meaning, and to be so appropriate in these seemingly troublesome times:

“Lift up thy light, O man, arise and shine,

Steadfast while loud the storms of life assail;

Immortal ray of that great Light divine,

’Gainst whose all-power no tempest shall prevail.”

Whether it be destructive weather conditions, a discordant bodily condition, or the many tempests and storms brewing in the media, in our nation, or the world, we can steadfastly lift up our light — the Christ consciousness — and know the Truth, that God is All-in-all, that there is nothing else but God, and nothing can withstand His power and presence. Also, as the last verse of this hymn reads

“Should the world’s sin and sorrow round thee rave,

Pierce thou the dark with Truth’s undaunted ray,

Send out its light of joy to help and save,

That more and more shines to the perfect day.”

These hymns are filled with inspiration and healing! What a treasure trove we have in our Hymnal.

On page 71 of Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy wrote: “Evil has no reality. It is neither person, place, nor thing, but is simply a belief, an illusion of material sense.” I am very grateful for how Christian Science teaches us to impersonalize error and evil.

Learning to do this has allowed me to truly forgive past events to the point where those things, which used to really bother me, have now essentially faded away. I realized this recently when I was going over my past testimonies just to remember all the good that God has done for me, and encountered one that for many years I looked on as the cruelest thing anyone had ever done to me. This time, the memory had no sting of betrayal to it any longer. What a healing!

There have been times here in Plainfield where I have failed to handle animal magnetism, and been most grateful that those affected were able to impersonalize the error while helping me to get right. It is so humbling to experience other people truly being able to forgive, while still going after the error with both barrels, so to speak.

I remembered my mother, who had some bit of Christian Science throughout her life, but in the end she was unable to impersonalize error and truly forgive others. I think she felt it would have been like she was giving up her past, but by continuing to hold the error to her family, she essentially gave up her future. This has been a powerful warning to me.

This makes me even more grateful for all I have learned here, and for practitioner support, which has helped me to learn to live this Science and to feel the freedom that the teachings of Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy bring to my life. What a blessing it is to be a member of this Church!

The Lord’s Prayer says, “Lead us not into temptation.” We learn, all of us here, that every day we are tempted. The errors that come are nothing but temptations to be overcome.

I’m so grateful to Mrs. Eddy for making this one of her instructions to her students, to pray without ceasing. She said this to James Neal, to never stop praying no matter how often, “lead me not into temptation.” In her own interpretation of this beautiful section of the Lord's Prayer, Jesus’ prayer to all mankind, she says, “And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death.”

This has been so helpful, because for so long the things that came, the errors that came, I didn’t have any means of stopping them; I just accepted them, believed in them, and therefore they carried on. But to say “lead us not into temptation,” now is very strong for me because it helps me to see the unreality of sickness, delivers me from seeing evil, hearing evil, or believing in any kind of evil. That has been a great help, since evil sometimes seems so real. I mean, error just seems so real, and we all know this. I’ve been able to overcome by just praying to God with all my heart, asking, “Father please help me to see the unreality of this.” It’s only a temptation, but it is very difficult to see that at times.

I’m so grateful for what Mrs. Eddy has taught, so grateful for the examples of Christ Jesus himself, and everyone who has ever done anything or has written the Truth, for us to follow. I’m so grateful that we can prove this, that the evils that come are nothing but tempting suggestions, and we can overcome them with what we are learning. We must see the nothingness and powerlessness of every form of evil.

Persistence — what an important quality that is! I remember as a child, my dad had a quote from Calvin Coolidge on his desk, and it is this: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

I remember, even as a child, thinking, well yes, one could have talent, and education, and genius. These things, however, may not be available to all. But, the one thing everyone can have is persistence. That is a quality of God, and it is given to all of us, so it really doesn’t matter so much about all these other things. Persistence is what is important! And what is persistence? It’s sticking to the task at hand. What motivates that persistence? It has to be love, because if you don’t love, you’ll get tired and just give up. But if it’s love, love for God, love for mankind, you will persist.

I was thinking of those of us who are still left in our church who went through the times of trial here. We're not special people, but why are we still here and others are not? Persistence, it’s just that simple. We didn’t give up, and we also had a great love for Mrs. Eddy, for Christian Science, and for what this church had to offer. So even though there were many trials, many temptations to give up, to turn around, to go back, we didn't. We persisted.

So, in many ways, when Calvin Coolidge says it’s omnipotent, it is Omnipotent, because it is from God Almighty. He gives it to all His people. And those who use it and persist, win the crown. Mrs. Eddy has said, “Truth persists, error does not.” So we can all persist with the Truth, a quality of God to get us where we need to be and keep us there!

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Letters of Gratitude

The material from your website that was visited by my friends and I actually means a lot for us all in our lives. I personally was going through some mental and emotional disasters in my life due to the extended pressure from family regarding my marital status. I am a pastor, actually, an independent preacher not related to any church. Because of my family issues, I was not able to continue to preach anymore. Since I started reading and watching the videos in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and Marathi, I felt a powerful encouragement for me to resume my Bible reading and preaching. I continued to watch these videos every week and I am consistently waiting for the lessons every week. I have asked my friends who started re-reading the Bible with me now, to write about the change in a short testimony to you.

This all became possible only because of Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent. I am personally very thankful to God and to you all that provide these teachings for us and for many. This is my short testimony that you can use to inspire others.

I am not a rich lady, but I have asked some of my friends to start donating some funds to your church. I hope they will do soon.

This is to appreciate the wonderful work that you are doing for us. For over one year now, I have been following and attending online services conducted by Plainfield. This has been very helpful and spiritually enriching for me.

Thank you for the references to the article “War” by Martha Wilcox, which has been most helpful. I have also found another article by Mrs. Wilcox, that is also very helpful, “God Governs the Universe.”

I love the clear instruction that we Christian Scientists are able to protect our own and all governments and our own and all nations by knowing that man — any, every, man — cannot be governed or influenced by anything other than the Divine Mind. All governments reflect wisdom and intelligence and there are no evil organizations that can govern or influence men or nations erroneously.

I am so very grateful for the hard work of people like Mrs. Wilcox who enabled us to have such a treasure trove of helpful articles and instructions with which to work. Thanks so much to you all at Plainfield for making them so easily accessible.

Thank all of you for your time and what you do. I’m so grateful I came across you. I study more now and am understanding more. I have such a desire to grow more spiritually each day.

The first online meeting I attended at the Plainfield Church was a supernal treasure. God’s presence was manifest in ways I have not experienced in such gatherings elsewhere. Rich, yet succinct, readings and testimonies, along with beautiful music and singing, elevated an abiding sense of Love that spanned the miles to Texas. Thank you, Plainfield, for sending the podcast to my phone — this most thoughtful service helps to assure my presence at future meetings.

I want to say thank you to all the people who make Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent, possible. I feel like it is such an example of one Mind and God’s children working together and supporting each other. Although I am extremely grateful and value my practitioner’s support, prayer, and help, I also find so many people’s contributions so powerful and helpful. Whether it be the participation in the Roundtable discussions, postings on the forum, testimonies given on Wednesdays, the beautiful readings and Bible lessons, along with the inspirational audio articles, plus countless more, all help in understanding, progress, and conviction of Christian Science.

The support of everyone praying together during the watches, and especially praying for the world, is such an amazing feeling!

Mrs. Eddy’s seven hymns from the Hymnal are also included in the Readings and Music section of the website under “songs that warm our hearts.” I am very grateful to have found them. These healing hymns are beautifully recorded, consecutively, and I go to them often to find help, strength, and direction when my thoughts seem to be wandering off to some little or big problem that I may be encountering and for which I can find no solution. These hymns were given to us with much love by Mrs. Eddy, and we can use them as prayers to guide us.

With much appreciation and gratitude. Thank you, Plainfield.

As always it is a blessing to be with you all on Wednesday nights. I feel grateful for the progress made while working with the Plainfield Independent church, and the many support elements you include through your website including Bible Studies and the equivalent of an adult Sunday School session weekly, also known as the Roundtable. Also, the loving music expressed by all.

You are appreciated.

I am so grateful for Christian Science. It helps me every day, in every way imaginable.

A few weeks ago, my lovely dad passed on, peacefully and privately at home. I am still in awe of the myriad of miracles that took place to allow his passing, or graduation, as it was beautifully called in a recent testimony, to be peaceful and dignified.

My dad was not a Christian Scientist but always fully supported my mum’s lifelong commitment to Christian Science, and her decision to have us attend weekly Sunday School throughout our childhood. Thank God for this blessing.

When I finally got home, I realized I was just in time to dial into the 10 p.m. Plainfield Unity Watch. I was welcomed by the kindest, most loving voice imaginable. The watch was extraordinary — the first verse of hymn 64:

“From sense to Soul my pathway lies before me,

From mist and shadow into Truth’s clear day;

The dawn of all things real is breaking o’er me,

My heart is singing I have found the way.”

You can imagine how fitting this was. I prayed to know how mankind is finding its way from sense to Soul, just as my sweet dad was on his pathway. It was such a special moment.

Now as we navigate this new territory without him, we can go forward joyfully and so very, very grateful. I am so thankful to God for His eternal, loving governance and to Mrs. Eddy for bringing us this incredible Science, which helps and guides in every situation. Thanks also to everyone at the Plainfield Unity watch that night, your kind, loving voices were so very helpful and comforting.

It was informative and reassuring to read Martha Wilcox’s article “War,” reminding us to view any global conflict correctly: a manifestation of human will and ego. As she goes on to explain in her article, it is not by happenstance that we live in this era (as Jesus lived in his and Mary Baker Eddy in hers). God has a divine purpose for us now.

Before Plainfield I viewed my existence as fragile and easily snuffed out at any moment by whatever “boogie men” human mind could conjure up. It was a stressful, agonizing way to exist. Through Plainfield’s instruction and teachings, I am realizing strength and dominion is present over my life, the weather, occurrences near and far, people near and far. We are not helpless, hapless humans riding the wave of current events, being tossed to and fro; we can support that wave with the Divine view — the “truth pie” I call it. As in I have baked a truth pie and no matter how many pieces it is cut into, it is always the same kind of pie — Truth. I cannot fear the repercussions of supporting right ideas, true notes that don’t lie. My own take on things, whether with rose tinted glasses or bleak smokey ones, are always deceptive, so I’ve placed my trust in God: He is law and never waivers and clinging to even a little bit of His Truth is powerful, supportive, restorative.

I am so grateful to Plainfield for providing timely articles and videos that help us navigate (with correct views) the unfolding activities before us. I admit that my first reaction to Russia’s assault on Ukraine was paralyzing fear and helplessness. So grateful to be put back “on track”! No matter the imperfect view, only Love and divine Truth are in control here, across the street and across the pond!

Even though I’m not a member of the church, I want you and the others to know you are my anchor. My older sister passed today; I am beyond grateful for “Death Overcome” on YouTube. I am eternally grateful to all of you for setting me on a correct path of Christian Science. I am still dealing with beliefs and have much on my plate, but the gifts the members have given are too numerous to name. Thank God for Christian Science, thank God for Plainfield, the center of the universe, the church triumphant!

So happy for our Bible Study on Revelation. What a wonderful study for our New Year.

God bless and thank you.

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Testimonies of Healing

from L. T. in New York

A week and half ago my friend began displaying symptoms of what doctors have labeled a stroke. It came on out of nowhere as we were getting ready to leave the house to do some shopping. I could see a tremendous amount of fear in her eyes, that was only growing deeper as she was trying to make sense of what was happening.

I knew I needed to take her to the hospital in order to quiet her fear. From the moment the symptoms appeared I began calmly working with what I have learned about man's perfection as a child of God. Knowing that "Man is created in the image of God," along with the understanding that God is All, is a very calming fact. Thanks to the teachings in this church and the work of my practitioner, I was able to stand strong in this truth and trust God, and just be that calm, reassuring presence that she needed.

On the way to the hospital she began to relax and regained the ability to speak. When we reached the hospital, they performed their regular routine of tests and questioning—and the symptoms reoccurred. At one point the doctor told her that she would never have full use of her arm or walk again. I was outraged! I immediately corrected him by saying, "You can't say that, that is not the truth!" I turned to my friend and told her not to listen to him, that it was not the truth about her at all. She said, "I know God is with me, and I will be completely healed."

After that she was given some medication and was transported by ambulance to a larger hospital over two hours away. I followed an hour later, completely at ease, and called my practitioner to tell her what was happening. She began working right away and encouraged me in the truth of Being and the fact that "if it didn't happen in divine Mind, it didn't happen at all." Along the way I was met with a heavy snow storm, but through the grace of God, carried on through it safely and calmly.

When I arrived at the second hospital I found her sitting up in bed. The next day, much to the doctor's surprise, after a lot of talk about the long road to recovery, and the report of what they had found on the imaging, she was taking walks down the hallway, unaided, and using her arm as before. In two days, we returned home and she began resuming her normal activities. The entire claim was completely healed.

I am so grateful to God and the work of my practitioner for bringing about this quick and permanent healing. It was an opportunity for both my friend and I to strengthen our trust in God and the healing power of the Christ Truth when we are constantly being bombarded with materia medica and what is going on in the world today. My friend had not been very receptive to Christian Science but has expressed in the past, how grateful she is for the wonderful changes that have occurred in me since I began studying Christian Science through this church and getting regular support from my practitioner.

I was thinking, right after this occurred, how sometimes we are given an opportunity to witness to our friends and family, who may not always trust in what we are expressing about our love for God and our faith in Him through all things. When they saw how completely healed she was from this claim, I believe it opened their eyes to the possibility that there is more to this practice than they were previously willing to understand. 

I am so grateful to this church and my practitioner for all the work she has done and for all I have been given.

from M. H. in Hawaii

A few days ago, while playing with one of my cats, she scratched me severely on top of my hand. Most times I just ignore it, but it was a painful one. I was not vigilant in rebuking the lies that any act, especially one given out of love, could hurt me. Well of course it took only a couple of days for this scratch to manifest exactly as mortal mind wanted: red, swollen, angry.

As the weekend approached, I began to think that on Monday I would need to see a doctor, as it was clearly infected. Though I studied and worked through the lie every day, I did not seem to be making progress, because I kept looking at the condition of my hand as the litmus for whether I was improving or not. Yesterday while listening to the Roundtable discussion, a testimony was read of a woman who was going to her practitioner to tell her she was going to relent to an operation. While on her way over, she began to be grateful for all that Christian Science had done for her and decided that she would rather continue on with gratitude than give in to the procedure. She was healed immediately!

What joyful words to me! I stopped working hard to fix the problem and gave gratitude for all the ways I have been blessed by Christian Science practice. You know that once you get going on gratitude, there is no stopping the floodgate! I think it was also important that I back track to the steps to destroy error, look it straight in the eye, condemn it as a falsity, and know it could never dwell in the house of the Lord, and replace it with the Allness of God’s love and care. I woke the next day to a hand completely healed!

from N. J. in California

I want to thank this church, all the watchers, and my practitioner for her prayerful help. Your prayers and steadfastness have paved a way for me to receive the teaching of Mary Baker Eddy and be healed multiple times.

I was healed of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety. That healing was over a year ago.

My current testimony is, after reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, praying, watching and practicing this Science for over two years that I found an accounting error in my business financial records. It was an account that was filled with investors’ money and it was off. This error happened a few years ago and had to be dealt with now, and I could not put it off any longer.

I was upset, embarrassed and wasn't sure how I was going to fix this, write it off, and/or submit to defeat. I decided that I was going to do something about it and make it right, however I could. I decided to pray because I was sad and worried. But I remember reading in Christian Science that all things are possible to God.

So, I got on my knees in my living room and prayed to God, saying I will do whatever I need to do to correct the situation and replenish that money. As I was praying, talking with God, letting go and repenting, my phone was buzzing next to my head. I had put the phone down on the sofa before I started praying. I kept on praying and talking with God, knowing there is only one Mind, one Spirit, one Soul, one Principle, one Life, Truth, and Love. No matter what, His plan was unfolding, no matter what I thought or felt. For God is All in All.

When I got off my knees, I saw my phone had messages on it. One message was a new client for new business. This client had contacted me multiple times within the hour that I was talking with God in prayer. I called this person back, and their business with me was more than double what I needed to correct the accounting mistake. They wanted to do business immediately. My prayer was instantly answered!

I share this because of the instant and physical help that came to me directly when I was in need. I had admitted the mistake to God, committed to fixing it, prayed, and my prayer was answered. None of this would have been possible without Christian Science.

I am so grateful for Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy and practitioner. This has taught me to trust and rely on our loving Father who is ready to help in any situation.

from K. O. in Arkansas

A few months ago I was not feeling well. I could barely get out of bed. I contacted a Plainfield Christian Science Practitioner for some help. I was unable to read but I could listen; so, I listened to a recorded article on the Plainfield website called, “Oneness” by Bicknell Young. This is a lengthy article, and I am grateful to Gary for reading and recording this article. I listened to it for a few days.

I had to contact the practitioner at one point because I was unable to keep food or water down. Her reply included a passage from the hymn, “Love” by Mary Baker Eddy which reads, “Fed by Thy Love.” I was familiar with that passage! “Fed by Thy love divine, we live, for Love alone is Life.” I thought very deeply about those words, and within a few hours I was able to eat and to drink water. Recovery continued and in a couple of days I was able to resume my normal duties and my daily study of the Lesson and other Christian Science material.

I am very grateful to Plainfield for all the engaging activities that have helped me learn. I particularly enjoy the unity watches. When I first started participating in the watches I did not feel like I knew what I was doing. But, I have persevered and continue to get better at this task, and I am now feeling increased confidence.

I found Plainfield about two years ago. I had turned on YouTube to listen to some Christian Science hymns while I cleaned my house. After about an hour I wondered what church or group had recorded and posted these hymns? That is when I discovered Plainfield and I have been attending the services and taking advantage of the wonderful articles on the website and other activities ever since.

I am very grateful to the Plainfield church, the practitioners, the congregation, etc. I have learned more about prayer, living Christian Science, the incredible impact that Mary Baker Eddy made as the Leader of the Cause, and most importantly, that God really is All-in-all.

from P. G. in Australia

Greetings from Melbourne Australia where our season is summer. I would like to give my sincere gratitude to Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent for the inspiring Roundtables and the recent February 6th Roundtable on the topic “Spirit,” which included an idea about communication with God's creatures. The story was told of an angry panther called Diablo (devil), and when he was renamed Spirit, its nature was transformed to its true loving nature.

This message really resonated for me and prompted a reversal in my thinking and restoration of joy and confidence. Tuning in to the one Mind which is governing, I now take a blessing to my daily morning swim in the sea to the creatures I often meet, which include stingrays and jellyfish with stinging tentacles, and schools of salmon. Previously I had been stung at times by the jellyfish, which had caused irritation, and together with sightings of sharks in our swim area, I had been swept along with the general sentiments of others of fear of harm, as these were all hot topics of conversation on our beach.

At Plainfield a constant message is about always having God with us and acknowledging Him as the one Mind or intelligence of us and all, including all creatures. Before I go, I study the Lord’s Prayer with its spiritual interpretation (S&H pages 16-17), which includes: “Thy kingdom come. Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present.” I acknowledge and accept that the presence of God is right there with me during my swim, with other swimmers, and with all the creatures around us as we share their domain. Hymn 139 has always been a favourite of mine and I often think about it during my swim. I have adapted it for this activity — I swim with Love along the way, And O, it is a holy day; No more I suffer cruel fear, I feel God's presence with me here; The joy that none can take away is mine; I swim with Love today.

My blessing also includes gratitude for the beauty, grace, and strength of the sea creatures, and I bring them love and thank them for sharing their space with me, and know that as perfect ideas of God, all express the one divine Mind, and that in this loving environment I am protected, as God's creatures cannot harm each other. I also include gratitude for safety in the sometimes rough seas and challenging weather conditions — God with us always!

from P.C. in Canada

When I learned that I was going to have a baby, my husband (who was not a Christian Scientist) and I visited a Christian Science practitioner each month in order to better understand God’s spiritual creation.

We planned a home birth with a midwife. To help make my husband and his family at ease, we arranged for a medical doctor to be present. In the birth plan, the midwives would take the lead and “catch” the baby (as they call it), since they don’t consider they are delivering the baby. Instead, they see themselves as a witness to a non-rushed, non-forced arrival. The doctor liked the plan, as he knew that the midwives had more experience with child-birth than he had.

During the midwife’s pre-natal classes, I told her about God’s love for his children, young and old, and shared many healings with her.

One day, she drew me aside and told me that her father had gathered their family together and told them he would die soon. He had become lethargic, and lifeless. She asked me to pray about it. So I did pray, although I was never told the name of her father’s ailment. I don’t remember just how I prayed, but in a few days he told them all, “Get out and quit fussing!” He said that he was too busy with plans for his garden and other projects to have them around. His daughter was glad to see him vivacious and back to his old grouchy self, because he was, at least, lively — and she thanked God.

When I suddenly went into labor, my husband was in a foul mood. But I just kept thinking, “This is the day the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:24)

The midwives reported that the baby was not in the right position, and there would be at least twenty-four hours more of labor. They were very concerned that if the baby didn’t arrive by then, there would likely be an infection to cause him damage or death. They stated that if the situation didn’t correct prior to the twenty-four hours, they would transport me to the hospital for a caesarian section delivery.

I asked my husband to call the Christian Science practitioner, and he came back with an astonished, joyful look on his face. “What did she say?” I asked.

She said, “I think the child will come very soon!” She gave me three hymns to read to you.” He didn’t get all the way through reading those hymns, when I called out, “The baby is coming!!” The midwives heard me calling and came running down the stairs, just in time to “catch” the baby.

They monitored the child closely, and said that he had a heart beat so low that he was in danger of passing on, and recommended that because he was so fragile, he should not be moved. The doctor agreed with their assessment. I thought, “These things do not move me! I am moved by the breath of praise!”

I stayed up all night thanking God for His gift to me, for being the Great Physician, and omnipresent, eternal Life itself. I was very certain that God does not give and then take away His gift.

My son’s heart rate became normal within hours. My husband was very grateful to the Christian Science practitioner and to God. Today, my son is a strong young man.

I am very thankful to Divine Love for His gifts of Jesus’ and Mary Baker Eddy’s example; for Christian Science, its practitioners; and for this beloved Plainfield Church.

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When Plainfield Church first became independent, we were asked, “How will you survive? What will you read?” As you can see below, through the grace of God, we have survived very well, thank you — and flourished!

We began by writing our own Bible Lessons, and then Independent Christian Scientists from all over the world began sending us writings by early Christian Science workers that were not available anywhere else. And we grew from there — and continue to grow.

Our Website

Our church website, plainfieldcs.com, has a wealth of inspiring and healing items to read and listen to, including recordings of past services, Bible Studies, and Roundtable discussions.

You will also find a treasure trove of articles and other literature by early workers in Christian Science, including Bicknell Young, Martha Wilcox, Herbert W. Eustace, and many others. There are also audio recordings of many of these articles and books. Audio recordings of the current week’s Bible Lesson, and a Forum to post comments relating to the Lesson are available, and also a Bulletin Board where you can post comments of a more general nature.

YouTube Channel

Our YouTube channel has over 3,000 videos of church services, classes, readings of books and articles, hymns, and music from our services, which are visited regularly by people from all over the world.

Check out all that we have to offer by going to:

YouTube.com/PlainfieldCS

Our Church Publications

Our church publications are available free on our church website, but sometimes it’s nice to have a copy in your hand to refer back to at your leisure, or during the night when there might be a need for comfort. Descriptions and subscription prices are included below.

Newsletter

In alternate months, our church publishes our church Newsletter, “Plainfield Independent.” This publication contains news about church activities, miscellaneous writings, and other fun things that will make you smile, laugh — and think.

Books by Early Workers in Christian Science

Plainfield Church is the source for many books and writings by early workers in the Christian Science movement, many of whom worked in Mrs. Eddy’s home and were taught by Mrs. Eddy herself. These priceless writings are available for purchase at very reasonable prices, and are listed, along with ordering information, on our church website, plainfieldcs.com. Many articles on our church website are excerpts taken from these books, so to have the complete works is a real privilege!

You can find a list of books we have available for purchase by clicking “Store” on the top menu of our website.

Church Membership

“When one sees that Christian Science is the only way, he is ready for church membership, and there is no other requirement.” — Mary Baker Eddy

This is the only requirement for membership in Plainfield Church. We welcome everyone who wishes to become a member and work for God to send in an application, which you can find under the “Members” tab on our website. Or send an email to our clerk at: clerk@plainfieldcs.com.

Websites in Other Languages

Our missionary work is expanding. We have recently launched websites in the languages of Hungarian, Ukrainian, Russian, Marathi, Nepali, Pashto, Persian, Sindhi, and Tamil, which join with our existing Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu — that makes seventeen languages other than English!

Much gratitude to all of our translators for their individual demonstrations which are working to bless every corner of the world!

We recently received the following email from someone new in Pakistan:

Accept my greetings and salute for the lovely way to produce your unchallenged true teachings about God, as our Mind, we as His ideal creation and making it clear what the Christian Science Church is giving to the spiritual-thirsty like me. The great work you and your Church is dealing regarding foreign languages is amazing and fruitful. I am having great blessings since I have started learning the Word of God through your website and YouTube channels. Especially Pashto, Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi, Tamil and Marathi languages are doing great things spiritually in my life when I read and listen to the YouTube lessons.

I greatly appreciate it and ask my Lord for the unstoppable blessings for the whole church worldwide. May you always please my heart and soul by producing these lessons and other great material in all the languages of the world especially for my Pakistani and Indian people. Amen.

I thank you and the whole church again for all of this.

Our goal was, and still is, to get the Word of God out to people all over the world who need this pure, unadulterated Science, as we did, and still do. So you will see that much of what we provide on our website, plainfieldcs.com, is free. Please feel free to browse through all that we have there. You don’t even have to tell us who you are — we warmly welcome everyone!

But there are expenses involved in maintaining a website, and in maintaining our church home and our church services. So if you are helped by what you find here, and you wish to show your gratitude, please use the “donate” button on the website. It would be greatly appreciated!

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A note about the lighthouse sketch by Luanne:

Boston Light — little Brewster Island (outer Boston Harbor), Massachusetts

Boston Light was the first light station in North America and is the country’s oldest continuously used lighthouse site. The original structure, built in 1716, was destroyed during the Revolutionary War. Rebuilt in 1783, it has been called “the ideal American lighthouse.” Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964, it is the only manned lighthouse in the United States.

“Publish the Word”

Broadcast the Truth

“Freely ye have received, freely give”

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