Messages from the Christian Science Board of Directors

Dear Church Members and Friends,

It is with a joyous heart that we invite you to Boston for this year's Annual Meeting of The Mother Church, to be held Monday, June 3. We hope you will join us in person or online at christianscience.com/annualmeeting.

The carnal mind argues there is so much wrong in the world right now that there is no reason to hope for healing, and that some may not even have a right to happiness or peace. But a wonderful thing about Christian Science is that it teaches us not to accept the limitations of the carnal mind.

The psalmist sang, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God" (Psalms 42:11). Hoping and trusting in God involves much more than putting on a brave face and wishing for something better. The kind of hope this Bible passage conveys is rooted in an understanding of the omnipotence and ever-presence of God, infinite good. This understanding gives us strength to stand up to and overcome evil individually and collectively.

The Christian Science Bible Lesson, "on which the prosperity of Christian Science largely depends" (Mary Baker Eddy, Church Manual, p. 31), includes examples every week of people who found a way forward from violence, poverty, disaster, illness, or even death, by putting their hope and trust in the ever-presence of divine Life and Love. These spiritually-minded men and women looked for something higher than momentary escape or material comfort. They sought to know God and God's eternal law of harmony—the kingdom of heaven within—a tangible, lasting spiritual peace, even the inherent joy of real being that transcends a merely human view of life and brings permanent healing to any ready seeker.

The Church of Christ, Scientist, is uniquely designed to bring the light and joy of Christ-healing to humanity through our Bible Lessons, church services, Reading Rooms, Sunday Schools, lectures, and publications, as well as, most importantly, the individual healing practice of each member around the world. And because each of us has been blessed by the Comforter that God has given us, part of being a member of The Mother Church is our sharing Christian Science heart to heart with others in our local communities.

The message of our pastor, the Holy Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has never been more relevant to humanity than it is right now. All of us who have experienced the blessing of Christian Science healing, "the babe we are to cherish" (Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 370), have never been more needed in bringing the light of Christ to humanity.

Our gathering for Annual Meeting in June will be an opportunity to strengthen our Cause by listening together for what divine Mind is imparting, to enable us to demonstrate with one accord the spirit of these words from one of our hymns:

God is Mind and holy thought is sending;
Man, His image, hears His voice.
Every heart may understand His message,
In His kindness may rejoice.
Lo, He speaks, all condemnation ending,
Every true desire with Love's will blending;
Losing self, in Him we find
Joy, health, hope, for all mankind.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 73)

As always, if you have your own "report from the Field" to share, please be in touch with the Clerk of The Mother Church at clerk@christianscience.com or by calling 617-450-3481.

With deep gratitude and love for you all,

The Christian Science Board of Directors