Editorial November 29, 1947 Issue

MIDWEEK THANKSGIVINGS

John Randall Dunn

The American Thanksgiving Day, a celebration fixed by law for the last part of November, has come and gone. In other countries, however, the Lesson-Sermon on "Thanksgiving" in the Christian Science Quarterly will be read in Science churches on other days. In the appendix of the Church Manual, its author, Mary Baker Eddy, provides an order of service for Thanksgiving Day for The Mother Church and all branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, throughout the world. These Thanksgiving services ever prove to be happy, uplifting experiences. Since a suitable portion of the time is reserved for "testimonies by Christian Scientists, appropriate for the occasion" (ibid., p. 124), one hears invariably at these meetings a spontaneous outpouring of gratitude for healing and redemption both heart-warming and inspirational. As a rule, there is scarcely enough time for the audible expression of thanks of those who desire to speak. If a reader of these lines has never attended a Thanksgiving service in a Christian Science church, there is a happy experience before him.

Christian Scientists, however, are privileged to provide more, many more, of these inspirational occasions during the year, for in every church of this denomination, and in many societies, Wednesday testimony meetings are held, where one may hear in addition to readings from the Bible and from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy experiences of those who have been healed. But sometimes one does not find at the Wednesday meetings that spirit of spontaneous gratitude which is in such abundant evidence at the annual Thanksgiving service. There may be pauses between testimonies. Instead of Scientists springing happily to their feet to give expression to their thankfulness for blessings received, there occasionally appears a reluctance on the part of some to share in this joyous activity.

Some may attempt to explain their silence by averring that they are not public speakers, that a devastating fear seizes them at the mere thought of talking before others, or that they have no outstanding healing to relate. However, an honest appraisal of the actual reasons for the nonparticipation in the giving of thanks is apt to reveal in a majority of cases one principal cause, and it is this: the Scientist is not carrying to his midweek meeting the sense of gratitude which filled his heart at the time of the annual Thanksgiving service. He has not awakened to the realization that he has a thanksgiving meeting every Wednesday of the year, and that it is his privilege, as one of the hosts at the feast, to bring his offering of spiritual experience, should it be needed, no matter how simple it may seem.

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