Article October 23, 1909 Issue

OUR SERVICE IN CHURCH

NELLIE HEYSER COOKE.

We cannot be too familiar with the definition of "church," given on page 583 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. Here we are told that "the church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick." In attending the Christian Science church, it is our privilege as well as our duty to have ever in mind the thought that we are there not only to get, but to give. Several years ago the writer was healed, during the Sunday service, of a most annoying cough. This healing brought with it a clear vision of the privilege we each have of contributing our share of the Christ -spirit, both at the Wednesday and Sunday services.

At times we fail to realize that at every service many may have come thither in deepest gloom, in a sense of sickness or of want. They come to be spiritually uplifted, to touch the hem of the Christ -consciousness and find relief. Let each, then, ask himself: Am I doing all I can at every service to lift up the Christ? Jesus said, "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." At the first peal of the organ the service begins, and do we reverently lift our thoughts heavenward and keep them there, until the closing words are spoken? Does the thought of each one go out in yearning love to help all the needy ones in our midst? And do we throughout the service continue to pray for them without ceasing?

A few helpful thoughts have recently come to the writer along these lines. For over eighteen months I had not the privilege of attending a large Christian Science church. Upon my return to the city where I live, I was impressed with the disturbance incident to the adjustment of some hundreds of ladies hats immediately after the Lesson -Sermon; and the thought came, Would it not be well to guard against marring the spiritual atmosphere of others? Should we not wait until after the benediction to replace our millinery? The flurry of hats is a little thing, but instead of the flurry how much better if there were a reverently uplifted thought at the presence of the Word of God, concerning which St. John writes: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God".

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