Article March 2, 1935 Issue

Members' Part in Church Services and Lectures

FLOYD C. SHANK

When members of the Christian Science church are urged individually to assume their share of responsibility for the success of church services or lectures, and to do correct metaphysical work in preparation for such occasions, they may feel the need for definite instruction on how to perform this task. If such should be the case, much helpful instruction may be found in the sixth chapter of John's Gospel.

Here it is recorded that the multitudes followed Jesus "because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased." Likewise today, it is the healing works of Christian Science which attract multitudes to our church services and lectures. Realization of this fact, together with the giving of our testimonies at the Wednesday evening meetings and on other occasions which make the recital of healings appropriate, is obviously the responsibility of every member. By fulfilling this task, members will share in multiplying the attendance at our services, and thereby enable the truths of Christian Science to be explained to a greater number of those in need of its ministrations.

In following the Gospel narrative we see that Jesus, having compassion on the multitude, asked the disciples whence they could buy bread to feed so many people in the wilderness. The disciples, drawing their conclusions from the evidence before the material senses, were unprepared to meet the emergency. But Christ Jesus "knew what he would do." He bade the disciples invite the people to sit down. Accepting the supply at hand, he first offered thanks to the Father. Then, giving of the few loaves and fishes to the disciples, he requested that they be distributed to the multitude. He did not give the food directly to the multitude, but to the disciples, for distribution. Here is an important lesson for the church member to ponder, for he is a present-day disciple. He has a definite place to fill at church services and lectures. He is to be on hand to grasp the unfolding ideas of Spirit, and through prayerful endeavor so to utilize them that they may accomplish their beneficent purpose as he offers his prayer for the congregation "collectively and exclusively," as our Leader counsels in the Church Manual (Art. VIII, Sect. 5). Through his understanding the Word given forth will be multiplied to them that are waiting expectantly for spiritual food. Do we often enough recall how great is our responsibility to support the services to which the searcher comes, at our invitation, to hear proclaimed the Word of God? Through true thinkers the power of the Word may be so multiplied as to reach the waiting multitude. We were once of the multitude which comes seeking light for the first time; but now, as members of the church, we have our work to do in supporting the church services and lectures that they may accomplish their purpose of awakening and healing the multitudes.

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