Article June 4, 1938 Issue

Our Part in Church Services

JAMES STANLEY BALEY

For many of us attendance at church services appears to be our only visible church activity. Though we are members of a branch church or society, we may not occupy any official position. This makes no less important our presence at the services, for constructive mental activity in their support is required of all church members.

As church members may we not ask ourselves, How are we thinking? Do we leave to the Readers and the board of directors or trustees the responsibility of maintaining the right mental atmosphere, or do we appreciate the necessity of our own individual right thinking at every service? In obeying the By-Law, "Alertness to Duty" (Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 6), we have the opportunity of taking active part metaphysically in realizing the nature of the true Church. The growth of our movement, the maintenance of its unique place and dignity in the world of religious thought, and the efficacy of its healing ministrations are closely allied to the harmony of our services. The importance of these services is emphasized in the Manual of The Mother Church, where Mrs. Eddy writes in part (Art. III, Sect. 1), "The Readers of The Mother Church and of all its branch churches must devote a suitable portion of their time to preparation for the reading of the Sunday lesson,—a lesson on which the prosperity of Christian Science largely depends."

Since our Leader has laid such stress on the basic value of our Sunday Lesson-Sermons given in the Christian Science Quarterly, we can loyally co-operate in supporting the services which she established by the daily study of the Lesson and attending the service at which it is read. Sometimes the argument of apathy may suggest itself to a church member. Perhaps a lack of interest may assail him, tempting him to refrain from regular attendance at the services. Error may argue to him to stay at home "just this one Sunday." Such an attitude needs to be replaced by the joyous understanding of good, which means taking a really active part in every church service.

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