Article May 17, 1952 Issue

Procedure for Order of Exercises

The Order of Exercises for the Christian Science Sunday School is set forth by Mary Baker Eddy on page 127 of the Manual of The Mother Church. The procedure herein set forth applies to The Mother Church and all of its branches, both churches and societies. There is no rule about the wording to be used in introducing the nine steps indicated in the Order of Exercises; so each branch is privileged to formulate its own statements.

The Order of Exercises provides that the Sunday School shall be called to order by the superientendent. Some superintendents begin by making a statement to the effect that the Sunday School will be opened by singing hymn number so-and-so. Whether this shall be preceded by the tapping of a bell or a few instrumental chords, which would not be considered a prelude, is a question for the decision of each branch. It is to be noted that the Order of Exercises does not call for a piano or organ prelude or postlude, as is required in the Sunday service and the Wednesday testimony meeting. If the opening hymn is one of our Leader's, it is read in its entirety with the announcement that the words were written by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. The Sunday School does not join in the reading of this hymn or of the closing hymn.

Sometimes the question is asked whether or not the superintendent shall read the Golden Text before it is repeated by the children. Inasmuch as the Manual does not make such requirement, it is not customary to do this either in The Mother Church or in the branches. After stating the page of the Christian Science Quarterly on which the Lesson-Sermon begins, the superintendent asks the school to repeat the Golden Text, naming the book of the Bible from which it is taken. The children then repeat the Golden Text, as the Manual requires, and usually teachers and officers are privileged to join. The Golden Text may be repeated either from memory or by reading it from the Quarterly.

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