Article May 30, 1953 Issue

CHURCH DEDICATION A SPIRITUAL CHALLENGE

ALTA MAE STEELE

Dedication in its spiritual sense starts before the day of formal church dedication and continues after it. Devotion to that for which the Church of Christ, Scientist, stands may have had its beginning in the hearts of a few students of a community who at first met in a home or in a downtown hall to read the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly, or perhaps in the life of a single student of Christian Science before meetings of any kind were held. Consecration to the purposes of Church, however, heightens with each forward step in church organization, for through organization come increased ways and means for presenting the healing power of Christian Science to the world.

Quite naturally enlarged church activity leads to the purchase of a lot and the erection of a building as a center from which to spread the mighty truths of Christian Science. The building is finally completed: hammers stop; decorators with color charts withdraw; landscape artists fold their sketches; the building committee disbands; all bills are paid. "Now," we say, "we can dedicate"; and we do just that—we officially dedicate the church.

Important as this day is as a milestone in, and a tribute to, progressive thinking and demonstration, it in no way climaxes our achievement, for with the step comes a challenge for more intense devotion to the healing work of Christian Science. In dedicating a church we have set ourselves on a hill, as it were, and may well ponder Jesus' message to his disciples (Matt. 5:14–16): "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

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