There are encouraging reports that branch churches and societies are going forward in promoting church growth and service to the community. Progress is evident when the members daily do prayerful metaphysical work for their church and participate in its activities.

A church in Florida writes of its gratitude for the united effort of its members, individually and collectively, to gain a more spiritual concept of Church; this has enabled the church to grow and extend its usefulness to the community.

During the past year many new members were admitted to membership. Quite a few members joined The Mother Church and several received class instruction. Also, some members became practitioners listed in The Christian Science Journal.

The church further states that through the members' application of their spiritual understanding of supply, the financial needs of the church were amply met. Gifts were received from unexpected sources. A bequest was received from a former visitor to the church because of the love and friendliness shown him.

From the state of Washington a society reports that since the first meeting it held after becoming a recognized branch of The Mother Church, the members had been united in their desire to have a church home of their own. Individually, they did much metaphysical work toward this goal.

Soon an unexpected gift enabled the society to establish a building fund. Two lots of land were offered and purchased at a nominal price, and later another piece of land which proved to be an ideal building site was given to the society. The purchased lots were sold at a good profit.

Shortly, two buildings, made of high-grade lumber and in excess of the needs of the United States Navy, were offered to the society. The men members and friends tore down the buildings, working on Saturdays, and the Navy delivered the lumber to the church building site.

The labor of excavating the land and of leveling the building was also donated. A plumber who was retiring sold plumbing fixtures at cost. Other supplies were obtained from a construction company that was going to relocate and did not want to move its stock.

When the ground was broken for building, sufficient funds to complete the structure were not on hand. Inspirational membership meetings in the interest of the building project were held regularly, however, and sufficient funds always appeared as needed.

One of the churches in New York State writes that for several months its general fund was inadequate to meet its needs. A letter was sent to the members advising them of the deficit and inviting them to a gratitude meeting. This was planned for the purpose of reminding them of the enthusiasm they expressed when first healed in Christian Science. All were invited to share in the giving of their early experiences and blessings, and they were advised that a gratitude collection for the general fund would be taken. Soon after the letter was received, the deficit was eliminated, and there was no need to take the special collection. The general fund has continued to be generously supported.

In Idaho a branch church was faced with the need of redecorating the interior of its building and of replacing the sidewalks. The members of the church voted to devote at least thirty minutes each day to metaphysical work in support of this program. Although one member offered a substantial loan with which to go forward with the project, the members were all in favor of proceeding with the work without the benefit of a loan, expecting to meet the financial obligation through prayerful reliance on God. The consecrated and persistent efforts of the members resulted in victory.

On page 199 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, observes, "The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible." Our branches are proving in increasing degree the truth embodied in this statement.