Article August 30, 1969 Issue

Where Is Church?

LARRY HELLER

Imagine yourself—at some period as yet dimly foreseen—cruising far out in space. A member of your spaceship's crew has just checked the computer, and tells you that back home it's a Sunday morning or a Wednesday evening, time for a Christian Science church service. Your are billions of miles from the nearest planet or space station where a Christian Science church structure is likely to be found.

Soaring through the immense star-twinkle in your Starship Mark 14, as humanly alone as it is possible to be, you see none of the things you are familiar with on earth—whatever by then has taken the place of the cinema and the drive-in restaurant. Also out of sight are The Mother Church, or your familiar branch Church of Christ, Scientist, where you've spent many Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Then it occurs to you that it is a good time to ask yourself, "Where is Church?"

Mrs. Eddy defines "Church" as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."^{Science and Health, p. 583;} This part of her definition of Church represents the spiritual idea of Church which exists now and forever and is glimpsed through spiritual sense.