This week's Sentinel features an editorial by Nathan Talbot. Many of our regular readers may already know that this marks Nate's final contribution in his role as Senior Executive Editor. Fittingly, the title of his piece in the closing week of 1992 is "Looking ahead."

Nate is a longtime friend and colleague. We've worked together closely during several periods over the past twenty years. And when Nate agreed last February to help out with the religious periodicals of this Church, he had only one request—that I would consider the possibility of a shortterm assignment, a "temporary tour of duty," so to speak. He had already made plans to return to his native Idaho with his wife, Margie; in fact, they were just finishing a house they were building there. Nate's desire was, and is, to devote his full time to the public healing practice and to teaching Christian Science. Yet, as always, he has willingly given himself to the task at hand, and we've been able to enjoy and be inspired by his writing, and to have his unflagging support as a skilled editor, for the last ten months.

Also during this period, starting in June after his election by The Christian Science Board of Directors as President of The Mother Church, Nate has provided added strength to the Christian Science movement in that important position. His term as President of The Mother Church continues until Annual Meeting 1993.

When we began our editorial work together earlier this year, it was a particularly demanding time. But with the commitment of an extremely dedicated and hard-working staff, we feel that we've come quite a distance in the intervening months. Sometimes I wish each of our readers could spend just one day in the Editorial Department here to see how much effort, creativity, prayer, and genuine love is constantly being poured into these magazines by everyone on the staff—proofreaders, office assistants, designers, editorial clerks, typesetters, staff editors, all the workers in every capacity. In her Miscellaneous Writings Mary Baker Eddy once commented: "All God's servants are minute men and women. ... Let us be faithful and obedient, and God will do the rest." The editorial staff exemplifies that today. And, of course, the writers from all parts of the world who unselfishly share their inspiration by contributing articles and testimonies of healing, as well as all our faithful readers, have been a vital part of establishing and nourishing a publishing enterprise that has brought the healing message of Christian Science to the world for more than one hundred years now.

Today the work goes on. There's much to do and always more progress to make. At the same time, we've been hearing some very encouraging reports of healing and of how readers are finding fresh, practical help in the pages of the Christian Science periodicals. Nate's editorials have been an important part of the healing ministry of our magazines, and we expect to continue receiving the benefit of his writing from the Field. The hill country of Idaho should provide an appropriate backdrop for a few writing assignments from time to time!

Now, looking ahead in the Editorial Department, I'm pleased to announce that The Christian Science Board of Directors has appointed Barbara M. Vining, C.S.B., as a new Associate Editor. Beginning her full-time assignment in January, Barbara will be working alongside our current Associate Editors, Russ Gerber and Mary Metzner Trammell. Barbara joins us from Toledo, Ohio. She has been active as a public practitioner listed in The Christian Science Journal for over twenty-five years, and she has contributed to the pages of our magazines since 1970, when her first testimony of Christian Science healing was published. Her first article, "The glad sound," appeared in the Journal in 1974, and her most recent contribution, "Knowing the Christmas secret," ran just last week, in the December 21 Sentinel.

Barbara has devoted her life concurrently both to her family and to the healing work and has actively served in branch church activities, including in the Sunday School, on the executive board, and as First Reader. She has also accepted various assignments over the years in connection with Christian Science college organizations and the Committee on Publication. As a teacher of Christian Science, Barbara will continue to hold her class and association in Toledo. We welcome Barbara warmly to the editorial staff—we are all making a "glad sound" as she takes up her assignment.

Finally, if you want to consider more of what it means to be looking ahead from a spiritual vantage point, the way Christ Jesus encouraged his followers to do; if you want to discover something more of what it means to see your life moving forward directed by God; and if you would like to understand the healing impetus of discerning reality as God has actually created and defined it spiritually, read the editorial in this week's Sentinel by Nathan A. Talbot. It's a good one, as always!

William E. Moody