Church Alive February 7, 2011 Issue

The following was written in support of Church Alive, a focus of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, that explores the meaning and possibilities of awakening to the spiritual basis and impact of Church. 

Progress through Church

Jan True Jacoby

I early learned how important church participation is to individual progress. And, if we want to help our church grow, then we must grow spiritually.

One time when I moved across the country for a job change, I realized it wasn’t so much about the new job as it was about the Christian Science Society in that small community that needed me. And I needed the experiences I had there for my own spiritual development.

I knew that “progress is the law of God, whose law demands of us only what we can certainly fulfil” (Science and Health, p. 233). But although I did all the jobs in this small church with great enthusiasm, I saw no real progress. It became apparent that the members, including me, had a sense of burden in our thought. I realized that prayer was needed, so I started giving the society a daily Christian Science treatment.