Church Alive August 20, 2012 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. 

Give a 'cup of cold water'

Anna Lisa Kronman

Church is not static. Though forever permanent as “the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle,” Church propels and quickens us as it affords proof, elevates, rouses, casts out [devils, or error], and heals (see Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 583). Church seen as this dynamic action of the Christ in collective consciousness is never confined to a building, nor constrained by layers of tradition, but is always inspiring fresh views of loving ourselves and our neighbors.

Here is an example of one way we have witnessed this ever-moving Christ-idea of Church in our community. For many years, the Fourth of July parade in our small town has marched happily past our church in Orinda, California. Some of us would come early and set up chairs in our parking lot to watch, along with hundreds of others. One year, it occurred to us that we might use this as an opportunity to say “hello” to our community in a gentle and useful manner. We decided to offer “a cup of cold water,” spiritually and literally, to the folks that settled to watch the parade on our doorstep. Inspired by Mary Baker Eddy’s observation in Science and Health, “Giving a cup of cold water in Christ’s name, is a Christian service” (p. 436), it was a logical and obvious thing to do once we saw it.

The love that impels this community offering enlivens and refreshes us all.