Recently I was serving as head usher at a Wednesday evening testimony meeting at my local branch Church of Christ, Scientist, in New York City. I’ll confess to feeling a little grumpy, as I had said I was not available that particular week. But I was assigned to usher nevertheless, and had adjusted my plans to be at church. Well, I soon learned why I was meant to be there: to see that our church is a vital healing presence in our community! 

During the service, at some point after the readings from the Bible and from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, there was a commotion outside, and a lady burst in, barefoot and carrying a large plastic bag with her belongings. A local security guard also poked his head in and was shouting about calling the police because the lady had attacked him. Apparently, she had spread her belongings out in front of the building that he was guarding, and he had asked her to move away. He said that she had become aggressive with him in response. 

Serving church is not about a person being plugged into a particular role.