Why am I not in church?

When first finding Christian Science; gaining a new sense of God’s all-embracing love and goodness; and realizing that Christ is a universally available, divine, and practical influence, many describe the fire of devotion that burns in their heart. Words from a well-loved hymn, though talking about grace, capture the essence of this feeling: “How precious did that grace appear / The hour I first believed!” (John Newton, Christian Science Hymnal: Hymns 430–603, No. 438).

It’s this commitment and deep devotion that impel us to worship God and serve the community by attending Sunday services and Wednesday testimony meetings whenever possible.

When global lockdown mandates in response to the Covid-19 pandemic came into force a few years ago, many regular activities, including religious services, were held online or by other remote means. Christians of various denominations joined their churches’ remote services and were grateful for the opportunity to continue in fellowship in this way. Many Christian Scientists said this also afforded them an opportunity to gain a more universal sense of Church and appreciate the vastness of its embrace; it also encouraged greater participation and interest, even by those who had never attended a service before.