The Christian Church as we have come to know it has frequently changed down through the centuries. The miracle is that it still survives.

Shrouded in mystery, hampered by obscuring symbol and ceremony, creed and dogma, much of it strikes people as out of step with present-day needs. Many look upon the Church as a relic of the past, and no longer expect it to minister to their spiritual needs.

Churches of various denominations are trying to be innovative in their presentation of Bible teachings, attempting to appeal more readily to the public, the young in particular. While innovations are often useful, indeed essential, church lived and practiced as a way of life has the greatest appeal and attractiveness.

There is accumulating evidence of a spiritual hunger, a feeling for involvement, a need to be committed. What is most needed? Not the formalism of the past with its strictures and exclusiveness, but a practical religious teaching, a spiritual animus relevant to this age.

Christian Science in its universal mission is revealing anew how timeless and practical Jesus' teaching is. It is demonstrating in countless ways the effectiveness of church as a satisfying and stimulating way of life. Referring to his life mission, Christ Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." ^{John 10:10;} This abundant life has lost nothing of its vitality and vigor, and is ours to embrace and enjoy.

Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, "to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing." ^{Manual of The Mother Church, p. 17;} Incorporating the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, Christian Science is today fulfilling Mrs. Eddy's vision, bringing about countless cases of healing and regeneration by spiritual means alone. This is church, active, vital, effective. This is the church all can get involved in.

Christian Science, exemplifying Jesus' mission, offers each one of us the basic blueprint, the essential fundamentals in making a real contribution to life and the solution of world problems. But to be committed to church, to get involved and experience spiritual growth and regeneration, demands more than a cursory reading of the Bible and other religious writings, more than irregular or merely routine church attendance. It demands a dedication, a setting of priorities. It means putting first things first.

That this has been recognized in some degree over the centuries was illustrated to me very effectively in the findings of a friend of mine, a Justice of the Peace in Scotland, who was asked to investigate the possible closure of a right-of-way in his locality. Scottish law on this matter is centuries old. It states that, should a right-of-way fall into disrepair or be neglected, and no one use it for a specified period, then the local landowner can have it closed to the public. My friend told me that in the course of his investigation a very interesting point was revealed. Every right-of-way in the county, without exception, led to a church!

Are we cherishing our right-of-way to church as an active force in our lives, or have we allowed it to fall into disrepair through neglect and disuse? Have we been sufficiently alert to keep the argument of pressure in daily experience from acting as a mental decoy, diverting us from the expression of church and from church attendance?

Far more than a material structure, Church, as seen in Christian Science, is the vitalizing expression of God in our lives. Church is the embodiment of Truth and Love touching and spiritualizing the entire area of thought. It is the demonstration in increasing measure of the abundant life Jesus spoke of when describing his mission. He exemplified true worship in his reverence for God and man. His sense of church was spiritual.

Wherever he went, there was church made manifest. In every healing that took place, in every impoverishment rectified, there was the abundance of God's goodness demonstrated. This is church in its practical and timeless nature.

This elevating and effective demonstration of church is made clear in Mrs. Eddy's statement: "Living a true life, casting out evil, healing the sick, and preaching the gospel of Truth,—these are the ends of Christianity. This divine way impels a spiritualization of thought and method, beyond doctrine and ritual." ^{No and Yes, p. 12.}

This is the vitalizing concept of church each one of us can endeavor to exemplify wherever we are, whatever situation we encounter. We may ask ourselves, How much of church am I demonstrating daily? Being more specific, we may put it this way: How loving am I in my contact with others during a busy day? How honest am I in my business dealings? How much of my time am I prepared to devote to helping others both spiritually and practically? These are just a few of the ways in which we can become committed to church as a satisfying and rewarding way of life.

Just as a house may be used to manifest the qualities of home and all that this comprises, so a physical structure, a church building, serves to express and share the qualities of church.

In an ideal home the decor is tasteful and attractive, and the furnishings are comfortable and useful, yet they are secondary to the spiritual qualities that make up home—the atmosphere of affection and respect for every member of the family. Just so with church. We need well-situated buildings, with attractive structure and decor, but this is only the setting for expressing our true concept of church. It should never be allowed to blind us to the real purpose of church.

We think of our home as the place where we entertain friends, those with whom we share mutual interests and aspirations. Our local church serves the same purpose. There we can invite and welcome those who are beginning to glimpse something of the deeper, broader meaning of church as an essential way of life.

If we are keeping a spiritual concept of church active in the channels of our thinking, we will attract more and more people who are anxious to share what we have to give. In this way each of us can demonstrate effectively his individual part in bringing church to the community and the world.