Merelice: We were going to give a party for a group of students we had worked with in a college theatrical production. A few weeks before, our friend Mike came over to help us plan it. When we discussed refreshments, Mike exclaimed in astonishment, "What! You're not going to have even beer? Listen, those kids have booze at all their parties. They won't have any fun at all without it. If you don't at least serve beer, the whole thing will be a total flop— a disaster."

Bette: We were stunned! Mike was right when he said these kids were used to drinking. I really started to wonder whether they would enjoy a party without some kind of alcohol.

Merelice: I'm glad we decided to go ahead with the party. But Mike's outburst did make us think more deeply about why we weren't serving drinks. It's one thing to turn down a drink at someone else's party, especially when, as a Christian Scientist, you're used to not drinking, but if we didn't serve alcohol at all, would our guests think we were trying to impose our standards on them? Would they feel our party wasn't fun?

Bette: Christian Science teaches that good comes from God ...

Merelice: ... and God isn't stingy about giving good. As Christ Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." ^{Luke 12:32;}

Bette: We understand that our home is the expression of this kingdom, the "Kingdom of Heaven" that Mrs. Eddy defines as "the reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme." ^{Science and Health, p. 590;} So we felt the best way to provide a good time for our guests was to establish that spiritual, ever-present view of home in our own consciousness. As hostesses, we could be so spiritually clear about this "atmosphere of Spirit" evidenced in a happy, harmonious, satisfying home, that our guests would feel the warmth of this mental atmosphere and not feel anything was lacking.

Merelice: I examined each so-called reason for drinking at a party one by one—things like sociability, relaxation, friendliness, satisfaction, and so forth. And I prayed until I understood that all of God's qualities are always present in thought—and in the true atmosphere of home—because God, good, is always present, everywhere.

Bette: One result of our prayers, I think, was that we thought of activities to make the party special.

Merelice: And we took extra care to find really good recipes for the refreshments.

Bette: I'll have to confess something, though. Up to the last minute I was worried about how the kids would react to this sort of party. When the first guests rang the doorbell, I felt such a stab of panic that I had to reach out to God wholeheartedly for help. My prayer was answered immediately with a moment of clear, spiritual insight. I suddenly saw the truth of what we'd been talking about—viewed correctly, our friends are just as much at home in God's kingdom as you and I.

Merelice: During the party there was obvious appreciation of each other's talents as our guests improvised skits and gave impromptu readings. No one asked about beer.

Bette: The feeling of love and unity was beautiful, and lasted the whole evening. And we certainly credited Christian Science for teaching us how to pray for our home, the scientific prayer that recognizes the present perfection of God and of God's creation.

Merelice: It reminds me of a time when I personally was feeling generally dissatisfied. I looked up "satisfaction" in a large dictionary and that led me to the word "atonement." Well, the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, shows that atonement is actually "at-one-ment," bringing out our unity with God.

Bette: And Mrs. Eddy has written something else I've often thought about: "Only what God gives, and what we give ourselves and others through His tenure, confers happiness: conscious worth satisfies the hungry heart, and nothing else can." ^{Message to The Mother Church for 1902, p. 17.}

Merelice: Soon after the party was over, Mike called. He said he had stopped by a phone booth on his way home because he just couldn't wait to tell us what a "fantastic and totally successful" party it had been!

Joy Dueland