(Editor’s note: The following is a submission to The Recorder’s weekly column titled “Faith Matters.” Each Saturday, a different faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal religious perspective in this space. For information on becoming part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
These words from the Bible — “God is Love” — are written on the wall of the Christian Science Church on Federal Street in Greenfield, as they are on many Christian Science Churches around the world. They are the key to the teachings of the Church of Christ, Scientist, headquartered in Boston. Based on the Bible, this religion teaches that the universe was created by a loving God who supports, protects, guides and heals His children. The universe and everything in it is spiritual and good, as stated in the first chapter of Genesis. Answers and solutions to life’s daily problems can be found in the Bible as well as the textbook of Christian Science — “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” published in 1875 by Mary Baker Eddy.
In 1866, Mary Baker Eddy, a lifelong student of the Bible from New Hampshire, was healed of life-threatening injuries as a result of prayer. She then spent three years searching for an explanation of her healing, and during that time found the answers she sought. She wrote and published “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” which explains her discovery of the spiritual laws of metaphysical healing as taught by Christ Jesus in the Gospels, and she later founded the Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston in 1879. The Church was organized to “commemorate the words and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing.” Her other accomplishments include the publication of several periodicals still available today, other prose writings and The Christian Science Monitor.
Students of Christian Science have found that prayer based on the teachings of Christian Science brings healing of every kind of problem. The first chapter of “Science and Health” is entitled Prayer, and includes the statement: “God is not moved by the breath of praise to do more than He has already done, nor can the infinite do less than bestow all good, since He is unchanging wisdom and Love… Prayer cannot change the Science of being, but it tends to bring us into harmony with it.”
Members of the Church are always free to choose whatever method of care they feel will help them the most, medical or non-medical. Thousands of well authenticated cases of spiritual healing have been accomplished since the founding of the Church in 1879, and continue to be testified to today. Branches of the original Church in Boston can be found worldwide, including in Greenfield. If desired, Christian Scientists may call upon “practitioners” who devote their full time to prayer and healing and helping others find healing through prayer.
A Christian Science Sunday service includes hymns, prayers and readings from the Bible and “Science and Health” by readers elected from the congregation. A Wednesday evening service includes hymns, prayers, readings and opportunities for members of the congregation to testify to the inspiration and healing they have received. Christian Scientists are grateful to know that God is Love!
Join us on Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m. for a free talk titled “The Healing Power of Stillness.” The speaker, Lari Snorek-Yates, will share inspiring ideas about how spiritual stillness can bring rest and healing to our everyday lives. Examples of how study of the Bible and the teachings of Christian Science have brought peace and healing to many lives will be given. The talk will be held upstairs at 393 Main St., in the Greenfield Community Television building.
First Church of Christ, Scientist is located at 110 Federal St., in Greenfield. Services are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday service includes hymn singing, prayer and a sermon consisting of the reading of a weekly Bible lesson by elected members of the congregation. At Wednesday meetings, there are also readings from the Bible and “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy as well as testimonies of healing from members of the congregation.
Our Reading Room in the building is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and is a quiet place to read, borrow or buy Bibles, books about Christian Science as well as The Christian Science Monitor.