This Church was designed to bless you. Its purpose is to re-establish the Christianity that heals mankind physically as well as morally. Christianity as Christ Jesus lived it is inspired, practical, and transforming; it shows us how much God loves us. The activities of the Christian Science Church are designed to inspire and encourage as well as explain the practical Science of Christ that heals. They include a Bible Lesson, Church services, periodicals, Reading Rooms, and lectures.

Learn more about:

• Christian Science
• How the Church began
• Church government
• Christian Science Bible Lesson
• Church services and Sunday School
• Periodicals
• Reading Rooms
• Lectures
• Members

Christian Science

How the Church began

• After publication in 1875 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy's primary work on spirituality and healing, readers began meeting to discuss the ideas and share their healing results. Then, in 1879, Eddy established what became The First Church of Christ, Scientist (The Mother Church).
• The Church is designed "to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing." (Church Manual, page 17). Eddy had a lifelong reverence for the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and a deep desire that his healing works be universally practiced.
• It consists of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and around 2,000 branch churches and societies of Christ, Scientist, worldwide.
• The Church has no ordained clergy. In 1895, Eddy named the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as Pastor for worldwide Churches of Christ, Scientist.

Church government

• The Church is governed by Mary Baker Eddy's Church Manual, which provides for its overall structure. The Christian Science Board of Directors is a five-person Board that transacts the business of the Church. Current members of The Christian Science Board of Directors are J. Thomas Black, Walter D. Jones, Margaret Rogers, Nathan Talbot, and Mary M. Trammell.
• View a list of the 2008-2009 Officers of The First Church of Christ, Scientist.
• Branch churches and societies are also guided by the Church Manual as they carry out their local ministry, but each is democratic and governs its own affairs.

Christian Science Bible Lesson

Church services and Sunday School

• Sunday services offer you a healing environment, anchored by the weekly Bible Lesson-Sermon which consists of excerpts from the Bible and Science and Health. They also include prayer, hymn singing, and a solo. A collection will be taken.
• Sunday School is provided for children and young people up to the age of 20. It is a place where they can learn about their relationship to a loving God. Instruction is based on key lessons such as the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Beatitudes. Often the class explores ideas or themes found in the Bible Lesson.
• You will find that Wednesday testimonial meetings include readings from the Bible and Science and Health. Then attendees are welcomed to participate by sharing accounts of healing and spiritual insights. The meeting also includes prayer and hymn singing.
• The First Church of Christ, Scientist is in Boston, Massachusetts. It has branch churches and societies around the world.
• Branch churches also have Sunday services, testimonial meetings, and Sunday Schools. Societies have Sunday services and sometimes testimonial meetings and Sunday Schools. Locate a branch church or society in your area.

Periodicals

The Mother Church provides print, online and broadcast products that comfort, encourage, instruct and inspire. They are:

• The Christian Science Bible Lessons
• The Christian Science Journal
• Christian Science Sentinel
• The Herald of Christian Science
• The Christian Science Monitor

Reading Rooms

Lectures

• At a Christian Science lecture, you will hear answers to questions about Christian Science and new insights to the healing message of Christ. Sharing their own experiences, lecturers tell how ideas found in the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures made a profound impact in their lives and on the lives of people they know.
• If you are interested in seeing a list of lecture events being held near your city, you're welcomed to look at the Schedule.

Members

• Members are a worldwide community of individuals who freely apply the spiritual ideas and system of healing in Science and Health to their own lives and activities. They are united in purpose, in prayer and study, and in activity.
• Membership figures are not published. Members live in more than 130 countries around the world.
• Learn more about becoming a member of The Mother Church.