JP Christian Science Reading Room Monthly Digest
What’s happening in the
JP CS Reading Room
by Daniela on July 8
The Reading Room may still be closed to the public, but neither the Reading Room nor the
church have been idle: activities have been buzzing! The recently instituted online activities
have picked up momentum and have been rewarding and a blessing for both participants
and organizers. There are currently 3 regular attendants to the Monitor Prayer Discussion
group on Mondays, one regular participant in the reading of the Sermon on the Mount on
Tuesdays, enjoying the variety of Bibles available on Biblegateway, and the book club has
seen a variety of participants. The reminiscences we’re reading have many accounts
relevant to today. It’s very inspiring to see how challenges that we also face today were
handled by the first students of Mary Baker Eddy. Here is an example:
While Mrs. Eddy patiently answered questions asked from the material point of
view, her teaching aimed to lift the thought of her students to the understanding of
spiritual creation coming to humanity in Christian Science. She endeavored to lift
thought above mortal sense and used the following terms to present the unfoldment
of the spiritual idea along mental and spiritual lines—namely, perception, reception,
conception. Although her students were slow in grasping her meaning, nevertheless
she patiently worked on until we could see how spiritual ideals would displace all
mortal beliefs about being. She made it clear that perception of the truth must
come first to the individual, then the next step must of necessity be its reception
before progress could be made, and this led to the conception of the divine idea of
which St. Paul speaks when he says, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth
again until Christ be formed in you” (Galatians 4:19).
At one of these lessons, a member of the class said that, in treating a patient, she
always tried to hold the perfect body in thought. Mrs. Eddy expressed surprise at
her statement and asked where she got that impression, and the lady replied
cheerfully that of course she had got it from Science and Health. Mrs. Eddy said that
she was mistaken in saying so, but the lady offered to read the passage and
proceeded to do so. The statement is to be found on page 407 of Science and Health
and reads, “Let the perfect model be present in your thoughts instead of its
demoralized opposite.” Mrs. Eddy asked the student if she thought that meant the
body, and the lady replied that she certainly did, and others in the class said that
they also had accepted it in that way. Mrs. Eddy, however, went on to explain that
the perfect model was never the body but man as God’s spiritual idea, which is
incorporeal, and she reminded us of the statement on page 313 of Science and
Health, where the word character is used in connection with the phrase “express
image.”
In warning us against animal magnetism, Mrs. Eddy said, “Error cannot use the
name of Christian Science or Christian Scientist as a cloak for envy, jealousy, hatred,
or revenge.”
(We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Expanded Edition, Vol. I, p. 173-174)
Even if we’re not able to show a personal presence, neighbors and passersby will be able to
see our activity through the new window display. We’re hoping to have it ready very soon.
Check it out soon, if you have the opportunity to walk by.
Our desire to update the video displayed on the TV monitor prompted us to purchase a
new TV, as it was hard to get new videos to display on the old TV monitor. We’re still
setting it up, but we’re looking to have a new video run every week, and this will be
integrated in the new window display.
Look for an email from Christa that will explain how you can be part of the “live” video
display with your contribution!
We’re still working out the details, but we’re hoping to set up a table when Daniela is
physically at the Reading Room, inviting the community to share their prayers, leaning on
the success that the Wake Up the Earth festival had.
We invite you to continue to check out the Reading Room Log/Fruitage on the RR Google
site. Feel free to be in touch with any feedback or insights that could be added to the
fruitage. Again, please note that we will resume updating the Reading Room Schedule after
the lockdown is ended.
Reading Room Activities
RR volunteers request an online training
Place an order!
Bible Study Group
Reading Room Activities
Regular Reading Room activities continue to be successful. We’re blessed these are met
with such enthusiasm. All activities start at 3 pm on the specified day. Anyone wishing to
join can still do so. Here is a break out of the activities again:
● Mondays, (3 pm) Monitor discussion and prayer group. We share an article from the
Monitor on Monday morning to have time to read it and then discuss it during the
meeting. We also set aside time to pray during the meeting.
● Tuesdays, (3 pm): Reading of The Sermon on the Mount.
● Fridays, (3 pm): JP RR Bookclub. We are continuing to read W
e Knew Mary Baker
Eddy Expanded Edition, Volume I. The next meeting is going to be Friday, July 17th
and we’re reading 3 more reminiscences: Alfred Farlow, Frank Walter Gale, and Bliss
Knapp.
The website team has offered to post these RR Activities on the website and we’re looking
to contact the Boston Public Library to advertise these events on their calendar.
All are welcome to join these activities, no registration needed. Feel free to be in touch at
csrrinjprr@gmail.com if you have any questions or any recommendation.
Note: As we determine the hours of activity of the Reading Room, we will strive to continue
these activities. Reading Room volunteers are encouraged to take the lead on any of these
activities. Just be in touch with Daniela at csrrinjprr@gmail.com if you’re able to help this
way.
RR volunteers request an online training
(offer still stands)
While the Reading Room is physically closed, Reading Room attendants/volunteers can still
take advantage of the available online tools to receive training. Get a refresher on our
Reading Room practices and be ready to reopen the physical location to the public! Contact
the Librarian at csinjprr@gmail.com to schedule a training. Best times are Monday through
Friday between 2 pm and 3 pm.
Place an order!
While you’re welcome to place an order at the online shop anytime, we’re happy to
accommodate your needs and get you Reading Room literature from the JP Reading Room!
Contact us at csinjprr@gmail.com.
We have been successful in setting up online invoices, so you don’t have to physically come
to the Reading Room. We can also set up appointments for any purchase. Daniela is happy
to make deliveries to your mailbox on her way home on any given Thursday.
Bible Study Group
The Bible Study Group will meet next on July 11, 2020. Daniela will lead the discussion on
the topic of “Women in the Bible.” We’ll explore how the women of the Bible have been
influential in their own right. Mr. Baldock states in his book Women in the Bible: “It is fair to
say that women are given a bad press in all this: from Eve to Jezebel and beyond, they are
often portrayed as the cause of the misfortunes that befell the people of Israel and their
ancestors. In this regard, the role assigned to women in the Old Testament reflects the
changing attitudes towards women, as both society and religion become increasingly
patriarchal. For example, when God created Eve we are told that she was Adam’s equal. In
the early history of the Israelites, women were the equals of men in that they held
important positions as prophets and judges, and occasionally officiated as priests. Certain
women – e.g. Deborah, Esther and Judith – also acquired the stature of national heroes. At
the other extreme, women were considered to be the property of their ‘father’s house’, a
term that embraces the immediate family, the clan and the tribe.
The Christian view of the Old Testament was summarized by St. Augustine, who said, ‘The
Old Testament is nothing but the New covered with a veil, and the New is nothing but the
Old unveiled.’ From the earliest times, Christians have understood many of the people and
events described in the Old Testament as prefiguring prominent figures and events in the
New.”
This is the Zoom connection information:
Topic: Bible Study Group: Women in the Bible.
Time: 11 AM
Zoom Meeting link
https://zoom.us/j/6173186381?pwd=V00vV254eW9uMlhPazhQcDFBL1hKUT09
Meeting ID: 617 318 6381
Password: Principle
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,6173186381# US (New York)
+13126266799,,6173186381# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 617 318 6381
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acZzCMaYNM
