Dear Friends,
The Fern Lodge Annual Meeting in November was inspiring and informative. In this Focus you will find articles derived from the reports given during the meeting and a synopsis of the talk given by Brad Stock, titled, “Mary Baker Eddy: A Lifetime of Service.”
Interestingly, the Bible Lesson topic for the week of our meeting was Everlasting Punishment, not a phrase one normally would associate with Christian Science nursing. However there is a clear connection. The only occurrance of the exact term “everlasting punishment” in the King James Bible is in Matthew 25. In his discourse on what has been called “the last judgment,” Jesus speaks of dividing the faithful followers of Christ, typified by sheep and at Christ’s right hand, and those who have not followed, pictured as goats on his left hand. Here is the context:
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Christ Jesus makes it clear that denying aid to those who need simple kindness and nursing care separates man from the Kingdom of Heaven and is felt as punisment. This idea sheds light on the importance of nursing to our individual practice of Christian Science and to our Movement
We are grateful for The Mother Church’s focus on Christian Science nursing as a vital aspect of the healing foundation and mission of our Church. It’s comforting for us to have as Church President this year, Linda Kohler, who is a Christian Science nurse. Linda and Caroleen Scholet, Manager of CS Nursing Acivities, are touring the country, having conversations about CS nursing with groups of Christian Scientists. See page 3 for more about these meetings. We hope you have been able to attend and participate in one of them.
With gratitude and affection, wishing you a Soul-filled Christmas,
George Strong
Administrator