We had a wonderful day yesterday in Boston attending our church’s Annual Meeting. We drove to Boston from Connecticut in the morning and had lunch at Flour Bakery behind the church (see my poached egg on avocado toast below) and then went to the meeting. It was so good to be together with people on this occasion, which recently has only been possible on zoom.
In this post you can see photos of the original church and its extension. Click here to hear the bells playing before our meeting. I should have videoed the majestic organ inside as well.
Renovations on the church buildings are almost complete. They’ve created all new bathrooms in the large Mother Church extension, so I was delighted to find my favorite art deco original bathroom in the Publishing Society remaining untouched– so much so that I took a couple photos!
The content of the meeting was very positive. Here were my highlights:
- “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8)
- Be as present as you can. Jesus was so present to Truth and Love he felt a need to respond to it.
- Show up like you would for a wedding: you are there to cheer with all your heart, to support and to love.
- Think of God in broader terms, for example as the “sustaining infinite,” which governs itself, is unrestricted, and is subject to no limitation.
- Be open to infinite possibilities.
- Infinite God is doing the doing and we are just the expression of it.
- “God will bless the work of your hearts and hands.” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 197:28)
- “Sooner or later the whole human race will learn that, in proportion as the spotless selfhood of God is understood, human nature will be renovated…” (Unity of Good, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 6:4)
- “One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfills the Scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself;” annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 340:23)
- Our purpose: redemption from sin, sickness, and death.
Afterwards we chatted a bunch. In the photos you can see the matron-of-honor in our wedding, who is also the one who introduced me to Christian Science; she came up for the occasion from Atlanta. Also, in another photo, you can see me with a friend from Florida.
Then, as has become tradition, we went out to dinner at Legal Seafood, where my Thai Calamari was so welcome I devoured it without thinking to photograph it. James had a crab cake and his annual Boston Creme Pie. Then we happily drove home.
It is satisfying to see so many great people praying effectively for our world!
Related Articles
11 Comments
-
Restroom is incredible! So glad they saved it! Is this an episcopal church?❤️
-
Author
The Christian Science headquarters called the Mother Church.
-
-
Thank you Polly – super photos – awoke lots of memories of our last attendance at Annual Meeting – when we met you and James! What a joy that was…. The Plaza looks immense! So grateful to you for sharing. Attended on-line of course, and was so glad to hear Christian Science Nursing and its Manual authority mentioned right at the start. And bringing out that we are all ‘nursing’ as we care for our fellow man and our world. So grateful for all the loving thoughts and prayers that encircle our earth-home. With love to you both.
-
We really missed you. I trust when you come again we’ll know in advance and have some plans to be together!
-
-
I’m glad you had such a good time. I thought I saw James in the congregation online but it was only a fleeting glance! It was a very uplifting meeting x
-
Thank you so much for the pictures snd highlights of Annual Meeting. The s beautiful photos were a wonderful reminder of the many times we have there over the years. We are grateful for the ability to attend the meeting via livestream from Florida. Your highlights are so helpful as reminders of tbe very rich and inspiring content of this lovely meeting . Love Barb
-
Thank you so much for this post. It is wonderful to see The Mother Church through your eyes! Also, delightful to see Hallie. Every year I say “This was the best Annual Meeting ever, but of course – THIS was the best Annual Meeting EVER!!
I am also grateful that I could “just be in the moment” while watching it yesterday, and now I will replay it bit by bit and take notes, and ponder the ideas. Be sure to say Hi to James for me!!-
Will do. I saw Bonnie too and mentioned you to her! Xx
-
-
Fine Sharings, Polly. Thank you! As I watched this Annual Meeting on my iMac, I spotted you ‘n James in the congregation, along with some other folks I know. Sooooo good to see Real People gathering to praise the Infinite One we call God…learning, sharing, and BEING TOGETHER!
I feel more hopeful now.
(And that Rest Room IS gorgeous!)
-
Hi Polly,
I saw you during Annual Meeting when the camera panned the congregation. It was nice seeing you there. thanks for sharing the pictures and spiritual ideas. -
Thanks for the photos. What a day it was, even on Zoom! Oh my goodness, that bathroom! I’ve been to TMC so many times, but I don’t recall that particular one (probably too busy gabbing)! Amazing tiling. Thanks for sending the highlights too. I loved the one about going to church as you would a wedding…ready to support, cheer on, and love with all your heart!!
){kind=link}