This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Praying daily for our communities and the world is always a priority and key to genuinely loving our neighbors. Volunteers from Christian Science Churches and Reading Rooms in Southern California also join with people of all faiths in supporting community and interfaith activities and working as chaplains in prisons and detention centers.
Share the love!!
You're invited to join in "loving our neighbor" activities and share photos via Dropbox.
#1 - Community activities
La Mesa, CA - Halloween Treats - The Christian Science Reading Room in La Mesa joined neighboring businesses in welcoming Halloween trick-or-treaters. Lots of love and joy shared with children and their families. Many opted to take Scriptural scrolls along with traditional treats.
Escondido, CA - Grand Avenue Festival - Children delighted in a treasure hunt in the Christian Science Reading Room at this annual street fair in Historic Downtown Escondido. They were rewarded with treats when they found seven names for God - Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Life, Truth, Love - hidden in the Reading Room.
Escondido, CA - Prayer about community issue - The Christian Science Church in Escondido had a prayer meeting about a national and community issue, child sex trafficking, and they hosted a community talk on "It's never too late to experience freedom" which can be viewed at their website, PrayerThatHeals.org/Escondido.
La Mesa, CA - Octoberfest - Festival goers at La Mesa's annual Octoberfest enjoyed chalk art created by the Christian Science Reading Room. Volunteers from the Reading Room had fun greeting people and giving away Christian Science Monitors.
Pacific Beach, CA - Open House - The Christian Science Church in San Diego's Pacific Beach invited the community to an Open House and community talk on giving freely and what we all gain. There was inspiration, face painting, music, and fun.
Vista, CA - Strawberry Fest - The Carlsbad-Vista Church joined in the Annual Strawberry Fest, sharing Christian Science Sentinels and strawberry lollipops on a festive display in front of their church/Reading Room on Main Street in Vista.
San Diego, CA - Joint Reading Room Open House - Joint Reading Room workers, supporters and visitors enjoyed an Open House with a talk by Rick Mannerino, CS. on "What am I expecting." The talk was also available via Zoom.
La Mesa, CA - Valentine Event - Lots of hugs for a stuffed bear welcoming people to the Reading Room. Puppies and dogs snuggled the bear, too. The Reading Room asked the community what kind of love they’d like to experience more of in their life out of these words for love in Greek - Agape (God's divine love, unconditional love), Eros (romantic love), or Philia (brotherly love). There are hearts on streamers in the window for each choice. All ages participated. Agape was chosen twice as much as the others!!
La Mesa, CA - Christmas Chalk Art - The La Mesa Church wished their neighbors a Merry Christmas with creative chalk art.
La Mesa, CA - Christmas in the Village - The Christian Science Reading Room joined in their community's annual Christmas celebration with chalk art and children making ornaments in the Reading Room.
Ventura, CA - Vote Center - The Christian Science Church in Ventura was asked to be a 4-day Vote Center and hundreds of neighbors voted in the Primary and General Elections in their Sunday School.
Encinitas, CA - Halloween - The Christian Science Reading Room joined other businesses in welcoming Trick-or-Treaters with Halloween-themed activities. The Reading Room welcomed over 600 guests.
#2 - Interfaith activities
Ventura , CA - The Ventura church participated in an interfaith event at a Sikh Temple and was invited to make a presentation about Christian Science. Members and musicians participate in an Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration each year. This year the event was in the garden at the San Buenaventura Mission.
#3 - Prison work
Church volunteers work as chaplains and conduct church services in prisons and detention centers.
Watch more videos on LightInPrison.org.
Regional Institutional Committees
Explore volunteer opportunities for Christian Scientists
I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results. ... Love cannot be a mere abstraction, or goodness without activity and power. As a human quality, the glorious significance of affection is more than words: it is the tender, unselfish deed done in secret; the silent, ceaseless prayer; the self-forgetful heart that overflows; the veiled form stealing on an errand of mercy, out of a side door; the little feet tripping along the sidewalk; the gentle hand opening the door that turns toward want and woe, sickness and sorrow, and thus lighting the dark places of earth.