Learn more about church services and activities
Church Services and Activities
Click on any church below for more information.
Church Services and Activities
Elements of a Service
If you are attending a Christian Science service for the first time there are many elements which will be familiar to you — hymns, prayer, readings from the Bible and a warm sense of fellowship.
Our services last an hour. Sunday school begins and ends at the same time for students up to the age of 21.
Our church services and Reading Rooms are places for you to use, not for us to convert you. Christian Scientists around the world have found these teachings invaluable. There is nothing secret in them. We offer full access to our teachings in the hope that you will find something here to enrich your own spiritual life.
The Christian Science Pastor
The Bible and the Christian Science textbook are our only preachers. Scriptural texts, and their correlative passages from our denominational textbook comprise the sermon for all services.
LESSON-SERMON
A Bible Lesson is prepared weekly. It is available for individual study throughout the week, and is the Lesson-Sermon read each Sunday in all Christian Science churches.
READERS
The Lesson-Sermon is read by two Readers elected from the church membership. The First Reader conducts the service and reads from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, which is the Christian Science textbook. The Second Reader leads the congregation in the Lord’s Prayer, the Responsive Reading, and reads passages from the Holy Bible.
Church Services and Activities
Locate a Church Near You
What is a Christian Science Reading Room?
Each Christian Science church maintains a Reading Room. Find out about the location and hours of the Christian Science Reading Rooms in your area by clicking on the church tile above which is closest to you.
Reading Rooms are a place for you to use, not for us to convert you.
Christian Scientists around the world have found these teachings invaluable. There is nothing secret in them. We offer full access to our teachings in the hope that you will find something here to enrich your own spiritual life.
Our Reading Rooms are open to the public and are similar to a bookstore and also provides a separate library-like room for prayerful study and research. A Reading Room attendant is available to answer questions and provide assistance as needed.
WHAT WILL YOU FIND IN A CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM?
- A Reading Room is a quiet sanctuary for prayer and communion with God away from the busyness of daily life.
- There is always an attendant present who can answer questions about Christian Science and its healing ministry and help the visitor find articles, audio podcasts, books, or pamphlets of interest.
- It is a bookstore with a variety of Biblical study materials including the Bible, Bible translations, Bible dictionaries, and atlases of the Holy Lands.
- There are copies of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science available to purchase, borrow, or read while visiting the Reading Room. In addition to the textbook, there are biographies of Mrs. Eddy and books with historical background on Christian Science over the past 150 years available to purchase, borrow, or read there.
- Current Christian Science periodicals are available for purchase. They include the weekly Christian Science Sentinel, the monthly Christian Science Journal, the Quarterly, the Full Text edition of the monthly Bible Lesson-Sermon, and the Christian Science Monitor newspaper.
- Many articles and other materials are available for sale in an audio format.
- Periodicals from the late 1800’s through today are available to read on-site. Articles are also available for print through the digital program JSH-Online. Many of the articles there require a subscription to access, but the Reading Room attendant can help you access one for no charge and can help you find articles on just about any topic.
- Reading Rooms may have a lending library from which the visitor may borrow a book or publication to read at home and return later.
Where to purchase a copy of Science and Health
Find your local Christian Science Reading Room or purchase one online using the buttons below.
Christian Science Youth Activities
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday school is one hour and begins at the same time as the church service.
Classes are provided for students up to the age of 20. Students are taught from the Holy Bible and the Christian Science textbook. Fundamental lessons include the Lord’s Prayer and the Sermon on the Mount as given by Christ Jesus, and the Ten Commandments. Students also learn to know God as universal Love and themselves as God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1) as well as how to pray effectively. Lessons are based on the weekly Bible Lesson which is also the sermon for that week.
Pre-School and infants
Care is provided during the service.
Camps
Opening Windows to God
Christian Science Camp B.C. Canada
Upward-bound Programs for Christian Scientists
Discover the Wonder
Camp Leelanau for Boys & Camp Kohahna for Girls
Camps Newfound for Girls & Camp Owatonna for Boys
Campership Fund: Helping needy children
Youth
Christian Science on College Campuses
An atmosphere where individuals experience Christian Science in action
Christian Science for Young People
Foundations
To serve the Cause of Christian Science & mankind by providing resources for the education of Christian Scientists
A campus home away from home for Christian Science College Students
Perceive Then Demonstrate
To foster deeper and more widespread interest in the history of Christian Science
I am the bread of Life…