Can the effort of one person really make a difference? Is that seemingly single, solitary effort worthwhile? Most of us would probably like to think so. But in practice, we might also be tempted to take a closer look at the costs before acting. And how many of us are really willing to take on the extra costs of our time and resources? Our recent TMC Youth trips to India, Indonesia, and the Philippines provided some powerful, living responses to the first questions. Seeing these examples made me think there may be more of this willingness and courage to reach out in each one of us than I thought. It also helped me realize the need to see and encourage this desire in ourselves and others. The genuine practice of Christian Science is so radiant with Truth that it cannot be hid, whether as a single candle or a hill-top city. (more…)

Last year the Christian Science Board of Directors came to Uruguay and met with a group of about 20 young people in Montevideo, the capital. I was there. What the five Board members said about the spiritual concept of Church and the role of young people in the church—how we can work for it and improve it—was so moving, so inspiring to me. Their comments were deep, but easy to understand. That was the first time I’d met a member of the Board. They brought Mother Church membership applications with them, and after their chat with us, I didn’t hesitate to fill one out. (more…)

I’m doing a Bible Study at church and right now we are reading the book of Acts and part of Luke. And it is so cool reading about the early Church and the early Christians! I love how they were just so full of the “Holy Spirit”—they were on fire.

I’m realizing that they weren’t doing things of themselves. Paul and John go into the temple and heal the lame man, and when the people are tempted to give them credit for it they say, ““Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” (more…)

The seven Argentina youth events started in a church near one of the largest plazas in all of Buenos Aires. Then we went by bus through the country’s endless flat cattle lands to visit a church in Rosario. Late that night we went by car to Santa Fe, to visit their church home in an old house on a quiet city street. Finally, via plane and car, we arrived at the small, vibrant, society in El Bolson. This haven for trekkers, back-packers, and outdoor enthusiasts nestled in the snow-capped Andes mountains of southern Patagonia pulled at our heart strings to stay longer, as did every single destination and group of new friends we met along the way. (more…)

These are excerpts from the Items of Interest section in the September 14th Christian Science Sentinel:

Recently, the TMC Youth team launched a new idea designed to create a global “Open House” – to open the doors of Christian Science Sunday Schools to more of the world’s youth and families. It’s called “Concept Sunday School” and its goal is to give Sunday School students, teachers, and friends a place to meet and share ideas on the Web. (more…)

Each year the Christian Science Publishing Society prints Thanksgiving Bible Lesson booklets, copies of my Bible Lesson and Thanksgiving CDs to share with friends and folks in our communities during the holiday season. As you know, the Christian Science Bible Lessons bring together a special message of gratitude and healing year round. And, there is wonderful scholarship that goes into my Bible Lesson that is well received by Sunday School teachers in other denominations.

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All youth should have the opportunity and privilege of attending a Christian Science Sunday School. In an effort to make this a reality, The Mother Church has opened its loving arms to embrace those young “sincere seekers of Truth” in remote areas of the world where there is no branch church or society to attend. We have been careful to follow all the Church Manual by-laws, and to follow the legal obligations involved with serving youth on the Internet and using copy-righted materials.

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Watch the video replay

SUNDAY SCHOOL ROUNDTABLE CHATS – A series of live Web chats sponsored by TMC Youth

Sunday School: What’s the Big Idea? with Susie Jostyn, John Kohler, Tony Lobl, and other special guests

Monday, September 21, 2009, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern (Boston) Time

We’re starting up our Sunday School roundtable chat series again for the fall! And, we’re further expanding our multi-media approach —incorporating video, graphics, audio, and a live Twitter conversation among guests and listeners during the last 15 minutes. It’s all a part of our continuing effort to better connect our global team of Sunday School students, teachers and superintendents.

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Anna Farkas – Christian Science Sentinel | March 24, 2008

Sunday School has become one of my favorite places to be during the week. I always come away from my class with answers to problems or just a higher perspective that makes me feel more energized and joyful.

I love singing hymns with my classmates because it makes me feel connected to everything and everyone. I also really like finding deeper meaning in the stories from the Bible. Our class talks together about the words and what they mean to us. I always find ideas that relate to what is going on in my life. All my past and present teachers have been helpful whenever I’m having trouble with friends, illness, or when one of my pets is hurt. The teachers make Sunday School a kind of reality check for me.

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TMC Youth’s Bill Warrick asked the Christian Science Board of Directors to share some of their thoughts about this profound idea of church and its potential to satisfy today’s spiritual seekers.

These discussions apply to any denomination because they’re about the heart of true worship and the unlimited avenues for how it can be lived and felt today. No one church service may model this ideal yet, but the concept exists and the possibilities of its blessings are truly unconfined.