by Chelsea Palm
While Boston is no Portland, Oregon, I have recently learned it has its own beauty and charm. My name is Chelsea Palm and I am a TMC Youth intern for the Christian Science Reading Room located at 194 Massachusetts Avenue, right near The Mother Church. I have been hard at work this week setting up the plaza cart. It’s an outside cart that sells Reading Room materials that I pick out. I decorated the cart, and I am scheduling its staffing. Thus far, this internship has been filled with activity and a lot of learning!
Now about my being in Boston, I had always dreamed of being able to visit the Mother Church, attend services. I really wanted to see what a Bostonian way of life is really like, and now those dreams are real! Being right here has increased my understanding of The Mother Church and some of its departments. I now realize this is not an ethereal place that always felt like a sort of Mecca to me; it’s not simply a place I hoped to see one day—it’s real.
And it is a church just like my local branch church, though bigger in size. The people here deal with the same issues, and have the same connection with its members. It’s in need of the same volunteerism and support.
The workers here tackle the large issues, but really, so do we all. We each have the right to write to newspapers and media to make corrections on Christian Science. We all can be spokespeople for Science and Health. Every branch church has a Reading Room. And we all can come together to create dynamic events and lectures that will address the issues of our communities, countries, and the world.
I have a new appreciation for local branch churches—small communities where you can play an active role in spreading the works of Mrs. Eddy. Branch churches do their part to help the world realize that healing is possible! Whether you are in Beaverton, Oregon, Anchorage, Alaska, Asheville, North Carolina, or Boston, Massachusetts, you have the same opportunity and ability to share Mrs. Eddy’s healing message. It is just as challenging—and exciting—to walk up to someone and ask them if they know what Christian Science is and offer them a Science and Health here as it is anywhere else in the world.
Another aspect that I love about my work is being surrounded by fellow Christian Scientists. Everyone is working on becoming better healers and on recognizing God’s presence in their life. And I especially love working in the Reading Room. I get to share my love for God and I get to be an active member using a myriad of wonderful resources that help me to connect with anyone who comes through the doors (or visits the cart!).
I am really looking forward to my Plaza Cart Project. I have been working on the business plan and it is now just up and running. This cart is a wonderful way to connect with the community, to be visible to everyone who passes by, and it’s an easy place to stop and ask questions. We’ll place the cart near the Sunday School and church during services, near the church front during tours, and near the fountain and reflecting pool on the weekends. I expect wonderful things from this cart in the community. It is sure to be a blessing! If you are in Boston, make sure to stop by the cart and say hi!
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Do you ever meet people who aren’t that nice? What do you do about that? Does it make you nervous? I don’t know that I could do that job and I’m impressed.
Yay Chelsea! It’s awesome that you are enjoying Boston so much and getting to spend the summer there! All of us at camp have been thinking of you and it’s great to know that you are getting so much out of your intern experience!
Chelsea, You’re terrific! What a great opportunity to connect with your outside Portland community. Doesn’t it make the world seem a little smaller! From your Portland friend.
Hi Chelsea…I’m so glad to hear about the cart…reminds me of the bookmobile tables the church used to sponsor. I came into Christian Science because of one of those tables - on the Boston Common - I picked up a copy of “Unity of Good” and have never been the same since! Have a great time with your cart, and remember, you never know what great results it may have!