Primary Practice: An Overview

The central focus of the Christian Science religion is spiritual healing for its own sake and for its redemption from the human form. Most members of the Church refuse any medical health or assistance. This being said, the religion does follow local laws such as certain vaccinations that may be deemed necessary as required by law. Christian Science does not have any clergy, but does have members who become part of a full-time healing ministry as Christian Science practitioners. Practitioners heal and treat church members through prayer. Elected Readers conduct services, which are held every Sunday. They lead the Sunday services based on readings in Eddy’s Science and Health and the Bible. Lesson-Sermons are also used in individual study and are developed by the Mother Church. Christian Scientists do not take part in the sacraments of the Eucharist or baptism, as they are affirmed in spiritual terms. Christian Scientists claim, “Our baptism is purification from all error…Our Eucharist is spiritual communion with the one God. Our bread, ‘which cometh down from heaven,’ is Truth. Our cup is the cross. Our wine the inspiration of Love, the draught the Master drank and commended to his followers” (Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, 35).

The Order of a Christian Science Sunday Service:

1. Hymn
2. Reading a Scriptural Selection.
3. Silent Prayer, followed by the audible repetition of the Lord’s Prayer with its spiritual interpretation.
4. Hymn.
5. Announcing necessary notices.
6. Solo.
7. Reading the Explanatory Note on first leaf of Quarterly.
8. Announcing the subject of the Lesson-Sermon, and reading the Golden Text.
9. Reading the Scriptural Selection, entitled “Responsive Reading,” alternately by the First Reader and the congregation.
10. Reading the Lesson-Sermon. (After the Second Reader reads the BIBLE references of the first Section of the Lesson, the First Reader makes the following announcement: “As announced in the explanatory note, I shall now read correlative passages from the Christian Science textbook, SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES, by Mary Baker Eddy.”)
11. Collection.
12. Hymn.
13. Reading the Scientific Statement of Being, and the correlative SCRIPTURE according to I John 3:1-3.
14. Pronouncing Benediction.