Thank you, Elise! When I went to pick up the equipment, I heard that the appetite for the literature was voracious. The whole DC area Hispanic Committee will be thrilled with these results. We look forward to hearing you in English tonight!
Gratefully,Lynn
Also comments from the Spanish speaking CSists at the lecture, that they appreciated the humility with which the lecture was given. They felt it helped the people connect with the message.
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Spanish lecture in Rockville MD
This was a really good event. It was a lecture in a day workers organization called CASA. We started before the introducer arrived, because the people were assembled and the director started making announcements and introduced me. They were ready and off you go. I kept it short and concise, given the attention span and interest level of the assembly. Everyone stayed put and listened to the whole thing, except just a couple who were called into the office. Much better attention level than I expected. The staff got interested. The woman at the desk began listening and agreeing with points during the talk. She asked a good question (for the benefit of the others I’m sure) which let me talk about what is spiritual understanding.
There were around 50 people there. All the literature was taken. Everyone took the Bible and the secretary went over to get a copy for herself. There was a high interest in Science and Health. Since the copies were quickly taken other people took notes from the local contacts, as to where to get S&H etc. Several people talked with me as well, and I kept pointing them to the locals because I wanted them to make local connections. One man said specifically he was looking for a church, again I had him talk with a local.
This was a well conceived event. I’m hoping the CS community arranges with the staff to show up once a week on Thursdays for the next few weeks to follow up on this event. If a CSist shows up at about the same time 7:45 with literature, Heralds and some S&H and makes themselves known and available to talk with anyone who would like to pray about their situation, this would be a big blessing to the population as well as build a bridge between the CS church and these folks.
The seeds for a Spanish speaking group were in that room. There were both men and women interested in prayer and learning more. But my experience is that we have to go to them to establish an ongoing relationship. Then local CSists can discern who is interested in a Reading Room type experience or church or children for Sunday School, etc.
A lot of inspiration went into setting this up. The male director was skeptical right when we arrived, and I had to reassure him several times but he got behind it, and after I started, he became comfortable with what I was doing. Good work, to all those involved in the planning, prayer and execution of this event.
The Christ heals and saves in every language.
There were around 50 people there. All the literature was taken. Everyone took the Bible and the secretary went over to get a copy for herself. There was a high interest in Science and Health. Since the copies were quickly taken other people took notes from the local contacts, as to where to get S&H etc. Several people talked with me as well, and I kept pointing them to the locals because I wanted them to make local connections. One man said specifically he was looking for a church, again I had him talk with a local.
This was a well conceived event. I’m hoping the CS community arranges with the staff to show up once a week on Thursdays for the next few weeks to follow up on this event. If a CSist shows up at about the same time 7:45 with literature, Heralds and some S&H and makes themselves known and available to talk with anyone who would like to pray about their situation, this would be a big blessing to the population as well as build a bridge between the CS church and these folks.
The seeds for a Spanish speaking group were in that room. There were both men and women interested in prayer and learning more. But my experience is that we have to go to them to establish an ongoing relationship. Then local CSists can discern who is interested in a Reading Room type experience or church or children for Sunday School, etc.
A lot of inspiration went into setting this up. The male director was skeptical right when we arrived, and I had to reassure him several times but he got behind it, and after I started, he became comfortable with what I was doing. Good work, to all those involved in the planning, prayer and execution of this event.
The Christ heals and saves in every language.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Reston VA
Remember this is my personal diary and place to vent....
Reston, VA
April 28, 2009
7:00pm
God is on the Job
Something is not right n this church and it showed up at the lecture prep and lecture. This group was very clingy all the way along, not able to find information when instructions were given, getting the information wrong, innumerable emails which frankly resulted in simply emails and no action.
When I arrived for the lecture prep, they had only 1 white board, no easel (it was propped up on a desk, what were they thinking was going to hold the white board the next day at the lecture) and children’s markers in bright colors with a line so fine it couldn’t be seen 15 feet away. They had also purchased 2 1x2 white boards thinking that 2 of them would make one larger board. What did they think would hold up 2 tiny boards? Then I hear that the venue for the lecture holds a max of 40 people! This was never mentioned in the deluge of emails coming from this committee.
I was really taken aback, since this group had communicated with me at least twice a week for months. There was underlying resistance to lecture and to the Manual provided activities. They had just had a Bible conference in their church the weekend before and had clearly expected more people there and had put more effort into that than the lecture. In fact I’d received an email basically saying I was being too demanding since they were already so busy with plans for this Bible seminar in their church.
They did manage to get an easel set up 5 minutes before the lecture started. Threw together a literature table at my recommendation outside the door of the venue. The introducer showed up, he hadn’t come to the prep, and actually started the introduction without looking at me and without my being in the room.
The room was so small that when visitors came by and would normally have come in, they stopped at the door and listened for a few minutes, but there were no seats and no room to stand even at the door. There was no ventilation and the room was very hot. The library said they couldn’t do anything about it. So we’d set up a fan pointing outward to create air circulation but no one could stand in the tiny doorway with this fan blowing at them. So the visitors would take some literature and leave. In four years of lecturing I’ve never seen anything like this.
Their last lecture had 75 people. What made them think a venue for 40 was suitable? One person wanted the venue in their specific town and so the lecture chair listened to the one person complaining. She said their lectures never got newcomers, and was surprised to learn that 3 newcomers came to this lecture. Actually more came but couldn’t get in.
The lecture itself went very well. A new student of Christian Science said this helped him understand how to pray, which he hadn’t understood from his reading the Bible Lesson. He asked if it was ok to pray for oneself or was that selfish. This is a question that comes from new students sometimes, and I was happy to encourage him. A newcomer bought Science and Health and said he never prayed but was very interesting in learning more about prayer. An Indian man, newcomer, left midway through the lecture when I started talking about Christ. My cousin came, which was a big surprise to me. None of my cousins have shown an interest in Christian Science since their dad was such a poor representative of it. But Ben drove from the farm where he is staying and took extensive notes. We went out to dinner afterward, his first Indian food, and then talked until midnight. It was a wonderful visit.
Reston, VA
April 28, 2009
7:00pm
God is on the Job
Something is not right n this church and it showed up at the lecture prep and lecture. This group was very clingy all the way along, not able to find information when instructions were given, getting the information wrong, innumerable emails which frankly resulted in simply emails and no action.
When I arrived for the lecture prep, they had only 1 white board, no easel (it was propped up on a desk, what were they thinking was going to hold the white board the next day at the lecture) and children’s markers in bright colors with a line so fine it couldn’t be seen 15 feet away. They had also purchased 2 1x2 white boards thinking that 2 of them would make one larger board. What did they think would hold up 2 tiny boards? Then I hear that the venue for the lecture holds a max of 40 people! This was never mentioned in the deluge of emails coming from this committee.
I was really taken aback, since this group had communicated with me at least twice a week for months. There was underlying resistance to lecture and to the Manual provided activities. They had just had a Bible conference in their church the weekend before and had clearly expected more people there and had put more effort into that than the lecture. In fact I’d received an email basically saying I was being too demanding since they were already so busy with plans for this Bible seminar in their church.
They did manage to get an easel set up 5 minutes before the lecture started. Threw together a literature table at my recommendation outside the door of the venue. The introducer showed up, he hadn’t come to the prep, and actually started the introduction without looking at me and without my being in the room.
The room was so small that when visitors came by and would normally have come in, they stopped at the door and listened for a few minutes, but there were no seats and no room to stand even at the door. There was no ventilation and the room was very hot. The library said they couldn’t do anything about it. So we’d set up a fan pointing outward to create air circulation but no one could stand in the tiny doorway with this fan blowing at them. So the visitors would take some literature and leave. In four years of lecturing I’ve never seen anything like this.
Their last lecture had 75 people. What made them think a venue for 40 was suitable? One person wanted the venue in their specific town and so the lecture chair listened to the one person complaining. She said their lectures never got newcomers, and was surprised to learn that 3 newcomers came to this lecture. Actually more came but couldn’t get in.
The lecture itself went very well. A new student of Christian Science said this helped him understand how to pray, which he hadn’t understood from his reading the Bible Lesson. He asked if it was ok to pray for oneself or was that selfish. This is a question that comes from new students sometimes, and I was happy to encourage him. A newcomer bought Science and Health and said he never prayed but was very interesting in learning more about prayer. An Indian man, newcomer, left midway through the lecture when I started talking about Christ. My cousin came, which was a big surprise to me. None of my cousins have shown an interest in Christian Science since their dad was such a poor representative of it. But Ben drove from the farm where he is staying and took extensive notes. We went out to dinner afterward, his first Indian food, and then talked until midnight. It was a wonderful visit.
Lower Hutt NZ feedback
We have had some fruitage:
1. A man has been attending our services and is so enthusiastic about what he's reading. He stood up on Wednesday and talked about his "spiritual journey" then read marked passages from several Sentinels and Journals.
2. Here is the text of an email from a woman who lives 50 minutes drive from Lower Hutt. Apparently she was class taught but attends her late husband's church.
Thank you Jenny for your letter of 10 April, which it was lovely to receive, and I do appreciate your copy of notes on the Beatitudes from the Lecture. Much more legible and full than mine and I am so glad to have them. I was sorry to have to slip away so quickly - the lecture ran over time somewhat, but I wouldnt have wanted to miss any of it, but as friends were expecting me for lunch at 12.30 and I had to traverse much of LHutt to get there, relying on my memory going back 22 years! (managed ok) I couldn't linger!
I thought it was an outstanding lecture, one of the best I've been to, and so relaxed, and your venue so suitable.
1. A man has been attending our services and is so enthusiastic about what he's reading. He stood up on Wednesday and talked about his "spiritual journey" then read marked passages from several Sentinels and Journals.
2. Here is the text of an email from a woman who lives 50 minutes drive from Lower Hutt. Apparently she was class taught but attends her late husband's church.
Thank you Jenny for your letter of 10 April, which it was lovely to receive, and I do appreciate your copy of notes on the Beatitudes from the Lecture. Much more legible and full than mine and I am so glad to have them. I was sorry to have to slip away so quickly - the lecture ran over time somewhat, but I wouldnt have wanted to miss any of it, but as friends were expecting me for lunch at 12.30 and I had to traverse much of LHutt to get there, relying on my memory going back 22 years! (managed ok) I couldn't linger!
I thought it was an outstanding lecture, one of the best I've been to, and so relaxed, and your venue so suitable.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Portsmouth VA
Portsmouth, VA
April 25, 2009
2:30pm
Library
Curing the Incurable
The prayer and advertising which this church did clearly reached the receptive thought. One newcomer remarked on entering that she had read the ad but wasn’t going to come because she lived in another town. But, she added, she just felt impelled by God to attend. She got a Science and Health and Journal afterward.
A man from another city said basically the same. He was sitting in church and heard the announcement read. He heard a voice in his thoughts tell him to attend, so he did. He said the lecture addressed his specific needs.
A visiting couple had questions afterward including, How do you tell the difference between righteousness and self-righteousness. Good question. So we looked at p115-116 of Science & Health together. Righteousness is the moral and spiritual qualities in the second and third degrees (Scientific Translation of Mortal Mind). Self-righteousness is the first degree. We talked about motive and how judging the difference between right and wrong isn't the same as criticizing or judgmentalism. They took a Science and Health on their way out.
Of the 70 people attending about 15 were newcomers. All of the Journals and Monitors which the church obtained for the lecture were taken by visitors. Seven Science & Healths were taken as well.
One person began attending the branch church two weeks prior to the lecture. Church members saw his appearance as a result of the same prayer for the lecture, embracing the spiritually minded in the community. He attended both the lecture prep and the lecture, reading one of the Bible passages aloud during the lecture from the very fine New American Standard Bible which provided a clear and inspired rendition of the passage.
Christian Scientists from neighboring communities came along with more than half a dozen teens and children. One six year old sat in the front row and watched in rapt attention for most of the hour.
This is a branch church where men are not only active but lead. There is a unique energy and vitality when men lead a lecture committee. When I arrived at the library the seating needed to be turned 90 degrees. With no discussion and only a split second hesitation, the men turned the entire venue around in less than 5 minutes. Everyone agreed afterward that the second configuration permitted the audience to see and hear more easily. But the grace and good humor in which this task was accomplished, I shall always remember and cherish. It was a privilege to lecture for this church of spiritual thinkers and doers.
From an email right after the lecture....
I learned a lot from both presentations. I'm a very visual learner, and I appreciated having so much on the boards. Although I know I've heard most of your presentation before, sometimes it's helpful to boil things down to a few essentials. I'll copy those passages down for quick reference. My friend Anne loved the talk. Her mother was a member of the Portsmouth church, but Anne has not been a member (I don't think). She's my mother's best friend and is a dear person.
April 25, 2009
2:30pm
Library
Curing the Incurable
The prayer and advertising which this church did clearly reached the receptive thought. One newcomer remarked on entering that she had read the ad but wasn’t going to come because she lived in another town. But, she added, she just felt impelled by God to attend. She got a Science and Health and Journal afterward.
A man from another city said basically the same. He was sitting in church and heard the announcement read. He heard a voice in his thoughts tell him to attend, so he did. He said the lecture addressed his specific needs.
A visiting couple had questions afterward including, How do you tell the difference between righteousness and self-righteousness. Good question. So we looked at p115-116 of Science & Health together. Righteousness is the moral and spiritual qualities in the second and third degrees (Scientific Translation of Mortal Mind). Self-righteousness is the first degree. We talked about motive and how judging the difference between right and wrong isn't the same as criticizing or judgmentalism. They took a Science and Health on their way out.
Of the 70 people attending about 15 were newcomers. All of the Journals and Monitors which the church obtained for the lecture were taken by visitors. Seven Science & Healths were taken as well.
One person began attending the branch church two weeks prior to the lecture. Church members saw his appearance as a result of the same prayer for the lecture, embracing the spiritually minded in the community. He attended both the lecture prep and the lecture, reading one of the Bible passages aloud during the lecture from the very fine New American Standard Bible which provided a clear and inspired rendition of the passage.
Christian Scientists from neighboring communities came along with more than half a dozen teens and children. One six year old sat in the front row and watched in rapt attention for most of the hour.
This is a branch church where men are not only active but lead. There is a unique energy and vitality when men lead a lecture committee. When I arrived at the library the seating needed to be turned 90 degrees. With no discussion and only a split second hesitation, the men turned the entire venue around in less than 5 minutes. Everyone agreed afterward that the second configuration permitted the audience to see and hear more easily. But the grace and good humor in which this task was accomplished, I shall always remember and cherish. It was a privilege to lecture for this church of spiritual thinkers and doers.
From an email right after the lecture....
I learned a lot from both presentations. I'm a very visual learner, and I appreciated having so much on the boards. Although I know I've heard most of your presentation before, sometimes it's helpful to boil things down to a few essentials. I'll copy those passages down for quick reference. My friend Anne loved the talk. Her mother was a member of the Portsmouth church, but Anne has not been a member (I don't think). She's my mother's best friend and is a dear person.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Portsmouth visit
The drive down was long and lovely. Since I sat for long periods on the roads around DC there was plenty of opportunity to appreciate the redbud, greening trees, and watch spring arrive in a few hours. From the flowers and bare trees of Newark to the azaleas and fully green trees in Portsmouth, it was a gorgeous drive. Long, but gorgeous. Five hours stretched to more than six, but I talked to Dave until my phone ran out of charge. Listened to audible books until I tired of listening. And enjoyed peaceful, prayerful thoughts inbetween it all.
Had a lovely lunch with Ellen who I haven't seen in several years. What a delight! She is charming and beautiful and spiritually minded as ever. It was a delight just to listen to her thoughts and unfoldments. We had lunch at a lovely local seafood restaurant, Amory's, very close to the hotel. Had she-crab soup. Best ever, lots of crab, and scallops. Meant to take a walk, but one phone call after another. So finally went to dinner at 8:30 to KFC. Then walked outside the mall for 45 minutes in the dark. The security guy stopped and mentioned I was walking a lot but in a kind fatherly, I'm keeping an eye out for you way. It's nice to be back in the south. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some time to get out and enjoy this warm weather. It was at least 90 today, but much cooler when I was walking at 9-10pm.
Finished the Poirot "Sad Cypress" read by David Suchet. He is an exquisite reader. The story was lovely. I'm recognizing some common threads and comments made by the author. She has definite views on the difference between thought and action, ie hating someone and doing something about it are two very different things. I can see why her stories remain popular. They deal with motive and thought, not just violence.
I need to do the laundry. Been putting it off. Where is David when I need him? He just makes these things go away while I take care of other things. I just have to bite the bullet tomorrow after the lecture. And had the intuition to check the Turkey reservations. Had a disconnect on the flights and hotels, missing a day of hotel, which I fixed. Thank you Father.
Had a lovely lunch with Ellen who I haven't seen in several years. What a delight! She is charming and beautiful and spiritually minded as ever. It was a delight just to listen to her thoughts and unfoldments. We had lunch at a lovely local seafood restaurant, Amory's, very close to the hotel. Had she-crab soup. Best ever, lots of crab, and scallops. Meant to take a walk, but one phone call after another. So finally went to dinner at 8:30 to KFC. Then walked outside the mall for 45 minutes in the dark. The security guy stopped and mentioned I was walking a lot but in a kind fatherly, I'm keeping an eye out for you way. It's nice to be back in the south. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some time to get out and enjoy this warm weather. It was at least 90 today, but much cooler when I was walking at 9-10pm.
Finished the Poirot "Sad Cypress" read by David Suchet. He is an exquisite reader. The story was lovely. I'm recognizing some common threads and comments made by the author. She has definite views on the difference between thought and action, ie hating someone and doing something about it are two very different things. I can see why her stories remain popular. They deal with motive and thought, not just violence.
I need to do the laundry. Been putting it off. Where is David when I need him? He just makes these things go away while I take care of other things. I just have to bite the bullet tomorrow after the lecture. And had the intuition to check the Turkey reservations. Had a disconnect on the flights and hotels, missing a day of hotel, which I fixed. Thank you Father.
Newark feedback
Hi there and a million thanks for your workshop lecture which you gave in Newark, DE, thursday night. It was great! And you had the entire audience with you! no sleeping, no boredom, no glazed over eyes!
I am a former Journal-listed practitioner, 85, and can truthfully say that yours is the best lecture I have ever heard. Is it possible to have a copy of this lecture? Or may I have a listing of your articles in the Bound Volumes?
I especially enjoyed your teaching how to research, how to gain from using concordances and translations, how to use the first sentence in "Prayer", and all the examples of healing. I especially like your two methods of prayer/treatment -- machete or helicopter. Working from God's point of view with God's viewpoint cut right to the chase. Very good to have the handout of the Beatitudes to work together for newer solutions.
Thank you again and I join God in blessing you.
- Mary Margaret
I am a former Journal-listed practitioner, 85, and can truthfully say that yours is the best lecture I have ever heard. Is it possible to have a copy of this lecture? Or may I have a listing of your articles in the Bound Volumes?
I especially enjoyed your teaching how to research, how to gain from using concordances and translations, how to use the first sentence in "Prayer", and all the examples of healing. I especially like your two methods of prayer/treatment -- machete or helicopter. Working from God's point of view with God's viewpoint cut right to the chase. Very good to have the handout of the Beatitudes to work together for newer solutions.
Thank you again and I join God in blessing you.
- Mary Margaret
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