A New Direction for 2012

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A New Direction for 2012

January 19, 2012 by Cynthia Voelker

As you will notice on the Calendar, there are no Gatherings scheduled. Please make note of that and keep reading!

We have exciting news at the CS Fellowship – Metro Chicago. We have so enjoyed putting together the Gatherings, Workshops, and Book Club and hope that you have been able to join us for one or all of these events and have also enjoyed the spirit of fellowship we have hoped to foster. People at the Gatherings have been telling us they are taking ideas home and seeing leavening in their own churches. The vibrant Midwest Summit became a focal point for sharing ideas from all over the Midwest. The Summit helped individuals realize their ability to make a difference for good. Not change for the sake of change, but change for the sake of progress, and what those changes might include within the framework of The Church Manual.

Since it’s a new year, and the Fellowship has been rolling along for a little more than two years now, we thought it a good time to take stock of where we are and how we can best serve the Chicago community and be consistent with our mission* moving forward.

People have been most interested in our special programs and events, e.g., discussions of “Medical Ethics,” “Diversity and growing together,” Women who followed Jesus, an Eco workshop, a poetry workshop, and the Christmas Eve event. The conference call book club has also been a welcome form of fellowship.

Because of these considerations, we are discontinuing the Gatherings and will instead concentrate our efforts on four larger events a year, roughly one a quarter. The Book Club will continue as before. We have some exciting ideas for these events and will keep you informed as they take shape. We thank you all for your continued support and hope to see/hear from you soon!

*Mission Statement: To nourish Christian Science worship, fellowship and healing in a warm, bold, new way that supports one another and reaches the world.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on January 19, 2012 at 1:05 pm | Reply Lois Carlson

so happy for your clarity of direction–there is
no question that you are an amazing support
to those in our Field who want to keep the vision
of Church Alive!
on January 19, 2012 at 1:08 pm | Reply Tom Shepherd, Highland Society

Dear C.S. Friends,

Thank you for your note explaining changes for the Fellowship. I’ve been unable to join with you all due to the distance, but have been encouraged and inspired by the work that you’ve done, and the fellowship that you’ve fostered with fellow Christian Scientists in Chicagoland.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to join with you at one of the future gatherings.

All the best to you,
on January 20, 2012 at 6:02 am | Reply Rob

As much as I was enjoying the fellowship gatherings at the DesPlaines society, I agree that a change is needed.

Thanks for all that you’re doing!
on January 20, 2012 at 5:01 pm | Reply Jan in California

Grateful for what you’re all doing in Chicago. It would be fun to attend one of your events sometime.
on January 21, 2012 at 8:39 pm | Reply Peggy

Thank you, all, for your grace and courage and constant effort to support your Mission Statement. The Gatherings for the past few years have encouraged many to bring back to their churches progressive thinking. I love that! Your special events have been well thought out and have appealed to many of us. I have not attended the Book Club events, but what a good idea to foster fellowship, knowledge and good reading.

I certainly support your decision to have just four large events a year. Know this decision will bless all.

With much gratitude,
Peggy Elmes
on February 1, 2012 at 12:13 am | Reply Jill Rohrer

I was surprised! I guess it is good that I am feeling like I will miss the fellowship gatherings because that means I loved them.

Anyway, I love getting together and sharing spiritual inspiration, and supporting each other through some of the trials of life. I was so blessed by the fellowship gatherings.

I am thinking of maybe offering to anyone to come and gather sometime at our Reading Room. Our church board said Rob and I could open to the public and maybe this would be a way to continue the gentle spiritual conversation???

Thanks for the wonderful gatherings and will look forward to whatever unfolds to each of us.
Lovingly and with Gratitude,
Jill
on February 4, 2012 at 12:50 am | Reply sandijustad

Jill,

Thanks for writing your appreciation. You have been a precious voice in many Gatherings!

We too have valued the Gatherings as a place of fellowship, warmth, and the opportunity to ask questions without being judged, to share our inspiring stories, our ideas, and encourage one another.

What a wonderful idea to consider opening your Reading Room for some sort of continuation of this conversation.

We hope to carry on the fellowship aspect in the coming Workshops. Please stay tuned!
on February 12, 2012 at 2:10 am | Reply Jill Rohrer

The Libertyville Reading Room has been open the first Friday night of each month. We are open for anyone. Last Friday we listened to a lecture and had open conversation afterward. We love the fellowship time. Anyone is welcome, just call the Reading Room to check what is happening. Barb Boss and I were thinking about an idea to open it one other time a month for more time to share…

Love to all!
Jill
on February 23, 2012 at 5:54 pm | Reply Bob Bilhorn

The various “feel good” meetings we have had are good in establishing commaradarie but more is needed to effectively further the Cause and thus serve mankind. The improved health of our Movment is not a purpose of our activity but a consequence of our activity. It is obvious that more has to be done.
There are a couple of actions that I am confident would do more in the nature of building our church because they would be more obdedient to Mrs.Eddy’s requests and needed by mankind.
One, is to offer to pray for any person’s apparent need when you witness an opportunity to do so. Naturally, some discretion is to be used. It is not necessary to mention Christian Science and maybe wise not to unless asked. A simple , “Would it be OK if I were to pray about that.” No discussion is needed. Such a sincere desire to be helpful will be rewarded. My experience with friends, customers and employees has borne that out.
Another thought is to have Sunday School teachers at every class meeting encourage every student to offer to pray for someone’s need. And at every meeting such activity would be reviewed and perhaps be dicussed. The appropriateness of praying for each other should, especially at an early age, be normal and natural and its effctiveness be demonstrated.
The first Sunday School meeting that had an impression on me was when my teacher asked me what I was doing and I mentioned that I sold papers after school. He simply said, “Next week you will sell more than usual.” And it was so. That was very meaningful.