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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, July 14, 2001

Where We Worship
Christian Science has long history in Hawai'i

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

• Name of church: Church of Christ, Scientist

A service at First Church of Christ, Scientist, at 1508 Punahou St., is conducted by lay people known as Readers; on a recent Sunday, they were Nancy Walden and Fred Hertlein. The church, which is one of seven branch churches statewide, was built in 1924 and was designated a historical landmark in 1967.

Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

• Our denomination or affiliation: The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston.

• Where we are: There are seven branch churches in Hawai'i: 308 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo; 75-5799 Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona; 4473 Pahe'e St., Lihu'e; 160 W. Kamehameha Ave., Kahului; 1508 Punahou St., Honolulu; 55 N. Kainalu Drive, Kailua; and 1637 California Ave., Wahiawa.

• Our numbers: There are 2,200 branch churches worldwide, with members in 134 countries.

• Our pastor: Members, or Christian Scientists, abide by the teachings of what they call their "Dual Pastors," the King James Version of the Bible and "Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, referred to as "the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science."

"I imagine this would be a question a visitor to a branch church might ask: 'Who's your pastor?' Both of these books are," said Seaward Grant of the Christian Science Committee on Publication for Hawaii.

Services are conducted by two laypeople, known as Readers, who share the task of reading the weekly lessons consisting of passages from the Bible and "Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures."

• What we believe (our mission statement): Eddy founded the religion and church "to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing."

The word "science" is used by Christian Scientists "because it is a scientific approach to Christianity," Grant said, "and like any other science, it can be proved by one's own experiences."

Christian Scientists believe that this proof is in changed and improved lives — morally, spiritually and physically.

• Our history: Christian Science was formulated in 1866 by Eddy, who was raised in New Hampshire. Eddy wrote "Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures," first published in 1875, and a church was formed in 1879 in Boston.

The religion was brought to Hawai'i in 1896 when a student of Christian Science moved to Honolulu. The first of the seven branch churches in Hawai'i, First Church of Christ, Honolulu, was built in 1924 at 1508 Punahou St., where it still stands. The distinctive cut-stone building was designated a historical landmark in 1967 by the Honolulu Mayor's Historic Building Task Force.

• What we're excited about: The new, official Web site, www.spirituality.com.

"People from all over the world can log on 24-7 and enjoy exploring practical spirituality today," Grant said.

The Web site also contains articles written by people "searching the Scriptures for answers to their deepest needs, reporting the blessings received," he said.

• What's special about us: Grant said one of the most important aspects of Christian Science is the element of healing. For Christian Scientists, all aspects of healing, whether moral, spiritual or physical, are carried out through prayer "as demonstrated by Christ Jesus' own life practice," Grant said.

While the process is an "individual experience," Grant said, Christian Science Practitioners are available to help bring God's healing to others through prayer.

Church services are always open to the public, as are the Christian Science Reading Rooms. Grant described a Reading Room as a combination library and bookstore where people have access to a number of Christian Science audio-visual and print publications, among other resource materials. It is also a place where members go to pray. The public is also welcome to attend weekly testimonial meetings and Sunday schools for enrichment and fellowship.

• Contact: For the times and locations of these various activities, contact the Christian Science Committee on Publication for Hawaii. Call 523-1267 or toll-free at (888) 950-1267, e-mail cscophi@aol.com or visit www.cscophi.org or www.spirituality.com.

Free copies of the church's weekly periodical, Christian Science Sentinel, the latest copy of their newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor, and the latest Weekly Bible Lessons, can be obtained by contacting the committee.

If you would like to recommend your church, temple or faith organization for a Where We Worship profile, e-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com, call 535-8174 or write: Where We Worship, Faith Page, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802.