Christian Science in Sarasota, Florida
"To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings." -Mary Baker Eddy
Who are we?
We are a church home for Christian Scientists in Sarasota, FL, a branch of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, MA. We welcome everyone to our services and activities, including children to our Sunday School.
We are parents, grandparents, lawyers, realtors, engineers, college teachers, exercise instructors, chemists, flight attendants, and retirees from many professions, like the financial markets, journalism, information technology, accounting, and much more.
What do we believe?
We believe that God is Love and knows only good. And the closer we get to Him/Her, the better we can see through the shadows of this material world.
We believe that Christ Jesus was the most spiritually-minded man to walk the earth. His example inspires and guides us every single day.
We believe in and practice the power of prayer, just as Jesus did. We’re dedicated to using it to heal every kind of problem—moral, physical, financial, you name it.
What is Christian Science?
Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered and founded Christian Science, defined it as "the law of God, the law of good..." (Rudimental Divine Science). This deeper understanding of God as infinite Love and unchanging goodness leads to prayer that can heal, redeem, and restore anyone.
The Christian Science Church, also known as The Church of Christ, Scientist, is a Christian denomination, with the Bible and especially Jesus' teachings as the heart and soul of its practice.
In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy states: "Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing." This is the continuing mission of the Christian Science church.
Who is Mary Baker Eddy?
In 1866, a life-threatening injury compelled Mary Baker Eddy to turn wholeheartedly to God. She opened her Bible to an account of Jesus healing a man quickly and completely. A new sense of God, Spirit, as the only reality flooded her thought, and she was healed spontaneously. But she yearned to know how and why.
For the next several years, she continued to search and find in the Bible the underlying laws of God that would form the basis of her teaching and practice of Christian Science.
Since then, many have found that when they better understand their relationship to God through this Science of Christianity, their health is restored and character transformed. And each healing inspires a heartfelt desire to help others know and experience how loved we all are by God.
What is Science and Health?
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures was written by Mary Baker Eddy and first published in 1875. It is the definitive explanation of Christian Science as revealed to Mrs. Eddy through prayer, inspiration, studying the Bible, and healing. Science and Health helps elucidate the Bible and we study both books daily.
Over 10 million copies have been sold around the world (including numerous translations) and countless readers have been healed from simply reading it and drinking in its truths. The final chapter, titled "Fruitage," contains 100 pages of healings accomplished solely by reading this valuable book.
Church Blog
You're invited to visit our church blog. Members post on a wide variety of topics, usually sharing their insights from their study of Christian Science, which may include first-hand accounts of healings they have experienced.
Of special interest is video blog, when a church member discussed the question "What's the difference between natural science and Christian Science?" with a couple of our Sunday School students.
Just click the button below to begin investigating!
Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle.
The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 583)
Our Church History
Announcement of first Sunday service
Early in 1970, a small group of Christian Scientists, recognizing the need for a Christian Science church in the growing Gulf Gate area, called a meeting to discuss the first steps to meet this need.
In response to an invitation to use their auditorium, the first service was held in St. Andrew United Church of Christ, 6908 Beneva Road, on Communion Sunday, July 12, 1970, at five o'clock in the afternoon.
The future church functioned as "Informal Group of Christian Scientists, Gulf Gate, Sarasota, Florida."
Wednesday testimonial meetings were begun, and a Sunday School established. The group was recognized by The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, as a Christian Science Society in November 1971. There were twenty-two charter members.
In May 1972, a church building site was purchased, and before the end of 1973 it was entirely paid for. Ground was broken for the church edifice on July 10, 1974.
The first service was held in the new structure on Sunday, August 3, 1975, just five and a half years after that first meeting in a neighborhood home. On the prior Sunday, St. Andrew Church recognized the Christian Science congregation for their gracious sharing of their church, and presented them with a gift for the new church - an American Flag on a 8-foot standard with an eagle.
A Reading Room was established in the church building, and recognition as Third Church of Christ, Scientist, Sarasota, Florida, was granted in September 1975.
Attendance at the new church grew rapidly, and it soon became evident that the temporary walls provided for future growth would have to be removed sooner than expected.
The partitions were removed, and the auditorium enlarged to its present size. The Reading Room was moved out of the building, to 6579 Gateway Avenue.
A separate building, adjoining the church, was erected in 1977, to house the Sunday School and the Children's Room. In later years, the Reading Room moved into this building.
Both early and current members dedicate themselves to the support of our church, as described by Mary Baker Eddy: "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." (Science and Health, p. 583)
