On the Coast – Families Issue 92 | February / March 18 | Page 24

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Gosford
Kids’ spirituality
needs to be nurtured
The Christian Science
Sunday School makes our
connection to God practical
We’ve heard that children raised with a robust
and well-developed spiritual life are happier,
more optimistic, more thriving, more flexible,
and better equipped to deal with life. There’s
even evidence that teenagers are less likely to
abuse alcohol and drugs, to engage in risky
behaviours, or to experience depression if
they’re in touch with their spiritual side.
“Children imbued with spirituality grow
into adults who can count their blessings,
feel a sense of calling in their work, regard
human relationships as sacred, and can
see misfortunes as opportunities,” writes
psychologist, Lisa Miller.
In my experience, the simple Christian
Sunday Schooling that I received proved a
bulwark against the onslaughts of materialism,
overt sensualism, competitiveness and
injustices prevalent in society as I grew up in
Sydney during the ‘60s and ‘70s.
My mother, coming from a mainstream
Christian church, had just been healed of
having monthly headaches by reading a
book that throws new light on understanding
the Bible, and elucidates the methodology
Jesus used in healing. Reading Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures forever
changed her perception of herself. As she
more regularly put into practice this new way
of perceiving men, women, children and the
universe as spiritual, and therefore perfect,
in the way that Christian Science explains,
she dearly wanted to attend the church that
espouses such a view.
She soon did join a Church of Christ,
Scientist and enrolled my sister and myself
in the Christian Science Sunday School. It
was there that I was taught helpful verses
of Scripture – the Ten Commandments, the
Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount,
the 91st and 23rd Psalms – and equally
importantly, their spiritual meaning and how
they could be applied day-to-day. My pre-
teen years felt so nurtured, grounded in the
warm embrace of my parents’ love for me,
along with learning how to feel the presence
of my Father-Mother, God. There were many
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KI DZ O N T H E C OA ST
instances I can remember when healings of
relationship difficulties at school, learning
challenges and related illnesses occurred
through prayer.
My teen years were peppered with
challenges, but the spiritual strength, wisdom,
and light I gained from my Sunday Schooling
served to stand me in good stead against most
of the negative influences then prevalent.
It was the Sunday School teachers’ thirst for
truth, practical examples of applying Christian
Science in their own lives, and the love that
they breathed, which inspired me most.
Wanting to fit in with friends, I opted out
of Sunday School in my early teens. But it was
a deep desire to see more good in the world
that afforded the courage to return to Sunday
School when I was engaged to be married
in my 19th year. How I valued the probing
discussions about the nature and meaning of
life with the teacher!
Knowing God as Life, Truth, Love, Soul,
Spirit, Mind, Principle is life-changing.
Learning to see myself as expressing Life in
activity and playfulness, Truth in integrity
and precision, Love in kindness and
impartiality; Soul in innocence and
harmony, and so on; gave me then, and still
gives me, indescribable encouragement
and joy.
Kay Stroud, Christian Science Committee on Publication
www.health4thinkers.com @KayJStroud
To learn more about Christian Science:
Sunday School for kids and young people up to 20 years of age at 9.30.
Sunday Service also at 9.30am.
Wednesday Testimony Meetings weekly at 7.30pm.
Public Reading Room, open 10am to 3pm Mon-Fri, and
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Gosford are located at 56 William Street,
Gosford. Phone [phone]