March-April 2009 - Christian Science Society San Juan Capistrano

March/April ‘09
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CS SOCIETY PAGES
Music!...
“..the harmony of being”
In her Message for 1900 to The
Mother Church, Mary Baker Eddy
shared some of her inspiration on
music that offers food for thought for
the role of music in our expression of
church. Having once been
“passionately fond of material music”
Mrs. Eddy explained she grew to
become “wedded to spiritual music,
the music of Soul.”
“Beloved brethren, have no
discord over music. Hold in
yourselves the true sense of harmony,
and this sense will harmonize, unify,
and unself you.” “….Music is more
than sound in unison.” “I want not
only quality, quantity, and variation in
tone, but the unction of Love. Music
is divine. Mind, not matter, makes
music.”
From the beginning of our
Christian Science Society, we have
given careful, prayerful attention to
the useful role music could play in
church, adhering to the Manual and
Mrs. Eddy’s guidelines, and
particularly in support of our mission
of unconditional love, spiritual
growth and healing.

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Following our recent Recommitment Meeting, we
gathered some current thoughts on the role of music in
our church services:
• “Our music is truly a gift of Love from Above
and it elevates my thought for the oncoming
lesson. We are blessed with magnificently
talented performers…the Love expressed to us
during the music paves the way for Love to be
reflected back…joy magnified many times over.”
• “When I hear a bird sing, my heart sings with it.
When I hear my brother birds sing, it’s the same.
The human voice is an expression of God’s voice
so it is God being glorified.”
• “The music in every service is a blessing! So
often I go home from church singing or humming
a beautiful solo or hymn we have sung and
treasure its message throughout the day.”
• “Our music lifts me up and reminds me of God’s
ever-present love.”
• “While praying about our church supply, I was
comforted, awed and grateful for the Soul-filled
expression of Life I felt while listening to the
music of Mindy Jostyn…the purity of her voice,
her message. Hearing the lyrics ‘God is Love’,
‘we are all the children of Love’, ‘the Comforter
is here!’…..I realized the way I can apply these
truths to our Society…to thank divine Love for
supplying us ‘with the joy that finds one’s own in
another’s good.’” (Misc Writings p.127)
• “ ‘Surely the Lord is present in this place….’
‘In this very room there’s quite enough Love….’
These lyrics and their accompanying beautiful
melodies brought instantaneous physical healing
on two separate Sunday mornings I will always
cherish. When music is spiritually inspired, I
believe it speaks the language of Love….and, as
the song goes, ‘Love changes
everything’….Love heals!”
“Harmony in man is as beautiful as in
music, and discord is unnatural,
unreal.” (S&H)
Mark your calendar…
Metaphysical Workshops…
Monday, April 13 th 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 11 th 7:30
p.m.
Growing Church Workshops…
Monday, April 27 th 7:30
p.m.
Tithing Information Session
Wednesday, April 29 th , 6:30 p.m., Conference Call
meeting with Pamela Hawley, founder and CEO of
Universal Giving, one of our future tithing recipients.
Management Team Meetings….if you have agenda
items, suggestions, questions, or anything else to bring to
the attention of our Management Team, they meet at least
monthly and welcome your contributions to the
harmonious functioning of our church family. Contact
any MT member with your input.
Second Sundays…Twenty-Somethings are welcome to
join our monthly discussion forum held on the second
Sunday evening of each month at 7:00 p.m. Join fellow
students of Christian Science in this active group that
includes participants from throughout southern
California.
Getting to Know You……
Many of you have already met Patti Holditch on
her visits to San Juan Capistrano or heard her on the
conference call from her home in Colorado participating
in our services. This is her “official” welcome as a
member of our church family.
Patti tells us she was raised attending a Christian
Science Sunday School in Garden Grove (northern
Orange County.) Her college training was at UC San
Diego and Cal State Fullerton and her career has been
primarily in the computer field, including programming,
design, installation and training. After college, Patti lived
briefly in California, then moved to Idaho, and a few
years later to Colorado, where she has lived ever since.
Her previous church membership, Patti shares,
has been in Idaho and Colorado. “Twenty three years ago
the C.S. Society I was a member of here in Colorado was

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considering its options for a meeting place. It seemed so
clear to me and several other members that a storefront
location was the answer---that we needed to be reaching
out to the community, to be in the midst of the
community, not hiding away in a residential area. But a
number of others felt the traditional church building
owned by the church, along with a separate Reading
Room in a shopping center, were the answer.”
Patti continues that she “so longed for the
outreach into the community, of being right in the
marketplace. Several years later friends of mine in the
Pacific Northwest started a society in a storefront after
considering what church really is. Once again I yearned
to be a part of this, but was too far away. I had heard
occasionally about the San Juan Society but never
thought I could be part of that either because of my
geographical location. For over 21 years my job has
entailed a significant percentage of travel time across
North America and had kept me from as active
involvement in church as I would have liked and
certainly from a sense of continuity in attendance and
service.
“When I found out I could attend church here by
phone and by Skype, I discovered the answer to all these
yearnings about serving/attending/working for church,
and reaching out to the community, locally and more
globally. I can attend and serve from wherever I am! No
separation, no distance, no limitation. I am so grateful.
And I especially love having the opportunity to pray for
community needs in the county where I grew up. I’m
also grateful that my computer skills are being put to
good use in working on a number of projects for our
church, including non-hymnal hymns, posting
Wednesday readings, and website team projects.”
Patti also notes “the church I grew up attending,
in Garden Grove, was where the original Willows
location was, and a lot of the members of that church
lived at the Willows. I find it special that I’m once again
associated with a church where many of our members
and attendees are living at the Willows (in its new
location).” And equally special is having Patti as an
active member of our church family!
Getting to know our congregation beyond
walls…
Ask Florence Pedi to make music! She’ll haul
out her harmonica and play “If I Loved You” from
Carousel or Elvis Presley’s “Are you Lonesome
Tonight?”—or maybe Mary Baker Eddy’s “O, Gentle
Presence.” This self-taught musician makes sounds
sweet enough to woo her parakeets—Jackie (now in
heaven) and Chipper (Jackie’s successor), who cock their
heads and listen intently. Jackie used to perch on his
guardian’s harmonica-holding hand as she played.
When Florence first began calling in to our
services a couple of years ago from the Hackensack, NJ,
retirement home she lives in, she was looking for a way
to attend church after her branch church closed down.
“This meets my needs and I enjoy every minute of it,”
she proclaims.
Florence has had an interesting life. While her
husband Joseph plied his trade as a commercial artist, she
made dresses in a factory, then became a dress samplemaker,
taking her patterns to New York City to have them
approved, and teaching other seamstresses how to make
those dresses. Today she looks forward to outings with
her daughter Joy and son Ricky. She also enjoys cooking
on a grand scale in the senior center’s kitchen on
holidays, when she invites neighbors to sit down for
fellowship and a feast---and of course gratitude to
God. (contributed by Susan Clay)
Jo Doyle used to belong to the same New Jersey
church that Florence attended before it shut its doors.
And, like her friend, Flo, Jo has a love for music. But
that’s getting ahead of her story.
Jo found Christian Science 39 years ago when
she was at her wit’s end, health-wise and marital-wise.
While vacationing with her husband, she saw a coverless
pamphlet in the hotel library, picked it up and began
reading the testimonies of healing in the back. Shortly
thereafter, she found out that a member of the Ginger
Snaps---an all-female barbershop quarter for whom Jo
was lead singer---was a Christian Scientist. She told Jo
to look for a Christian Science practitioner in the phone
book. She phoned all but the last one, then gave up when
none of them answered. Joe then determinedly located a
Reading Room in the Yellow Pages, called, and was
given the name of the one lone practitioner whom she
had not called. She asked a friend, also ill, to go with her
to the practitioner’s office where they were both healed.
Jo began applying Christian Science to her three healthchallenged
children, who went on to have 23 physical
healings (yes, Jo counted them). Later, she became a
bookkeeper and then a nurse at the Princeton-based
Christian Science care facility, Tenacre.

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These days Jo volunteers for the New Jersey institutional
committee from her home in North Brunswick. She
writes to an inmate in solitary confinement at Newark
State Prison to help him grasp the basics of Christian
Science and apply its teaching to his problems. “You
can’t hold on to the same thinking,” she recently told
him. Jo herself had already learned that lesson---the day
she found the coverless Christian Science Sentinel in the
hotel library. (contributed by Susan Clay)
Grateful hearts…
From Valerie Flynn…Apoya, our Society’s volunteer
tutoring-mentoring outreach to the CREER youth, wishes
to express OUR GRATITUDE TO THE CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE SOCIETY IN SJC for the opportunity to help
all of the children and their families who have been
attending the program regularly. Parents, tutors and
students regularly express gratitude to us for making our
beautiful and peaceful space available for tutoring. The
fruits of such labor are evident when excited parents
bring their children’s most recent report cards to show us
their improved grades in many subject matters. Thank
you again to our Society for supporting this effort and for
its constant prayer to bless our community. And thank
you to the members who have graciously committed their
time to help youth on a regular or substitute basis……
Many voices of appreciation to the facilitators of our
recent Metaphysical Workshops…Julie Johnson and
Bonnie MacDonald for our February and March
workshops focusing on challenges facing
children…..Deborah Huebsch and Carl Symons who
led our April session on the “Christian Science
Movement--Moving!” and will facilitate the May
workshop continuing the same focus……From Rahla
Lindsay (excerpt regarding our Metaphysical Workshop
on Children) “Thank you for the powerful ideas
(citations) and for the wonderful healing work you are all
doing to bless our children….I was at a meeting that
included Father Gregory Boyle, founder of HomeBoy
Industries and a major force for good and God’s love in
Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles…..Gang thinking is
just mortal mind trying to make us believe there is power
in numbers. You cannot believe (well, yes, you CAN
believe) how much improvement there is in that
neighborhood. There are NO gangs where there are jobs
and opportunities for these young people. Yes..our work
is cut out for us….”
Many thanks to all who participated Easter Sunday
afternoon in the hymn sing practice and filming for The
Mother Church…..Expressions of gratitude from many
to Evelyn Brookins, Alan Hess and Linda Worley for
organizing our Recommitment Meeting with its
thoughtful discussion topics and opportunities for new
growth and progress….
Thank you to everyone on the Reading Room
Team….who participated in organizing the recent open
house events during Mercado Weekend and in celebration
of the new Christian Science Monitor launch.
A note of gratitude and inspiration….(excerpted) from
Derra Moyers, a regular conference caller in Edmonds,
Washington, following a rainy Saturday in
Seattle….”This Sunday morning the sun was out, sky
was blue and I felt the need to get out into the light. With
Archie the Schnoodle (and drive-thru drink and goodies)
drove to the bluff overlooking Puget Sound and got ready
for our service with hymnals, notes and cell phone at
hand. Throughout the service gulls were gliding over the
water and overhead, beautiful and graceful. Then a large,
dark hawk...soaring afar off but noticeable because of its
wing shape and color. These birds danced in the sky all
through the service as if emphasizing creation’s freedom,
grace and beauty. THEN, during the offertory vocal
piece sung by Sarah (Wow!) just as she concluded
singing ‘God’s man is free’, the hawk came directly over
me and Archie and hovered about 20 feet up. I could see
all of his underfeathers, the beauty of his wing shape, his
elegance and strength. I felt I could almost touch him, he
was so close. The song ended and the hawk glided away.
I was in awe! Please thank Sarah…part of this with her
beautiful voice soaring and rejoicing! I love attending
and participating (in CSSSJC services)…and thank you
for all that all of you are doing to make this church
experience possible.”
New opportunities and possibilities….
BIG Sunday ‘09….For ongoing updates on this service
opportunity in May, contact Linda Worley.
An update from
F.A.M….
Donations of non-perishable food are still
welcome and needed in support of Family Assistance
Ministries and the families they provide for. You may

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may place your donations in the marked container in our
Community Room. Current prayer requests from F.A.M
ask our support for the women at Gilchrist House in
challenging the claims of discouragement, depression,
and hopelessness in their efforts to seek employment and
in completely overcoming the history of substance abuse.
In the news….and on the Internet….
Recent sightings of some familiar names in
print…In the April Christian Science Journal in the
Letters section look for the thoughtful comments of
Beverly Lyle on the future vitality of our Christian
Science churches in the 21 st Century….In the March 23 rd
Sentinel a timely article by Cathryn Rathsam “The
Economy and the 10 Commandments”….. In a recent
edition of the Christian Science Monitor, a delightful
piece in the Over the Hedge column by Laura Fisher.
On the world wide web…Sunday School
student, Melody Colliatie, shares a wonderful story of
her recent participation in being part of the homebuilding
mission in Mexico. Visit the ever-growing site
tmcyouth.com and look for Melody’s inspiring piece,
“Learning from humility”
Much more to see of interest to us at
tmcyouth.com…When visiting the site, go to “Church
Unconfined” and then to “Real Church Experiences.”
Click here, scroll down and you can watch some 15 video
clips detailing many aspects of our Society and its
participants from the early informal group to current
Sunday School students sharing their views and
experiences. While you’re there, don’t miss seeing video
of other fresh approaches to church in other parts of the
country.
Africa Blog…Sunday School students Rachel
Nishikawa and Melody Colliatie have written a daily
blog detailing their recent trip to Petals of Africa School
in Kenya. Don’t miss their insights and experiences they
have taken time to share with the world about their
service mission that included Rachel’s sister Stacey and
former Sunday School student, Kyle Smith.
Tithing….
Our tithing recipient for March was The
Christian Science Monitor, celebrating the newspaper’s
launch into a new format for the 21 st Century and
offering continued focus and opportunities to pray for our
worldwide family. Our Reading Room Open House paid
tribute to the Monitor in a Sunday after-church
celebration, April 19 th .
In April we are tithing to CREER, the local
organization that works to address the needs of the
Latino-Mexican community and who is our partner in a
tutoring program held each Saturday at our church
facility. Beyond the monetary contribution we will make
to CREER, we continue to respond to their requests for
prayerful support during some recent difficult challenges
that include neighborhood conflict and gang violence. A
reminder: CREER means BELIEVE!
The Book Report….
Many of us are currently reading, or re-reading, Rolling
Away The Stone: Mary Baker Eddy’s Challenge to
Materialism, by Stephen Gottschalk, Indiana University
Press 2006, as part of our preparation for our
Metaphysical Workshops focusing on The Christian
Science Movement-- Moving! From the book’s
introduction: “This book focuses on the dominant theme
in her life during (the last) two decades: her effort to
protect and perpetuate a religious teaching that could
provide an alternative to the materialism she saw as
potentially engulfing traditional Christianity.”…….And
further…”For Eddy, materialism had deepened and
become more intransigent---not because it was on the
ascendancy, but because it was fighting for its life.”
From the publisher: “This is the first book-length
discussion of Eddy to make full use of the resources of
The Mary Baker Eddy Collection in Boston and focuses
as no other previous book has on her long-range legacy
as a Christian thinker, specifically her challenge to the
materialism that—in changing forms---continues to
threaten religious belief and practice in our time.” Not
exactly a “quick read” but highly recommended, very
timely, and worth the study.
Recommitment Meeting 2009
Thanks to everyone for bringing their “best game” to our
Recommitment Meeting March 29. This year the daylong
event let us dialog, in small groups, about some key
issues: the vitality and spirituality of our services,
keeping our various outreach activities focused on Spirit,
and making sure organizational demands don’t
overwhelm our real business -- healing. The dialog
helped us to know each other better, and to articulate the
reasons we are involved with church. Several

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recommendations grew out of the day, which we’ll
continue to address in Growing Church and Metaphysical
workshops. If you did not receive a copy of the summary,
contact our administrator at
admin@csinsanjuancapistrano.com. These meetings
rejuvenate our commitment and our thinking as a group!
(contributed by Alan Hess)
Sunday School Celebrations…
Shine the Sunday School spotlight on Parker
Monticone! Parker is a 9 th grader who lives with his
family in San Clemente and is part of our active high
school/college Sunday School class. Parker tells us his
favorite school subject is math…”because I’m good at
it!”…and his favorite pastime? “Skateboarding.”
Favorite book? “Thieflord.” Favorite food? It’s a tie
between “chicken Alfredo, orange chicken, and teriyaki
chicken!” And favorite trip? “The time that my friends
and I went hiking in the snow for about an hour and then
found the most perfect powder and went down the run.”
If Parker could go anywhere in the world, he tells us he
would choose Japan. “Really cool stuff there….”
In addition to his parents, brothers and sisters, Parker’s
family includes two dogs and two cats. “Lucky is our
Australian Shepherd and Ribsy is our West Highland
Terrier. My cat, Bubba, came from Big Bear and is a
good hunter and our other cat, Bella, is an indoor cat.
They all get along and love each other.”
What in the world would Parker change if he could? His
biggest concern is world peace. And when asked to share
his thoughts about Sunday School: “In class we talk
about situations we’ve had before (school, sports, family,
etc.) and how we could look to God during them and
how we can look to God if we have another situation like
that. The things I like best and are helpful are these
conversations we have every week.” Thank you, Parker,
for your contributions to these Sunday School
conversations!
Attending our church without walls…
Calling in…..You are invited to participate in
our Sunday and Wednesday services and other meetings
that are available by conference call and Skype. You
don’t have to be a member to participate in any of our
meetings! To join us via phone, DIAL
1-605-475-6350…(note: this is a new number), then
punch in this Access Code: 12111#. You may begin
calling in fifteen minutes before any meeting or join any
time after the service or meeting is in progress. A host
will greet you and answer any questions you may have,
or you are welcome just to listen in.
Meetings by Skype…If you wish to join us by Skype,
there is no charge for the call through your computer. Call in a
few minutes before the service or meeting is scheduled to
begin. You need your own Skype account which you can sign
up for, at no cost, at Skype.com. Dial in +9900827047193996.
Next newsletter…Please submit announcements, articles,
suggestions, and expressions of gratitude for the next issue of
The Society Pages to: bonniemacdonald1@cox.net. The next
newsletter will be the May-June edition.
Your Management Team….
This Team is the communication “hub” of our Society
and handles our ongoing organizational and administrative
tasks. This elected Team meets at least once a month and
encourages your input. The entire membership is the governing
body of our Society and your involvement is welcome and
needed! Agenda items and motions, questions or topics for
discussion may be directed to any member of the Management
Team.
Nancy Hopfer, President…..
949/429-8538
nancyhopfer@yahoo.com
Warren Gruenig……………..
949/496-6717
warren@poshimpressions.com
Dick Parsons…………………
949/492-6305
mtyviejo@aol.com
Diane Schnitzer……………..
949/494-8053
cleverbiscuit@verizon.net
Linda Worley………………..949/240-3892
noelnoel@cox.net
Christian Science Society of San Juan Capistrano
31897 Del Obispo, #120 San Juan Capistrano,CA
92677
949/443-2537
Website: csinsanjuancapistrano.com
Email: admin@csinsanjuansapistrano.com

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The Society Pages Team
Editor: Bonnie MacDonald
Press Crew: Todd Herzer
Photography/Proofreading: Alan Hess
Reading Room News…
Now available….
Let’s sing!
2-set companion CD to the
Christian Science Hymns #430-462
A teaching aid for new hymnEach selection
performed by solo voice with piano
accompaniment…
Words printed in an accompanying booklet
enable listeners to sing along.
Price: $28.28 including tax