Report from Charlottesville VA

Lecture Summary, Elise Moore
Oct. 24, 25, Charlottesville VA
Feedback from Membership


There was a deep appreciation for the memorable “thoughts illumed” that Elise shared during her regional lectures/workshops. Many members expressed how they are still thinking about the ideas shared. Elise expressed her key points with such clarity and simplicity that the message was meaningful and applicable to all ages and levels of understanding.

The use of stories made Elise’s messages evocative and powerful. One member is using the stories and much of the substance of the lecture in her Sunday school class. She specifically liked the stories about the boy and the car and the theater incident.

Another member mentioned that every day when she wakes up, she thinks about listening for God. In her Sunday school class, she has her students wear a bracelet to remember that God is always there and communicating if we are conscientious and attuned to the still small voice inside.

Several members appreciated the bible examples about the early days of building community and the way Elise worked directly with the audience in an interactive way.

Following are email comments about the lecture:

“I have had 2 or 3 people come into the Reading Room and take copies of Elise’s articles that we made available. Also I have personally used her suggestion we can substitute “Church, congregation, etc.” when we use the statement in S&H, p. 476, “Jesus beheld in Science the perfect — I work for my family members with that statement, too.”

“I think doing this series of 3 lectures in Central Virginia has brought our 3 churches together in a sense of community that I know I didn't have before. Working together has been great! “

“Someone has told me they are using Elise's thread of "listening" to God's direction and leading to help them in slowing down and listening to God's leading to help in some challenges that person is facing. The incident that resonated was the example of the young boy running out between the cars. In that event, God had told him to not do this, but he wasn't listening. Fortunately Elise was listening to God directing her to stop and she was able to avoid hitting the boy.”

“People really respond better to the interaction between the lecturer and the audience. Elise got really "pat" answers to her questions and wrote them on the boards. But she got the audience to pay attention that way. There was excellent eye contact with probably every person in the room. I remembered various messages from her lecture that I held in thought and worked with off and on for some time. She has the right style for the new mood of the church.”

“I reflect often on the four key points that Elise emphasized as the fundamentals of Christian Science: absolute faith, all things are possible to God, spiritual understanding, and unconditional love. I love the way Elise condensed and simplified what could be very abstract. She lifted Christian Science out of being only an intellectual endeavor into a practical, applied, feeling, experiential daily practice.”

“I want to thank you for sponsoring a first rate lecture on Sunday. Elise Moore was an excellent choice. She gave a great lecture that was as fundamentally important for a newcomer as for seasoned Christian Scientists. She did a wonderful job engaging the audience too. Please know that all your efforts were successful and healing did occur.”

“The lecture served as a great reminder that God is speaking to us every minute, we need only quiet down the "static" to hear Him. As a result of this, I have felt more quiet and peace in what had seemed a very stressful, hectic schedule with too much to do and not enough time. By being quiet enough to listen for God's voice, I felt confident I would be directed each step of my day and would accomplish just what I needed to. I brought a friend who was new to CS and he has told me that he hears the words of Elise's lecture every day in his thought. When things seem overwhelming during his business day and there is too much going on around him, he is reminded all that is really just "static" and not the peace and direction coming from God. This helps him calm down and move forward in his day.”


I frequently re-read the articles Elise left with us. The 5 thoughts for healing have been very helpful for me.
I am so grateful, Elise, for your inspiration and love.
Mel
Prepared 11/28/09
Melanie Gillies