Thank you for the wonderful lectures in Elkhart and South Bend. We are so grateful for opening up our thought and hearts and hearing the message to go foward with all the lecture plans. Everything just fell into place, as it should! We appreciate all your wonderful and practical ideas that you expressed in both lectures. We have already put them into practice. Our hearts and doors are open to the Christ message and we look foward to experiencing the abundant results!!
Love from the Elkhart Indiana Church and community.
-Mindy
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Good news Elkhart IN talk
Possibilities of Prayer in public library at Elkhart IN October 20, 2008
This church hasn’t sponsored a lecture in at least 5 years. They were so enthusiastic about planning with lecture in conjunction with South Bend. They felt a lecture series made more of an impact on public thought.
One member said the resistance to sponsoring public lectures was healed. At first they were going to have the talk in their Reading Room to save money, but decided on the public library with its unlimited parking and easy access. They were delighted with the response and community support for the lecture.
All the chairs were filled and they added extra chairs to accommodate the crowd. People drove from South Bend. A couple drove an hour from Fort Wayne. Another person drove from Warsaw, IN.
Members felt energized by the lecture prep meeting as well as the talk. One man came specifically to find out how to pray. Others were so enthusiastic they came to the second lecture in the series in South Bend. This is a lovely example of a small church being inspired and energized by sponsoring a lecture. The blessings are just beginning!
This church hasn’t sponsored a lecture in at least 5 years. They were so enthusiastic about planning with lecture in conjunction with South Bend. They felt a lecture series made more of an impact on public thought.
One member said the resistance to sponsoring public lectures was healed. At first they were going to have the talk in their Reading Room to save money, but decided on the public library with its unlimited parking and easy access. They were delighted with the response and community support for the lecture.
All the chairs were filled and they added extra chairs to accommodate the crowd. People drove from South Bend. A couple drove an hour from Fort Wayne. Another person drove from Warsaw, IN.
Members felt energized by the lecture prep meeting as well as the talk. One man came specifically to find out how to pray. Others were so enthusiastic they came to the second lecture in the series in South Bend. This is a lovely example of a small church being inspired and energized by sponsoring a lecture. The blessings are just beginning!
Good news South Bend lecture
God is Speaking to You, October 21, 2008
This talk was in the Convention Center in South Bend, Indiana.
One person reported a healing of discouragement and depression as a result of the lecture series. She said all the depression lifted and she has been healed.
A teenager came to the Elkhart lecture, then told her Mom she wanted to come to the South Bend lecture. So the whole family came.
A new student of Christian Science had had a difficult day. He waffled about coming to the lecture but decided that he needed to have God speak to him. He felt comforted and received answers to his questions through the lecture.
A woman living an hour away in Michigan saw the newspaper ad for the lecture the evening of the lecture. She was going to a square dance but decided that what she really needed was to hear about God speaking to her. So she took her son to a relative's and drove the hour to South Bend arriving a few minutes before the lecture started. She loved the lecture.
Another visitor asked me to pray for her and her son. He is in a detention center and was stabbed last week. We prayed together for his safety and wisdom, and for her wisdom and that God was protecting and guiding all. She was comforted by the lecture and took a Science & Health.
Another visitor works for an agency that assists families whose family members are in prison. He met one of the church members in a business setting. The member invited him to the lecture. He also visited the Christian Science Reading Room and talked with the local practitioner. He also took a Science & Health. He said he’d gotten a lot of direction for his life from the lecture.
There were other visitors including a female minister.
The members were enthusiastic about the calendar of events they created. It helped infrequent attendees realize all the activities that are going on and to unite in prayer. The church was enthusiastic considering new ideas to connect with spiritually minded people.
Some people liked the teaching approach of the lecture and taking notes for future use. One person explained that the lecture showed how to use Christian Science in daily life--driving a car, at a movie theater, finding a paycheck. Christian Science is more than healing sickness. It helps with everything in your life.
This talk was in the Convention Center in South Bend, Indiana.
One person reported a healing of discouragement and depression as a result of the lecture series. She said all the depression lifted and she has been healed.
A teenager came to the Elkhart lecture, then told her Mom she wanted to come to the South Bend lecture. So the whole family came.
A new student of Christian Science had had a difficult day. He waffled about coming to the lecture but decided that he needed to have God speak to him. He felt comforted and received answers to his questions through the lecture.
A woman living an hour away in Michigan saw the newspaper ad for the lecture the evening of the lecture. She was going to a square dance but decided that what she really needed was to hear about God speaking to her. So she took her son to a relative's and drove the hour to South Bend arriving a few minutes before the lecture started. She loved the lecture.
Another visitor asked me to pray for her and her son. He is in a detention center and was stabbed last week. We prayed together for his safety and wisdom, and for her wisdom and that God was protecting and guiding all. She was comforted by the lecture and took a Science & Health.
Another visitor works for an agency that assists families whose family members are in prison. He met one of the church members in a business setting. The member invited him to the lecture. He also visited the Christian Science Reading Room and talked with the local practitioner. He also took a Science & Health. He said he’d gotten a lot of direction for his life from the lecture.
There were other visitors including a female minister.
The members were enthusiastic about the calendar of events they created. It helped infrequent attendees realize all the activities that are going on and to unite in prayer. The church was enthusiastic considering new ideas to connect with spiritually minded people.
Some people liked the teaching approach of the lecture and taking notes for future use. One person explained that the lecture showed how to use Christian Science in daily life--driving a car, at a movie theater, finding a paycheck. Christian Science is more than healing sickness. It helps with everything in your life.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Jill Gooding lecture report Nashville TN 1993
In the fall of 1993, First Church of Christ, Scientist Nashville, TN hosted a lecture with Jill Gooding in the church sanctuary entitled "Healing through Prayer". The attendance was the best attendance at a lecture in or out of the church in 30 years. Some members brought 2 and 3 visitors. 20 Science and Healths were shared with visitors. Both major metropolitan newspapers announced the lecture with full headlines. This is the first time anyone can remember our lectures being given a headline.
A billboard facing both directions was outside our church. A woman saw one of the press releases in the newspaper and came. This was her first time in a Christian Science church. She enjoyed the lecture and has begun attending Sunday services.
A couple driving through town on the way to Jackson, MS exited the freeway at our church, saw the billboard and just decided to attend the lecture. They took a Science and Health before the lecture started. Afterward the wife said she'd never been to a church like this. Said the lecture broke it down and told you how to pray. She wanted to know where a church was in Jackson and took a Christian Science Journal, which lists all the churches. The husband said the lecture provided what they needed, how to pray to get above the problems they were facing. They left and continued on their trip.
A man saw the billboard and came, never having been in a Christian Science church before he made a special point of thanking the organizers for the lecture.
A woman who lives in the apartments across the street saw the billboard and attended.
A new student of Christian Science from Venezuela met a woman from Brazil a few days before the lecture and brought her. She took 3 Science and Healths for herself and friends. She said she'd lived in Nashville for years and why hadn't she heard of this religion before?
A woman who attends services from time to time, heard about the lecture from her husband who saw the headline in the newspaper. She hadn't known about the lecture but came because he pointed it out to her.
Another woman who attends from time to time was approached by a c-worker. "I'm going to the lecture in your church," the co-worker said. "What lecture?" asked the woman. Then the co-worker proceeded to tell her about it and invited her to come with her. They both came with the co-worker's baby.
A Christian Scientist drove from Cookeville, about an hour and a half away. She said there was a blizzard when she started out and she almost turned back. But she just kept driving and was so glad she did. A man behind her said all through the lecture, "Yeah. That's right. Wow!" He was enjoying the lecture and she did too.
A billboard facing both directions was outside our church. A woman saw one of the press releases in the newspaper and came. This was her first time in a Christian Science church. She enjoyed the lecture and has begun attending Sunday services.
A couple driving through town on the way to Jackson, MS exited the freeway at our church, saw the billboard and just decided to attend the lecture. They took a Science and Health before the lecture started. Afterward the wife said she'd never been to a church like this. Said the lecture broke it down and told you how to pray. She wanted to know where a church was in Jackson and took a Christian Science Journal, which lists all the churches. The husband said the lecture provided what they needed, how to pray to get above the problems they were facing. They left and continued on their trip.
A man saw the billboard and came, never having been in a Christian Science church before he made a special point of thanking the organizers for the lecture.
A woman who lives in the apartments across the street saw the billboard and attended.
A new student of Christian Science from Venezuela met a woman from Brazil a few days before the lecture and brought her. She took 3 Science and Healths for herself and friends. She said she'd lived in Nashville for years and why hadn't she heard of this religion before?
A woman who attends services from time to time, heard about the lecture from her husband who saw the headline in the newspaper. She hadn't known about the lecture but came because he pointed it out to her.
Another woman who attends from time to time was approached by a c-worker. "I'm going to the lecture in your church," the co-worker said. "What lecture?" asked the woman. Then the co-worker proceeded to tell her about it and invited her to come with her. They both came with the co-worker's baby.
A Christian Scientist drove from Cookeville, about an hour and a half away. She said there was a blizzard when she started out and she almost turned back. But she just kept driving and was so glad she did. A man behind her said all through the lecture, "Yeah. That's right. Wow!" He was enjoying the lecture and she did too.
Chicago Youth Summit 2008
More than 150 kids converged on Chicago for a one day Youth Summit. The day was packed with talks by lecturers, presentations from speakers, music, and fellowship.
My portion consisted of 2 talks and a chat session. The first talk was The Chainsaw Method of Decision-making. The second was Machete and Helicopter Methods of Prayer.
There were about 35 people in the first Chainsaw Decision-making. Ages ranged from 12 to late 20s. All ages participated, asked questions, and contributed to the conversation. There was a lot of participation. Two people read references from the Bible and Science and Health for us. When I asked for Bible stories that illustrated one point or another, there were a lot of quick responses. These kids really knew the stories in the Bible. One young woman stayed to talk about a career change. Another person talked with me later about marriage decisions. An adult who listened in on the talk said it gave her ideas to pray for her teenage daughter who had made some bad decisions.
Helicopter and Machete had about a dozen people. There were very specific heartfelt questions. One young fellow said later he’d had all his questions answered. A middle schooler talked about not wanting to go to her dad’s house (parents divorced). The group was helpful with gaving several answers.
I had between 20-25 people in the chat period and everyone wanted to hear Chainsaw! That surprised me. I took a vote and it was unanimous. They had apparently read the program as if I was going to do a shorter version in this space. So I did a compressed version of Chainsaw. The kids came up with Bible illustrations that I hadn’t thought about. It was impressive. Again, lots of participation and evidence of Bible knowledge. After answering their questions, there were a couple minutes left. One girl asked for the main points of Machete and Helicopter. So I gave the fundamentals in 3 minutes. Good enough for them, everyone appeared happy.
It was a delight meeting so many dedicated, working Christian Scientists. God is truly at work in this Summit activity! Every individual is spiritually minded and is receptive to Christ healing. God is leading young people to connect with Christ, become evangelists, and heal.
My portion consisted of 2 talks and a chat session. The first talk was The Chainsaw Method of Decision-making. The second was Machete and Helicopter Methods of Prayer.
There were about 35 people in the first Chainsaw Decision-making. Ages ranged from 12 to late 20s. All ages participated, asked questions, and contributed to the conversation. There was a lot of participation. Two people read references from the Bible and Science and Health for us. When I asked for Bible stories that illustrated one point or another, there were a lot of quick responses. These kids really knew the stories in the Bible. One young woman stayed to talk about a career change. Another person talked with me later about marriage decisions. An adult who listened in on the talk said it gave her ideas to pray for her teenage daughter who had made some bad decisions.
Helicopter and Machete had about a dozen people. There were very specific heartfelt questions. One young fellow said later he’d had all his questions answered. A middle schooler talked about not wanting to go to her dad’s house (parents divorced). The group was helpful with gaving several answers.
I had between 20-25 people in the chat period and everyone wanted to hear Chainsaw! That surprised me. I took a vote and it was unanimous. They had apparently read the program as if I was going to do a shorter version in this space. So I did a compressed version of Chainsaw. The kids came up with Bible illustrations that I hadn’t thought about. It was impressive. Again, lots of participation and evidence of Bible knowledge. After answering their questions, there were a couple minutes left. One girl asked for the main points of Machete and Helicopter. So I gave the fundamentals in 3 minutes. Good enough for them, everyone appeared happy.
It was a delight meeting so many dedicated, working Christian Scientists. God is truly at work in this Summit activity! Every individual is spiritually minded and is receptive to Christ healing. God is leading young people to connect with Christ, become evangelists, and heal.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Sunday School adventures
Kameron, Javona and I had an adventurous experience yesterday (Saturday) when they came over and we walked to Encanto Park. We rode the train and each of the girls rode two of the rides and Kameron went on the merry go round. Then we rented a paddle boat for a whole hour to go out on the lake and also paddle through the canal.
We paddled out behind an island that had a waterfall and ….our rudder stopped working …so we only went around and around and around in circles behind that island. We couldn’t go anywhere. We finally got the boat over a ways to a remote place at the far side of the lake and “abandoned ship” and walked to a place where I could call across the lake that we needed assistance.
Javona, in particular, had wanted very much to go through the canal and didn’t think she was having much fun, but I told the girls that this is an opportunity to see how God will take care of us, and besides if our boat ride was just peaceful and uneventful we might all forget about it the next day. Now we would learn something important and always remember our boat ride experience and remember also to be grateful even if things weren’t going just as we would like.
Crew from the boathouse paddled out and fixed the rudder. We had been out on the lake for over an hour but asked if we could still go through the canal. They said “oh yes!”, so we had fun paddling through the canal and under the bridges. We learned that we must always remain alert because as we came out from under the last canal bridge before we were back at the lake, a fishline with part of a hotdog weiner was cast over the bridge right in front of our faces. Smile. We managed not to get “caught” and the “fisherman” boy on the bridge was very apologetic and said “I’m sorry”. Then, when I went to pay for our “outing” the boat people said “no charge”. I appreciated that.
So this is why part of the girls’ assignment mailed this week includes the definition of rudder (one definition is “something serving to guide, direct, or control”) and they are to list some of the useful “rudders” they have been learning (maybe their list will include the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes) to keep their lives going forward in the right direction.
We had a picnic (before the boat ride) of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and then, after our adventure at Encanto Park, the girls walked backwards the 14 blocks to Regency House (except for when we crossed busy streets, when they were asked to please turn around and “look” where they were going. (Are you laughing yet?).
This whole precious family is responding to divine Love’s love of them.
We paddled out behind an island that had a waterfall and ….our rudder stopped working …so we only went around and around and around in circles behind that island. We couldn’t go anywhere. We finally got the boat over a ways to a remote place at the far side of the lake and “abandoned ship” and walked to a place where I could call across the lake that we needed assistance.
Javona, in particular, had wanted very much to go through the canal and didn’t think she was having much fun, but I told the girls that this is an opportunity to see how God will take care of us, and besides if our boat ride was just peaceful and uneventful we might all forget about it the next day. Now we would learn something important and always remember our boat ride experience and remember also to be grateful even if things weren’t going just as we would like.
Crew from the boathouse paddled out and fixed the rudder. We had been out on the lake for over an hour but asked if we could still go through the canal. They said “oh yes!”, so we had fun paddling through the canal and under the bridges. We learned that we must always remain alert because as we came out from under the last canal bridge before we were back at the lake, a fishline with part of a hotdog weiner was cast over the bridge right in front of our faces. Smile. We managed not to get “caught” and the “fisherman” boy on the bridge was very apologetic and said “I’m sorry”. Then, when I went to pay for our “outing” the boat people said “no charge”. I appreciated that.
So this is why part of the girls’ assignment mailed this week includes the definition of rudder (one definition is “something serving to guide, direct, or control”) and they are to list some of the useful “rudders” they have been learning (maybe their list will include the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes) to keep their lives going forward in the right direction.
We had a picnic (before the boat ride) of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and then, after our adventure at Encanto Park, the girls walked backwards the 14 blocks to Regency House (except for when we crossed busy streets, when they were asked to please turn around and “look” where they were going. (Are you laughing yet?).
This whole precious family is responding to divine Love’s love of them.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Kudos for "Supporting Youth"!
Having the lecture at our Church is perfect! (as we reported last year; community churches host a variety of events) And, this year, we were newly refurbished and the Reading Room was all newly outfitted, furnished, modernized, filled with all the latest inventory of materials, a brand new computer etc. (We’ve now added an additional day that the Reading Room is open!)
Sunday School members eagerly helped out with lecture work and attended both the lecture preparatory meeting and the lecture the next day.
The lecture preparatory meeting WAS A GRAND SUCCESS!!! We chose Elise’s lecture prep that is focused on young people and youthful thinkers; called “Supporting Youth and Youthful Thinkers”.
Two Sunday School students, grades 7th and 11th, commented that it was the best talk they had ever heard. (and they have heard many; not only at Churches, but also on-line via TMCYouth and tapes and CD’s.) The membership also reported that this lecture preparatory meeting invigorated and enlightened and invited “new, youthful” thinking, as well as gleaning new, specific ways to pray and support young people.
We used all of the advertising methods and templates that Elise recommends and provides. Elise’s website and her thorough, excellent support, templates, instructions, etc…make sponsoring a lecture such an orderly, peaceful, healing process —from start to finish. Because of this, the members can focus more attention on the metaphysics and prayer!!
At last year’s lecture (also with Elise Moore) a newcomer came into the Reading Room and spoke with a member who gave him a copy of Science & Health as well as other materials. This person started to attend Church services. He brought his house-mate to this lecture.
At Elise’s encouragement, we have also started to cherish the idea of holding a Spanish-speaking lecture. In preparation, we have copies of the Bible Lessons in Spanish, Spanish translation S&H’s, Elise’s materials on how an English speaking Church can sponsor a Spanish lecture and we are scouting out a Church in the community that holds Spanish-speaking services. We will keep you posted!!
-Rehoboth Beach lecture committee
Sunday School members eagerly helped out with lecture work and attended both the lecture preparatory meeting and the lecture the next day.
The lecture preparatory meeting WAS A GRAND SUCCESS!!! We chose Elise’s lecture prep that is focused on young people and youthful thinkers; called “Supporting Youth and Youthful Thinkers”.
Two Sunday School students, grades 7th and 11th, commented that it was the best talk they had ever heard. (and they have heard many; not only at Churches, but also on-line via TMCYouth and tapes and CD’s.) The membership also reported that this lecture preparatory meeting invigorated and enlightened and invited “new, youthful” thinking, as well as gleaning new, specific ways to pray and support young people.
We used all of the advertising methods and templates that Elise recommends and provides. Elise’s website and her thorough, excellent support, templates, instructions, etc…make sponsoring a lecture such an orderly, peaceful, healing process —from start to finish. Because of this, the members can focus more attention on the metaphysics and prayer!!
At last year’s lecture (also with Elise Moore) a newcomer came into the Reading Room and spoke with a member who gave him a copy of Science & Health as well as other materials. This person started to attend Church services. He brought his house-mate to this lecture.
At Elise’s encouragement, we have also started to cherish the idea of holding a Spanish-speaking lecture. In preparation, we have copies of the Bible Lessons in Spanish, Spanish translation S&H’s, Elise’s materials on how an English speaking Church can sponsor a Spanish lecture and we are scouting out a Church in the community that holds Spanish-speaking services. We will keep you posted!!
-Rehoboth Beach lecture committee
Ipswich MA lecture fruitage
Fruitage from Elise Moore’s preparatory meeting and lecture, “God is Speaking to You”, September 21, 2008 in Ipswich, MA
The adjective most used was “wonderful”. At the meeting, Elise challenged us to think creatively, to pray together and to see each one in our community as spiritually minded and receptive.
There were about 50 people in attendance at the lecture with at least seven people who we knew were not Christian Scientists, though there could have been more.
After the lecture a man came up to the literature table and said he had seen our poster in a bank and decided to come. He explained that he was an “ecumenical”. He took a Science and Health and then asked if there was a practitioner in the area. He was given a Journal and shown the listings.
The husband of one of our members, who was brought up in another religion but frequently attends Wednesday evening meetings, said it was the best lecture he had ever heard and was very impressed by it because he could finally understand everything that was being said. He followed up the next day by saying that one of his clients complained that he was “queezy” about the economy and was unsure about making an important decision. Our friend responded that he had just heard a lecture the day before and assured him that God was speaking to him, and he will know the right move to make.
A member of our church gave a testimony that a few days after the lecture she went to visit her sister-in-law, who is not a Christian Scientist. Her sister-in-law mentioned that her teenage son was questioning the existence of God because there was so much evil in the world, especially what Hitler did, and she didn’t know how to address his concerns. Our member said to her that God was actually speaking to Hitler, but he wasn’t listening! That was a great revelation to her, and she was excited about explaining that to her son. Our member was grateful to have the lecture message fresh in her mind.
Another member gave a testimony that the day after the lecture he was riding in the train to work. When he stood up to leave, he followed an angel message to check for his wallet. It wasn’t in his pockets, so he looked down to where he was sitting, and it had fallen out of his pants pocket and into the space between two seats. He felt the lecture had helped him “tune in” and follow his intuition.
-The Lecture Committee
The adjective most used was “wonderful”. At the meeting, Elise challenged us to think creatively, to pray together and to see each one in our community as spiritually minded and receptive.
There were about 50 people in attendance at the lecture with at least seven people who we knew were not Christian Scientists, though there could have been more.
After the lecture a man came up to the literature table and said he had seen our poster in a bank and decided to come. He explained that he was an “ecumenical”. He took a Science and Health and then asked if there was a practitioner in the area. He was given a Journal and shown the listings.
The husband of one of our members, who was brought up in another religion but frequently attends Wednesday evening meetings, said it was the best lecture he had ever heard and was very impressed by it because he could finally understand everything that was being said. He followed up the next day by saying that one of his clients complained that he was “queezy” about the economy and was unsure about making an important decision. Our friend responded that he had just heard a lecture the day before and assured him that God was speaking to him, and he will know the right move to make.
A member of our church gave a testimony that a few days after the lecture she went to visit her sister-in-law, who is not a Christian Scientist. Her sister-in-law mentioned that her teenage son was questioning the existence of God because there was so much evil in the world, especially what Hitler did, and she didn’t know how to address his concerns. Our member said to her that God was actually speaking to Hitler, but he wasn’t listening! That was a great revelation to her, and she was excited about explaining that to her son. Our member was grateful to have the lecture message fresh in her mind.
Another member gave a testimony that the day after the lecture he was riding in the train to work. When he stood up to leave, he followed an angel message to check for his wallet. It wasn’t in his pockets, so he looked down to where he was sitting, and it had fallen out of his pants pocket and into the space between two seats. He felt the lecture had helped him “tune in” and follow his intuition.
-The Lecture Committee
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Reminiscing about peace lecture 1986
In 1986, I was lecture chair at the Nashville church and filed this fruitage report....
We just had our May peace lecture. It was a demonstration all the way around, as our board had originally rejected the idea of a third lecture this year. But at the last minute, our committee unanimously voted to ask for the special peace lecture. The board approved it, and Boston provided a lecturer, all in March!
About a week before the lecture, I was praying with Isaiah 43:5,6. "Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west: I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth." Also Psalms 107:3, "And (God) gathered them from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south."
Our church draws members and visitors from about a 40 mile radius in all directions, so these verses were meaningful to me.
As I reaffirmed the attractiveness of the Christ, I looked up "gather". One of the root meanings is "to hold fast". To me this meant that all God's children, His ideas, are already held fast or present within God, All. God's activity is not bringing His children into His presence (as if they were separate from Him). God's children are already gathered in God, and God holds them fast, in other words keeps them safe and secure. The gathering was not in the future, but was already done.
Within the hour, a friend saw the lecture invitation on the door of my office and remarked that her Sunday School class had just heard a speaker on peace. I was able to locate the speaker in the next hour. She was a divinity student at Vanderbilt Divinity School. She told me that on Monday (this was Friday) there was to be a banquet with representatives from several religious groups in the community interested in peace. She offered to take lecture invitations to the banquet. She stood up specially to inform the group about our peace lecture and distributed almost 150 invitations.
At the lecture, God led me to one young woman to ask how she learned of the lecture. She said it was at that dinner!
God had already gathered this group together. My prayer helped me be more receptive to what God had already gathered and done even before our lecture.
-May 26, 1986 E. Moore
We just had our May peace lecture. It was a demonstration all the way around, as our board had originally rejected the idea of a third lecture this year. But at the last minute, our committee unanimously voted to ask for the special peace lecture. The board approved it, and Boston provided a lecturer, all in March!
About a week before the lecture, I was praying with Isaiah 43:5,6. "Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west: I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth." Also Psalms 107:3, "And (God) gathered them from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south."
Our church draws members and visitors from about a 40 mile radius in all directions, so these verses were meaningful to me.
As I reaffirmed the attractiveness of the Christ, I looked up "gather". One of the root meanings is "to hold fast". To me this meant that all God's children, His ideas, are already held fast or present within God, All. God's activity is not bringing His children into His presence (as if they were separate from Him). God's children are already gathered in God, and God holds them fast, in other words keeps them safe and secure. The gathering was not in the future, but was already done.
Within the hour, a friend saw the lecture invitation on the door of my office and remarked that her Sunday School class had just heard a speaker on peace. I was able to locate the speaker in the next hour. She was a divinity student at Vanderbilt Divinity School. She told me that on Monday (this was Friday) there was to be a banquet with representatives from several religious groups in the community interested in peace. She offered to take lecture invitations to the banquet. She stood up specially to inform the group about our peace lecture and distributed almost 150 invitations.
At the lecture, God led me to one young woman to ask how she learned of the lecture. She said it was at that dinner!
God had already gathered this group together. My prayer helped me be more receptive to what God had already gathered and done even before our lecture.
-May 26, 1986 E. Moore
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