Labor Day observances prompted our topic and much information came up in the media to alert us to the need for work in Christian Science.

We considered first what we mean by "work in Christian Science". It seems to divide into two aspects:

1) Turning away from or looking through the problematic dualistic belief. This may involve a combination of denials and affirmations or other means of human reasoning. Sometimes, a lightning leap from belief to Fact is possible.

2) Discerning and reflecting the Fact of whatever the belief is masking or counterfeiting.

We then looked at the work of our Christian Science Group — what is our mission? Briefly, it is to encourage people — ourselves included — to study and practice Christian Science. Our focus community at this time is Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals and Transgendered people but everyone is welcome.

As for work in the group, our one hour meetings are intense summations of what members have individually and collectively worked on during the prior week and plan to work on in the coming week. We share discoveries in Science but also handle on the spot those beliefs members have brought to our attention. For instance here are some items discussed at this meeting along with indications of approaches in Science — the emphasis is on labor/work, our topic:

1) The world unemployment situation, particularly in China, Japan, Argentina, Europe; the excessively employed situation in the U. S., particularly in high-tech, and resulting workaholism here. Here's an insight: Man is God's Self employment, always active and in balance. "God rests in action," (Science and Health, p. 519: 25).

2) The hugely unequal pay scales between workers and their CEO's — mention was made of similar situations in the late 20's and in 1789 France. Greed and envy are both based on the belief in lack — an impossibility in God's present Kingdom. Every idea is supported perfectly by its Principle.

3) The on-rushing cataclysm in industrial societies of too many retirees to be supported by too few workers, engendering perhaps lapses in financial coverage and intergenerational animosity. God's idea is never retired nor unsupported. Any so called retired Christian Scientist knows he has plenty to do in world work if nothing else comes up. The Economist has a leader this week proclaiming, "Let Old Folk Work". We say, there is no escape from the fact that "my Father worketh hitherto, and I work," (John 5: 17).

4) The predicament of Gay people employed by the military and in professional sports came to media attention this week through Rep. Steve May of the Arizona Legislature as well as the army reserves and Billy Bean, the baseball player. They will not be able to do the thing they love. A similar problem grips employees of The Mother Church and its practitioners and teachers. Eventually Gay people will be sought out for positions once our special qualities are valued. In the mean time emphasis on safety will prevail — the need to stay clear of the projections of those unable to accommodate their own unconscious impulses. Who employs and who is employed should be taken out of the hands of personal sense and left firmly with Omnipotent God.

Some other areas discussed:

1) What did Jesus mean by, "Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father," (John 14: 12)? After all, he had healed diseases, raised the dead and was, himself, going on to resurrect and ascend. What more could we do than that? Members mulled it over and came to the realization that with Christian Science, we must go to the Father — the ego must surrender to the Ego, God — for the work to succeed. Then living as the Christ Jesus experience, the Noumenon as phenomenon, what cannot "we" do? It is God doing it. Today's big problems need big solutions.

2) The concept of right activity came up. Everyone wanted to do the thing that most suited their desires and talents and many in the Group had done just that, at least on occasion. But many have also had spells in unrewarding activity. We shared examples.

One member in a very prestigious job felt unable to go on because of office politics and the general level of animosity. After leaving, there was a strong temptation to take on a lot of debt to finance everyday needs. This was resisted and through prayer appropriate ways to finance the needs opened, along with a whole new career in sales.

Another member, after six years in a career that offered limited challenges, decided to look around . On the advice of a friend, he sent one resume to one company — i. e., not the usual flood of paper to a lot of employers — and landed just the right job.

Another member who feels he is not properly employed, continues to see it as his duty and joy to view present clients as divine ideas. There is great demand for his services of course and the work unfolds harmoniously.

Another member said that his whole 15-year career at a major corporation was based on seeing himself as a practitioner of Christian Science, handling the business concerns of the day. He was involved in world wide activities. As he progressed in Science, the minutiae were taken up by others, freeing him for many periods of pure contemplation in the service of the business and the economies it impacted. When he left the company, he retained this practitioner attitude in his own business and affairs.

3) The internet as a creator and destroyer of employment was discussed. It can be quite threatening to those caught in old business models. One way of looking at it from the Christian Science standpoint is to see what it counterfeits. Some members thought of it as a kind of all-knowing, all-encompassing mental phenomenon — leading us to think of the divine Mind. Sticking with the Truth about the internet as well as all people, places and things lets their various potentials emerge gently and interrelate harmoniously. There's just one Mind of which all the foregoing are divine ideas.

4) The upcoming conference between Jerry Falwell and 200 Gay religious leaders and congregants needs supportive work in Science. The one Mind is the one authority.

5) We spent some time deconstructing with Christian Science a letter to the New York Times from a college professor who scorned Gay marriage with a lot of hot air supported by bigotry. This was easy work once we saw that no cultural Luddite position can stand in the way of the unfoldment of divine consciousness in completeness and wholeness.

6) The movie "Head On" was commented on. It shows the struggles of Greek immigrants to fit into Australian society. Some members disliked it for its graphic depictions of raunch and drug taking. Others saw these aspects as classical modes of coping with an overwhelming sense of alienation. One member found the thrust of the story and the acting of the lead character "salvific". The final scene reminded him of the last moments of "La Dolce Vita".

Two healings were reported:

1) A member, hearing of a trying situation in a non-Christian Scientist friend's life, just turned the whole problem over to God's harmonious resolution. Several days later, the friend mentioned that the problem had been resolved.

2) Another member was scheduled to meet with friends for coffee and schmoozing. He was quite busy and felt this to be something of an imposition. Nevertheless he was prepared to go and included them and the proposed meeting in his Christian Science work for the day. They cancelled at the last moment but a nice visit on the phone was accomplished, allowing our member to go forward with more pressing duties. A perfect solution.

At the end of the meeting a member mentioned that he had several problems where he was experiencing "partial healing" and wondered whether we wanted to look at something along those lines. We settled eventually on "Complete Healing" even as several people seemed boggled by the very thought — "Was Jesus completely healed when he resurrected?" asked one. So we're going to have fun with this one.