In the Spirit

Address: 3303 Via Lido, Newport Beach (at the entrance to Lido Island)

Telephone: (949) 673-1340

Denomination: Christian Science

Year Church Established: The church celebrates its 75th anniversary this

year. The church began informally in 1916 when a group of Christian

Scientists started meeting in the bayfront home of Judge Leo Goepper. In

1925, the society made its formal application to the First Church of

Christ, Scientist in Boston, Mass. -- known to Christian Scientists as

the Mother Church -- to be officially recognized as one of the worldwide

Christian Science branch churches. The application was granted in 1925.

The new church was named First Church of Christ, Scientist, Newport

Beach. The first Sunday service was held at 3301 Via Lido on Feb. 29,

1948.

Service Times: Sunday services are at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday school is

held at the same time as the morning service, for students between ages 3

and 20. Testimony meetings are held from 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. All

services are open to the public.

Readers: Ken Morgan and Kim Dablow

Makeup of Congregation: The congregation includes people of all ages,

from families with young children and teenagers to adults and seniors. A

number of families have three generations attending.

Child Care: Available at all services for those too young to attend

either Sunday school or church service.

Type of Worship: The Bible and the Christian Science textbook are the

only preachers for a Christian Science church service. The sermon is

composed of scriptural texts and correlative passages from “Science and

Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy. These books are

read at Sunday services by two readers, who are elected by the membership

to serve a three-year term. The service includes an organ prelude,

postlude and a vocal solo. Three hymns are sung by the congregation. The

Sunday morning and evening services are alike. Wednesday evening

testimony meetings begin with short readings from the Bible and “Science

and Health.” The readings have a practical application to the needs of

the community and the world. Individual testimonies of gratitude for

healings experienced through the study of Christian Science, or remarks

on how Christian Science helps daily living, follow the readings. Organ

music and hymns are also part of these meetings.

Upcoming Sermon: The Bible lesson for this week is “Mind”; for the week

of Monday through Feb. 27, the lesson is “Christ Jesus.”

Outreach Programs: The church runs the Christian Science Reading Room

next door. The Reading Room is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. It is open for research, study, and the purchase

of a variety of religious periodicals as well as the Christian Science

Monitor. A computer research program for Bible study, video and audio

tapes, books and pamphlets on topics such as parenting, safety and

employment are also available. Chaplains provide church services in local

correctional facilities and at Fairview Developmental Center. The

congregation provides for needy families in the area through

contributions to FISH-Harbor Area.

Dress: Casual to business

Mission statement: The church was designed to “commemorate the word and

works of our master (Christ Jesus), which should reinstate primitive

Christianity and its lost element of healing,” as stated by Mary Baker

Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science church.

Interesting notes: A talk for book lovers about the Christian Science

textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” is scheduled

at 2 p.m. March 11 at Borders Books & Music Store in South Coast Plaza,

333 Bear St., Costa Mesa (next to Crate & Barrel in the area that used to

be Crystal Court). The speaker will be David F. Stevens of Petaluma, a

member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship. For more

information, call the clerk’s office.

Anniversary Celebration: To kick off a yearlong celebration of the

church’s 75th anniversary, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Newport

Beach will open its doors from 2:30 to 6 p.m. March 4 for an open house

and special program featuring a concert by the church’s organist, Jack

Andriese. Andriese is an acclaimed church and concert organist who will

perform for one hour at 4 p.m. on the church’s four-manual Allen digital

organ. The recital will include works by composers J. S. Bach, Cesar

Franck, Sigfrid Karg-Elert and Eugene Gigout. The open house will begin

at 2:30 p.m. and will include tours of the edifice, Sunday school and

Reading Room. A reception will follow the recital at 5 p.m. A formal

program, “A Celebration of Gratitude, Christian History and Healing,”

will begin at 3:30 p.m. with an expression of some of the Christian

Science healings experienced by church members, and a brief look at the

church’s history. The open house and organ recital is the first in a

series of anniversary celebration programs to be presented throughout the

year.

Upcoming events: The next public event will feature simultaneous lectures

on the subject of Christian Science by two Christian Science teachers who

also serve on the Mother Church’s Board of Lectureship. That event is

scheduled for May 20. All of the anniversary programs will be free of

charge. No reservations are necessary and free parking is available in

the lot behind the church. For further details about any of these events,

contact Judith Frutig at (949) 645-1184 or via e-mail at o7

jfrutig@orangeusd.k12.ca.us f7 .-- Compiled by Michele M. Marr