Fruitage Report Fall 2024

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,

and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Click here to download this Fruitage Report as a pdf.

A young couple who had an unscheduled flight delay saw the overhead sign, “Christian Science Reading Room,” and came in. They said they both loved to read. We had the most wonderful talk about God and His love for us. They were both very thoughtful and interested in helping to bring peace and understanding to others. As they left, they thanked me for discussing God and His attributes.

A front window reader came in after reading the Bible selection that was marked with a passage from Luke about Jesus’ healing of a woman who was bent over. He asked for an explanation of Christian Science including why the two words are linked together in the name. We discussed some of the healings found in the Bible with supporting thoughts from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. He asked about the location of a Christian Science church and Reading Room in his hometown and was given a Christian Science Journal for location reference as he departed.

A Transportation Security Administration employee came by and asked if he could look around. He was very happy to have found a quiet place to spend some time and we soon talked about the Bible. He shared that he has a brother who is living on the streets and is taking drugs. We talked about how God loves all His children universally and that acknowledging Him through daily demonstration and praying for a better understanding of our relationship to Him, can only bring healing. As he departed, he selected a Christian Science Sentinel from our complimentary literature stand.

Two young students of a differing faith came in after reading the Science and Health and Bible weekly lesson citations displayed in our front window. I was asked a couple of questions which included what I like about Christian Science, followed by what I dislike about the religion. I let divine Love guide the answers in sharing my understanding that the basis of Christian Science was love for God and mankind but couldn’t come up with one negative response. The students seemed satisfied with the answers I provided and they picked up a copy of the “What is Christian Science?” brochure on the way out.

A young man came in and asked if he could look around, and I said “of course.” He went to the study room and looked over the Bible translations and was soon looking over our display of themed pamphlets and reading one of them. He began to question some of the truths found in the pamphlet which led to our discussion of Christian Science. He purchased the pamphlet and picked up some literature on the way out. Reading Rooms are indeed offering that “…cup of cold water…” to anyone seeking the Truth. (S&H 570:16-18)

A family came in to see what the Reading Room was all about. They liked the convenience of having a place to pray and study the Bible at the airport. While their two kids sat at the children’s table to color and piece together a Bible themed puzzle, the mother focused on the display shelves of themed pamphlets. I told her how I was healed of a challenge in college from a pamphlet article and how much I liked them. She came to the desk to further talk with me and then purchased two pamphlets. I also gave her the brochure, “What is Christian Science?”

A visitor came in who was very excited to find our Reading Room. She accepted an offer from an airline for a voucher to travel on a later flight and was thrilled that she could spend the extra time in the Reading Room. We discussed ways to pray for unity about church business. I shared with her a link to the article “Spiritual Unity Nullifies Animal Magnetism,” (5/19/1950 CS Journal) by Aileen Wavro, as well as a link to “Do we get or react?” (5/9/1964 CS Sentinel) by the same author.

An airport employee came by our window and took pictures of the Bible and Science and Health marked passages from the weekly Bible lesson. He then came in to say how much he appreciates them as he began attending church again regularly and how his life is so much better as a result.

A man was standing outside the Reading Room door looking in. I said “good morning” to him and invited him in. He initially asked if we were Scientology and when I replied, “no,” he came in and asked what we were. I told him we are a Christian religion based on the King James version of the Bible and the teachings and healings of Christ Jesus. We discussed Saul of Tarsus’ spiritual conversion as Paul in Acts 9 and then discussed Mary Baker Eddy’s remarks on “leaving the old for the new.” (S&H 323: 32-3). He further asked about the tenets of our church, which we read and discussed in detail. As he departed, he expressed his gratitude for the visit and what he learned, then selected a Christian Science Sentinel from our complimentary literature stand.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many Christian Science churches and individuals for their interest in and support of this Reading Room. We have been at the airport for nearly 68 years, sharing Christian Science and its healing principles with approximately 5700 visitors each year including travelers, airport personnel, and the local community–with over 60 copies of Science and Health sold annually!

Regular Contributions

Please consider a donation to the JMRR at SFO during this year’s global Giving Tuesday event, December 3! Please donate at: csreadingroom-sfo.org

Contributions are always welcome and can be made on our website at csreadingroom-sfo.org or by check (made payable to: Christian Science Reading Room) to the mailing address:

Kathi Riley, Treasurer
PO Box 340235
Sacramento, CA 95834

Endowment Fund Giving

We have established a Reading Room Endowment Fund to support both short-term and long-term operations at the airport.

Our $4.5 million dollar endowment goal is ambitious, but necessary for sustained operations in an expensive operating environment – we need your financial support today for tomorrow!

Please consider giving to the Endowment Fund as part of individual, church, or CS Association outreach, or a future financial commitment through personal estate planning.

If you are interested in giving to the Endowment Fund, please contact us by email at csreadingroomsfo@gmail.com.

We thank our participating churches that serve on the board year-round. They are:

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Hayward

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Los Altos

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oakland

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Palo Alto

First Church of Christ, Scientist, San Francisco

Ninth Church of Christ, Scientist, San Francisco

First Church of Christ, Scientist, San Rafael

Click here to download this Fruitage Report as a pdf.

“The two largest words in the vocabulary of thought are ‘Christian’ and ‘Science.’
The former is the highest style of man; the latter reveals and interprets God and man;
it aggregates, amplifies, unfolds, and expresses the ALL-GOD.” (No and Yes, 10:6–10)