Fruitage Report Spring 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 woman came in and proceeded to the study room for an hour of reading. Before departing she exclaimed, “The last time I visited I read from the Bible and that ‘other book’ and by the time I arrived home, there was no longer discomfort in my legs. I was completely healed!” Sharing in the gratitude of her healing, I asked if the “other book” she mentioned was Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. She responded, “Oh yes!” I was so grateful she shared her healing with me. She then exclaimed, “I’ll be back!”

An airport employee briefly stopped by to share how much he appreciated our display stands with the daily posting of Bible verses and passages from Science and Health that correspond with the Weekly Bible Lesson. He said he routinely stops by to read the open books and inspiring passages through our large front glass window, accessible to passersby anytime of the day or night. Selecting and sharing these passages from our Pastor, the Bible and Science and Health, is always an enjoyable and rewarding activity of serving as a Reading Room attendant.

During attendance at an out-of-state Christian Science Bible study event, I mentioned serving as a Reading Room volunteer attendant at the airport to a man who recently moved to San Francisco. That topic prompted another event participant to tell me that someone from their church in Southern California learned of Christian Science through the Reading Room at the airport and eventually became a church member. His entire family now attends the same church. Although this visit to our jointly maintained Reading Room took place years ago, it’s lovely to hear of the impact the visit made.

A traveler visited with her dog. There had been some airline-related issues that led her to rebook her flight and so she was looking for a quiet place to pray before her delayed check-in. Sensing some impatience and frustration due to the delay, I saw an opportunity to share with her an experience and lesson on grace and patience. I told her about my mom and how she would prepare to host the ladies bridge group. The day before she would make floral arrangements with flowers from her garden to place around the house. She would store the flowers in the refrigerator overnight to keep them fresh. One time, however, she was a flower short and decided she would “help” a flower open so it could be beautifully displayed along with the other open ones. The next day when she moved the flower arrangement from the refrigerator, that forcibly opened flower had shriveled and wilted. I then shared with her a spiritual perspective and lesson from the experience: It is otherwise helpful and more useful for us to forgo self-will and to let our activities progress in accordance with the natural unfoldment and timing of God’s plan and qualities through each of us as His creation. The woman thanked me for sharing these ideas and departed with a complimentary Christian Science Monitor taken from the literature basket. I was later reminded of this quote from Science and Health, “The only intelligence or substance of a thought, a seed, or a flower is God, the creator of it.” (509:5-6)

A traveler stopped in because he had heard about Christian Science and our Reading Room location at the airport. He wanted to spend a few minutes prior to his flight reading healing testimonies. I handed him a copy of a recent Christian Science Sentinel and showed him where he could find weekly testimonies from individuals who relied on Christian Science prayer for healing.

A traveler visited who appeared to be quite pressed for time but was determined to learn about Christian Science before checking in for her flight. She first asked a question our attendants hear a lot, “What is Christian Science?” After explaining to her that it is a Bible-based religion which adheres to the words and works of Christ Jesus through the daily demonstration of those practical truths, she asked a follow-up question about what she could personally do each day to practice Christian Science. I was led to share with her this passage from Science and Health, “Self-forgetfulness, purity, and affection are constant prayers. Practice not profession, understanding not belief, gain the ear and right hand of omnipotence and they assuredly call down infinite blessings.” (15:26-30) We talked briefly about these three activities and how they improve our spirituality and morality which leads to healing both sickness and sin. She was so grateful for our brief discussion and her introduction to Christian Science and Science and Health.

A visitor came in and walked into the study room and began to read from the “oversized” Bible that was opened to the 23rd Psalm. Shortly thereafter he came out to the attendant’s desk to comment that he was feeling very sad due to the passing of a family member. He then shared that he received a great deal of comfort and inspiration reading Psalm 23:4 and 6, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me,” and “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” We discussed Jesus’ overcoming the belief of death by his understanding and demonstration of life eternal, as God’s child created in His spiritual image and likeness. (Gen. 1:26) We also recalled the Bible verse from Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” I then shared with him a passage from Science and Health, “Life is eternal. We should find this out, and begin the demonstration thereof.” (246:27-28) As he was leaving, I gave him a Christian Science Sentinel from our literature basket which included an article addressing the false claim of death. He departed with a smile and a wave.

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 67 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 giving during our donation matching campaign!

Every dollar, up to $50,000, is being matched with contributions made between April 1 and July 1, 2024.

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:

San Francisco International Airport
Christian Science Reading Room, Terminal 2
San Francisco, CA 94125

Endowment Fund Giving

We have recently 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)