For the second year in a row, Focus has provided the opportunity and funding for young people from the UK and Europe interested in Christian Science to attend the Annual Meeting of The Mother Church, in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow young people in the Christian Science community from all around the world, take part in thoughtful and inspiring discussions, come together in joyous hymn-singing, and experience the magnitude of a full church service at The Mother Church.

Focus shepherded over 35 young people and families from the UK and Europe, travelling together to the US, to join the Annual Meeting in person. There were fantastic activities put on for young people over the course of the weekend, including a walking tour of the early Christian Science movement in Boston, a concert inside the Mapparium and an ice cream social. We were provided with several opportunities to attend a variety of discussion groups, including conversations about praying for ourselves and others, navigating life with Christian Science, praying for the world and our community, and getting involved in local and global Manual-based church activity.

The Mother Church also organised events for all ages, whether in person or online, such as a hymn sing on the Saturday night, an inspirational meeting, a Sunday morning church service, an evening service in the original church, and of course the 2024 Annual Meeting on the Monday. The theme of this year’s meeting was ‘joy in the living church’, reflecting on the importance of different roles in the church, the healing atmosphere of a loving congregation and sharing our joy and spending it freely. We heard inspiring testimonies shared from the congregation, saw how Christian Science is being practised and shared all around the world through videos and heard from the Board of Directors and the new President of the Mother Church. Overall it was a hugely inspiring and love-filled few days, and I know we will carry the ideas gained with us back to our branch churches and into our daily lives.

The young people and families who joined us on this trip to Annual Meeting felt that it was a hugely inspiring and love-filled few days, and I know we will carry the ideas gained with us back to our branch churches and into our daily lives.