The members of First Church of Christ, Scientist in Chattanooga have elected Nancy Harrison as First Reader and Sterling Vanosdale as Second Reader. They are serving a three-year term beginning Feb. 1.
Church members gratefully acknowledge the service of the two previous readers on completion of their three-year terms: Janet Elliott, First Reader, and Brenda Baskette, Second Reader.
As with all branches of the worldwide Christian Science organization, the Readers are chosen by the full membership to conduct Sunday church services and Wednesday evening testimony meetings. These lay church officers read from the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
Each Sunday sermon is a Bible Lesson sermon focusing on one of 26 topics. Students of Christian Science worldwide listen to, read and study the same Bible Lesson each week. The Wednesday service includes readings from the Bible and Science and Health selected and read by the First Reader, as well as testimonies of healing, inspiration and gratitude expressed by the congregation. Both services include prayer, Scriptural reading, music and singing hymns.
Mrs. Harrison moved from Alaska to the Chattanooga area 15 years ago and is a life-long Christian Scientist. She holds degrees from Chattanooga State and Covenant College, and is employed as a paralegal at a regional law firm. Nancy is an avid quilter and a Corporate Director for Executive Women International. She has three children and lives with her husband, Mike, on Signal Mountain.
Mrs. Vanosdale is a native of Chattanooga and a member of the church. She is a retired TVA Project Control Specialist and is presently serving as Secretary for The Association of Pupils of Elise L. Moore, C.S.B, who is a Christian Science practitioner, teacher and lecturer. Sterling and her husband, Drew, have four children and reside in East Ridge.
Christian Science is frequently confused with Scientology; however, the Christian Science religion is based solely on The Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Mary Baker Eddy is acknowledged as the discoverer of God’s healing laws that govern the universe, which in 1866 she termed Christian Science. Since then those practicing the Christian Science faith have documented thousands of healings from every form of physical or mental ailment. For more information, visit www.christianscience.com, www.spirituality.com or www.time4thinkers.com
The local branch church is at 612 McCallie Avenue, across from UTC, and welcomes the public. The church also maintains a public Reading Room at 1006 Market Street, where anyone can find books and magazines relating to healing through prayer as taught in Christian Science.