Category Archives: Christian Science Lectures

Critique of Burning Man as locale for CS lecture & activity (by Tiare)

Burning Man 2013

2012

WHAT? A CS Lecture at BURNING MAN? Ridiculous. What crazies are organizing this absurd idea? Yes, BMan is a superlative, fascinating, creative Art Festival. For 4 years I’ve attended to support our son’s large theme camp, flying in his banquet food and décor. I’ve experienced some outstanding healings there, but as a devoted, active lifelong CS, I’d never condone a CS Lecture or even brief stage presentation at BMan.

WHY?  True, the basic philosophy requires brotherly kindness, strict conservation, self-reliant living, banning profiteering, respecting multi-culturalism, intellectual talks, focus on dancing and symbolism of destruction of the past year’s negative events to be free for fresh, positive experience.

However, the emphasis on total freedom of lifestyle, usage of alcohol and drug abuse, and immodesty by a significant number in a city of 60,000:- it all seemed to me licentious, inappropriate, and offensive for offering pure CS.

But then, WHY NOT Go For It? Was I being impressed with evil? I knew Mrs. Eddy wrote “Why should we stand aghast at nothingness?” (S&H563:5)

WHEN? As I learned of the extremely loving, well-organized, and spiritual purpose of the lecture organizing team, the motives began to shine as so pure, so filled with spiritual light and Christly compassion to “give a cup of cold water” in the hot desert of humanity escaping from unresolved problems, I began to reach out for how I could help, though not attending.

MBE does counsel us “Never breathe an immoral atmosphere unless in an attempt to purify it” (S&H 452:14-15).What about praying (Hymn 144) “In atmosphere of Love Divine, we live and move and breathe”?  What right did I have to take offense? Again, our Leader advises in “Taking Offense” (MiscWr 223-224) that we CAN  go forth into the wide world of diverse cultures, opinions, ceaseless interactions with dynamic spiritual patience, magnanimity, genial temper, and charity broad enough to cover the whole world’s evil (my paraphrasing).

WHOSE  RESPONSIBILITY IS THIS, ANYWAY?  Are there CS radicals or CS conservatives? MBE answers (“We soil our garments with conservatism, and afterwards we must wash them clean.” MWritg 452:20)  We never need be timid, since everyone loves joyful surprises you find in practicing CS…Hymn 191 addresses this situation:

“My God, my Father, make me strong when tasks of life seem hard and long… Things deemed impossible I dare ~ Thine is the call, and Thine the care”

RESULT? Had a totally different perspective, so I found a way to support all CS activity with enthusiastic prayer-watching over the lecture & other times. As we know, the fruitage was excellent with healing and great joy!

2013

Deepest gratitude for excellent team-planning, organization, choice of lecturer, — specially the shared inspiration before — a superb unfoldment of relevant, fresh, humorous ideas.

~from Tiare (BMan name)
(Tahitian Gardenia)

 

2013 Playa Schedule

Front of Card

2013 PLAYA SCHEDULE:
SAT – Finish packing vehicles, drive to Reno
SUN – Church in Reno, final preparations / shopping
MON – 1 am Leave for Black Rock City. Arrive at Burning Man for sunrise, setup camp
TUES – Foot washing, informal talks
WED – 4:00-5:45 pm Christian Science Lecture by Fujiko Signs, CSB at Red Lightning Camp Triad (8:45 and Esplanade) 7pm Testimony meeting, our camp (9:30&K maybe, find us!)
THURS – Foot washing, informal talks
FRI – 1:15 pm Fujiko Signs CSB talk at Central Camp
SAT – The Man burns
SUN – 10:00 am Sunday church service & singing. 8 pm The Temple burns. Strike camp, prepare for Exodus
MON – 1 am Gather for departure, 2 am Leave for Reno. Sunrise, arrive Reno, visit, finish driving back to Berkeley.

Prayer Watch signup here if you’d like to support us that way.

Fujiko’s talk “Love without Limits, Life Without Fear” confirmed at Red Lightning camp (8:45 and Esplanade) on Wednesday at 4pm

Fujiko SignsFujiko Signs, CSB will be giving a talk / workshop on the topic of “Love without Limits, Life Without Fear” on Wednesday 8/28/13 at 4-5:45 pm in the Triad (part of Red Lightning camp located at 8:45 and Esplanade.)

Here’s the description of her talk:

Are you willing to become like a little child? How does childlike trust connect you with your inner source, your creator, God, Love? What is your concept of prayer? Should we expect healing when we pray or think about our relationship with God, who is Life? What is truth that is universal and unifying? When we accept God as Love and Life, we may experience more love and vitality. Come and explore these ideas with a lecturer who herself questions these ideas. She was inspired by many healing accounts in the Bible and especially the words and works of Christ Jesus who understood the relationship between consciousness and healing.

Come join us on Wednesday at Red Lightning!

2013 Burning Man prayer watch sign-up is now available

 

Burning Man picture
Love sculpture at Burning Man – photo by Trey Ratcliff, Creative Commons

Would you like to support our efforts at Burning Man this year?

King James Bible
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

GOD’S WORD Translation
I’m telling everyone what I’m telling you: ‘Be alert!'”

Weymouth New Testament
Moreover, what I say to you I say to all–Be wakeful!”

Sign up for a prayer watch time here: http://doodle.com/b53353g2wy73ddyb#table

2012 Burning Man Christian Science Lecture by Tom McElroy

Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVU3_tFVI0I&rel=0

Watch this Christian Science lecture “The real you – no limitations” with Tom McElroy. This lecture was filmed at the Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada on August 29, 2012.

More about Tom – http://members.christianscience.com/lectures/speakers/mcelroy/