Services and Meetings
Many people attending a Christian Science church service for the first time will recognize many familiar elements — hymns, prayer, readings from the Bible, and a warm sense of fellowship. One unique feature is that our pastor consists of two books — the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Two readers conduct services that are based on Bible Lessons published in The Christian Science Quarterly. These lessons are made up of passages from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and address topics such as God, Christ Jesus, Love, Spirit and many more.
There is a simplicity to the services that is very much in keeping with the earliest Christian gatherings where love and healing were at the heart of worship.
Our Sunday Service
Sunday mornings, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Everyone is welcome to come early, ask questions, get to know others, or check out the resources in the Reading Room in the foyer before we begin.
Our services are designed to help you learn about and embrace Christian healing. Services are informal and visitor-friendly. Come dressed as you feel comfortable.
Here’s the program for the Sunday morning service:
- Hymn
- Scriptural reading
- Silent Prayer
- The Lord’s Prayer
- Hymn
- Announcements
- Solo
- Lesson Sermon
- Music / Collection
- Hymn
- Closing citation from Science and Health
- Related citation from 1 John
- Benediction
Child Care, for babies and toddlers up to age three, is provided.
Sunday School meets at the same time as the church service and is available for children and teens from ages 3-20. A “20up” discussion group also meets during the service.
After the service, enjoy the fellowship, or join the “Lunch Bunch” at Wendy’s restaurant at Bay and Blanshard Street.
Our Wednesday Testimony Meetings
Wednesday evenings, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM: We meet for an hour to sing, pray, and listen to some brief readings on contemporary topics. Then there is time for anyone to listen or share healings and inspiration from their study of Christian Science. Everyone, including children, are welcome. Child Care, for babies, toddlers, and older children is provided.
If you want to check it out for a few minutes, that's ok! You can come and go whenever you want, however it works best for you and your schedule.
In short, the meeting includes:
- Hymn
- Selections from the Bible
- Selections from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
- Silent prayer
- Lord’s Prayer
- Hymn
- Announcements
- Experiences, testimonies, and remarks on Christian Science
- Hymn
We enjoy having teens at our Wednesday evening meeting — and they enjoy it, too!
Location and Map
First Church of Christ, Scientist
1205 Pandora Ave.
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R3
Phone: (250) 384-3416
Travelling by City Transit Bus (#27, 28)
http://www.busonline.ca/regions/vic/schedules/default.cfm
Victoria Transit Information (BusLine): (250) 382-6161
From downtown, take a bus heading east, away from downtown, on Johnson Street. From out of town take a bus downtown travelling via Pandora Ave. or Cook St.
Travelling on Foot
Walking from the Empress Hotel; on Government St., it is about a 25 minute walk. Walking directions from Empress Hotel Walk north, through downtown, on Government St. or Douglas St. until you get to Pandora Ave. Turn east, away from downtown, and walk until you see a large white neoclassical building with columns and a dome. 1205 Pandora Ave. @ Chambers St.
Meet our Pastor!
Our pastor is amazing! Imagine a pastor that is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, ever-ready to meet every heart, inform your thought, bring help to your life, and bring healing to all of humanity, everyday.
Our pastor is The Bible and the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. These books speak with spiritual insight, gentleness, love, authority, and power. The Science and Health brings a spiritual understanding of the Bible that heals.
Sermons at our Sunday service and Wednesday meeting are composed of selections from both books, on a specific topic. Two elected members of our congregation serve as First and Second Readers and conduct the service. They thoughtfully present the readings and conduct our services.
Sunday School
The focus of Sunday School teaching is to help young people understand the spiritually inspired Word of the Bible and apply Biblical truths to their everyday experience. Primary to this teaching are three important Bible passages: the Ten Commandments, The Lord’s Prayer, and The Sermon on the Mount. The older classes learn to apply healing principles to everyday life situations. Younger classes receive instruction tailored to their ability to understand. The teachers are experienced Christian Scientists, dedicated to helping young people learn the valuable lessons of the Bible through the teachings of Christian Science.
It’s an individual experience, all backgrounds are welcome. Make a difference in your world! Join us on Sunday.
Our Sunday School currently starts at the age of three. Bring your young ones to learn more about the Bible and about their relationship to a loving, ever-present God.
The Sunday School is also year round (including the summer). We think every child deserves solid spiritual education and our team of dedicated teachers happily provides that.
20up Youth
We have an informal 20up (20 - 30year old) weekly discussion group that meets every Sunday at 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM at the church. We discuss how to pray for the world, pray for our friends, family and personal issues. The group is really chill, so feel free to drop us an email (20up@victoriachurch.ca) if you’d like to join in. Check out some of our past events as well.
For more youth events you can also check out TMCYouth.com, which is a Christin Science Youth initiative. They hold summit events world-wide and offer podcasts, videos, and blogs for anyone aged 18-30.
We also held a Spiritual Activism Summit in Victoria in the Fall of 2009. Young people from all over Canada and the US came to pray for our planet, learn more about Christian Science, and develop their own spirituality. You can view videos from this summit here.
20up Events
We also have frequent youth events that, over the past year, have included dinners, going to movies, playing ultimate Frisbee, sushi-making parties, Halloween parties, Mexican nights, and photo festivals. Additionally we have lately been enjoying the Planet Earth series put on by the BBC that focuses on the wonders of our planet. Check out our upcoming events calendar for our next big event.
The meetings are open to anyone in the 20 - 30 age range with a desire to gather with a peer group and explore a range of topical issues from the perspective of Bible-based spirituality and the teachings of Christian Science. Our goal is to create an atmosphere of fun, open, safe, and non-judgmental conversation.
Infant Care
Church is for families. We have a lovely Children's Room and we welcome you to bring your little ones with you to our church.
