2024 Winter In the Loop Newsletter

Loop In the

Inspiration in Iceland

Last September, DiscoveryBound (DB) Outreach 20s/30s completed two trips to Iceland that had originally been planned for fall 2020. Feedback from participants was filled with gratitude for the connections, spiritual growth and sheer joy experienced. Following is a letter from one of the participants, Kelsi Mayer.

I would like to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to DiscoveryBound donors for supporting my participation in the 20s/30s Iceland trip. Despite my apprehension about re-entering a Christian Science environment after a number of years of separation, I felt divine direction guiding me to pursue this trip, and was heartened to find myself warmly embraced just as I am.

I was immensely blessed by the trip, both spiritually and socially, and inspired by our morning [Bible] Lesson study gatherings to reinstate Christian Science study into my daily experience at home. I not only deepened preexisting relationships, but formed new ones that touched my heart in unexpected ways.

The trip was well-researched and planned, and due to both human effort and divine guidance, ran extraordinarily smoothly. Small hiccups in scheduling and weather conditions were met gracefully by the trip lead and practitioner (whose patience

and enthusiasm never waned), as well as all participants. It felt that everyone came to the trip as their most vulnerable and genuine selves, lending themselves to an experience free from ego and with the highest aim at the helm.

This trip was just the balm my soul needed.

One of the highlights from the trip was joining voices in unison to sing Christian Science hymns during Sunday and Wednesday services – a glorious harmonizing in praise of the divine source of being… this trip was just the balm my soul needed, and has compelled me to reconsider my relationship with Christian Science and encouraged me to seek further activities such as this one.

Your giving last year made experiences like Kelsi’s possible. Thank you! To continue your support, simply donate in the enclosed envelope or point your phone at the adjacent QR code.

I was brought to tears hearing the testimonies of my classmates. It has been a blessing to grow in Christian Science with them.... It has been a huge privilege to be a part of NLC and to experience all the good it has to give.

– DB NLC teen participant from a 2024 graduating class

OUTREACH

Compass... has made me want to explore CS and has even aided me in a healing. One of the counselors [guides] helped me focus less on mortal error and that exact thought has healed [me] more than a few times now.

– DB Compass teen participant

Creativity and healing from virtual watercolor classes

Participants in our watercolor classes have shared with us their deep gratitude for the way the experience has uplifted them; below are two of those notes. DiscoveryBound (DB) Outreach is able to offer these virtual classes free of charge, thanks to the instructor, Kelly Foxton, generously volunteering her instruction time, and to donors like you who provided support last year.

It erased all thoughts of anxiety about the day.

A renewed love for art

When I was young, I loved art and wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I took lessons. I painted and drew in my free time. I even went to an art school for half the day during my senior year of high school. I majored in graphic design in college. But with all the deadlines, harsh critiques, and the constant pressure to produce, my love of art slowly faded away....

That all changed when I started taking the virtual watercolor classes through DiscoveryBound. The teacher is so kind, encouraging, and patient with all our questions. The paintings are fun to do and I learn something new every time. Just as in our study of Christian Science, where no one is critiquing or judging us, that is how I feel during these lessons. I feel free to learn and express myself with no worries of what the outcome may be. It really has been life changing. My love of art is back, and I give all the credit to this class and this wonderful teacher.

Finding peace amidst chaos

I had just come home from a difficult legal hearing regarding a neighboring property that we have been involved with for months (and have spent the last two weeks preparing statements, etc.). We were running late and... it was our very first watercolor class. I was tired, frustrated, and almost canceled. I felt very uninspired at the moment and just wanted to do nothing. I am so glad that the thought came to persevere and continue on. It was truly a lovely experience. It erased all thoughts of anxiety about the day. I feel so blessed that I was able to come home and share an hour of watercolor time with my daughter. We loved it and plan to continue. Thank you!

MINI CAMP

Symptoms of panic attack healed

By Nate Hey

All of God’s creatures are helpful and beautiful in their purpose in God’s creation. I got to experience their awareness when I collapsed and had minor seizures due to a panic attack that occurred at the end of the testimony meeting during Adult Mini Camp at the A/U Ranches this past summer. I could hear the dogs of one of the staff members barking to alert her, and she immediately got hold of the Christian Science practitioner and Christian Science nurse on duty.

While I do not remember what exactly was said to me by the CS nurse and practitioner, the feeling is something I can’t forget. It was like an embrace with a warmth that melted away the fears and anxiety that had seemed to overwhelm me.

The love and care shown by all involved were God’s precious ways of caring for me as His beloved child.

In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p. 323), Mary Baker Eddy writes, “The effects of Christian Science are not so much seen as felt.” Something else that came to my thought

Video: What’s it like to be a practitioner at Youth Camp?

Anna Lisa Kronman, CS, shares about her experience serving as the camp practitioner for a two-week Youth Camp session at the A/U Ranches in 2023.

following this experience is Paul’s declaration to Timothy in chapter 1 of his second letter: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

The love and care shown by all involved were God’s precious ways of caring for me as His beloved child, and I am truly grateful the fears and anxiety and physical symptoms disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. Many thanks to the wonderful staff, practitioners and nurses who work diligently to be transparencies for Godlike grace to flow effortlessly in the camp atmosphere.

YOUTH CAMP

What I love most about camp was my Sunday School class... I had a healing when there was conflict in my cabin. The way I solved this was turning to God. The way my cabin was helpful, they all prayed with me. When I was told by God to walk in the way of Life and Truth I knew I had a healing. Thank you for making it possible for me to get the camp experience I have always wanted.

– A/U Ranches youth camper

Nate Hey at Mini Camp last summer