"...the Lord looseth the prisoners."   Psalm 146:7

Committee on Christian Science Work 

in Los Angeles County Institutions

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   An article from the "Board of Lectureship" ~ Please click here

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Fruitage and General meeting 

Fruitage and General Meetings are held at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Pasadena at 8:00 p.m.  

A calendar of dates appears below.  

The Church is located at 80 South Oakland Avenue (at Green Street), Pasadena.   

Our General Meetings are for Representatives from participating Branch Churches, Committee Workers and interested Branch Church attendees.  Fruitage reports and updates on various institutions will be given.  Child care and supervised parking provided.  For information, please call:  (323) 664-4910 or e-mail cs_la_ci@yahoo.com  

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General Meeting 

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2010 CALENDAR

General Meetings are held at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Pasadena  

80 South Oakland Avenue, Pasadena

Board meetings convene at 7:30 PM and General Meetings at 8 PM

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Annual Report

The following document is available for download by clicking on the title:

• Annual Report 2009 (.pdf)

• Annual Report 2008 (.pdf) 

• Annual Report 2007 (.pdf) 

• Annual Report 2006 (.pdf) 

• Annual Report 2005 (.pdf)

[Adobe Acrobat Reader required for .pdf files] 

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HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE

Our activity began in 1928, when a small group began visiting the County Hospital and the County Jail and distributing literature to road camps and Juvenile Hall.  Christian Science services began in County Jail in June 1934, at the request of inmates.  Today we serve in one way or another at some 22 locations throughout Los Angeles County.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The purpose is to make the healing and regenerative spirit of Christian Science available in the Los Angeles County Institutions in which we are privileged to serve, through clearance with the Sheriff’s Department and the County Probation Department.  The scope of the work is tremendous.  At the adult facilities weekly church services are held, and one-to-one interviews are scheduled on request.  In the juvenile camps, Sunday School type meetings are held regularly.  At both activities, thousands of pieces of Christian Science literature along with Bibles and copies of the Science & Health are distributed.

ORGANIZATION

The Los Angeles County branch churches are the backbone of the Committee.  These churches appoint representatives who become members of the Committee.  Also from these County-wide churches come the volunteers who become Chaplains and Workers.  The financial support for the operation of the Committee also comes from the branch churches.  By-Laws approved by the County churches provide the rules and they include Mother Church Guidelines. 

The Executive Board of the Committee on Christian Science Work in Los Angeles County Institutions consists of 7 members who are elected each year from and by the representatives for a maximum of 3 years.  The Board members elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman.  The Board meets monthly and governs the activities of the Committee and it holds an Annual Meeting every September.  See the Annual Report copy on this site which was compiled and distributed to the Los Angeles churches at the time of the Annual Meeting..

WORKERS 

• Chaplain – holds regular weekly or monthly Sunday Services at the adult facilities, and acts as First Reader.  They also hold one-to-one interviews at the request of the inmates for answering questions and/or providing metaphysical treatments.

• Sub-Chaplain  – substitute for a regular Chaplain or give once a month services. Do not provide metaphysical treatments.

• Camp  Worker  – holds Sunday School type classes in the various juvenile camps around   Los Angeles  for young people up to 18 years.

• Readers and Ushers – aid the Chaplains.  The “Reader” acts as Second Reader for the Chaplain.

• Musicians – aid the service by providing solos and/or playing the piano.  Generally, pre-recorded tapes are provided to use for hymns and solos. 

• Literature Distribution Workers – meet weekly in the Literature Workroom of First Church Pasadena to organize the literature – Bibles, copies of Science & Health in various languages and periodicals – into batches to meet the requirements of the workers who give out the literature at their respective facilities. 

ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICE

Anyone wishing to work in any capacity on the Committee must first be appointed by a branch church.  Any worker except a musician must be class taught.

All workers, after acceptance by the Executive Board of the Committee, must be approved by the appropriate Los Angeles County Department.  They are then duly listed for admission to the facilities, having agreed to abide by the regulations of these Departments. 

HOW TO GET INVOLVED 

You may get involved if you have joined and are active in a branch church.  Contact either your church’s County Institutions representative, the Clerk of your Church, or you can call the Committee Secretary, Nanci Newman, at (323) 664-4910.  You can request an application and after it is completed, you can request that it be sent by your Clerk (with your branch’s approval) to the Committee Secretary.  We suggest that you attend one of the General Meetings held the fourth Friday of most months at  8 PM , in the Sunday School room of First Church of Christ, Scientist,  Pasadena .  At this meeting you will hear fruitage reports from Chaplains, Workers  and Camp Workers.  Also at the meetings, you will have the opportunity to speak with those working in all capacities on the Committee and hear first-hand of their experiences.  If you would like to contribute to this Committee, please send your donation to P.O. Box 393, Los Angeles, CA  90078.  If you would like to subscribe to a periodical for the library of one of the institutions we serve, please contact the Secretary at (323) 664-4910 or via e-mail:  cs_la_ci@yahoo.com .

EARLY INSTITUTIONAL WORK  

Further information may be requested of the Secretary:

   Nanci Newman

   P.O. Box 393, Los Angeles CA  90078

   Telephone/Fax: (323) 664-4910

   E-mail:   cs_la_ci@yahoo.com

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