First Church of Christ Scientist, Willimantic, CT
About Our Church
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Willimantic, Connecticut has been active in the Willimantic community for more than 100 years. It is a branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston Massachusetts. This church was established in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy, following her discovery of Christian Science in 1866.
We are located in northeastern Connecticut at 870 Main Street, Willimantic, near Eastern Connecticut State University and Quinebaug Valley Community College. We’re eight miles from the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Members and other attendees come from a variety of communities surrounding Willimantic.
There is easy on-street parking as well as a public parking garage. There are also several parking lots within two blocks of the church.
Our Focus On Christ-Healing
As stated in the Church Manual, the Church of Christ, Scientist is “designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master (Christ Jesus), which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing.” The New Testament book of John records Jesus’ promise, that “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.”
This focus on spiritual healing is apparent in our Sunday morning worship services, our Sunday School, our Wednesday testimony meetings, and in the many resources in our Reading Room. Everyone is welcome!.
Listen to our services from home
If you cannot join us in-person for our services, you can participate via our free conference call number.
Please call 617-793-8898. It is not necessary to announce yourself, and your phone will be muted automatically.
Sunday Services
Our one-hour Sunday service is conducted by two readers elected from our membership. We have no ordained clergy.
The service includes Bible readings, a Sermon, which consists of citations from the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, congregational singing, prayer, music and a voluntary offering.
The Bible and the Christian Science textbook are the official impersonal pastor for every Christian Science church throughout the world.
The Weekly Bible Lesson-Sermon
The Lesson-Sermon read during our Sunday church services can be found in the Christian Science Quarterly.
This same Lesson-Sermon is the basis for Christian Science church services throughout the world. Many find that studying the Bible Lesson each day enhances their understanding and practice of Christian Science healing.
The Quarterly is available by subscription ( print or digital versions ) or can be purchased in print at our Reading Room.
Sunday School
Young people up to the age of twenty are welcome to attend our Sunday School, which meets at the same time as our Sunday worship service (10 A.M.) Children are taught the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, the Sermon on the Mount, as well as verses and stories from both the old and new testaments.
They are also introduced to Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy as a guide for understanding the Bible and for learning about their own spiritual relationship to God.
Older students continue study of the Bible and look to the Weekly Bible Lesson-Sermon to prompt inspiring discussions about identity, relationships, health, success, world issues, and other topics of interest to them. All students are encouraged in their understanding of the healing power of God’s love and how to pray for themselves and others as taught in Christian Science.
Wednesday Testimony Meetings
Our weekly one-hour Wednesday meetings, held at 4 p.m., highlight our church’s focus on the current-day practice of spiritual healing as taught in Christian Science. Approximately one-third of each meeting is set aside for individuals to share informally about experiences they have had where the teachings of Christian Science have led to healing solutions to problems of many different types––physical, emotional, financial, family, employment.
These expressions of gratitude are encouraging and inspiring to all who attend the meetings. Individuals participating via phone conference call-in are also able to share their gratitude during these meetings. Congregational singing, prayer, and readings from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, round out the meeting. No offering is taken.
Thanksgiving Day Service
We hold a special one-hour Thanksgiving Day Service at 10 am.
Like our Wednesday testimony meetings, it includes time for individuals to informally share their gratitude for all of God’s blessings. We also pray, sing together, and hear the Thanksgiving sermon read from our Pastor, the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. This sermon can be found in the Christian Science Quarterly for November.
Children’s Room
We welcome the opportunity to care for infants and young children during our services and testimony meetings.
Reading Room
We warmly welcome passers-by who come in and ask “What is this place all about?; What is this Science that heals?” We share our understanding of the practical meaning of the words “God with us” ––His loving presence in our lives, and its healing effect.
The Reading Room can be a quiet oasis for one to pray or read; or it can be a place for a life-changing conversation with an attendant on duty. There are an abundance of printed, audio, and digital resources for those wanting to learn what Christian Science teaches about spiritual healing. As experienced in both old testament and new testament times, as taught specifically by Christ Jesus, and as discovered in the twentieth century by Mary Baker Eddy, visitors will find bible-based, spiritual healing very much alive today.
Large windows facing Main Street contain inspiring and uplifting messages that can be read 24/7.
Resources available include bibles, bible reference materials, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, all of the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, as well as biographies and children’s books. Christian Science publications, including the Journal, Sentinel, Herald, Monitor and Quarterly Bible Lessons, are available in print and online.
Concord, an online concordance to the King James Version of the Bible and the published writings of Mary Baker Eddy, is available for research. Also, JSH-online is accessible for researching articles from the entire history of Christian Science Sentinels, Journals and Heralds. One can quickly find or print information from these publications.
Our Reading Room is located at 870 Main Street, Willimantic, across the hall from our church meeting room.
Additional Resources
Sentinel Watch Is a weekly 30 minute audio podcast produced by the Christian Science Publishing Society. It includes one or more guests who explore a specific topic of interest, and illustrate how God’s laws are a practical present-day help in resolving problems, including physical healing.
Church, Reading Room and Contact Information
Sunday Serviceand Sunday School
10 AM (In person) or via conference call. Dial 617-793-8898.Wednesday Testimony Meeting
4 PM (In Person) or via conference call. Dial 617-793-8898.Thanksgiving Day Service
10 AM (In-Person) or dial 617-793-8898Reading Room Hours
Mon, Tue, Fri 10AM - 1PMWed 3PM - 4PM
Thu 11AM - 2 PM
Church and Reading Room
870 Main StreetWillimantic, CT 06226
(860) 456-3230
Church and Reading Room Location
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