We started our day by driving from Boston to Concord. After attending Sunday School and church at Concord, one of the members gave us a personal tour of the church. We learned about its origins and Mary Baker Eddy’s involvement in creating and giving such a beautiful church to the citizens of Concord. We were also allowed up into the tower, where Sarah Switzer played a short hymn on the tower bells. After the tour, we had lunch with church members at Uno Pizzeria and Grill!
Next, we toured Mary Baker Eddy’s Concord home. Former Principia middle school teacher, Holly Morris, did an amazing job leading the tour, covering lots of historical information in a succinct and exciting way. For many of us, this was a completely new and eye opening experience. It was such a meaningful opportunity to tour one of the houses where Mary Baker Eddy made a significant impact on the Christian Science movement. This allowed us to better understand the struggles and triumphs of the church in this era.
To end our day, we were welcomed into political activist and former New Hampshire State representative, Arnie Arnesen’s, home. Along with 24 students from Saint Olaf College, we had dinner and heard from Arnie, Dean Spiliotes, veteran political scientist, political analyst, and professor at Southern New Hampshire University, and Louise Spencer, founder of a progressive grassroots organization here in New Hampshire. They touched on the current political climate and how it has changed and transformed over the past couple decades. They also sent an inspiring message to be active in our own communities in order to make change.
Overall it was a wonderful and fulfilling day. At our evening highlights and gratitude meeting, the tour of the Concord house was frequently mentioned. Many of us were grateful to have been exposed to a different part of the movement and to further our understanding of Christian Science on Principia programs like this one. We were also very thankful for Arnie’s hospitality and insight.