First Church of Christ Science

1 Norway Street

Boston Ma

Re: Withdrawal from Membership

Dear Sirs:

Although to this day I am still a Very strong Christian; I would like to withdraw my membership in The First Church of Christ Science. I have not practiced this religion for over 11 years. I am 81 and was born into a Christian Science family; my mother, Grandmother and Grandfather were all Christian Scientists. I believe in my childhood at times common sense was not always practiced in taking care of both me or my brother. I remember being covered with poison oak/ivy numerous times. My mother didn't even wash the poisons off my body. My arms were eaten away down toward the bone so bad that I no longer had pigment in my skin; so I have had to wear long sleeves most my life to keep my skin from a sunburn. That is child abuse.

I also remember having a terrible earache for 2 months running one summer after doing some high diving at a local swimming pool while in Jr high school. I lay in bed in agony crying for those 2 months that summer with nothing to even relieve the pain. That is child abuse.

On vacation one time my brother and I swam all day in a pool on one of the FL Keys and got an extremely bad painful sunburn. To this day we both suffer from skin cancer from this stupid move of no protection on our parents part to make us come inside out of the sun. All day long. Really. We hurt so bad that we could not even lay down on a bed to sleep or sit in a chair. We kept taking cold showers during the night to endure the pain. That is child abuse.

I was playing tennis with my brother; when we finished a game I plopped down on an earth bank beside the tennis court. My back hit the end of the tennis racket and I broke my tail bone on my back. What agony with that broken back I suffered with NO care. In high school I had to sit on a doughnut pillow to be able to sit at a desk. For years I suffered serious back pain from this injury that had no medical care. Broken bone, no care. That is child abuse.

As a member of the CS Forum I had no warning of earthly dangers when one of the fathers of another Forum member molested me. I fled in terror.

In my teens I left CS and joined the Presbyterian Church when I was in college. My brother, Bruce also left the church when he went away to college too.

Later I married and had 3 children and by then I realized some more of the dangers in life of so called good Christian marriages. Somehow, I survived being kicked out of a pick-up in the high desert in the middle of the night on a very cold winter night -20 below in Wyoming. I walked along the high way for many miles just wanting to sit down; but realized hypothermia was setting in so I kept going. My only desire was to get home and protect my 3 children from such violence. I do believe the Lord God protected me and the children. A few years later I was notified my Dad was dying of cancer after major surgery in Atlanta. I took the 3 children back to GA and took care of him since my Mother, as a Christian Scientist, was not able to deal with the situation. A friend I will call MW picked us up at the train station and took us to their home. MW's mother and my mother had been friends since well before WWII so this was a long time friendship; it was like he was a cousin (almost). During our stay I helped MW setup an art studio in their backyard to help occupy her time. She had given him art lessons when he was in college.

My Dad and I had long discussions during that time about the Lord and Jesus coming. As we grew up Dad claimed to be an atheist; however, he lived a very Christian life helping others. He hated his mother; she regularly sent him letters telling him he was a bad person. We always knew when he got a letter from her; he would be upset. His mother never approved of him marrying my mother. My brother and I never even met her. We talked about the 2 most important commandments according to Jesus about One God and forgiveness. I was very relieved when before Dad passed he told me he had both forgiven his mother and believed in God and the Lord Jesus our Savior. I knew I would see him again in heaven. He knew he was ready to go on and told me to take the kids and go back home; he didn't think they needed to be at a funeral. Happily I took the kids back to WY. He passed on before we got back home.

MW actually took care of the funeral arrangements since Bruce, my brother, had just gotten out of a hospital from being washed over a 50' waterfall while hiking. Bruce was then staying at their house while in recovery.

At times I actually lost contact with MW but Bruce always told me what was going on with him in our phone calls. Years later, I was fortunate to be able to take MW and his daughter into the OR wilderness on a horseback trip after his daughter expressed the wish to go into a wilderness. We certainly enjoyed that week together seeing the beauty in nature that God had made for us. I was overjoyed to be able to payback to his family the good he had done for our family. One night around the campfire he told me then about the funeral and those comments of my Dad's friends about how he had helped them in their work development and their appreciation for his help.

My Mom was having a hard time settling down so our family moved to GA for a year to help her out. Being in contact with my Mom for that long period I started studying CS again. We moved around a lot since my husband worked construction. We then moved to FL then to OK. One day

after Christmas my husband informed me that he loved us all but didn't want the responsibility of the family. I found out later he was having an affair with another married woman. Sinful.

We separated. When school got out I moved with the kids back to WY where I got a job and surprisingly later actually became a reader in the Laramie CS church. While they all were in college I moved on to CA to a new job so I could afford their education. From there I moved on to WA

then OR. I studied the lessons daily. We did have some very miraculous healings. A daughter was bleeding from an accident. Her Dad and I took her into the local doctor; he said she was blind from a concussion. He sent us to a hospital in Salt Lake City, a 5 hr drive. While on that long night trip, I talked to my husband about God's love for our daughter. We arrived and the specialist doctor examined her and took ex-rays. By then she could see. He explained the ex-ray and told us another child he had seen that week was blind from the same brain injury. How fortunate she was to be able to see again. I just Thanked God. A son was healed of a heart problem in high school; they were not going to let him play in sports. We prayed and within a week after another exam he was allowed to continue in his sport. I have been protected from gun shots at me 3 times (I could hear

the bullets whiz past my head all 3 times), guns held on me, rape, violent beating situations, drowning in undertow 3 times, bucked off horses. My grandson and I were taken hostage in Portland OR in 1990. I expected to die to save him. Police got involved; shots rang out. An officer was killed. I prayed. My car was shot up but the man ran off with no injury's to us. He was later captured. My faith in the Lord saved me in all those situations.

Your question may be why does she believe in God if she wants to withdraw from church. OK Lets go back in time:

When I was 7 years old I walked into a Christmas school celebration during the beginning of WWII, and looked at the picture of baby Jesus laying in a manger. As we sang Christmas songs I devoted my life to him. I knew he gave his life for us. As a child when interacting with other children I always included every one. I remember kids teasing others and I went to help the one who was crying or sad. As an adult our family included many extra children being at our place. I had many foster children, rescue dogs and horses that had been abused. At various times many extra children spent all day or sometimes lived in our home for a week or 2 or more often for a year or more. Love was expressed.

I have a way with animals. I can't count the number of abused horses that I was able to get their trust in humans again and able to pass them on to others. Now I have 2 horses that trust me so well that I can ride them without even holding their reins. Even now I ride 3-5 times a week for 2 hours over at a local park when it isn't raining. When I ride by myself I sing praises to the Lord for the beauty that I see he has given us. I include several other friends on some days to keep them from giving up. They are afraid to ride by themselves. My attitude: I am never by myself; the Lord is always looking after me. As stated earlier, he certainly has protected me in all daily situations. As I go to sleep at night I give THANKS to GOD for such a great day.

I stopped going to church when my hearing got so bad I really could not hear what was going on. By then I had retired. Since I had lots of time to read I picked up my Bible and started to read and study the New Testament. Over and over I read it and I though I knew the Bible well. But WHAT a SURPRISE. The CS lessons very definitely do NOT cover all aspects of the Bible. WOW. From the start of Jesus time of preaching he addressed the Devil (which is evil on this world). "Get thee behind me Satin." Surprise: He went into the mountains and desert places often to pray to God. His disciples baptized for Jesus all his new followers. Time and time again he came down hard on the disciples straying. He loved them dearly but did disciplined them when they strayed. Time and time again he acknowledged evil here on earth and God above. God is powerful; but we have to make a choice to follow him and keep the 10 Commandments. When we stray and sin we are not under his protection. He is a forgiving God too when we turn away from sin and have faith in him.

I have read many CS books and articles on Animal Magnetism etc etc. and some advanced Books by Julia Johnston, Bicknell Young, Robert Peel, Ann Beals, Adam H Dicky, etc from the Book Mark etc. I think they are not addressing all the facts as stated in the Bible. I do think they are correct in lots of things; but, I observed that CS looks at only a portion of the Bible that fits their agenda. There is both good and evil. Again Jesus acknowledged it when he said "Get thee behind me Satan."

Some CS family history:

My Mother died of very painful skin cancer that ate away her nose, part of her chest etc. Enduring that pain - oh- it was a blessing for her to finally pass in 1991 and not suffer that agony any more. My grandparents died from agony's brought on because they did not eat sensibly. The good friend (cousin) MW of our generation, whose mother was a practitioner, also had a stroke and died many years ago from again not eating sensibly. Basically he suffered and died needlessly at an early age. That is 3 generations of devote CS who suffered. Common sense says eat a balanced diet not just junk food. This mortal body needs nutritional food daily; not just once in a while. Is that a part of Principal? I believe it is. My last visit with my grandmother was in a California hospital; she introduced me to the nurses as her cousin. She had diabetes and was not cognizant of her self or where she was. Evidently she was waiting for me to come and say Good-By since she passed on before I even got home.

We can't ignore cleansing and feeding our body properly just like we can't be hateful toward our neighbors. That is actually being hateful to our material body. Taking care of ourselves is just as important as loving our neighbors. Common sense. To me I just occupy this body for a short while; I will go on when I have finished whatever the Lord has for me to do here on earth.

Years ago I had cancer surgery on my face that removed a hunk of skin the size of a silver dollar (so my husband told me). I have yearly skin freezing but I go on with life helping many other people deal with life problems including my beloved husband. My time will come but I am not in the agony I watched with my parents and grandparents and MW our life long family friend.

Finally we need to pray for the world. Last year I kneeled down by my bed and said: "Dear Lord North Korea is a threat to this world with their nuclear arsenal. This is a beautiful planet that you created. Please don't let it be destroyed. All those nuclear arsenal in ground and out - Please let them melt into the ground where they came from. I pictured in my mind of the metal, the uranium, etc just melting into the soil. That way the atmosphere and local people will not be contaminated. However, Not my will but thine be done was added to my prayer. In Jesus Christ name I pray. Amen." I went to bed peacefully that night. I don't know what happened but this year Kim J, the leader of North Korea. is willing to negotiate with President Trump. Why; we do not know. My response to the news was "Thank You Lord. This is a beautiful world you created for us. Thy will be done."

At this point in life my husband and I still have a mission. He carves out both small and large wood crosses. We have handed out hundreds of these crosses to people we know or just see somewhere. I hand one to someone and say "This is to remind you who really is in control of our lives". We always get a Thank You. That is lovely. Sometimes we get a big hug. I have had people tell me "Boy I needed that today". or other similar comments. Our goal is: to encourage and

remind people to Look to the Lord; faith in him will help you get thru whatever is going on in your life each day.

I believe if your church wants to survive a major review of the New Testament needs to be honestly examined and addressed in your weekly reading material. Also address common sense in the care of one's mortal body. See below some Bible examples of the things I have talked about. It's your responsibility to do some MAJOR studying of the New Testament and realize the mistakes the CS

church has made. Please examine the whole New Testament. and come to your own conclusions.

I am ending this with a small portion of a song I like. "I am a seeker.... You are the keeper.... Wouldn't you show me the way?" The LORD has certainly shown me the way for a life time. I hope he can show you the way too.

Peace to you. Goodby.

                           Kim Craig Herres

                           85378 Edenvale Road

                           Pleasant Hill, OR 97455

Examples:

Beginning in New Testament: (this is a very small portion; it goes on and on)

Matt: 10 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace but a sword. -- 42

Matt: 11 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to Hell ....

Matt: 12 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he sent forth judgment unto victory. .... possessed of the devil ....

  26 and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself: how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out:......

Matt: 13 29-30 But he said, Nay: lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them ...... say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them (in hell): but gather the wheat into my barn (in heaven).

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire: so shall it be in the end of this world. Also read 40-43

Matt: 23 14

The list goes on and on thru the new testament. Read for yourselves. Now Russia is stepping in warning their people to put up water and food for a fight. Is this going to be as stated in Matt 24. I have no fear the Lord will take care of me as he has before.

"Also From the Old Testament: Remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah? That was an entire society that had turned its back on God's will... boiling over with so much sin and evil. God had no choice but to destroy it... down to every last man, woman and child. But before the destruction there was a warning. God gave the people of Sodom and Gomorrah one last chance before

it was too late." A quote from an article I read.

Noah and the Ark is another example in the old testament to destruction of a society that had turned its back on God.