Tampa Bay Church - Church of Religious Science

You can listen to the interview with Reverend Ackerman here.

Religious Science
4600 East Busch Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33617
813-985-2428

Contact: Reverend Nichia Colman Ackerman

Book Recommendation: Pending

Religion: Christian

Denomination: Church of Religious Science

Web Page: http://www.tampabaychurch.org/

I have to admit that medication does interest me. I don't prescribe any particular supernatural powers to it.

But I believe that there is something worthwhile about knowing how to still your mind. To let the various thoughts that crowd your mind, the stresses of the day, all of the things you worry about your family, friends, job, what's going to be on TV, and how are you ever going to purge the sight of your next door neighbor in speeds from your mind (shudder).

Taking the time, even if its only 15 or 30 minutes a day, to quiet the mind and meditate can't be a bad thing. It seems to be the basis of several religions practices, whether that be simply to focus on one's own thoughts to understand one's motivations, or to connect with what they believe to be some divine entity in the universe.

Tampa Bay Church, a part of the Church of Religious Science (which, to be precise, is different from the Church of Scientology and Christian Science Church), would likely say the same thing about meditation. The building was described as pyramid shaped (I didn't look around every side, so I'll take their word for it).

Inside a few of the earlier volunteers were preparing, checking their music. Before actual services were to start, they invited me into a small back room for a meditation session.

The few of us sat in a circle. Soft music was put on, and the people began to meditate. All closed their eyes as the meditation leader spoke, inviting them to look within. To try and feel the presence of the divine within themselves.

For several minutes, some held their hands palms up in a cupping gesture, others simply with their hands in their lap.

With the meditation over, it was almost time for services. I had the chance to meet with Reverend Ackerman, or Reverend Nikki as she's known to the congregation.

The group began first with an affirmation, which reminded me of the liturgies I had seen performed in other religions. I wonder if this isn't another form of meditation - of preparing the mind for the services. You saw the same phrase at the start of every service, and it's like telling your brain "OK - spiritual experience is coming, get into the proper frame of mind."

The opening song was lead by a pair of ladies, almost a folks song style. Right after, the lights turned down low, and the congregation was lead into a meditation session. As I learned, in some ways the Church of Religious Science is a descendant of the principles taught by the Christian Scientists, that meditation and faith could be used to cure physical and social ills in one's life.

Later on, the small choir lead the group into another song, this one with the words mostly in Arabic. For some reason it sounded familiar, and I wished I had asked to record them for their lovely voices.

And then - it was tie for the sermon. I did have to chuckle when Reverend Nikki joked that her heart was all a twitter over some recent events - then joked that she didn't mean the new Twitter.

For the actual service, Reverend Nikki gave a lesson about lust. Yeah, I know - I think most of the room chuckled as she read the title of "Endless Lust or God Stew."

The lesson was about not just the lusts we usually think of (you know, sex) but also the simple lusts of wanting more than we can afford. Of eating more food than we need. Of the endless wants of just aquiring things for the sake of aquiring them (I admit I started to think of the various books DVD's and old games that I haven't gotten around to reading or watching or playing yet). Or even the selfish desire for more life, and just to live on past the time when nature has decreed that your life should be over, for no other reason than to live on.

At the end of her sermon, Reverend Nikki invited the room to breath and give thanks for what they already had, instead of lusting for still more. The congregation then joined hands in a circle, and gave the affirmation "May there be Peace on Earth - and may it begin with me."

I couldn't think of a better way of closing out any service.