Beyond denominations and doctrines, understanding yourself and your relationship with God dissolves loneliness, brings fulfilling connections, and gives meaning and purpose to your life. Giulia Nesi Tetreau, public practitioner of Christian Science healing and speaker, will present her talk The Quest to Experience God: A Key to Our Well Being on Sunday, October 8th at 2 p.m.

The talk

As a child, I learned that God is all love. But at the same time, He (never She) could be distant, unknowable, and judgmental. He was loving, but could punish us harshly. He sent sunshine and babies, but also storms, wars, and disease. Longing for meaningful connection with the divine, this two-sided God was no comfort to me as I grew older. I wanted to feel unconditional love, that God would be a reliable help no matter what I was dealing with or going through. And I didn't just want to know about God. I wanted to experience God.

My yearning was actually part of what I understand to be a larger spiritual revolution. Worldwide, across cultures, people are seeking a truer sense of Deity. Spirit, God (or whatever we call our Source) is impelling us all toward a life that’s bigger and deeper than what we perceive with the five senses.

We are all God's beloved chidren - always, in all conditions - and what's true and enduring is the good in our nature.

This impulsion led me to Christian Science, which, based on the life and teachings of Christ Jesus, explains that God is pure Love, and the source of all good feminine as well as masculine qualities. It also teaches that we all are God's beloved children - always, in all conditions - and that what's true and enduring is the good in our nature. These are and continue to be revolutionary concepts. So revolutionary that, as they change our viewpoints about God and ourselves, we can experience healing from disease and suffering as Jesus showed us.

Here's an example: A friend of mine had experienced deep feelings of sadness, loneliness and depression, beginning in middle school and persisting through high school. He even attempted suicide. During this time he was convinced that God did not exist and that the power of the universe was crushing him. But he was mentally conflicted too; he also felt his only hope was in the power of God.

He was familiar with Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and decided to read it through entirely because he felt his only hope and help would be in consciously understanding more about God. So he decided to read through Science and Health cover to cover, which he did over a dozen times over the next few years.

A growing sense of hope, felt from reading the spiritual ideas on every page, was persistently replacing thoughts and feelings of despair and depression. One night, he had a profound spiritual moment that made this fact clear: The truth of his spiritual being is his oneness, his inseparability with God, and that this truth is a rock to stand on!

My friend said it was like he was suddenly released from being held underwater! During the next few weeks he had a tangible sense of the presence of Love, embracing everything and everyone. He went on to be completely free of the crippling depression and live a life filled with meaningful purpose and satisfaction.

The speaker

Giulia Nesi Tetreau began her career in the mental health space, working for several years as a licensed psychotherapist. However, despite achieving professional success, she felt empty inside, yearning for something deeper. She was introduced to Christian Science through reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. In its pages she found a sacred space with the author and experienced a profound sense of coming home.

Some years later, she felt compelled to leave her psychotherapy practice to instead focus completely on her Christian Science healing practice. She describes this experience as an "imperative demand" coming from within her - she had to be true to herself. "His word is in my heart like a fire... I am weary of holding it in" (Jer 20:9 NIV).

Since that time, sharing the revolutionary message contained in the pages of Science and Health has been the cornerstone of Giulia's life. She helped oversee the worldwide activity of bringing the book to a wider public audience. She also managed a special project established to respond to the growing interest from healthcare professionals in learning more about Christian Science. And she has lectured to the public in a variety of settings and venues, from prisons to professional healthcare audiences and everything in between.

Logistics

This talk is open to the general public, and will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 8th at the Fluno Center in downtown Madison, located at 601 University Avenue, in the Skyview Room on the 8th floor. Whatever your background – religious or not – you are welcome here. You will find new and helpful ideas to discover and experience the tangible presence of God.

If you need assistance getting to the event or for ride share infomation, please use the Contact form on this website and someone will get in touch with you. You can also reach us by taking the bus – the church is two blocks away from the West Transfer Point, plus there's a bus stop right out front (Segoe & Tokay). Free childcare is provided.