Fall / Winter Newsletter 2024
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We Have Revised Our Mission Statement
“Our mission is to live the spirit of Christ Jesus’ words and works through the healing ministry of Christian Science nursing, thereby awakening all mankind to the active presence of God’s love in our lives.”
We made this change to expand our reach and ensure every decision we make blesses all mankind. With this mission, we are clearly stating what we do and what you can expect when interacting with us.
Our core values have not changed. We are still committed to providing a healing atmosphere and home-like setting, accepting patients regardless of financial standing, individualizing care for patients, training and mentoring Christian Science nurses, fostering close relationships with our communities, and ensuring the longevity of Glenmont.
We are continuing to roll out this revision on our website, in our printed materials, and throughout other aspects of our facility. We appreciate your patience with us as we do so!
Our 2024 Annual Meeting
By Jon Ferrell, Board Memeber
“I left the meeting with this one question: What more can I do to support this unique healing practice of Christian Science nursing?”
If you were unable to attend the Glenmont Annual Meeting on October 20, I would like to share my experience with you in this article.
I have been on the Glenmont Board for less than a year. We spend much time in our board meetings praying for guidance to address Glenmont’s challenges and opportunities. Sometimes, it feels like there’s a lot on our plate, and it can seem overwhelming.
But at the Annual Meeting, it was gratifying to see a broader picture of how Glenmont’s outstanding staff and volunteers unselfishly work and pray minute-by-minute to benefit others. As the first Annual Meeting for me and my wife, it proved to be an enlightening and heartening experience.
Around 100 guests and several patients were present. The meeting room was colorful and beautifully decorated. At each seat, guests received a copy of an Annual Meeting Report and a welcome gift.
After some piano music and a hymn sung by staff and a volunteer, we heard readings from the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s writings. Then, several staff members presented inspiring accounts describing how their Christian Science nursing practice is achieving healing results.
I wish we could bottle up and send to you the mental picture that Carmela, one of our Christian Science nurses, painted about what happens on the Christian Science nursing floor. She described front-line Christian Science practice, where personal sense, to everyone’s benefit, gets swept aside to meet the present need. (See an excerpt from her talk on p. 6.)
The Annual Meeting Report*—presented in booklet format—is one of the best I’ve ever seen. This compact summary provides a clear and comprehensive understanding of Glenmont in layperson’s terms, and I hope it inspires each reader to cherish Glenmont more.
The Mexican buffet created, prepared, and served by our kitchen staff following the meeting was outstanding. It warmed my heart to see that the meals offered to Glenmont‘s patients reproduce the feeling of love and care of homemade creations that many of us have enjoyed at a family table. I doubt you could find another secular nursing facility in the country that would have had the ambition to make the meal we shared that day.
Finally, observing the whole production led me to a grateful contemplation for Lydia Manfreda, our retiring Administrator. She has mentioned how blessed she is to lead an organization that has done and is doing so much good. I concur!
We should all be immensely proud of the staff, the administrators, and all Glenmont stakeholders. Their unselfish contributions, in countless ways, are helping to heal the world and make it a better place. As John Cochran’s talk pointed out, this begins with loving the brethren—our fellow Christian Scientists—in thought and action (see Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer, p. 166).
I left the meeting with this one question: What more can I do to support this unique healing practice of Christian Science nursing?
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, provides us with valuable guidance in answer to two passages. The first one is a challenge. Eddy writes, “We are all capable of more than we do” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 89:21–22).
The second one is our opportunity. “As you journey, and betimes sigh for rest ‘beside the still waters,’ ponder this lesson of love. Learn its purpose; and in hope and faith, where heart meets heart reciprocally blest, drink with me the living waters of the spirit of my life-purpose, — to impress humanity with the genuine recognition of practical, operative Christian Science” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 206:32).
Won’t you join me in meeting this challenge and opportunity in whatever way they inspire you to more deeply embrace Christian Science nursing? After all, our time is now.
Healing & Gratitude
From Our Patients
“One of our residents had a healing when a Christian Science nursing apprentice walked into her room and the resident read her name tag. It said ‘Mercy.’ The resident had been feeling very down, but being in the presence of ‘Mercy’ reminded her of God, of Love’s mercy. This lifted the resident right out of heaviness and into lightness.”
“The lives of Christian Scientists [at Glenmont] remind me of the question my mother and dad asked me when I was becoming an adult: How did I want to spend my time, and what did I want to do with my life? As I considered my parents’ question, I decided that I wanted to be serious about my life, to do good for others, to be worthwhile and useful. When I did leave home, it was to live a useful life. . . I have been recognizing that what is worthwhile is serious. In my room, I have a picture of Mary Baker Eddy. I say, ‘That’s what I want to emulate.’ This has meant letting go of the unserious side of myself [that which isn’t worthwhile] . . . What I am embellishing myself with is good . . . I want my life to be relevant in the right, spiritual way. Am I making progress? I know I am. . . Being at Glenmont also gives me opportunities to love my neighbor. I think about becoming a Christian Science nurse. I’m finding out each day what is important to me and why and how. I am reminded daily of Hymn 136, ‘I love thy way of freedom Lord, To serve Thee is my choice . . .’ (see the Christian Science Hymnal).”
From Our Christian Science Nurses
“The example our Master [Christ Jesus] gave us . . . helps me demonstrate love to my fellow man. I see this in. . . the loving interactions with our residents and the proper care we render to them. God guides me in . . . this care, including how to voice the truth when confronted with challenging situations. I must start by acknowledging God first renders all situations harmonious.
Among the Christian Science nurses here, our support for each other when going about our Father’s business is always filled with so much love. But it does not stop there. We extend this love to all departments and appreciate what each and everyone does to make our Glenmont home full of life and joy.
I like to think of us like a bunch of broomsticks. If you have just one broomstick, it is much easier to break it than a bunch of broomsticks tied together. These are unified, and Love brings them together to do things like tidy a compound, which brings out its beauty. So all of us at Glenmont come together, from different countries, and are united by Love. We bring out the beauty of Glenmont together in our unique, individual ways!”
Anna Opaye-Robertson from Ghana
“As a Christian Science Nurse (CSN) . . . I never go to work without praying and acknowledging God as truly the One in charge. I never go to work without asking for His guidance on how to take care of His children.
One thing that I am so proud of here . . . is our teamwork, basically cluster homes adjacent to each other [that] are responsible for helping each other out, planning ahead of time when to do lifts or transfers or whatever the need of the cluster home may be.
One morning, when we had 35 patients and six CSNs, the floor became unbelievably busy, buzzers started ringing and kept on ringing left and right. . .
I called our Christian Science House practitioner for support. What stuck with me that day was every single CSN . . . went beyond and above their duty, answering buzzers outside of their cluster home and providing care even when it was not their patient, because the assigned CSN was still occupied.
That day was unforgettable because I felt Christ in action. . . The unselfishness and love expressed by everyone was remarkable. Every patient’s needs were met and at the end of the shift, despite everyone looking tired, the smiles and joy were still evident. As Hymn 51 says, ‘Love’s work and Love must fit’ (see the Christian Science Hymnal).”
Carmela Castor from the Phillippines
Employee News - From Christian Science Nurse to Business Manager
By Kendall Tuchkova, Director of Development
Rudolf Meyer, our Business Manager
“Christian Science nursing is the gem of our movement.”
Rudolf Meyer has a long history with Christian Science nursing. When he was twelve, he was hit by a car in his home country of Brazil. After being released from the hospital, several family friends, who were also Christian Science nurses, came to support him as he overcame the doctors’ prognosis that he would neither walk again nor recover from severe brain damage. Through his family’s reliance on Christian Science, he was healed of all aftereffects of the accident (listen to the Sentinel Watch episode “Christ-healing—expect a transformation of thought and body” from November 4, 2019).
That healing was pivotal in his study of Christian Science and interest in Christian Science nursing. It inspired him to later take Christian Science Class Instruction and to come to the United States to attend The Principia, where he took several independent study courses with Brad Stock, a former Glenmont Administrator. Together, they researched the underpinnings of Christian Science nursing, and Rudolf’s love of this movement grew even deeper.
Rudolf began to see how Christian Science nursing is a response to Mary Baker Eddy’s requirement that “Love is not something put upon a shelf. . .” Eddy writes, “I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 250:14). She also writes that this Love is the heart and soul of Christian Science (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 113:5–6).
To prove the power of Christian Science, Rudolf says we need demonstration and acknowledgement of Love’s work. Christian Science nurses bring the purity of thought required to witness healing in others, and they praise God as the source of healing. These individuals don’t simply “give it their best shot.” Rather, they give themselves fully to the practice of Christian Science. This is what makes Christian Science nursing the gem of our movement.
Rudolf now has experienced this gem of Christian Science nursing in multiple settings. In addition to working at The Principle Foundation, he has interned at various Christian Science nursing facilities and completed Levels I, II, and III of Christian Science Nurse Education at Glenmont. Earlier this year, though, he decided to inquire about opportunities in our Administrative Office. The perfect opportunity opened up, and he was offered the position of Business Manager.
When I asked Rudolf why he made the move away from Christian Science nursing to Administration, he replied, “I don’t see it that way. I may not be working with the physical needs anymore, but I am cleansing the records, ministering to callers, and caring for patients by applying benevolence judiciously. I believe my work helps, it nurses, everyone in this facility.”
Rudolf still tries to visit the Christian Science nursing floor every day. He wants to stay connected to the people and the progress, as he knows that the embrace one feels when witnessing or experiencing Christian Science nursing is unparalleled, something you can’t get anywhere else. His first-hand knowledge of this is why he is committed to ensuring that places where Christian Science nursing can be practiced, such as Glenmont, are available for as long as Christian Science is available. And of course, he says, Christian Science is here to stay!
A Peek Inside Our Work - A New License to Make Home Visits
Over the past couple of years, laws in Ohio that govern the provision of health care in private homes have changed. The ability for individuals to provide skilled care in private homes became restricted. As a result, our Christian Science nurses may not have been considered in compliance with the law if called upon to serve our local community members in their homes.
Recently, we decided to apply for a Home Health Agency Skilled Care Services License (HHA), which would allow us to freely serve church members in their homes. Our application was quickly approved! Though we don’t have a Visiting Christian Science Nurse Service, our Christian Science nurses can now make home visits when necessary, allowing us to continue to care for members of our community beyond our facility.
Meet John Manfreda, Our New Administrator
John will be moving from Resident Services into Administration in December!
Since February 2024, John as served as our Resident Services Coordinator. Prior to that, he was formerly a Project Managment Professional with a degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) and extensive experience in project management and auditing.
John felt compelled to leave his long-time corporate position earlier this year to serve the cause of Christian Science. He has found a deep sense of fulfillment in supporting Christian Science nursing. He then heard divine Love’s call to submit his application for Administrator. After interviewing multiple candidates, our Board selected John as Lydia’s replacement. He will train with Lydia starting in December and move into the position full-time in early spring 2025.
Love Your Neighbor More by Attending this Retreat
Two individuals’ hands clasped together
Christ Jesus taught us that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor as ourself (see Matthew 22). Jesus’ example of how to do that included practical demonstrations of caring for others by feeding them, washing their feet, protecting them from angry crowds, and praising God for their spiritual perfection. He was the ultimate Christian Science nurse!
Just like Jesus, we all have been called to express the qualities of Christian Science nursing in our lives through our practical love for one another. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, student, caregiver, Reading Room librarian, church member, or simply a friend to others, we invite you to join us in January to explore ways we can put that love into practice. We will explore the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Christian Science Nurse bylaw, and more.
This retreat, called “What Every Christian Scientist Should Know About Christian Science Nursing,” will take place in both Ohio (at Glenmont) and Southern California (at The Willows) from January 27-31, 2025. To apply, please call Sandy Kincaid-Scott (Ohio - 614-876-0084) or Katy Napper (CA - 614-381-1123). Applications are due January 6th.
Must be a serious student of Christian Science to join this retreat.
