Summer Newsletter 2025
Retreat attendees and instructor, January 2025
Living the Word. Doing the Work. Sharing Our Story.
by John Manfreda, Administrator
I am honored and humbled to serve Glenmont.
If you had told me two years ago that I would be serving the cause of Christian Science nursing full-time, having left behind the “benefits” of a corporate position, I would have said, “No way!” Yet, I did feel a deep sense to do something different. So what changed to lead me to Glenmont? First, my understanding of what is important in life, and second, falling in love with the work of supporting the healing ministry of Christian Science nursing!
First, I served as a volunteer, including as a Reader for Glenmont’s church services and testimony meetings, which exposed me to the peace, serenity and palpable love present here. Amongst a world often in supposed turmoil and constant change, this atmosphere had a lasting impression on me as something very special. I also saw the example of my amazing wife, the former Administrator. She consistently went above and beyond in her role to support the Glenmont community.
After leaving the corporate field, I came to work at Glenmont in the Resident Services office. The experience was humbling, challenging, and, most of all, rewarding beyond expectation. I found clarity in supporting the Christian Science nurses and patients through meaningful activities. It was a wonderful way to demonstrate listening and obeying God. Doing such work out of love for both God and my fellow man brought renewal, joy, and peace.
One key activity I felt led to begin was called The Gratitude Project, a resident-based activity fostering and promoting intentional gratitude for all the good unfolding at Glenmont and in our daily lives. As we did this, three things happened. 1. I saw even more good surrounding me, and this had a healing effect. I was healed of a toothache, headaches, and fatigue. 2. Residents were engaged and uplifted during the sessions, sharing wonderful ideas on gratitude and the nature of good, God. 3. The Christian Science nurses reported that they could sense thought shifting upwards in their daily interactions with residents.
These positive effects have been tangible and continue today. They have inspired me to expand The Gratitude Project to include all Glenmont employees, volunteers, and, hopefully, you, its greater community. For me, this effort is a cornerstone of our revised mission statement (shared at last year’s Annual Meeting), which I have condensed into three key points: 1. Living the Word 2. Doing the Work 3. Sharing our Story.
As we go forward with this focus, I invite you to join us in implementing this mission. What are you grateful for? How are you living the Word and doing the Work? Share your ideas with me via audio, video, or written testimonial. You can email jmanfreda@glenmontcsn.com or text (614) 812-9499. I can’t wait to hear from you and to continue to share with you how we are doing this work, too.
“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.”
Gratitude for Our Staff
April 22, 2025 - We recognized the outstanding work of many of our staff members at our new, quarterly gratitude ceremony and at a resident “Thankful Tuesday” activity.
A Peek Inside Our Work - Did You Know?
Our Christian Science nurses are trained to be leaders. This includes spiritual discernment of needs and assessment of the resources required to meet those needs, cherishing each individual’s ability to help herself or himself.
Some of our Christian Science nurses were studying the difference between discernment and assessment. They found that, while both words involve evaluation, assessment is a general term that focuses on gathering information and making a judgment based on set criteria, while discernment implies a deeper, more intuitive understanding that involves more nuanced factors and considers moral or spiritual implications. There is often a focus on recognizing the underlying truth or value of something beyond surface details. Our Christian Science nurses tend to lean toward the term discernment in considering the approach they take, as our assessments are always God-led.
Healing & Gratitude
Flowers blooming in a field
From Our Patients and Staff
“One of our residents, who seemed to be having a sudden challenge late last year, has made beautiful and ongoing progress as we have born prayerful witness to the fact that God is the only Life of man.”
“A resident suddenly became weakened and needed full bed care. We provided continuous, supportive watching and proper care. The resident responded beautifully to Christian Science treatment and care, and occasionally joins other residents for activities now.”
“One of our Christian Science nurses shared that she’d experienced intense back pain late one night at home. She was not sure she could come to work in the morning. However, she did come, insisting she was in her right place. By mid-morning, she happily shared that all discomfort was completely gone!”
“An individual called us with an aggressive claim of poison ivy. One of our Christian Science nurses made an in-home visit to assist with cleansing and bandaging. The individual then came to Glenmont. It was beautiful to witness this patient’s thought rising in prayer as the claim was handled mentally. After a week, the patient was able to return home and has since been completely healed.”
Joining with our church community
“A local Christian Science branch church chose Glenmont as the site of its spring Christian Science lecture. Prayerfully preparing the way for the message was a blessed privilege for the branch church and also for the facility.
Glenmont residents came together for their own lecture preparatory meeting where they listened to articles on JSH-online that the Christian Science lecturer had requested for study. Residents also shared ideas to support the lecture and surrounding community. The result was a well-attended lecture and tangible sense of God’s holy presence. We are grateful for our residents, who are earnest workers in the Christian Science movement, engaged in the healing activity of church.
A few days following the lecture, multiple adjustments had to be made to cover the patient care floor schedule due to a belief of sick-leave among the Christian Science nurses. The evening Shift Supervisor commented that she “felt the presence of God so strongly” even though there had been this challenge. The healing atmosphere the lecture inspired could not be undone and continued to bear fruit. Everyone returned to work shortly after that.”
Guest Article - A Childhood Blessed by Christian Science Nursing
By Deborah L. Master, C.S. (former board member at Glenmont)
Child in a field
“Christian Science nurses . . . provide evidence of the fulfillment of the promised Comforter.””
The love evidenced by Christian Science nursing deeply touched my heart as a very young child. This gratitude goes on, blessing my practice of Christian Science and, undoubtably, the countless individuals that have been healed under the care of Christian Science nurses and Christian Science practitioners. What immense good is provided through Christ Jesus’ words and healing works, and Mary Baker Eddy’s true receptivity and spiritual industry, compelled by God’s direction, for Christian Science healing and nursing!
When I was nine, my father passed on. While my childhood years were atypical because of this illness, my father and I had a very tender, loving relationship for which I am forever blessed. I know him as practicing Christian Science as fully as he knew how. Gratefully, he required me to be earnest, too, in demonstrating this practical Science for myself and others.
My father was often cared for at a Christian Science nursing facility. At every visit, my mother and I were greeted at the door. My mother went off to see my dad while one of the delightful Christian Science nurses whisked me off to wrap me up in Truth’s love. These precious Christian Science nurses spoke to me about the Science of Being and beholding the perfect man, the Christ man, so that when I entered my father’s room, that’s what I would see!
I learned that I could, and would, only see the man God made, because there is no other man. I learned that life, my father’s life, was not manifested in matter but in and of Spirit; that the perfect man, conceived in divine Mind as beautiful, healthy, safe, was the vision I would see, remember, and carry with me. The Christian Science nurses shared that I was God’s witness, as Mary Baker Eddy tells us, of my father’s “true light and loveliness” and “that these ideals are real and eternal because drawn from Truth” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 359:31). From this, I found “that nothing is lost, and all is won, by a right estimate of what is real.”
Thoughts of my childhood remain full of joy, activity, harmony, accomplishment, peace, normalcy; never a moment of sadness, only the presence of good—the Fatherhood and Motherhood of God raising me up!
As I experienced, the universality of the work of Christian Science nurses always extends beyond individual patients and embraces family, friends, and often the community. Mary Baker Eddy tasked these individuals with being “cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, — receptive to Truth and Love” (Science and Health, p. 395:18). These qualities are clearly a part of how Christian Science nurses provide proper care (see The Church Manual, p. 49:13), and I felt this with every visit.
The encounters I have with Christian Science nurses are a large part of my joy and demonstration in practicing Christian Science today. They provide evidence of the fulfillment of the promised Comforter to nurture, give proper care, and inspire with Truth, Life, and Love magnified and proven. This truly shows how Christian Science nursing honors God with all its heart and soul, strength, and mind, praising God and His Son, the Way shower—Christ Jesus, and revering our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in loving all mankind.
Christian Science nursing is a gift from God for which I am so grateful. We are all blessed by Glenmont, which, through its mission, is furthering the healing practice of Christian Science nursing.
Because of You - Matching Grant Met!
Thank you to all the generous donors who helped us meet our spring matching grant from the Isabel Foundation.
Sharing the Good News - Our Staff “About Town”
Our Christian Science staff are very active in supporting the Christian Science field beyond their duties for Glenmont. They serve as Readers, Sunday School teachers, panelists, speakers, and more!
Last year, Helvi Paasinen, our Director of Christian Science Nursing, gave a talk for High Ridge House titled, “Handling Turbulence in Healing.” More recently, Katy Napper, our Director of Offsite Christian Science Nursing Education, was featured in the May 2025 newsletter for The Willows in Southern California. Also in May, Christian Science nurse Tokunbo Ayorinde shared spiritual insights in a talk called “Holding on to God’s promises.”
To read The Willows article or listen to either talk, click here.
A Poem - “The Stranger’s Blessing”
By Bernice Tumawu
This poem was written by Bernice during on of our Christian Science Nursing Retreats.
In ancient times, a tale was told
Of kindness, love, and a heart of gold.
A Samaritan, with compassion true,
Saw a hurt stranger and knew what to do.
He stopped and helped, with a gentle hand
Tended wounds and soothed the troubled land.
With oil and wine, he cleansed the pain
And showed the world Love’s healing refrain.
So let us walk, in the Good Samaritan’s way,
With kindness, compassion, and a heart that sways
To the rhythm of love that heals and restores
And guides us on our journey, to the shores.
Join Us for a Healing Retreat This Fall
Attendees at our most recent Retreat in Ohio
“I appreciated [digging] into tough concepts together, to understand at a deep level the rewards and challenges of implementing the Christian Science Nursing bylaw from the [Church] Manual written by Mary Baker Eddy.”
“I felt such a deep sense of love, support, community and sharing. I just loved it!”
“What Every Christian Scientist Should Know About Christian Science Nursing”
Let your heart open to all of the ways you can (and do) express love and care for your fellow man. Gain a better understanding of how Christian Science nursing is an integral part of Mary Baker Eddy’s revelation of church and Christian Science.
Join with Christian Science nursing students to explore Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan and the Church Manual By-Law, “Christian Science Nurse.” With the Pastor as the foundation, attendees learn Christian Science nursing standards and practical tips for supporting others and for preparing light nourishments.
Held this fall in Ohio and California. Open to all serious students of Christian Science. See our Course Schedule or contact 614-876-0084 (Ohio) or knapper@glenmontcsn.com (CA).
Save the Date - Our 2025 Annual Meeting
Our Annual Meeting will be held at Glenmont on November 2, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
This year’s theme is “Our Labor of Love - Christian Science Nursing.”
This year’s featured speaker is Rob Van Der Like. Rob is currently the Program Coordinator for the Communities of Christian Caring (CoCC), a sponsored program of The Principle Foundation. He is also a member of the Christian Science Nursing Collaborative, and a dedicated 13-year board member of Wellsprings of Florida. Over the past 15 years, Rob has ministered to prison inmates in Florida. He is also a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Ocala. Rob has given many metaphysical talks to Christian Science groups over the past few years.
