Winter Newsletter 2026
Our full newsletter is arriving soon!
Giving with Pure Joy
by Mary C. Pieper, Resident Services Coordinator
Hello, dear Reader! Happy New Year!
You may be familiar with this statement by, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science:
. . . blessed is that man who seeth his brothers need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another’s good” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 518:15-19).
As the Resident Services Coordinator, I get to see this thought put into practice every week by our volunteers. Giving from their hearts, they bless others and are so blessed themselves.
These volunteers play a vital role in supporting the healing mission of Christian Science nursing – and, of course, the staff and patients adore them! Their spirit of giving enriches the warm and loving atmosphere we offer at Glenmont, helping the healing presence of the Christ, the true, spiritual idea of the unity of God and man, to be felt. From playing the piano at church services to joining in hymn sings, preparing readings for testimony meetings, decorating for Christmas or other holidays, and more, volunteers bring us a sense of joy, refreshment, and renewal.
Volunteering requires a giving of the heart and a willingness to bear witness to God’s perfect man, without seeking something in return. While the opportunity to volunteer can be pre-planned, it can also be impromptu. One precious example of this took place at our Annual Meeting last year. Two attendees heard, at the last minute, that there might be children coming to the meeting and were immediately ready to provide childcare. Their love was so pure that there was no sorrow at possibly missing the meeting themselves, only joy and Christ-like compassion to serve.
We each have that spirit of Love (God) reflected in love. It is innate within us, and God has called upon each of us to open our hearts and find ways to bless our fellow man. Whenever we share our time and talents, it is proof of Love’s rich overflow (see Christian Science Hymnal, Hymn 139).
I love the story of blind Bartimaeus, who was sitting on the side of the road, begging, when Jesus left Jericho with his disciples (see Mark 10: 46-52). When Jesus called Bartimaeus to come to him, Bartimaeus threw off his outer garment and did as commanded. In other words, he got rid of whatever might have hindered his ability to rise up and receive the touch of Christ. What a wonderful example of the expectation of good he had and his willingness to be free!
We all want to see and feel this Christly presence and power that flows from divine Love. I have often seen how volunteering allows individuals to do just that. “Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker,” Mrs. Eddy writes, “neither does withholding enrich us” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 79:31). Let us all be willing to let go of our “outer garments” to serve God by following Christ.
I encourage you, dear newsletter reader, to consider if volunteering in support of Christian Science nursing is a right idea for you. We are currently exploring new ways to offer volunteer opportunities, such as virtual programs (like sharing your travelogue or teaching a painting class via Zoom) and reading over the phone. We would also love to hear your ideas!.
You can reach me by calling (614-876-0084, ext 106) or emailing mpieper@glenmontcsn.com. I can’t wait to see all the ways Love continues to give through you and our amazing volunteer community!
A Peek Inside Our Work - The Joy of Giving
In 1898, Mary Baker Eddy made a request to her “beloved Christian Scientists” that they refrain from sending her Christmas gifts (see The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 256: 7-9). She made it clear through her writings that Christian Scientists should celebrate the ever-present Christ and the awakening of spiritual understanding at Christmastime, rather than “mere merry-making and or needless gift-giving” (p. 259:23-27).
For many who observe a holiday at this time of year, however, merry-making and gift-giving (and getting) are indicators that the season is a successful one. In fact, it may even be thought that without these things, there isn’t anything worth celebrating. This belief is sometimes called the “holiday blues” and can lead to suggestions of sadness, stress, loneliness, and even depression.
Knowing how important our mental atmosphere is to health and healing, we strive to counteract these mortal beliefs as Mrs. Eddy called for—celebrating the true spirit of Christmas. One way this unfolds on our Christian Science nursing floor is in an annual “Joy of Giving” project. Each day during this time, our Christian Science nurses pray to reverse any “seasonal” mental impositions which would attempt to interfere with the joy and harmony that is so natural to our facility and patients, as well as to each of us. The Christian Science nurses also look for ways to help patients express their Christ-likeness through opportunities to give. For example, we collected toys in December, and the patients rode our bus to the local fire station to add these gifts to the Fire Department’s toy drive.
Another day, about 20 Christian Science nurses came together to carol up and down the hallways, stopping at every office and resident room to sing a Christmas song chosen by the residents. When the Christian Science nurses arrived at the office of our Director of Christian Science Nursing, they piled inside, bearing a vase of three roses. Four residents came along. They all began to sing “The First Noel.”
The sweetness of their voices and the joy in their hearts brought tears to the eyes of our Director. It also brought healing. She later shared that she had been suffering an aggressive headache and was feeling ill, but this expression of God’s love filled her instead with the healing Christ, and she awoke from the mesmeric claim of sickness. After the group left her office, she realized the headache was gone, and soon all the symptoms of sickness had also disappeared.
What a wonderful example of how a willingness to give can dispel beliefs of inharmony and suffering. The deep unity of mankind is revealed through the collaboration and love required by the Joy of Giving, and we all feel an unbounded sense of home right where we are. In this expression of good, we discover that God is never “blue.” He is bright, active, and blesses, as His children, we are, too!
“The outward symbols disappear
From him whose inward sight is clear,
And small must be the choice of days
To him who fills them all with praise.
Keep while ye need it, brothers mine,
With honest zeal your Christmas sign,
But judge not him who every morn
Feels in his heart the Lord Christ born.”
(Christian Science Hymnal, Hymn 170, verse 2)
