Archive for November, 2011
Christian Science Nurse Position Open
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011Construction Update
Monday, November 7th, 2011The exterior of the new entryway is finished. This two minute slide show documents its building:
From the Administrator (Nov 2011)
Friday, November 4th, 2011
As you can see from the photo, work on the Fern Lodge building project has progressed steadily, and before the end of November we expect to welcome visitors through the new entrance and into a gracious reception area. For up-to-date photos of the progress, please visit our blog at fernlodge.org.
“Every step of progress is a step more spiritual,” This statement opens Mary Baker Eddy’s sermon, The People’s Idea of God. As delightful as the new entrance is, and as much as we are looking forward to using it, still we remember that to be truly progressive, this step must be accompanied by a more spiritual understanding and demonstration of Christian Science nursing at Fern Lodge. To help us toward this goal, the Fern Lodge staff is in the midst of an inspiring reading project. A few years ago we read Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and met together to share the insights we gained that directly helped us in our Christian Science nursing work. That project bore much fruit, including increased harmony and healing.
Mary Baker Eddy gave a precious gift when she wrote Science and Health. Her gift to the world was a practical understanding of God and, especially, the works and teachings of Christ Jesus. Accompanying that understanding, Mrs. Eddy taught the healing method of Christian Science, which she discovered, tested and established through her own lifetime of healing practice. We are deeply grateful for her unfailing leadership in the present-day work of Christian Science, healing the sick and saving mankind from sin. Mrs. Eddy once wrote to a student, “The truth in regard to your Leader heals the sick and saves the sinner” (Gottschalk, The Emergence of Christian Science, p. 165). Fern Lodge is devoted to Christian Science healing. To improve our healing abilities, the staff has joined together in reading the biography, Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer. We invite you to join us! We will have a place on our website where you can share with us the insights you gain.
Much is new at Fern Lodge! Please help us keep you informed of our progress and our plans. The Fern Lodge Focus is available by email before it is printed and mailed, so those who receive notice of the Focus by email and then read it on our website, hear our news almost a month before the Focus is in the mail. If you would like us to be in touch with you in this way, it’s easy. Just go to our website, fernlodge.org, and type your email address into the box in the sidebar where it says, “Subscribe to Fern Lodge’s eNewsletter.” You also may call and give us your email address, or put your email address on the enclosed envelope and mail it to us.
We look forward to hearing from you, and you are welcome to visit Fern Lodge. We would love to give you a tour of the facility.
With gratitude,
George Strong
Administrator
Words from Our New Director of Christian Science Nursing
Friday, November 4th, 2011
Director of Christian Science Nursing — Rozanne Zwick
Fern Lodge is pleased to announce that Rozanne Zwick has accepted the position of Director of Christian Science Nursing at Fern Lodge. Rozanne has been listed in The Christian Science Journal since 1990. Her broad range of Christian Science nursing experience has embraced nursing instruction and camp nursing, as well as work in many capacities in individual homes and in Christian Science nursing facilities across the country and overseas. With such a wide range of experiences, she brings a unique focus and broad understanding of Christian Science nursing to her work here at Fern Lodge. Rozanne began her new duties and responsibilities — nurturing and inspiring patients, family members and staff at Fern Lodge — in September. Rozanne shared with us a glimpse of her vision for the healing work of Christian Science nursing here at Fern Lodge
“As I have been getting settled into Fern Lodge, I am seeing how well the definition of Church (Science and Health, 583) applies to what we are doing.
Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.
“Fern Lodge is part of the church ‘structure’ meeting the need for healing. ‘Whatever upon rests and proceeds from divine Principle’ speaks to me of government and the law that has already been placed in our heart. In the book of Kings, Solomon sought wisdom and understanding, but he learned that the understanding he needed came with his job, because there is only one intelligent source or divine Principle. I am very grateful that divine Principle is governing the position of Director of Christian Science Nursing and helping our staff of Christian Science nurses use the judgment that is an extension of the divine Principle that we all reflect.
“In addition, patients respond to divine Principle, which is showing them the divine Spirit that brings ‘healing in his wings.’ We are seeing ‘proof of [the Church’s] utility’ every day. Some patients are going home, and others are becoming more involved and active at Fern Lodge. The expressions of gratitude from patients and family members for the Fern Lodge staff and patients are ‘found elevating the race.’
“As family members learn more about Christian Science nursing, we see a ‘rousing’ of ‘dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas.’ Our staff is studying the book Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer to help arouse our thought to the present and practical nature of ‘healing the sick.’
“Church is a Universal idea, and it embraces Fern Lodge. We will continue to cherish this idea of Church and see how it is expressed in our hearts and in our relationship and commitment to each other as children of the same God.”
Bringing Education into Focus
Friday, November 4th, 2011
Sharon Strong – Director of Christian Science Nursing Education
For more than twelve years Sharon Strong served Fern Lodge as Director of Christian Science Nursing. During that time, her vision and her work duties included maintaining the high standard of Christian Science nursing for all patients at the facility, cherishing the patients (including their families, friends, and Christian Science practitioners), and offering a broad range of Christian Science nursing education for Christian Scientists in our community and also in South America. Fern Lodge is expanding its education activities, and we are deeply grateful that Sharon has agreed to shepherd this process and help us continue moving forward.
As Rozanne takes over responsibilities of Director of Christian Science nursing, her primary focus will be on individual patient care and staff development. Sharon will continue on at Fern Lodge, and her new role will be Director of Christian Science Nursing Education. She will focus on helping Christian Scientists understand and demonstrate the love of God in the ministry of Christian Science nursing as it is described in the Scriptures, in Science and Health, and in The Manual of The Mother Church. Together Rozanne and Sharon are a spiritually inspired team, committed to the highest standards of Christian Science nursing and education.
Fern Lodge offers unique and valuable education opportunities, including instruction and experience at our facility, in individual homes and in branch churches. Our understanding of the role of Christian Science nursing in the healing ministry of Church inspires us to reach out to Christian Scientists wherever they are. Our goal is to help individual Christian Scientists to fulfill the Christian requirements of feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty and ministering to the sick.
When asked to comment on the fresh focus of the new Fern Lodge program, Sharon shared some of her vision for this new adventure. She wrote, “The new Christian Science Nursing Education program at Fern Lodge promises to be full of fun and adventure! It will debut in January 2012, and include a full year of classes, workshops for branch churches, refresher courses for on-staff and local Christian Science nurses, and trips to South America, where we continue to nurture the skills of devoted Christian Scientists who are deeply in earnest of serving their fellow church members’ needs.
“Students of Christian Science striving to fulfill the letter and the spirit of the Church Manual bylaw, ‘Christian Science Nurse,’ may apply for courses at any time. Employment may be possible after classes if there are openings on staff and the individual’s qualities are a good fit for Fern Lodge’s work ethic. See our website for more information: fernlodge.org.
“Currently the program is being reorganized, and you will hear more news in the future as we launch into the new year
“Stay tuned!”
