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.”

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!”

from Sharon Strong, Director of Christian Science Nursing

When you arrive at Fern Lodge, you feel a sense of peace that characterizes the healing activity of the Christ.  This peaceful feeling is the result of the diligent work of the Fern Lodge staff.  Each staff member strives to contribute to our healing ministry.  In the We Knew Mary Baker Eddy series, John Lathrop attributes to Mary Baker Eddy these words of encouragement, which we take to heart:  “Never become discouraged, dear ones. This work is not hum-drum, it is growth. It is repeating and defeating, repeating and defeating, repeating and defeating” (First Series, p. 14 or Full Edition, p. 113).  The result of this work is Christian Science healing.

When individuals come to Fern Lodge for healing, we give them the third degree!  ☺   I’m referring to Mrs. Eddy’s scientific translation of mortal mind found on page 115 & 116 of Science and Health.  At times it can seem like a Christian Science nurse is fully engaged in the second degree, practicing the moral qualities of “Humanity, honesty, affection, compassion, hope, faith, meekness, temperance.”  And that seems good and unselfish, —nurses should express those qualities, shouldn’t they?

We might be tempted to believe that we apply those qualities to overcome the first degree—the depravity of matter or the physical realm—to “Evil beliefs, passions and appetites, fear, depraved will, self-justification, pride, envy, deceit, hatred, revenge, sin, sickness, disease, death.” If not alert, the Christian Science nurse might get caught up with the physical aspects of care—the tending of the body—seeking only the compassion, hope faith, meekness, etc. of the second degree.  We could lose the deep healing significance of Christian Science nursing if we leave our practice there, as benevolent as that seems.

But the fact is, we are not “second degree” nurses helping patients with their “first degree” problems.  Instead, we need to identify our nursing practice as founded in the “third degree” which Mrs. Eddy defines as “understanding.” This degree is spiritual, and involves “Wisdom, purity, spiritual understanding, spiritual power, love, health, holiness.”  She continues, “In the third degree mortal mind disappears, and man as God’s image appears.”  It’s so important that we begin with the scientific translation of immortal Mind, —God— and constantly see man as God’s individual, spiritual, perfect, eternal idea, held securely in Mind.  Then no matter what the physical or mental picture, we can acknowledge that our patients are eternally safe and cared for by Father-Mother God.  And as we do this, we find we are working in the third degree, and seeing more healing and wholeness.

Mrs. Eddy once said to her household:  “Our work is not to change God’s work, for that is finished and perfect. Neither is it to make error nothing, for it is that already; but to stand (apparently) in the midst of it, unmoved, knowing its nothingness.”

This last year we saw many evidences of grace manifested in the lives of patients and staff.  Noticeable freedom was gained and progress made by those whose healings seem to be protracted.  We watched as fear and discouragement were conquered and limitation was overcome in many ways.

A patient arrived unable to walk and experiencing pain and weakness on one side. At odd moments she would just cry. Through her prayerful study to learn more about God, and the daily support of a Christian Science practitioner, in a few months, she was walking unassisted and left to live in an apartment.  She wept when she left, only this time tears of joy for the wonderful healing.  She told me that she never realized before this experience what it meant to be “working” in Christian Science.

Another patient came to us after a fall.  Skilled handling and great alertness were required of the nurses, as they witnessed her innate perfection. After 10 weeks of study, prayer, and progress she went home, using only a cane for balance. She said, “The nurses were very accommodating to my unique needs. The total response of everybody—the gardener, cooks, staff—was darling: they all were so loving and caring!” This experience reassured her husband, who was not a Christian Scientist, and who had wanted her to receive medical care.

On hearing that patient’s news about going home, another patient said, “I’m going home too!” And two weeks later she did. She told me that before this experience, she didn’t really know what Christian Science nurses “did,” and now she was in awe of all the love, encouragement, and excellent care we provided in support of her healing.  “I never knew you did all of this, and so joyously,” she said. Since she’s been home, she has cooked dinner every night, and does her own laundry and housekeeping.

As I reflected recently on the healing mission of Fern Lodge, the words of Mrs. Eddy’s “Communion Hymn” came in the form of an acknowledgement, as this paraphrase: “Yes, we have seen the Savior! Yes, we have heard the glad sound! Yes, we have felt the power of the Word! The Truth has made us free, and Love has wiped away our tears.  Spirit has cleansed the foul senses, has made us pure, has cured all our sorrow, sickness, and sin. Yes, Life is the Strongest deliverer, and the recognition of the ever-present Christ has made us whole.”

Thank you so much for your support of Christian Science nursing.  Wherever in the world it is practiced, we all share one common purpose: Christian Science healing.

Sharon Strong

Director of Christian Science Nursing

We love our Volunteers!  — meet two of our readers

We are so grateful to have a group of great volunteers this year, and we are especially grateful to all who help us with our Church services.  Their dedication and their heart and soul offerings bring so much meaning to the healing atmosphere.  It’s something the guests comment on quite frequently, —the fresh inspiration and feeling of Love they experience with our volunteer readers especially.

Pictured here is a dear and long-time friend of Fern Lodge, Anna Lisa Kronman.  Anna Lisa is a Christian Science practitioner in Orinda, and she comes to read for Testimony Meetings at Fern Lodge.  Everyone at Fern Lodge is deeply grateful for her metaphysical clarity, spiritual insights and tender care.

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Another volunteer shared thoughts about his experiences at Fern Lodge. David Long reads for our testimony meetings and also occasionally plays piano for a Hymn Sing. We love how he speaks from his heart! Mrs. Eddy says, “When the heart speaks, however simple the words, it’s language is always acceptable to those who have hearts” (Miscellaneous Writings, page 262). David wrote:

“The idea of visiting Fern Lodge first came to me after praying to our Father-Mother Soul, to show me my church-work calling. I had been thinking for some time that I wanted to do something tangible. When the idea came, I felt a quiet confidence that it was right, and I just drove over.

My love and appreciation of Christian Science nurses and nursing facilities has grown immensely over the years.  To me, Fern Lodge is among the most important institutions of the world. When the heart is yearning to be healed spiritually, what an amazing thing it is to find places dedicated to that purpose, —and with practical support! Ah, heaven!

What feels most meaningful to me, specifically about Fern Lodge, are two things. One is the genuine, heart-to-heart, illuminating, and friendly conversations I’ve had with both residents and the staff. And this includes the gentle “non-conversations” — when verbal communication does not appear possible because of a patient’s condition, their qualities speak louder than words.

Second, I love the casual, roll-with-it, forgiving spirit that’s woven into everything that happens there. It feels like home, where everything might not appear perfectly in place, until we look with softer eyes and see, well, as a matter of fact, everything is just as it should be.

One of the blessings I get from volunteering at Fern Lodge is feeling calm and purposeful. We all have a feeling that our natural calling is to be useful, to do a little more than the insecure mortal ego thinks is possible. When I ignore the discouraging voices and take even one step in the right direction, the world slows down, and I am reminded that I have the power to do more. In short, by volunteering, I simply find I am in my right mind, and that I am being myself.”

If you would like to learn more about volunteering, please click here.

Meet Tony, a summer intern from Principia College

My name is Anthony Ackah-Nyanzu.  I come from Ghana, and I now live in Elsah, Illinois, attending Principia College.  I will be starting my junior year this coming fall with a double major in Computer Science and Economics.

It was the Spring quarter, and as usual I had to decide where I was going to be for the summer.  I initially had two places in mind.  I was either going to work for The Mother Church or to work for a Christian Science nursing home.  For a while I have wanted to work at a Christian Science nursing facility, but I was unsure if it was the right thing for me.  Halfway through the quarter there was a job fair at Principia.  I first visited the Mother Church booth, and talked with them about a possible internship.  After that I went to the Fern Lodge booth to talk about nursing.

I met Brian Stock, and he told me about Fern Lodge.  He talked about Christian Science nursing training at Fern Lodge and then about an internship to work in the office for the summer.  Right away I knew that doing that internship was the right thing for me.  It would give me experience related to my fields of study, but more importantly would help me to decide whether Christian Science nursing was the right thing for me.

While I have been at Fern Lodge I have been working on digitizing historic photos and uploading them on the Fern Lodge website.  Some are already fading, so I add color and light to them so that they look as they were originally.  I have also participated in taking the guests here on walks and reading the Lesson, Christian Science Monitor, and other Christian Science literature.  Being able to do these things with the guests makes my time here worthwhile and enjoyable.  I love to go on walks, so being able to take someone with me makes me definitely like to work here.

I am in my third room while I have been here, but every move has been to a better room.  I totally like where I am now.  I like the food, and the people that I have met here.  I wake up in the morning, have breakfast while hanging out with the one making breakfast and then come to work.  I work on the photos, help with computers, or do anything I need to do in the office, and then it is time for the walk.  ☺

In short, I am enjoying my summer.  I am glad I came to Fern Lodge.  The warm welcome I have received here, from the people to the services in general, have made it clear to me that Christian Science nursing is something that I would be interested in doing, at least while I am in school.  I would definitely consider Fern Lodge for my nursing class if it is available next summer.

Thank you,

Tony

By Brian Stock

Reading the Bible literally, we might consider the first chapter of Genesis to be a miraculous tale of the creation of the universe in seven days by a distant tribal deity.  Yet Mary Baker Eddy’s writings shed a great deal of light on how to approach this first chapter in the Bible.  She asks early in her exegesis on Genesis in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “Was not this a revelation instead of a creation?” (504:14).  Her statement asks us to read this chapter not as a creation myth, but as something that is revealing the present nature of the universe.  Although the first chapter of Genesis appears to be entirely written in the past tense by English Bible translators, the original language it was written in—ancient Hebrew—possesses no past, present, or future tense as we would conceive of them today.  Speaking of the seventh day of creation, Mrs. Eddy says, “Human language can repeat only an infinitesimal part of what exists” (S&H 520:5–7).  This must always be the case, as language was created to express what the human mind sees, experiences, and feels.  How can these words describe the realm of God, Spirit—which eye cannot see and the ear cannot hear?  Mrs. Eddy considered this very problem to be one of her most difficult challenges:

“Apart from the usual opposition to everything new, the one great obstacle to the reception of that spirituality, through which the understanding of Mind-science comes, is the inadequacy of material terms for metaphysical statements, and the consequent difficulty of so expressing metaphysical ideas as to make them comprehensible to any reader, who has not personally demonstrated Christian Science as brought forth in my discovery” (S&H 114:32).

Considering this great challenge, we should recognize that the first chapter of Genesis is a spiritual revelation, and as a spiritual revelation, it is trying to reveal something about the spiritual universe through materially-based language.

“The numerals of infinity, called seven days, can never be reckoned according to the calendar of time” Mrs. Eddy continues (S&H 520:10–11).   She is saying that when the Bible speaks of “days,” it is using a human term for something that has little to do with the actual human concept of day.  The spiritual concept of day is not only outside of time, but is annihilating the human perception of time: “These days will appear as mortality disappears, and they will reveal eternity, newness of Life, in which all sense of error forever disappears and thought accepts the divine infinite calculus” (S&H 520:12). The “days” in the first chapter of Genesis did not happen in the past, they are a present revelation of spiritual reality to our consciousness, and this revelation is removing our mortal sense or a sense of being mortal.  So, as we demonstrate and live more of the eternal Life, which is God, these days of creation will continue to reveal more of this Life and our connection to it.  The days of creation reveal the complete, ageless, and indestructible man of God’s creating.  As we increase our capacity to see this man as the present reality, we will heal the sick through a spiritual recognition of the real man, created, as it says in Genesis, in the image and likeness of God.