Visitors often tell us how the beautiful gardens and paths surrounding the BA bring them a sense of spiritual peace and harmony. Some have told us they can feel the presence of Soul here. Enjoy this 2-minute springtime stroll around the BA campus and hear guests and former patients talk about the healing atmosphere.

Grilled Portobello Parmesan

Yield: 6 servings
Active time: Prep: 35 min
Total time: Total: 40 min

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 large garlic clove, pressed
• 6 large portobello mushrooms, stemmed, gills scraped out
• 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, divided
• 6 1/3-inch-thick heirloom tomato slices (from 2 very large tomatoes)
• 7 to 8 ounces Fontina cheese, thinly sliced

Preparation

1. Prepare barbecue grill (medium-high heat).

2. Whisk extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and pressed garlic clove in small bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Arrange mushrooms on rimmed baking sheet, gill side up. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Note: Be sure to choose mushrooms that are fresh to get the best, mouthwatering results.

4. Spoon a generous tablespoon of dressing into each mushroom; swirl to coat.

5. Stir ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil in small bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

6. Arrange tomato slices on plate; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

7. Place mushrooms on grill, gill side down. Grill until edges begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness of mushrooms. Transfer mushrooms, gill side up, to the same baking sheet you used earlier. Nestle 1 tomato slice into each mushroom. Divide ricotta cheese mixture atop sliced tomatoes, spreading to cover, about 3 tablespoons per mushroom.

8. Top with Fontina cheese slices, dividing equally. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese over each. Carefully return mushrooms to grill. Cover barbecue and cook until mushrooms are soft and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

9. Sprinkle remaining chopped fresh basil over. Place mushrooms on plates. Drizzle remaining dressing around mushrooms and serve.

How do you maintain the highest standards of food services, housekeeping, and sustainability in a Christian Science facility like the BA? In this interview with Monty Haas, the BA’s Hospitality Services General Manager, Joe Blanchard, shares his perspective.

Listen to this downloadable podcast, and hear Joe describe how he embraces the mission of the BA…

Download the Podcast

FYI: We are offering this month’s audio interview in a downloadable MP3 podcast format to give you the option of listening to it on your computer or portable audio device. Please let us know what you think!

Whether you’re a mom, honoring your mom, or have received mothering love from someone special, here’s a fun opportunity to share your favorite quotes and pictures about mothers.  Did you know that the first official Mother’s Day was established by presidential proclamation in 1914?  In his first Mother’s Day proclamation, President Woodrow Wilson stated that the holiday offered a chance to “[publicly express] our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”

Is there someone who has enriched your life in only the way a mom can? We’d love to hear your thoughts on gratitude for mothers. Share quotes and thoughts below. Click here if you would like to post comments and/or photos on our Facebook page.

I’ve written a great deal about what the

This month I’m covering three misconceptions about the BA:

• The BA is open only to church members for Christian Science nursing.
• The BA is only for New Englanders.
• The BA is a 90-year-old anachronism.

Babe Ruth was traded to the Yankees in 1919, the same year that the BA opened its doors. Also in 1919:

• The first nonstop, transatlantic flight took place.
• The Senate passed the Women’s Suffrage bill.
• The treaty of Versailles ending WWI was signed.
• The 18^th Amendment to the US Constitution  was ratified, establishing prohibition.
• The 23^rd Boston Marathon was held.

These events and others from 1919 help give me some perspective on why there are so many misconceptions about the BA.  When an organization has been operating for 93 years, news and information don’t always keep pace with its actual progress and changes.

That’s why social media has been so great for the BA, allowing us to reach a broader audience with current, updated information.  Facebook, electronic newsletters, Twitter, and LinkedIn all help to keep the BA connected with its audience, and provide the critical feedback that we need to stay current and responsive to today’s needs.

So, let’s talk about a few more of these misconceptions…

• First, that the BA’s visitors, guests, residents, and patients are primarily from New England.

• While a majority of patients at the BA (and patients with the BA’s Visiting Christian Science Nursing Service) are from New England, that is not true of our residents, guests, and visitors who are primarily from outside New England. We host approximately 900 Rest & Study guests yearly who come from all regions of the US and from places around the world.
• Many guests who stay at the BA are attending Christian Science Associations held here, and many are visiting The Mother Church, or other locations in the Boston area.  There are several times during our busy season from April until mid-November when there is an Association held every Saturday of the month. Our staff and Christian Science nurses in training also represent a large portion of the US and beyond. At one point we counted a total of 17 languages spoken by our various staff members. And our international Christian Science Nurses Training School brings together Christian Science nurses from around the world, with the majority of those attending classes living outside New England.

• Another misconception is that only Christian Scientists who are church members may be admitted for Christian Science nursing. The requirements for admission are that a patient 1) be receiving treatment by a Christian Science practitioner currently listed in the Christian Science Journal and 2) be relying solely on Christian Science for healing. There is not a requirement that a patient be a member of The Mother Church or a branch church. We have welcomed those who are seeking healing through Christian Science treatment and who have only recently learned of Christian Science.

• Finally, there is a misconception that the BA is some kind of anachronism stuck in the 1920’s and 30’s. The fact is that the activity going on at the BA, with its thousands of guests, visitors, residents, and patients every year, ensures that fresh and new thought is constantly brought forward. Added to that is the daily engagement and feedback from our social media audience — who may only visit us online, but who are able to stay up-to-date and connected with our growth and progress. We continue to cherish our founding and the many years that the BA was operated by The Mother Church.  This provided strong roots for the BA. And we also cherish the care and nurturing of the BA by those who are now actively engaged with us — demanding a freshness and vibrant activity that will move us forward into our second hundred years.

Christian Science nursing facilities and other non-profit organizations depend heavily on the generous support of volunteers.  April is National Volunteer Month, a perfect time to recognize the many hours of selfless work offered by volunteers. Nancy Lamb, the BA’s volunteer coordinator, talked with us about the many ways volunteers make a critical difference to the caring atmosphere of Christian Science nursing facilities across the country.

Nancy, knowing that April is National Volunteer Month, can you please share your thoughts on the importance of volunteering at Christian Science nursing facilities?

National Volunteer Month is a good reminder of how grateful we are for all volunteers and for the qualities of selflessness that move a person to volunteer at a Christian Science nursing facility or other nonprofit organization. I can speak to our experience here at the BA, and we have found that our volunteers make a critical difference to enabling the BA to carry out its mission.  Volunteering is an important part of supporting the healing atmosphere at a Christian Science nursing facility. The volunteer’s most important contribution is their unselfed Christian affection, pure thought, and expectancy of healing, regardless of what their individual assignment is.

What are some ways volunteers can support Christian Science nursing facilities?

Volunteers can read for Sunday church services and weekly testimony meetings for patients.  Musicians provide music for church services, hymn sings, and concerts. At the BA, we’ve had book talks by authors, and geology and astronomy presentations.  Volunteers can also help in the offices of a facility, or share their talents as gardeners to beautify the grounds.

How do volunteers feel about their work?

Here are a few examples of what volunteers have told us :

• One of our volunteer musicians commented:  “I’m committed to the healing work of the BA, and music is my way of supporting it.  I get so much out of doing this!  Music is not music unless you share it, and the BA is such a good place to share—everyone is so appreciative of what you do.”

• Another volunteer told us:  “I had been praying to be of use to the Christian Science movement in a larger way, and the details of how to do it at the BA came specifically to thought—even though I live 2 hours away!  I then applied to volunteer. I really felt called in a way I never have before. I love the atmosphere and being around Christian Science nurses—a healing, positive, spiritual atmosphere.  Not to mention the fact of how appreciated you feel!  The Christian Science nurses are always thanking me and glad to have me here.  I feel like I’m in this little haven of healing.”

• One volunteer said a main reason she’s serving at the BA is because of gratitude for what the BA has done for her family and friends: “Often, I am deeply moved by the dominion and the healing work that I see going on around me as I come to read and visit with those staying at the BA. [I have seen] family members . . . return . . . home healed and others on the road to healing and regeneration of thought and body.  . . . Fear is dissolved, and the patient is heard expressing gratitude for the feeling that they are living in the presence of God’s love, God’s care, and God’s companionship.

“I am deeply grateful for the haven of love the BA offers Christian Scientists, and I want very much to say thank you for being here for us all, thank you for the good comfort, the healing love, and the spiritual strength of [the] . . .  prayerful thoughts as daily demonstrated by the Christian Science nurses and staff.”

Is there anything you’d like to add?

We hope those reading this will consider sharing their time and love with a Christian Science nursing facility near them.  You can look under our Volunteer Opportunities page or feel free to call the BA and we’ll be happy to help you obtain this information.

If you’d like to volunteer at the BA, please contact Nancy Lamb at 617-975-2746, or by email: nlamb@chbenevolent.org.

I’ve written a great deal about what the
Benevolent Association is. Sometimes you can
learn as much or more about an organization by
learning what it isn’t.

For instance, the BA isn’t:

1. Mary Baker Eddy’s former residence in Brookline, Massachusetts (covered in last month’s blog)
2. Owned, operated and endowed by The Mother Church (subject of this month’s blog)
   
3. Open only to church members for Christian Science nursing
4. Only for New Englanders
5. A 90-year-old anachronism

After 96 years it’s understandable that there are some misconceptions about the Benevolent Association’s history and ownership. For the first 65 years of that history the BA was owned and operated by The Mother Church and its Board of Directors. Then in 1981 the BA was transferred to an independent Board of Trustees. This formal change was announced in a Notice in The Christian Science Journal, March 1981, titled “Progress report on Sanatorium at Chestnut Hill” from the Christian Science Board of Directors. Many may have missed that small Notice. Even now, 31 years following the transfer of ownership of the BA, the misconception persists that the BA is somehow part of The Mother Church.

The misconception may be partly due to the BA’s close proximity to The Mother Church — we’re located only 4.5 miles down the road in Chestnut Hill. The BA maintains close ties with The Mother Church, and we are the closest local Christian Science nursing facility, so many Mother Church employees call upon the BA for Christian Science nursing. We also serve the many visitors to The Mother Church who stay at the BA on Rest & Study, or call upon Christian Science nursing.

Many of the BA’s staff are local members of The Mother Church and serve on committees, and several of our current staff were previously employed by The Mother Church, and some previous BA employees are now working at The Mother Church.

Despite the close working relationship the BA maintains with The Mother Church, we are no longer officially connected. And as is the case with all other Christian Science nursing organizations, we are expected to operate on our own financially. We call upon individuals in the Northeastern United States to help financially support the Visiting Christian Science Nursing Service as well as the in-patient and outpatient services of the BA. Additionally, we call upon a larger geographical area to help support the BA’s Training School that blesses many Christian Science nursing organizations throughout the United States and beyond.

Stay tuned for Part 3 – The BA isn’t simply regional, restricted, or anachronistic.

Elizabeth O’Berry’s life has revolved around giving, caring, and healing. As she explains, “There is such a need for Christian Science nursing – I feel like the world is calling for healing.”

Elizabeth loves the opportunity to bring the healing ministry of Christian Science nursing to her community served by Morning Light Lodge in Georgia, which also serves parts of Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Florida. She’s also grateful to attend the BA’s Christian Science Nursing Arts Training School where she is completing the final class of her training. According to Elizabeth, “One thing that’s so special is that the teaching isn’t separate from the practice.”

Elizabeth took a moment from her full class schedule to speak with the BA’s Monty Haas…

All gifts to support Christian Science nurses training will be matched through May 31, 2012. To make a gift, click here.

In the video below, join our Project Manager and resident art historian, Rebecca Clower, as she takes the BA’s Monty Haas on a 7-minute Art Tour…

We asked long-time Independent Living residents about their experiences here at the BA. They shared thoughtful insights into why they consider the BA their home. This is what they told us…

What do you like most about living at the BA?

“It’s a wonderful, healing atmosphere…you feel a real home environment…”

“Lovely companionship when wanted, and the availability of sacred solitude when wanted.”

“We are all like-minded people working together.”

” …the general idea expressed here of caring by the people who work here. I feel that! I feel cared for.”

“I am enthusiastic about the BA. It’s such a perfect home. There is no worrying about plowing snow…having it done or having someone do this or that in your house. It is all taken care of… it’s a sense of completeness. And joy is expressed here all of the time.”

“If you have a home of your own, you have so many distractions. And [here] we have more time to really be peaceful and working…doing our metaphysical work for the world….”

 What favorite activities do you enjoy here?

“It’s lovely to get out and enjoy the walks around the BA grounds.”

“Rides to services at The Mother Church are such a great advantage to living at the BA.”

“I never have to twiddle my thumbs. There’s plenty of reading material … wonderful libraries here…small libraries of secular novels, mysteries, and so forth, and the Bound Volumes and all kinds of Christian Science literature and Bible reference books — and all of these things are available to us at all times, day or night.”

“Using the bench swing on the lawn and watching the birds swooping by – especially when the magnolia tree is in bloom.”

“Enjoying a sunny afternoon up on the terrace on the south side of the building.”

“Sitting by the fireplace in spring and winter…that’s one of our favorite pastimes after meals.”

 How do you feel about the winters here in Boston?

“Since I don’t have to go out, I love it. Even when we had some really big snow storms and it looked like fairy land for days. It’s beautiful to look at. Every window you look out…there’s a beautiful scene. I like the winter even more that the summer.”

“What winter? We didn’t even have a winter here this year! [laugh]”

 What would you tell someone if they were curious about living at the BA?

“If you love Christian Science and want to progress in a study of it, in the demonstration, this is an ideal place to make your home.“