July 2025

Our Voice
Glenda M. Biddiscombe

I'm often asked how I like living in a retirement community (Maris Grove) and whether I regret the move here. (I had lived in Broomall for 45 years prior to the move.) I'm grateful to be able to say how much I enjoy the friendly life here--  just wish the days, months, and years wouldn't fly by so quickly!  Meals are provided but most people eat breakfast and lunch in their apartments (or go to Chick-Fil-A and so on). There are four dining rooms and the choice is yours--  between 4:30pm and 7pm.   We are fortunate to have a beautiful nondenominational chapel-- the last of the 25 "Erickson" campuses to include one.

There are over 160 clubs to join: Italian, art, woodwork, Bridge, retried nurses --  even the Barbara Club (as that's the most popular name here). There's also an indoor pool and fitness center, equipped with an assortment of workout machines.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, a movie is shown in the theatre free of charge. Out of the 1,700 residents here, I'm always surprised how few attend--  30 to 40! Alternate Wednesdays there's either a live show in the theatre or a bingo session.

We have a fully-staffed medical department, where you pull cords to summon "security" when needed and a great team to keep the grounds beautiful.
I was so grateful to have been back to St. Mark's for the 75th Anniversary Sunday. I wish everyone the best.

Greetings, Rev.

"Welcome to the east coast!" Someone said to me at the Shore, which struck me as an odd thing to say to someone who's been here for nearly a year now. Anticipating my raised eyebrow, they followed up by pointing to the Atlantic Ocean and saying, "That's what makes the east coast 'the east coast.'" 
I was at Wildwood for our annual conference with Ruth Kolva, our lay leader representative. It was my first one ever in the United Methodist Church, and Ruth's first in awhile. It was also the first with our new bishop, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi. It was a great time of not just coming together as one body as the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference, but also of meeting and connecting with fellow pastors. (Some innovative ideas are already in the works!) Sadly, Ruth and I did not take a picture together, so perhaps a picture of our new bishop will suffice.

On June 1st, many of our church family came to celebrate God's faithfulness for 75 full years at St. Mark's. We were reminded to seek God first as we worshipped upstairs. We were blessed in prayer by two of our former pastors, Rev. John Nesbitt and Rev. Ken Gelzhiser. We reminisced over our history by looking at decades-old slides. And last but certainly not least, we ate to our heart's content. May God continue to nourish our church so that we can expand his kingdom on earth!
Though these were all memorable, it is debatable whether my time with Glenda Biddiscombe takes top honors. She treated me to tea with milk (poured in the cup first!) and biscuits--the British way!