Charlotte

Gatekeepers is a non-profit organization in Hagerstown, MD focused on helping inmates and ex-offenders re-enter and rejoin their communities following interactions with the criminal justice system. Led by ex-offenders Bill Gaertner and Keith Roys, Gatekeepers is getting people back on their feet and reintegrated into society through their Business of Living program, which is a comprehensive roadmap to help individuals lead productive lives. Gatekeepers is partnering with the American Idea Foundation & Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities to help validate their approach using evidence and data. Check out the video to see how Gatekeepers is transforming lives and learn more about their efforts here: https://www.gatekeepersmd.org/. To learn more about the American Idea Foundation visit: https://americanideafoundation.com/.

Hagerstown Nativity Festival, a free community event, is looking for local talent to donate their time to perform.   Examples being choirs, ensembles, solist instrumental or vocalists are all welcome. The dates of the festival are December 10th and 11th from 6-9 pm and 6-8:30 pm respectively. Time allotments will be 5-10 minutes for performances.  If interested, please contact Michele Reichard at 301-343-2444 or MicheleleeReichard@gmail.com

“The BCTCares Foundation, a philanthropy founded by the employees of BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community’s Bank, announced yesterday it raised $56,000 through its annual Pack The ‘Pack program in support of local backpack food charities focused on food-insecure children.” Read more.

HARC is grateful to BCT for donating $14,000 to Micah’s Backpack in Washington County!

Bishop Tim Harrast of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints joins Rabbi Mark for a fascinating discussion of creating safe spaces to practice and share faith, not only in interfaith practices, but as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Harrast also explains the origins of the church, as well as why Mormon isn’t quite the word he prefers be used. What is The Temple used for? What are the Latter Day Saints? If you’ve ever been curious about this religion, you’ll learn much in this episode.

You can find out more information about the Hagerstown Area Religious Council at harccoalition.org.

 Listen to The Interfaith Roundtable with Rabbi Mark every Saturday morning on 98.9 FM/ AM 1490 WARK, with the podcast version airing a week later at Listen Hagerstown.

 LINKS:

 Listen Hagerstown: https://listenhagerstown.com/interfaith-roundtable/

Communities of faith,

My name is Chris Schlotterbeck & I am the lead pastor at the Hub City Vineyard. Our community of faith is very community focused & one of the ways that we connect with the needs of the community is providing rides to local recovery houses. We now have anywhere from 25-30 men & women who attend our Sunday gatherings as a means to continue in their sobriety. However, there are Sunday’s that we have to leave some of the residents behind because we don’t have space in the different volunteers personal vehicles.

I am reaching out to communities of faith in the Tri State Area that may currently have a VAN or SHORT BUS that is not being regularly used by your church. If this is the case would you be willing to donate or sell your vehicle (at a very affordable price) to HCV?? It is our goal to expand this ministry & make a difference in the community by addressing this issue of addiction that is killing so many. My email address is chris@hcv.church & my personal cell phone is 240-291-1519, if you have any questions or would like to meet this need. I am thankful for all of you that are making a difference for the Kingdom of God.

Chris

 Program opportunity for your house of worship

“Trauma comes in many forms and can have severe, long-lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities. Triumph Over Trauma begins with a 7-week psycho-educational peer-based program that aids people on their journey to recovery. Volunteer facilitators are trained and equipped to lead a group in a creative, faith-affirming way.” FREE Triumph Over Trauma Bundle includes: TAMAR 7-week Curriculum; Christian, Islamic, Jewish, Native American Context Supplements; A Guide to Inclusion; Facilitator Debrief Guide; a media kit for sharing your faith community’s Triumph Over Trauma programs. Read more and download bundle .  Questions? contact David Washington at david.washington@maryland.gov /240.313.3385 or Kathy Powderly at 301-842-4272 / director@harccoalition.org.  Listen to a new podcast series on trauma & resilience.

Parade Seats for the 95th Annual Alsatia Mummers Parade –  October 29

Don’t forget to reserve your spot in front of John Wesley United Methodist Church for some of the best seats in town!  Seats go on sale October 3rd.  Call the church office at 301-733-0391 to reserve chairs for you and your family.  Seats are only $6 each.  Concessions and restroom will be available. 

John Wesley United Methodist Church,  129 North Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD  

All clergy including retired members and lay ministers are invited to consider volunteering your time to help our community at Meritus Medical Center. The goal for the Spiritual Care Department at Meritus Health is to transition to community-based volunteer chaplains.
They believe all people deserve love and attention of those who know them best. Their hope is to work closely with community clergy and lay ministers to better serve the spiritual care of our patients at Meritus Medical Center.
A 10-week training course will be provided free of charge starting October 4, 2022 at Robinwood Medical Center. It will include knowledge and skills that a volunteer needs in order to be effective as a valuable member of the chaplaincy team including the role of a volunteer, spirituality and religion, cultural awareness, listening and communication skills and working with those who are dying and/or grieving.

For more information or to sign-up please contact:
Angela Palle, BSC, MA, MBA, M.Div. – Spiritual Care Supervisor
Email: Angela.Palle@meritushealth.com
Phone: 240-291-0383
Katie Kelly – Spiritual Care Department Assistant
Email: Kathleen.Kelly@meritushealth.com
Phone: 301-790-8716

Download a flyer here.

Updated 10/4/22

A 4-story building at Potomac & Antietam Streets in Hagerstown with 20 occupied apartment units was condemned due to numerous code violations.  Tenants in all buildings were displaced, and while a handful were able to stay with friends and family, the majority had nowhere else to go.

The owner paid for about a week and a half of hotel stays and Horizon Goodwill and Community Action Council have helped with another week, scrounging for funds to do that, and anticipating that tenants’ rental insurance would kick in.  However, all rental insurance claims were denied as this is not a “natural” disaster.  Additionally, it was that that enough of the work on the building would be finished within 3-4 weeks for tenants to return, but we’ve since learned that it will take months to correct the building violations, so these individuals and families need to find another place to live very soon.

Here’s the current remaining need: Nine (9) individuals or couples need to find housing in some type of efficiency or apartment.  At the Georgian, they were paying approximately $700-750 per month, and all of these displaced individuals and families are working and have income.

If you can help, please contact Brooke Grossman, Horizon Goodwill, at bgrossman@goodwill-hgi.org or 301-988-0185.  Ways to help:

• Donate directly to the need (to donate by check contact Brooke).
• Identify potential landlords or rental opportunities that could fit the income levels of these families.
• PRAY for the families and organizations working to help them, and for speedy improvements to the building as affordable housing is in limited supply.