On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded a policy that protected certain areas—such as churches, schools, and hospitals—from immigration enforcement, replacing it with a directive that gives ICE agents unbridled power to take enforcement actions in any of these spaces. Protecting sensitive locations from immigration enforcement is essential to ensuring all our community members can access basic services and support without fear. This factsheet describes what the protected areas policy was, what laws apply to those areas now, and what steps advocates and communities can take to support immigrants in continuing to access critical community spaces and services.
The Equity in Education Scholarship application has opened!
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 Equity in Education Scholarship. Multiple scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $7,000 are available annually with the goal of removing financial barriers, offering mentorship and career development, and increasing the percentage of racially diverse teachers in Washington County Public Schools. Scholarships are eligible for renewal until degree is obtained or maximum award is reached. Learn more Apply now Flyer to share Donations are also needed to help fund the scholarships this year and in future years. Please consider donating here and share this Request for Funds Flyer with your congregation and/or friends.
Baltimore Work Camp Looking for Worksites
The Baltimore Work Camp is looking for local residents in need of home repairs. Worksites are needed so high school teens from across the Archdiocese of Baltimore can participate in a week-long service mission designed to help the young people put their faith into action. The work at each home will be completed by 3-5 teens supervised by adult leaders. All volunteer labor and materials are FREE to qualifying households.
Help with diapers and home supplies for refugee families
The Refugee Welcome Network is currently actively working with ten families and still offering some support for others who are struggling this month with reduced hours at Amazon and FedEx. Some of the families have babies and can’t afford diapers, formula, and other supplies. We’ve connected them to all community resources available, but it’s not quite enough. Donations of gift cards from Walmart, Target, or another source of baby supplies are wanted to help lighten the load of these new Americans as they work hard to build a life here. If you can give a gift card, please email director@harccoalition.org. Monetary donations are also a blessing to help with various needs.
Support Reach with Coldest Night of the Year walk – February 22
Saturday, February 22 4-7 pm
Hagerstown Community College (HCC) ARCC Building
20175 Scholar Drive, Hagerstown
Got a big-hearted business, workplace, group, church, or community or just want to walk for a cause? Step up and join the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) challenge in support of Reach and to “walk a mile” in the shoes of someone who’s homeless. Reach’s mission is to support and strengthen the community by preventing and resolving homelessness in Washington County. They empower individuals and families to move toward independence and stability through compassion, education, advocacy and resources. Learn more and register.
Celebrate the Season for Non-Violence and Peace January 30 – April 4
As we enter a new year with divisions in our society, now is a good time to ground or re-ground ourselves and our community in a mindset and skills for non-violence and peacemaking. What better time than during the international celebration of the Season for Non-Violence, which begins by marking the anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30 and ends on the April 4 anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Between are 64 days of practice of the principles of Gandhi, King, and others to bring about peace and nonviolence in our world today. (Note: non-violence is about quelling verbal violence as well as physical violence.) HARC encourages you to participate in this season of practice, and offers a number of resources to do so on our website. If you have articles and/or additional resources, please share them with us! Send to Kathy at director@harccoalition.org.
Resource for Congregations Thinking about Going Green
Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NOVA) is a faith-based non-profit organization that works with congregations across Maryland to save energy, go green, and respond to climate change. If your faith community is interested in creation care, sustainability, or environmental justice, Interfaith Power & Light would love to support your congregation in whichever way possible. IPL-DMV has helped dozens of congregations go solar and has helped communities transition to cleaner and healthier energy sources. Learn more about how faith communities can care for our shared common home at http://ipldmv.org
If you are interested in Going Solar go to http://ipldmv.org/solar to learn more!
To Inquire about establishing a green team, environmental justice concerns, or request a speaker; Reach out to IPL-DMV congregational organizer Joshua Long. joshua@ipldmv.org.
First Christian Church Announces Guest Preachers to mark 150 years
First Christian Church is excited to share news about wonderful guest preachers who will
grace their pulpit during their 150th year of ministry as a congregation! They hope that you can be in attendance to experience these amazing preachers. Attached is the current list of guest preachers for 2025.
Please feel free to share.
New Light MCC Welcomes Rev. Kelly Crenshaw
We are thrilled to announce that Rev. Kelly Crenshaw will be joining New Light MCC as our settled pastor, effective January 1, 2025.
Many of you may remember Rev. Kelly from her previous role as a co-transitional pastor at New Light from 2014 to 2016. She has also served at Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ in Boonsboro and St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ, among others.
We are grateful to John Wesley’s United Methodist Chapel for providing a space for our services and to the JWUMC congregation for their warm welcome.
We look forward to sharing ministries together and serving the tri-state area.
With blessings,
Board of Directors
New Light Metropolitan Community Church
Hagerstown, MD
Visit Hagerstown: Historic Houses of Worship Tour
Experience the Sights, Sounds, and Spirituality of the Holiday Season
at the Hagerstown Historic Houses of Worship Tour
A holiday tradition continues in downtown Hagerstown on Thursday, December 26 at the 11th Annual Historic Houses of Worship tour. The free, self-guided tour takes place from 3:00 to 7:00 pm and features eleven worship sites, all gatekeepers of history, art, literature, and architecture. Sites will share their ecumenical heritage, traditions, and music of the holiday season with visitors.
Many sites are located within walking distance of one another, and all sites are handicapped accessible. Light refreshments will be available at various locations. The tour brochure shows participating locations and all event details. Brochures can be picked up at participating worship sites or downloaded from the web at www.harccoalition.org
Attendees are encouraged to dine before or after the tour at one of the downtown establishments. From Puerto Rican to American fare a variety of options are available. https://www.hagerstownmd.org/685/Dine-Downtown
The event is hosted by the participating worship sites with support from the Hagerstown Area Regional Council, the City of Hagerstown, and Visit Hagerstown & Washington County CVB.
“What I love about the Historic Houses of Worship Tour is on what’s usually a quiet day, there are small and large groups walking in Downtown Hagerstown to expose themselves to the beautiful architecture of the houses of worship,” said Dan Spedden, president of Visit Hagerstown & Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “
In the event of inclement weather, visit HARC’s website at www.harccoalition.org or listen to WJEJ radio station, 104.3 FM and 1240 AM. In the event of cancellation, the tour will take place on December 27.
