News

Hebron Mennonite Church in Hagerstown will be offering a program of group spiritual direction starting in October and invite your participation. Through monthly small groups (4-6 persons per group), participants will gather to pray and share with one another where they have sensed the presence of God in their lives. The small group serves as a spiritual director/companion in listening and helping each person discern their spiritual path. These groups become sacred listening circles as they pray for one another. Leadership for these sessions will be provided by Ed Poling, retired Church of the Brethren pastor and trained spiritual director, and Rebecca Rothenhoeffer, United Methodist layperson, personal coach and trained group spiritual direction facilitator. Sessions will be held at the Hebron church on the first Thursday evening of each month starting in October and concluding in May. The first and last sessions will be a six-hour retreat for orientation and evaluation. Each participant will be asked to read Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic–and Beyond. There is no fee for the eight-month program. However, a love offering will be taken to help underwrite the costs of the use of the building. The church is located at 13315 Highlane Street, Hagerstown. For more information and a brochure, contact Ed Poling at 301-766-9005 or elpoling1@gmail.com The program will begin on Thursday, October 6.

Zion Reformed UCC is currently hiring new team members to fill the positions of Administrative Assistant and Multimedia Specialist. Zion Reformed UCC is an equal opportunity employer that believes all people are created in the image of God and does not discriminate against employees on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or any other of the beautiful differences that exist between us. If interested please respond by noon on September 7^th by dropping off your resume and references to the office or by emailing to pastorkt143@gmail.com. Complete job descriptions are available at www.zionreformed.church/jobs.

HARC is excited to announce that four awards were given for the firsts annual Equity in Education Scholarship, totaling $16,500 in awards.  $7,500 in funds were provided by Rise Up Hagerstown and generous individuals donated an additional $9,000 so we could fully fund all four recipients.  (Download the article here )

Three of the 2022 winners are in the Maryland Accelerates Program with Frostburg University at USMH and, if successful, will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in just one year. Meet these three incredible women:

Chanda has served as a substitute teacher in Washington County Public Schools for the last seven years and is seeking a degree in Elementary Education.  Outside of teaching, she has volunteered with children at Elgin Station and Bester Elementary School (via Bester Community of Hope), and she is a Zumba instructor.  “I want to demonstrate to all young learners regardless of ethnicity, background or environmental upbringing, the abilities of learning are limitless and greatness can be achieved by all,” said Chanda.

Lyvon has been working in the banking industry for many years, but has always wanted to be a teacher.  She loves teaching youth and adults in her church, and is excited to now finally pursue a degree in Elementary Education. As an adoptive parent, she enjoys teaching her children about different cultures, taking them on a “virtual tour” of countries around the world.  And in her spare time, she runs a small nonprofit to support adoptive and foster parents.  “I have always wanted to teach,” says Lyvon. “Now it’s time for me to step up and help children build the tools they need to grow.”

Delphine (Del) is fairly new to Washington County and worked this past year as a paraprofessional teacher at Western Heights Middle School.  She is now pursuing a degree in Secondary Education, her decision reinforced by her experience working with students at Western Heights with behavioral issues.  “As a student who did not discover her value as a good writer until it was pointed out to her, I strive to point out every talent I see,” Del shared.  “I strive to consciously teach in a manner that focuses on affirming my students instead of teaching from a place of deficit.”

Our fourth winner is just beginning her college education in pursuit of becoming a teacher, and will begin classes this fall at Hagerstown Community College.  Meet this amazing woman:

Gabrielle (Gabby) Much of Gabby’s life has revolved around children and her love of learning.  She was a community tutor throughout middle and high school, then got a job working in a daycare center, which first inspired her to pursue teaching.  Instead, she worked as a Residential Manager for a group home of developmentally disabled individuals.  Her dream remained and last year she began working as a paraprofessional in a fourth-grade classroom at Jonathan Hager Elementary School.  Gabby loves working with students and says “I have the desire to create a classroom where individuals with special needs are self-reliant, a setting that allows them to develop comfortably and also promote their confidence to be part of society.”

We congratulate these four future educators, who “wowed” the scholarship team with their commitment and passion to serve children in Washington County!

The Equity in Education scholarship fund was established through a partnership between The Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC), Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), The Education Foundation of WCPS, and Rise Up Hagerstown. Multiple scholarships are awarded annually ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 to racially minoritized students (with preference to African American students) who reside in Washington County, Maryland, and are pursuing a degree in education or a related field.  Each scholarship recipient will be mentored by our team, supported and given encouragement in their endeavor.  Scholarships are eligible for renewal until a degree is obtained.

Why have a scholarship based on racial equity?  As of 2022, approximately 40% of students in Washington County Public Schools are non-white, while less than 5% of teachers and administrative staff are non-white.  We want to help overcome any financial barriers for people of color to become educators in our county.  Additionally, we know that ALL students benefit by having teachers and administrators of varying backgrounds and ethnicities, especially children who may have never had a teacher who looks like them.  We hope that tomorrow’s diverse teachers will inspire a new generation of children to live to their full potential – and perhaps even become teachers themselves.

The Equity in Education Scholarship will recur annually, and we are already seeking donations for next year!  If you can contribute to this effort, please make a donation here and be sure to designate it for “scholarship.”

All clergy members, including retired members, are encouraged to consider volunteering your time to help our community at Meritus Medical Center. Our goal for the Spiritual Care Department at Meritus is to transition to community-based volunteer chaplains.  We believe all people deserve love and attention. Our hope is to work closely with community clergy to better serve the spiritual care of our patients.  If you are interested in learning more about volunteering as an on-call chaplain we will work with your schedule, no sacrifice is too small. Please contact Angela Palle – Supervisor of Spiritual Care Services – 240-291-0383; Angela.Palle@meritushealth.com or Katie Kelly, Dept. Assistant – 301-790-8716; Kathleen.kelly@meritushealth.com.

Download flyer

Washcloths for Wellness (https://washclothsforwellness.com/) is expanding it’s ministry to include packaging handmade dishcloths with small bottles of detergent. A donation of just $5 will help supply 4 bottles of dish detergent. The plan is to distribute these to local food pantries as well as other ministries and non-profits that can use them.  Follow the link above or visit their Facebook page if you would like to contribute to this local ministry.

You can also read the original post about this outreach program here: https://harccoalition.org/washcloths-for-wellness/

Unity of Hagerstown is exploring options! If you have space for 50 people to meet Sunday mornings at 11 a.m, and your ministry could use some extra income,  we want to hear from you! The ideal space comes with one or two classrooms, a/v equipment, a kitchen, social hall, ADA compliant and plenty of parking, (we can be flexible with this wish list). We are excellent at sharing space, lovingly tending it as our own. Please contact sandy.boyer@gmail.com

Saturday September 17,  11am-3pm
City Park, Hagerstown

Bester Community of Hope invites you and your congregation to the 7th Annual South End Community Block Party. This event is a FREE fun-filled day for families and individuals alike. Includes over 30 community resource vendors, JTF’s bubble soccer, archery tag, laser tag, jumbo sized yard games, and much more. Meet and greet with DC Comic superheroes by Heroes 4 Hire. Special performances from Fresh Academicz and hip hop artist Supaman from the Crow Nation in Montana.

Youth groups or outreach ministries wanted to volunteer before, during, or after the event!  To help, contact Joan Balbuena at jbalbuena@besterhope.org or call/text 240-347-2356. SSL Hours can be provided.

September 23, 24, and October 14, 15, 2022

Have you heard of Parish Nursing or Faith Community Nursing?  It’s an exciting opportunity for congregations of all faiths to expand programming related to health and wellness. Registered Nurses (RNs) lead this ministry by being a health educator, a caring presence, a referral source for health resources in the community, and an integrator of faith and health. For RNs or Clergy interested in this ministry sponsored by Meritus Health, a course is planned for September 23, 24, and October 14, 15, 2022 at Otterbein United Methodist Church.   Click here for an informational brochure and click here to download the registration form.  Questions? Contact Wendy Zimmerman, Program Manager.

Come and experience T’ai Chi at Otterbein.  Classes will resume in the fall of 2022 on Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00 pm. The start date is yet to be determined but anticipated for September 14^th.  They are recommending a $5.00 donation per class to help pay their instructor. All ages are welcome. To register, sign up on-line or call the church office: 301-739-9385. More information about the classes and instructor, Paul Cote, are included in the flyer.

Donald Clair Evason died quietly at Meritus Medical Center on July 7th, 2022.

Don was born April 23, 1929 in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba, Canada, to Ernest Joel Evason and Bertha Irene Evason (nee’ Hineline). He grew up in the railroad town of Transcona, Manitoba. Don attended college and university in Manitoba and taught school for several years. He met and married Fairlie Stirling Jamieson in 1961, and attended and graduated from Union Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1964. After two years working as a parish minister for the United Church of Canada in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Don and his family immigrated to the United States where he began training for the chaplaincy through Clinical Pastoral Education. He was the first full-time Chaplain at the Frederick Memorial Hospital from 1970 to 1974 and was Director of Pastoral Care at Washington County Hospital from 1982 to 2000. From 2000 to 2002, Don served as Chaplain at Western Maryland Hospital Center. His interest and avocation was in spiritual direction. Don was a United Church of Christ minister with membership at Christ’s Reformed Church, and later was a member of Haven
Lutheran Church.

Don was pre-deceased by his wife of 48 years, Fairlie Stirling Evason (nee’ Jamieson), and his son Mark Alexander Evason.  He is survived by his current wife, Elizabeth Bennett Johns; his son David Wayne Evason, Hagerstown; a daughter, Catherine Elaine Evason, of Hunt Valley, MD; grandsons Adam and Ethan Caulk, Jordan Spokane and granddaughter Madalyn Evason; and several nieces and nephews. Don is also survived by Alan Butsch and his wife Melissa, their two daughters, Emily and Morgan; Nancy and Bill Wersick and her daughter, Tatiana Defriece and
her husband Branden and their son Dallas.

Don was well loved by his family, many colleagues and friends. He will be missed.

A memorial service will be Saturday, August 6th, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Haven Lutheran Church, 1035 Haven Road, Hagerstown, MD 21742, with Pastor Linda Alessandri presiding.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, The Humane Society of Washington County, or to the State Anatomy Board/University of Maryland @http://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/SABgiving