News

Shepherd’s Spring, a non-profit Retreat Center and Summer Camp in Sharpsburg, MD is hiring a skilled Food Service Supervisor to oversee the food service program for our retreat center, global village and summer camp. Tasks would involve menu planning, budgeting, ordering, preparation and serving food to groups staying with us. You will have the opportunity to cook dishes that will use your creativity to delight our customers with their taste and timely delivery. Learn more and apply on indeed.com!

This year HARC held our 10^th annual HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope, raising funds for HARC and the Micah’s Backpack program.  On Saturday, June 4, local and regional hikers participated in the main HARC Hike, walking or running 4K, 10K or half-marathon distances on the C&O Canal Towpath OR doing a “Virtual Hike” at a time and place of their choosing. It was a beautiful, cool day and we were so grateful!  Then a week later, on June 11, another group of hardy individuals hiked 23 miles on the Appalachian Trail for the HARC Challenge Hike. This hike took 12 hours to complete and included rocky, uneven ground with steep climbs and descents.  The event exceeded a goal of $24,000 in proceeds.

Funds from the HARC Hike ensure that HARC can continue its work in the community through coordination of faith community efforts such as Micah’s Backpack (serving more than 1,000 children with weekend food), school support and literacy initiatives, efforts to foster peace and support people of all faiths and ethnicities, racial justice work, efforts to prevent childhood trauma and build resilience, and more.  A significant portion of funds are designated directly to the Micah’s Backpack program to address childhood hunger in our county.

We are grateful to the many congregations, individuals and businesses that participated, did fundraising, helped spread the word, sponsored the event, donated food or materials, and volunteered to help.  Many hands and hearts made this event successful!

See pictures from the main hike here.  See pictures from the Challenge Hike here.

Special thanks to our event sponsors and supporters:

Food Truck Party – June 26 – June 30

Sunday, June 26 – Thursday, June 30 – 4:00 – 6:00 pm
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
1345 Potomac Avenue, Hagerstown

During the week of VBS at First Christian Church, Food Trucks will be on site for anyone to enjoy at their own expense. Bring lawn chairs and/or blankets to enjoy your dinner on the lawn. Children registered and attending their VBS will enjoy dinner and dessert at no cost. Everyone else is invited to come out and support the food trucks through your purchases. More info: Dianna, Church Office, 301.733.0144.

Schedule:

• Sunday, June 26: Salsa Mama and Trey’s Sweets & Treats;
• Monday, June 27: Diego’s World and Tuckers Pucker;
• Tuesday, June 28: Bentwood Smokers and Tuckers Pucker;
• Wednesday, June 29: Old Fireman’s BBQ and Trey’s Sweet & Treats;
• Thursday, June 30: Boondok’s BBQ and Trey’s Sweets & Treats

Aspiring to Serve, Inc, a non-profit organization affiliated with Christ’s Reformed Church manages the property at 140 W. Franklin St. Begun with the vision of being a “one-stop” shop for services to the community, the mission and building have evolved with the times and needs of the area.  As tenants have found other spaces or had programs eliminated, new tenants have moved in.  At the moment, there are two completed spaces available for lease: multiple offices and a conference room on the north end of the first floor and the entire fourth floor which includes a reception area, a large meeting space and multiple offices.  Both suites have kitchenettes. Slide shows of these spaces can be viewed at http://aspiringtoserve.org/slideshows.html

The ATS board hopes to continue its mission of offering low-cost spaces to organizations that serve the community. Please contact ATS at 240-707-6521 or  atsste600@gmail.com if you are affiliated with or know of an organization that may be interested in this space.

HARC, Rise Up Hagerstown, WCPS and the WCPS Education Foundation are excited to have some excellent applicants for the 1st annual Equity in Education Scholarship! We started out with a fund from Rise Up Hagerstown of $7,500 to support the scholarships, but with the great applicant pool and several seeking their master’s degree in teaching through an accelerated program, we need more funds to offer scholarships that will truly make an impact for two to four people. If your congregation or you individually would like to contribute to the success of future teachers of color, please make a contribution here or send a check to WCPS Education Foundation, 10435 Downsville Pike, Hagerstown, MD 21740.   Donations can also be made through HARC as a faith community offering (please make a note to designate your gift).  Our goal is another $7,500 by June 30.

At the Hagerstown Area Religious Council’s (HARC) May 2022 meeting, a generous donor and
important volunteers who helped the organization survive and thrive through the pandemic
were recognized for their contributions.

Like may organizations, HARC struggled as COVID shut down gatherings and programs, but we
were blessed with funding and dedicated volunteers who sustained and breathed new life into
the work we do and the connections and relationships in our community. While many more
hands and hearts went into this work than we could recognize in this day, there are some who
stand out as God’s special hands and feet during this time.

Keep reading here ….

And for the full tribute to Maurice Johnston read here.

PDF version of the presentation

 The organ is FREE to the first person interested & includes the bench.  Contact Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene, 141 N. Edgewood Drive, Hagerstown, MD for further information.  Please call the office 301-797-4524 or email office@hagerstownnaz.org to set-up a time to see it.  The new owner is responsible for pick-up & delivery to its new home.

A Baha’i Faith Journey
Remarks by Paula Myers
HARC Meeting May 10, 2022

“The Baha’i Faith came to me while reading The Thief in the Night by WM SEARS. It explains the connection of The Bible’s scriptures and the BF writings as God sends another messenger. In the middle of reading that book, I knew I was a Baha’i. Years later, I had the privilege of meeting Wm Sears.

I felt the unity of all, was in my heart. Prejudice was not in my vocabulary. I understood how important it was. A few years later a Bahai friend lent me 2 books. I read those books over and over.

When I asked her where to sign the card, she needed to find out. how I was to declare. This was 1976… I was one of the first few Baha’is in Westminster MD.

The fact that we have no clergy and that women and men are equal, and women are very important, that struck a chord. We are to live the life, and teach the faith in our actions.
When it comes up, we tell our friends and acquaintances about the Faith.”

Read all of her remarks here….

PDF version of her presentation.