News

Zion Reformed United Church of Christ welcomes the Rev. Dr. E. Scott Winnette

Eric Scott Winnette was raised in a suburb of Murfreesboro, TN.  Weekends were spent at the Winnette and Woodward farms helping some with chores but mostly playing in the farm fields.

Prior to his work as a pastor, he was a computer programmer receiving a Bachelor of Business Arts degree in information systems from the Middle Tennessee State University.    It was a good fit but not the best fit, the Holy Spirit was nudging for a change.  A careful soul, it took two years as a Presbyterian mission delegate to the Ghost Ranch Conference Center and ministries in England to discern a call to ministry.

Responding, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Louisville Theological Seminary.  While in seminary, he served as a student pastor in Salem, Oregon and Helvetia and Pickens, West Virginia.  His first ordained call was with the Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD.  After fifteen years, Scott was called to be Pastor of the Rockville United Church, a union church of the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Scott is married to Anthony Stephen Moscato JR., an attorney with the United States Homeland Security in immigration.  They live on a small farmette in Myersville, MD.  His exercise consists of push mowing the 3 1/2 acres and digging and planting wildflowers and vegetables.  Together Anthony, Scott and Scott’s mother are staff to two cats, two dogs, 13 chickens, 1 rooster, 3 ducks plus a pond packed with fish.  Both Anthony and Scott are dedicated to learning from history and spend much time advocating for historic preservation.  Their home is on the National Register of Historic places as a great example of an 1820’s Maryland farm house.

Scott is passionate about ministry building a family of Christ, crafting meaningful worship services, inspiring service, and pursuing a life of humble faith.

 

Hebron Mennonite Church will be offering a program of Sacred Listening Circles this coming year starting in October. These monthly gatherings are a form of Group Spiritual Direction. Small groups will meet together for contemplative prayer and personal sharing on the first Tuesday evening from October 2023 to May 2024. It is a process where small group members gather regularly to support one another in an ongoing responsiveness to God in all of life, based on the belief that in Christ, God enters our pain and joy. Circles will be facilitated by Ed Poling, retired Church of the Brethren minister and spiritual director, and Rebecca Rothenhoeffer, trained lay leader in the United Methodist Church. Both have been trained by the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, DC.  Monthly gatherings will meet at Hebron Mennonite Church located in Paramount, north of Hagerstown. For more information and a brochure, contact Ed (phone: 301-766-9005 or email: elpoling1@gmail.com)  The first meeting is on October 3.

Pastor Anna Ressler from Kidron, Ohio begins her ministry at Hebron Mennonite Church on Highlane Street in Paramount on September 1. She graduated from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana in 2023 with a Master of Divinity degree. She majored in Pastoral Ministry and received the seminary’s award for Excellence in Biblical Interpretation.

When asked what drew her to the Hebron congregation, Ressler said, “One of the things that caught my attention was the name – Hebron – and the idea behind it of being a place of refuge. It struck me as exactly what the Church should be, and what I want my church to be – a place of refuge. As I learned more about the congregation, not only did they seem to beautifully embody that identity but nearly everything else (from the size, to the worship style, to the community garden) seemed like a good fit for me.”

Mike Martin, co-chair of Hebron’s search team, noted: “As a search team, we were impressed with Anna’s speaking and storytelling skills.  With each interaction during the interview process, we became more convinced that Anna and our congregation and community would be a good fit together.  We look forward to the creativity and energy she brings.”

Ressler added: “I look forward to interacting with other communities of faith in the Hagerstown area (I’ve heard a lot of great things about HARC) and possibly participating in community theatre or choir.”

Ressler grew up in the Sonnenberg Mennonite congregation where from an early age she was encouraged by her family and congregation to lead in worship in many ways. She attended Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), graduating with honors in 2020, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience.  While in college, she participated in various music events and theater productions, as well as spending a semester in the Middle East as part of EMU’s Cross-Cultural program.

Pastor Anna is an avid baker and Biblical storyteller.  She enjoys acting, singing, hiking and dark chocolate. Her first sermon as pastor at Hebron will be on September 10. The congregation eagerly anticipates learning to know her through her ministry here.

Sunday worship at 13315 Highlane Street begins at 10 am, with coffee and fellowship time from 11-11:30, followed by a second hour from 11:30-12:15 with discussion for adults and classes for children. The 10 am service is streamed on the “live” tab at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuzq-91FZKd8MXVYqbsC8og.

Hebron Mennonite Church is a community that believes in Jesus’ call to love and welcome all people.  www.hebronhag.net

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“God’s Favorite!” – September 8-10, 15-17

The Potomac Playmakers Performing Arts Center
17303 W. Washington Street, Hagerstown

Neil Simon comedy: “God’s Favorite!”  In the play, successful businessman Joe Benjamin is a modern-day ‘Job’ who is confronted by a Messenger from God with a test of Joe’s faith. The jokes fly fast and furious as Neil Simon spins a contemporary morality tale like no other! Showtime Friday & Saturday 8:00 p.m., Sunday 3:00 pm.  All tickets $18, available at the door or online at https://www.potomacplaymakers.org/get-tickets/. For more info, contact The Potomac Playmakers at  www.potomacplaymakers.org, potomacplaymakers@gmail.com or (240) 513-6260.

Circles Washington County, MD, is off to a great start with 10 current participants! Coordinators Elizabeth Howe and Marci Corea are accepting invitations to meet you in person or speak at your church or organization to share how it’s going and get your ideas on how we can continue to alleviate poverty in our community.  Contact them at ehowe@wccac.org or mcorea@wccac.org  They’d love to meet you!

Saint Ann Catholic Church, Hagerstown is seeking candidates to serve as part-time Associate Director of Music Ministry to provide leadership, coordination, and accompaniment of the “High Places” contemporary ensemble at the 9:00am Sunday Mass. If interested, please apply through the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s website, archbalt.org. Click on careers at the top of the page and search for this position title. If you have any questions, please email church@stannchurch.com.

Applicants for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program (gifts for Christmas) are welcome to call through September 22 for an appointment in October.  See flyer for more information on eligibility and timeline.

The Salvation Army is currently without a cook for their very busy soup kitchen!  They are desperate for churches/organizations to help volunteer to prepare and serve meals. If you are interested, please contact Nichole Griffin at 301-733-2440 extension 2.

Rehoboth United Methodist Church in Williamsport has just wrapped up a fun and successful week of Vacation Bible School and would like to donate their Knights of North Castle curriculum, Sparky the Dragon puppet, decorations, and other supplies to an area church who could use it. Some items are too big to mail and would need to be picked up from the church. Please contact Stephanie Mohl by email (Stephanie_mohl@yahoo.com) or text (202-288-8580) if you’re interested. First come, first served.

St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran
141 S Potomac St. Hagerstown Maryland
301-790-2510

Commercial space available conveniently located near the heart of Hagerstown, perfectly positioned near the burgeoning New Art & Entertainment District and the multi-purpose Hagerstown Sports and Events Facility. The property offers generous square footage, featuring open floor plans, a commercial kitchen, a dining area, and endless potential for beautiful offices. The space will allow you to tailor the layout to suit your business needs and has room for potential for growth.

Its close proximity to major highways and transportation hubs, including I-81 and I-70 ensures seamless connectivity and accessibility for your clients and customers. The surrounding area offers a vibrant and dynamic community, with a diverse range of businesses, restaurants, and shops within walking distance. Contact the church today to schedule a tour and discover the endless possibilities that await you at this prime location.