Faith Step Ministries is a fast-growing Saturday morning breakfast ministry that helps us connect with over 150 community members on a weekly basis on the West End of Hagerstown. We are seeking volunteers from 7:30 – 10:30 AM at 451 Salem Avenue, Hagerstown to help prepare breakfast, serve the public, and clean up. A minimum of 6 volunteers are needed each week, and we always welcome extra hands to help! Please use this Google sheet to sign up. There is always a lead volunteer from our church who is present to lead and help. Reach out to Marci Corea at hvcsda@gmail.com with any questions!
Triumph Over Trauma – program opportunity for your house of worship
“Trauma comes in many forms and can have severe, long-lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities. Most people do not have affordable access to mental health resources that could help them understand the effects of trauma and cope in healthy ways. Triumph Over Trauma begins with a 7-week psychoeducational 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 curriculum/kit and training provided. This is the program mentioned by David Washington at our May HARC meeting. Read more. Feel free to contact Kathy P with questions at 301-842-4272 / director@harccoalition.org. Kathy can also offer you an intro workshop on trauma & resilience, if desired, prior to offering this program.
Your Help Needed for Afghan Adjustment Act
Afghan refugees resettling in Hagerstown and Frederick and elsewhere in the U.S. need your help to encourage Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. Without the passage of this act, there is no pathway to permanent residency in the U.S. Your congressional representatives need to know of your support for the act. Please read the attached history and explanation of the act put together by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS). Then contact your representatives and senators to call for their support of the Afghan Adjustment Act. To find out how to contact your representatives, go to www.congress.gov/contact-us
Flood Relief
Pastor Shane Wilt and West End Baptist Chapel are spearheading relief efforts for flood victims in Kentucky. They are partnering with the Happy Church in Jackson, Kentucky to distribute items to flood victims.
Here’s how you can help:
Drop off items at West End Baptist Chapel, 59 Winter Street, Hagerstown on September 3 or 10 from 9:00-12:00 noon. They will be loading the collected items on a tractor trailer for delivery to Kentucky.
Here are the items needed:
School supplies
Microwaves
Crock Pots
Fans
Dehumidifiers
Tents
Laundry Detergent
Dish Soap
Bleach
Mops
Brooms
Shovels
Rakes
Paper Towels
Moldex
Shampoo
Body Wash
Storage Totes
Feel free to pass this need along to your churches/ministries. Any collected supplies can be delivered to West End on the dates and times listed above.
Sacred Listening Circles
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 Hiring
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 7th 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.
