HARC is pleased to share our 2023 Impact Report with members and the public. Download your copy here to learn about the work we did TOGETHER last year and plans for 2024. Please share with your congregations and friends. If you would like a printed copy, please contact Kathy at director@harccoalition.org or 301-842-4272.
HARC’s Annual Meeting blessed with new board members and Dr. Sovine of WCPS
HARC’s Annual Meeting was held Tuesday, January 23 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Hagerstown. More than 50 people attended the meeting, including representatives of 20 member houses of worship. Part of the business portion of the meeting included voting in four new board members (see video). Following the business, a short presentation was given on the Faces of HARC (see video, including pictures displayed). HARC also welcomed, Dr. David T. Sovine, Superintendent of Washington County Public Schools, who blessed us with faith story, professional background, and challenges he sees for children in our schools (see video). And our hosts shared about their faith tradition (see video). The meeting was a great way to kick off 2024!
HARC welcomes new Board members
The Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC) has elected four new members to its Board of Directors:
Rev. Dionne Hall of Grace United Methodist Church (UMC) in Hagerstown. Rev. Hall has lived in Washington County for more than 15 years. In 2017, she transitioned from her career as a school teacher to part-time, licensed local pastor and full-time seminary student at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She was officially ordained in 2022. Rev. Hall has served as pastor at Grace Church since July 2021 and became the full-time pastor there in July 2023.
Ashlee Harris of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ms. Harris has lived in Hagerstown since 2012. She currently serves as Communications Outreach Director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is also the Hagerstown area coordinator of Just Serve, an online volunteer database. She is the owner and president of Blinds by Ash, a blinds and window coverings company.
Pastor Suzanne Jones is the pastor of two churches in southern Washington County: Benevola United Methodist Church in Boonsboro, and Salem United Methodist Church in Keedysville. Pastor Jones holds a Master of Arts in Humanities: Drama and Literature Studies from Hood College in Frederick, Md., and a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Sohrab Shahab is the president of the Islamic Society of Western Maryland. A resident of Washington County since 2009, Dr. Shahab moved to Hagerstown after finishing his residency training as an ear, nose, and throat surgeon. His medical practice is in Martinsburg, W.Va
Free Home Repairs
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. To learn how your home might be included, please complete this confidential application.
RSVP March 1
Download a flyer/application here
Contact Information/ Questions/RSVP: St. Anthony Shrine / Baltimore WorkCamp, 16150 St. Anthony Road, Emmitsburg, MD 21727 (301) 447-2367
Website: https://www.baltimoreworkcamp.com/
Interfaith Art Camp engages children in values and morals through art
On Saturday, January 20, children participated in the very first Interfaith Art Camp, which was a partnership of HARC and the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts (WCMFA). “There were about 22 kids in total and everyone had a great time,” said Ashlee Harris, one of the organizers.
The one-day camp featured story time, a scavenger hunt, an art project, and a tour of the current exhibit, “Childhood Favorites: 100 Years of Children’s Book Illustrations.” Throughout the day, children learned about values that are shared by different religions.
“They were so creative in their art, and in their ideas and observations from the books,” Ashlee shared. “It was a pleasure to be with them.”
Many thanks go to organizers Ashlee Harris (HARC), Kellie Mele (WCMFA) and Paulette Lee (HARC Interfaith Team) for organizing this exciting new program to engage young people in faith and art.
A lot of the parents ask if there are going to be more opportunities like this in the future. We hope so! HARC is considering offering a full week camp in the summer, but additional help will be needed to make that happen. Interested in helping? Contact Ashlee at jon2ash@gmail.com.
National Fund for Sacred Spaces – funding opportunity for major repairs and renovations
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is once again offering its annual National Fund for Sacred Spaces grant opportunity for churches with historic buildings (you don’t have to be on the national register) to do major repairs or renovate spaces for outreach purposes. Learn more here. Register for an informational webinar here (Feb 1 at noon). Deadline for a letter of interest is February 29. If you decide to apply, HARC and the Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau are willing to write letters of support for your application.