News

The Literacy Council is looking for students!!  If you know someone who would like some help with reading, writing, or speaking English, or math help (up to, and including, GED prep), please contact them at 301-739-4208 or office@literacyofwcmd.org.  They can help.  Their services are free of charge.

Michele Reichard, Relief Society President of The Hagerstown 1st Ward, has a vision of having a Community Christmas utilizing their building by having a live Nativity on the front of their church lawn, a Creche display inside their very large gymnasium, and hot chocolate served while choirs from our local community sing Christmas songs outside.  She is looking for help reaching out to the local churches to see if any choirs are interested in donating their time.  The dates are December 11th and 12th from 6-9 pm. She is looking for 6-8 choirs each night to perform for 10-20 minutes. If you know of a choir that might be interested, they can get in contact with her directly Micheleleereichard@gamil.com or via her cell phone number 301-343-2444.

 

 

St. Mark’s has brown metal folding chairs available. Please contact the church (301.733.7550) for more information. You will need to pick them up. There is no sale price, a donation is requested.

https://lutheranchurchhagerstown.com/

Saturday, September 11 was a glorious day for the HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope, with great weather, perfect conditions on the C&O Canal Towpath, and a good crowd nicely spaced among 6 different start times.  100 people came out to enjoy the day and a handful more did the Virtual Hike, raising funds and walking on their own time and location.  Thanks to participants, sponsors, and individuals who raised funds for the cause, more than $21,000 in proceeds are projected so far to support the ministry and programs of HARC, with a significant portion going to Micah’s Backpack.  This includes funds raised to date for the HARC Challenge Hike, a 20-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail that will take place Saturday, September 25.  13 participants are registered for this hike and many are still fundraising.

Thanks to everyone for coming out and helping to make this a fun event and successful fundraiser for HARC and Micah’s Backpack! Thanks especially to our amazing Hike Team (Rev. Ed Poling, Beth Johnston, Deacon Sue Wert, Ed Maloy, Butch Eigenbrode, Bill Pike, and Erin Brennan) and other volunteers who made it happen, and our generous sponsors (see below).  We are also grateful to churches who provided transportation for our hikers:  Christ’s Reformed Church, Celebration Ministries, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene, and Valley Grace Brethren.

Pictures from this year’s hike can be viewed on the HARC Hike Facebook page or in our Dropbox file.  Thanks to Chris Horsch for most of the pictures!

Thank you to this year’s HARC Hike sponsors:

MS Johnston & God’s Grace Fund sponsored  lunch, catered by Kreeative Kreations, a local, black and woman-owned business.

       

Antietam Radio Association
Brethren Mutual Insurance Company
Coldwell Banker Innovations
Hebron Mennonite Church
Hub Labels
Rotary Club of Hagerstown
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church
Trinity Lutheran Church

Allegany Dental Care
Bitner-Henry Insurance Agency
Weis Market

Link to the recording on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/o55zGotp6o8

In September Washington County “goes purple” to raise awareness of the opioid/addictions epidemic and foster action to support those in crisis and prevent others from this terrible disease. At our September 14 HARC meeting, we heard from:

Clarence Horst, Celebration Ministries and Celebrate Recovery

Laura Sheffield-Bishop, Social Work Supervisor, Washington County Health Department & Kelly Marquart, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Washington County Health Department

This program focused on how the faith community can support people who are in recovery or struggling with addiction. We also learned current Washington County data and some helpful tips for how to handle the challenges of those in or around our houses of worship who are struggling with addiction and homelessness.

Haven Lutheran Church in Hagerstown is offering an eight-month program of group spiritual direction. Under the leadership of Ed Poling and Rebecca Rothenhoefer, this is an opportunity for deepening prayer and personal sharing. Participants meet monthly for three-hours in small group circles to  prayerfully listen to God and to one another. The session will meet on the first Tuesday of each month from October 5 to May 3. The opening and closing sessions are a six-hour retreat format. Both leaders are trained by Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation.  For more information contact Ed Poling at elpoling1@gmail.com or 301-766-9005.

Download a brochure here.