News

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.

John Wesley United Methodist Church, 129 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown. MD is seeking a part-time Custodian/Caretaker to clean and handle basic repairs for all public-facing areas of the church.  Working parts of Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, and Sundays, the custodian/caretaker, working in coordination with church staff and volunteers, will open and close the building for scheduled and special activities.  Applicants must have relevant experiences and references, and work well with people.  To apply to work on our smoke and drug free campus, go to www.jw-umc.org/employment to view the full job description and the application form.  Applications must be received by Friday, September 17, 2021.

Upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics to be conducted at the Christ Community Church in Williamsport on September 11(flyer) and at The Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints on Mt. Aetna Road on September 14 (flyer).  Please share as you wish.  We will also be conducting VAX clinics at the Washington County Free Library, 100 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown, on September 1 from Noon – 5pm and at the Elizabeth Hager Center, 14 North Potomac Street, Hagerstown, from 9am – 3:30pm on September 2.  Clinics are conducted on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the month of September (excluding Labor Day) from 9am – 2:15pm at the Hagerstown Housing Authority, 13 West Lee Street, Hagerstown (drive-thru clinic) and walk-up vaccination clinics in coordination with COVID testing on Mondays at the Christ’s Reformed Church on West Franklin Street from 10am – 2pm and at the Hagerstown Fire Department/City Market Lot on Wednesdays from 10am – 2pm throughout September (excluding Labor Day).