By Elazar Weiss

FORWARD

"Growing up in Jerusalem during the Second Intifada, you get used to asking yourselves questions no child should ever ask.

Will the bus I’m riding explode?

Was that the last goodbye to my parents, my friends?" Read more.

By Jennie Birkholz

Lewis Center for Church Leadership

"Churches can no longer be insular institutions and instead must open hearts and buildings to others in the community. A key role that churches can play is that of a convener. They can bring people together across the community that normally don’t interact. Partnerships between faith communities, nonprofits, health systems, and the community are key to understanding how the church fits into the community today. It also allows for those partners to understand the value that churches can offer, including physical and spiritual assets." Read more.

The 2023 Washington County Health Department Health Report. This report provides a snapshot of the state of health and wellness in Washington County over the past several years, covering topics such as chronic and preventable disease, maternal and infant health, infectious disease, behavioral health, and environmental health and safety. This report also serves to highlight some of the amazing work our Health Department's programs and staff have completed over the past year!

Tuesday, May 14, 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Zion Baptist Church (more info to come)

HARC’s Racial Justice Team has planned our May HARC Meeting, with a few updates on the Team’s work and a special guest speaker from Washington County Public Schools (WCPS). Allison Smith, Supervisor of Equity and Excellence will share the work WCPS is doing to increase diversity and equity in our schools and to recruit and develop staff. Join us for lunch, fellowship, and program. RSVP requested by Friday, May 10 at noon so we can get a count for lunch.

Challenge Hike - Saturday, May 18

Appalachian Trail, meeting at Weverton

4K, 10k & half marathon Hikes - Saturday, June 8

Shepherd's Spring Outdoor Retreat Center and C&O Canal Towpath

Register now and spread the word for the 12th annual HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope! This family-friendly event benefits HARC and Micah's Backpack, and is a great opportunity to get outdoors and have fun. Choose a 4K, 10K or half marathon hike/walk/run on the C&O Canal Towpath or 1 20-mile Challenge Hike on the Appalachian Trail. TEAMS are encouraged. This year we have an exciting matching pledge from the God's Grace Fund. HARC Hike participants who raise funds beyond a $200 suggested fundraising goal will see any additional amounts raised matched 2-1 for triple the impact. Learn more and register. Flyer / Bulletin inserts / Sponsorship form / Manual registration form / How to set up a team

First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Hagerstown has an Associate Minister position available. The Associate Minister curates a community of youth and adults who have fun sharing church. The Associate Minister resources mission ministries of our congregation. Annually, the Associate Minister develops a ministry out of their passion for serving Jesus and the community. The Associate Minister will share worship, pastoral and teaching opportunities with the Senior Minister on a scheduled frequency. Disciples of Christ affiliation or ordination not necessary; this position is flexible for the right person. To Apply: Contact Rev. Dr. Marcus Leathers, Regional Minister of the Christian Church of the Capital Area RM@cccadisciples.org 202-823-0800 www.cccadisciples.org. Job Description.

Do you want to: Confidently meet new people and/or represent your Clergy? Know how to visit patients within a Healthcare or Nursing Home setting? Western Maryland Hospital Center presents a12-week program that provide trainees with a combination of 50 hours of classroom and in-practice educational learning in Person-Centered Hospitals and Nursing Homes visitation. The course presentation itself is FREE. Flyer / Brochure / Application. For more information, contact Chaplain, Richard W. Bower at 301-745-4285 or email at rich.bower@maryland.gov.

New Light Metropolitan Community Church (NLMCC) is deliberately striving to be the passionately authentic spiritual presence of Christ in the world excluding no one. Located in Hagerstown, Maryland NLMCC is a church in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Church (UFMCC). We are seeking a part-time pastor to be the spiritual and administrative leader of the church and shall work in a spirit of cooperation with the Board of Directors and lay leaders. This position can begin as early as April of 2024. To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and sample sermon to newlightmcc@gmail.com with Pastor Search and your First and Last Name in the subject line. Please no phone calls. 

Meritus Medical Center has a patient in urgent need of beds and other furniture. A senior couple and their 12 year old grandson moved from a hotel to an apartment, but they have no furniture. The male and grandson are sleeping on blankets but the female is staying with her daughter until they can get furniture. She has some chronic illnesses which would make it hard to sleep on the floor and there is nowhere to sit. Most needed: beds for the senior couple and their grandson (the grandmother has requested a bed for him from SHP), a dining table and chairs, sofa and other living room furniture. Household supplies are likely also needed. If you can help, please contact Andrea, Meritus Care Manager, andrea.deane@meritushealth.com or 240-313-9860.

HARC is once again working with area congregations and children's organizations to compile a summer (June-August) calendar of free and low-cost VBS, camps, and other activities for children and families. We want to include your program(s)! Please send information to Charlotte at harcnewsflash@gmail.com as soon as possible (especially for June). Please include date(s), times, location, a brief description, ages served, and how to sign up. See calendar example here.

Friday, April 26, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (or until supplies last)

Soul Haven

119 E. Antietam Street, Hagerstown

Fresh Produce Food Drop on Friday, April 26, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (until supplies last). Info: 301-790-5054. Flyer.

Saturday, April 27, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Otterbein United Methodist Church

108 E. Franklin Street, Hagerstown

Put your Old Bike or Sewing Machine to good use. Help someone get to work, school and health services. Donate at the 20th Annual Bike Collection. A $10 per bike donation is suggested to defray a share of the cost of shipping to overseas charity partners, which recondition the bicycles and distribute them to people who need them. Contact info: Cindy or Mike, cindybrownsr@gmail.com or mike@msjohnston.com. Flyer. Website.

Saturday, April 27, 4:00 pm

Trinity Lutheran Church

15 Randolph Avenue, Hagerstown

Join Hagerstown Choral Arts for their Spring Concert, “We Will Listen”, a concert about hope and the joy of listening. The concert is free but donations are appreciated. Flyer.

Saturday, April 27, 9:00 am

Kiwanis Park

1165 Imperial Drive, Hagerstown

Saturday, April 27, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

The Greens at Hamilton Run1

2 S. Cleveland Avenue, Hagerstown

Help remove litter from Hamilton Run starting at The Greens Golf Course in Hagerstown. Trash bags, safety vests, and gloves will be provided. Please bring a water bottle and wear sturdy shoes that can get muddy. Boots or waders are recommended if you are willing to get into the stream to remove trash. Prefer to float? Creek Cleanup Project is hosting a Trash Paddle on the Antietam Creek starting at Kiwanis Park on same day at 9 am. Their event is a paddling cleanup. There will be some boats there to borrow, or you may BYOBoat. It is recommended to wear waders or wetsuit due to cold water. See info on their Facebook event page:

Tuesday, April 30, 4:00 - 8:00 pm

Hagerstown City Park Band Shell

501 Virginia Avenue, Hagerstown

Join CASA Inc. and Meritus Health Forensic Nurse Program as they TAKE BACK the NIGHT. If you are a survivor, if you know someone who is a survivor, or if you want to support survivors of sexual violence. If you are a survivor of sexual violence, you will have an opportunity to speak your truth, if you wish. Guest Speaker: Tina Fraley, author of "Broken Road to Badass". Music by Code Blues. Light refreshments provided. Flyer.

Thursday, May 2, 5:30 pm

Baker Park Bandshell, Frederick, MD

The 11th Annual Youth Prayer Rally, sponsored by the National Day of Prayer-Frederick, will be held in Baker Park, Frederick, Maryland. This is a local observance of the National Day of Prayer. Program starts at 6:00 pm with pre-event activities (food, fun, music, giveaways) starting at 5:30 pm. For youth, includes college and young adults (and their families), to gather and pray publicly for all levels of government and its leaders. This is also an evangelistic opportunity to reach the unsaved and the unchurched. For more information, visit: nationaldayofprayer-frederick.org/youth-rally. All ages welcome! Facebook.

Saturday, May 11, 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

Saint John's Episcopal Church

101 S. Prospect Street, Hagerstown

RAIN OR SHINE. Most items will be indoors of the fellowship hall and a few outside by the elevator door. There will be a bake sale and food as well. Parking Lot, Antietam Street and Walnut Lane. Flyer Sign.