This is your weekly HARC e-newsletter, with news on faith community events and other useful information. Please forward it on to anyone else who might be interested. If you would like to get something into the News Flash, please email [email protected] by Tuesday at 10 a.m. each week. For a full list of upcoming faith community events, visit http://harccoalition.org/events/. FAQ sheet for submitting news for this newsletter.
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An Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer |
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God of Love, we pray that we may be truly grateful for the many, many blessings we enjoy this day. The air we breathe, the fresh water to quench our thirst, the beauty of this world where we live.
In the world around us there are many who are hungry, some without homes, suffering health problems, experiencing war, lonely and without direction.
We pray for your guidance and protection for those people who are giving of their time and money to help these hurting people.
We pray for our service men and women who are giving their time and even their lives serving their county working to make a better place in your world for thousands of people. We ask for protection for us and our country.
Guide us towards peace.
We ask your blessing on the food that has been prepared for us.
Thank you for the hands that have prepared it.
Help us to live a life of cheerfulness and have faith in all that is good.
May we be worthy of your love. Amen
Interfaith Services of The Low Country
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Diwali is India’s most important holiday—and a celebration of good over evil |
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By Amy McKeever
National Geographic
"Diwali is India’s most important festival of the year—a time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Widely observed among more than a billion people from a variety of faiths across India and its diaspora, the five days of Diwali are marked by prayer, feasts, fireworks, family gatherings, and charitable giving. For some, Diwali is also the beginning of a new year." Read more.
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China Targets Muslim Scholars And Writers With Increasingly Harsh Restrictions |
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By Emily Feng
National Public Radio
"This spring, 14 men were brought into police offices, where, one by one, they were subjected to weeks of questioning about their online correspondence and political views. Their offense? Buying Islamic books. The men were detained in Yiwu, China, an international commercial hub on the country's wealthy east coast and home to a growing community of Muslims. The detentions are emblematic of increasingly harsh restrictions targeting spiritual and educational life for Muslims in China." Learn more.
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Friday, November 20, 2020, Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offered a message of hope and healing to the global community and came with a world challenge. The challenge began with an invitation to turn social media into a gratitude journal. Post daily about what you are grateful for and at the end of seven days, see if you feel happier and more at peace. Use the #GiveThanks.” The challenge also encouraged those of faith to offer daily prayers of gratitude. The message and #GiveThanks challenge can be seen on YouTube at: https://bit.ly/messageofhopehealing.
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Free Farmer's Market - December 5 |
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Saturday, December 5, 10 am - 1 pm (volunteers are needed at 8 am to help offload the truck)
Gateway Ministries
11017 Kemps Mill Road, Williamsport
Food will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis to those in need in our community. There are no income restrictions on the food giveaway. This event is made possible through the USDA's Farmers to Family Food Box Program and plans are to repeat the giveaway on December 12. Every family receives 15 lbs of produce, 5 lbs of meat, 5 lbs of dairy and 1 gallon of milk. Anyone from your church or ministry interested in volunteering or with questions should contact Patty Mays at 304-279-5181. Flyer.
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Overeaters Anonymous provides information |
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A member of Rehoboth United Methodist Church has reached out to share a resource for healthy living. Overeaters Anonymous has phone meetings - a resource for those who may feel hopeless about their compulsive eating, binging... disordered eating. For more information see the brochure or go to the website.
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Increased visitor restrictions in effect at Meritus Medical Center |
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Meritus Health Visitor Policy for COVID-19: Updated Nov. 12, 2020
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses several changes to liberalized family presence, including potential spread to patients and staff by those with asymptomatic or mild infection and increased use of personal protective equipment (PPE), which is in limited supply. Consistent with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Meritus Health is instituting an Enhanced Patient Safety Policy regarding visitation by family and friends to all its properties. All Adult Inpatients
No visitors are allowed unless there is the following exception:
One visitor is allowed:
· For patients with a disability who require bedside care from a caregiver due to the specifics of their disability.
· For patients undergoing emergency surgery related to a traumatic event.
· If the patient’s care team requests the visitor to be a part of scheduled family training for patients with rehabilitation or for help with cognitive needs.
· For discharge education for patient when in-person bedside education is required.
· End-of-life care: Two visitors are allowed at a time. Other family members will have to remain outside the facility to rotate in special circumstances.
At the request of a patient/family for a visit from a clergy of any religious affiliation, the clergy can offer prayer via phone, zoom or outside the patient’s room. Meritus can provide this service. Please contact Spiritual Care. 301-790-8479
This decision aligns us with other hospitals in Maryland and is consistent with approaches taken by other leading health care institutions nationwide. This serves to both better protect the community and as well the health of our providers and staff.
Remember to Wear a mask, Wash your hands frequently, and Maintain social distancing.
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Interfaith Calendar for November 26 - December 2 |
One of the initiatives of the Interfaith Coalition is a weekly Interfaith calendar - a listing of upcoming events and commemorations from religions around the world. The listing is for the week ahead -- Thursday to the following Wednesday -. to raise awareness of what's going on with practices of the various faiths. For suggestions or additional input, contact Ed Poling at [email protected]. Calendar
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Valor Ministries Class Schedules for December |
Valor Crisis and Training Center, 324 East Antietam Street, Hagerstown, offers a diversified curriculum of life development courses structured to teach critical life management skills. Classes are free and open to the public ages 16 and above. View and download class schedule.
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New Light Metropolitan Community Church, 40 West Church St., Hagerstown is collecting coats, shoes, sweatshirts and more to distribute to neighbors and people unable to get into shelters. If you wish to donate these items or money to buy them, please let us know (Text Pastor Deb 717-682-1873 or Dee 717-344-0054).
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Hats and gloves needed for Head Start |
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New Light Metropolitan Community Church, 40 West Church St., Hagerstown is collecting "small size" hats and gloves for Head Start. If you would like to donate hats and gloves, or money to buy them, drop your donation off during their Resting Place hours Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10AM to 2PM or call Pastor Deb to arrange drop off at (717) 682-1873. New Light will be taking the collection to Head Start the first week of December.
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We hope this News Flash is helpful to you. Please contact us if you know someone we should add to the email list or if you would like to be removed.
Blessings!
Wendi Perry
Executive Director
Hagerstown Area Religious Council
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P.O. Box 1158
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(301) 842 4272
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