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 harcnewsflash@gmail.com 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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A Contemporary Jewish Prayer (Rabbi Miles Krassen)
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May the creation of this moment in time be one of limitless, endless divine love for the entire world and all beings that inhabit it. May we recognize and release the most positive future form of the Divine Dreaming already present within our presence. May we be written and sealed immediately in the Book of Life for the good that is coming.
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A weekly listing of upcoming events and commemorations from religions around the world by the Interfaith Coalition.
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"‘Advent for Pastors: a free, encouraging video series"
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By Barna Group
"It’s a challenging time to be a pastor, but the advent season represents a special opportunity for addressing the restlessness so many leaders are feeling right now. That’s why we’ve partnered with Dr. Glenn Packiam (Barna Senior Fellow and Senior Pastor of New Life Church Downtown) to create a free "Advent for Pastors" weekly video series. In today’s introductory video, Dr. Packiam shares some encouraging words to help pastors find hope this Advent season. It’s barely over three minutes long, and we truly believe it will serve you well — now and in the future. We encourage you to watch this video and join us weekly for future installments of our free "Advent for Pastors" video series." Click here to view video.
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"5 Things to Avoid and 5 Things to Accent at Your Christmas Eve Service"
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Leading Ideas
"At most of the churches I have served, the annual Christmas Eve service is a treasured gathering in the life of the church. And it is usually a well-attended service, second only to the worship service on Easter Sunday. What are some things to avoid and some things to accent as you prepare for your annual Christmas Eve service? Here are a few suggestions to help us maximize our opportunity to host a worshipful service that celebrates the birth of the Christ child:" Learn more.
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Hebron Mennonite Church seeks pastor
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Hebron Mennonite Church of Hagerstown, a friendly, caring and service-oriented congregation, seeks a full-time pastor to join us as we support each other, reach out to our community, and invite all people into a growing relationship with God and the church. All interested candidates please contact Pastoral Search Team chair Ed Poling at elpoling1@gmail.com. Clergy from denominations not affiliated with the Mennonite Church USA are welcome to apply.
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Notes from the News Flash
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The News Flash will not be published on December 29 to allow the staff a rest. Please have your events and items for early January in to us for the December 22 edition. Publication will resume January 5. Also we regret that space constraints do not allow us to publish service times for Christmas Eve/Day services. Announcements for special services (Blue Christmas, e.g.) are welcomed.
We are also still seeking someone to take over compiling the News Flash each week. Please contact Kathy Powderly or Barbara Hamilton if you feel led to serve in this way or would like to learn more.
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Go for Bold! Healthy Washington County seeks groups and individuals to join the journey to lose weight in Million Pound Challenge
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Go For Bold is a community-wide initiative aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles for the residents of Washington County. With a Bold Goal of losing 1 million community pounds by 2030, Groups (i.e. congregations) and individuals are wanted to join this effort and work on better lifestyles. This initiative includes tools needed for bold weight loss, bold nutrition, and bold wellness. If you join as a group, YMCA of Hagerstown can provide you with incentives such as a 3 month gym membership to encourage participation (contact Maria Rubeling at mariar@ymcahagerstown.org). Learn more at healthywashingtoncounty.com/goforbold.
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MD Poor People's Campaign seeks 1 hr of help this weekend
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Urgent need - Maryland Poor People's Campaign - Western Region organizers are trying to reconnect with people they met in Hagerstown during an outreach weekend recently. Several of whom are at risk of eviction. Some people have already had their phones cut off.. so the plan is to go back out and knock on about 10 doors in person. They have one volunteer who knows the ropes, but need someone else to pair up with him. If anyone is available this weekend to help (day/time TBD), please contact Todd Cherkis at tcherkis@hotmail.com or 410-340-2838.
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Updated Food & Clothing Resources List
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The Food & Clothing Resources List for Washington County has been updated again! Please replace the version you have with THIS ONE to share with people in need of assistance. If you know of any additional changes, please contact Kathy at director@harccoalition.org or 301-842-4272.
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Learn how to host a Parent Cafe to support parents and children!
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Is your congregation looking for ways to support children and families? Local child-focused organizations highly recommend Parent Cafes as a way to bring parents together and help them to network with one another and grow their parenting skills. Congregations and groups are wanted to host Parent Cafes, with support from organizations that have been doing them successfully, even during COVID. Parent Cafes can be held in person or on Zoom and can be done as frequently or infrequently as you like. HARC is gathering interest from area congregations now with plans to hold a "mock" Parent Cafe to introduce everyone to the format. If you're interested in participating as a host or volunteer, please contact Kathy at director@harccoalition.org or 301-842-4272.
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Carry out/drive-thru community dinner - December 11
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Saturday, December 11, 4 - 6 pm
Hagerstown Church of the Brethren
15 S. Mulberry Street, Hagerstown
Carry out holiday meal. All are welcome. Drive up or walk up on the parking lot for an all-your- trimmings holiday meal. There will also be a Nativity scene and carolers.
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Annual free Christmas concert - December 11
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Saturday, December 11, 5 pm
Haven Lutheran Church
1035 Haven Road Hagerstown
They’re back! the Annual free Christmas concert features The St. James Brass and Haven Lutheran Church Senior Choir. Come enjoy wonderful Christmas music to celebrate the holidays. (Masks welcomed and optional)
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Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
1253 Mt Aetna Road, Hagerstown
Outdoor music, live nativity, inside crèche display, free hot chocolate and cookies. Flyer.
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Christmas Candy sale - Orders due December 12
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St. Mark’s Lutheran Church’s Altar Guild is taking orders for hand made Christmas Candy. Orders are due by Sunday, December 12th and pick up will be on Saturday, December 18 from 10-12:00 noon. Milk chocolate peanut clusters 2 for $1.00. Milk chocolate cashew clusters 2 for $1.00. Milk chocolate raisin clusters 2 for $1.00. Buckeyes (Box of 6) for $5.00. Chocolate covered pretzels rods with sprinkles (bag of 4) $5.00. Contact the church at (301) 733-7550 to place your order.
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Consumer and Family Engagement Meeting - December 15
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Wednesday, December 15, 9 -11am
online via Google Meets
The Behavioral Health Adminstration (BHA) willhost the Consumer and Family Engagement Meeting. This session will generate ideas and recommendations to help identify priority areas and strategies around current issues affecting the public behavioral health system. For questions regarding this forum and to register and receive the link to the meeting, please contact Greta Carter at greta.carter@maryland.gov
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Jazzed Up Christmas Sing Along - December 17
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Friday, December 17, 7 pm
St Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church
141 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown
Jazzed Up Christmas Sing Along. A group of talented local musicians presenting the Christmas songs with a twist. Come and sing to them as they are played in the styles of jazz, swing, latin or even funk. Join us for Frosty, Rudoph, My Favorite Things and many more.
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Longest Night Service - December 19
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Sunday, December 19, 2 pm
First Christian Church
1345 Potomac Avenue, Hagerstown
Even during a normal year, the holidays can be hard. So if joyful Christmas worship services feel like too much to bear right now, or if you simply want to participate in a service dedicated to the more difficult parts of this season, please join members of First Christian Church for a Longest Night service. We will share our grief and laments, and we will remind ourselves of God's promises for the heavy-hearted. After all, the Christmas story is all about how God shows up on those long, dark nights.
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Collecting Winter Clothing for Afghan refugees November 28 - December 19
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It’s cold outside and Afghan refugees in the Harrisburg, PA area are in dire need of winter clothing. Items needed are new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, scarves and socks of all sizes. We ask that donated items please be clean with no tears, holes, missing buttons, or broken zippers. The deadline to donate or collect these items is December 19 by noon. To see the current list of public drop-off sites and their hours visit the Winter Coat Drive website. If you’d like to help by collecting winter clothes at your house of worship or organization, please contact Kathy at director@harccoalition.org or 301-842-4272.
This collection is a partnership of HARC, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Catholic Charities Immigration Refugees Services of Harrisburg.
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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!
Kathy Powderly
Executive Director
Hagerstown Area Religious Council
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P.O. Box 1158
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(301) 842 4272
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