News

Washcloths for Wellness (https://washclothsforwellness.com/) is expanding it’s ministry to include packaging handmade dishcloths with small bottles of detergent. A donation of just $5 will help supply 4 bottles of dish detergent. The plan is to distribute these to local food pantries as well as other ministries and non-profits that can use them.  Follow the link above or visit their Facebook page if you would like to contribute to this local ministry.

You can also read the original post about this outreach program here: https://harc.datachievereview.xyz/washcloths-for-wellness/

Unity of Hagerstown is exploring options! If you have space for 50 people to meet Sunday mornings at 11 a.m, and your ministry could use some extra income,  we want to hear from you! The ideal space comes with one or two classrooms, a/v equipment, a kitchen, social hall, ADA compliant and plenty of parking, (we can be flexible with this wish list). We are excellent at sharing space, lovingly tending it as our own. Please contact sandy.boyer@gmail.com

Saturday September 17,  11am-3pm
City Park, Hagerstown

Bester Community of Hope invites you and your congregation to the 7th Annual South End Community Block Party. This event is a FREE fun-filled day for families and individuals alike. Includes over 30 community resource vendors, JTF’s bubble soccer, archery tag, laser tag, jumbo sized yard games, and much more. Meet and greet with DC Comic superheroes by Heroes 4 Hire. Special performances from Fresh Academicz and hip hop artist Supaman from the Crow Nation in Montana.

Youth groups or outreach ministries wanted to volunteer before, during, or after the event!  To help, contact Joan Balbuena at jbalbuena@besterhope.org or call/text 240-347-2356. SSL Hours can be provided.

September 23, 24, and October 14, 15, 2022

Have you heard of Parish Nursing or Faith Community Nursing?  It’s an exciting opportunity for congregations of all faiths to expand programming related to health and wellness. Registered Nurses (RNs) lead this ministry by being a health educator, a caring presence, a referral source for health resources in the community, and an integrator of faith and health. For RNs or Clergy interested in this ministry sponsored by Meritus Health, a course is planned for September 23, 24, and October 14, 15, 2022 at Otterbein United Methodist Church.   Click here for an informational brochure and click here to download the registration form.  Questions? Contact Wendy Zimmerman, Program Manager.

Come and experience T’ai Chi at Otterbein.  Classes will resume in the fall of 2022 on Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00 pm. The start date is yet to be determined but anticipated for September 14^th.  They are recommending a $5.00 donation per class to help pay their instructor. All ages are welcome. To register, sign up on-line or call the church office: 301-739-9385. More information about the classes and instructor, Paul Cote, are included in the flyer.

Donald Clair Evason died quietly at Meritus Medical Center on July 7th, 2022.

Don was born April 23, 1929 in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba, Canada, to Ernest Joel Evason and Bertha Irene Evason (nee’ Hineline). He grew up in the railroad town of Transcona, Manitoba. Don attended college and university in Manitoba and taught school for several years. He met and married Fairlie Stirling Jamieson in 1961, and attended and graduated from Union Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1964. After two years working as a parish minister for the United Church of Canada in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Don and his family immigrated to the United States where he began training for the chaplaincy through Clinical Pastoral Education. He was the first full-time Chaplain at the Frederick Memorial Hospital from 1970 to 1974 and was Director of Pastoral Care at Washington County Hospital from 1982 to 2000. From 2000 to 2002, Don served as Chaplain at Western Maryland Hospital Center. His interest and avocation was in spiritual direction. Don was a United Church of Christ minister with membership at Christ’s Reformed Church, and later was a member of Haven
Lutheran Church.

Don was pre-deceased by his wife of 48 years, Fairlie Stirling Evason (nee’ Jamieson), and his son Mark Alexander Evason.  He is survived by his current wife, Elizabeth Bennett Johns; his son David Wayne Evason, Hagerstown; a daughter, Catherine Elaine Evason, of Hunt Valley, MD; grandsons Adam and Ethan Caulk, Jordan Spokane and granddaughter Madalyn Evason; and several nieces and nephews. Don is also survived by Alan Butsch and his wife Melissa, their two daughters, Emily and Morgan; Nancy and Bill Wersick and her daughter, Tatiana Defriece and
her husband Branden and their son Dallas.

Don was well loved by his family, many colleagues and friends. He will be missed.

A memorial service will be Saturday, August 6th, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Haven Lutheran Church, 1035 Haven Road, Hagerstown, MD 21742, with Pastor Linda Alessandri presiding.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, The Humane Society of Washington County, or to the State Anatomy Board/University of Maryland @http://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/SABgiving

Please join Trinity Lutheran Church in their new mission of welcoming to our community Malalai and Mustafa Nawabi and their three small sons: Maheer (6), Mehram (3), and Maher Tash (1). They fled Afghanistan in August of 2021 as the Taliban took control of their country, literally leaving behind all their possessions and their extended family in order to provide a safer, more just environment for their children.

Please read this article to learn about all the ways Trinity Lutheran has already helped the family and a full explanation of their current financial need. The family’s current most pressing need is obtaining asylum. The church has now paid for two thirds of the lawyer’s costs ($4,000); however, they remain short on funds ($2,000 still needed). For this reason, they respectfully request that you prayerfully consider donating to this worthy cause. Checks may be made out to: Trinity Lutheran Church; 15 Randolph Ave.; Hagerstown, MD 21740. Please write “Refugee Family” on the memo line of the check. 

BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community’s Bank, today announced the second annual funding campaign through its BCTCares For The Hungry initiative in support of local backpack food programs for food-insecure children. This BCTCares campaign is called “Pack the ‘Pack” in reference to raising funds to purchase enough food to fill 5,000 take-home backpacks. Fundraising will be from July 1, 2022 through August 31, 2022. Monetary donations will be accepted at all BCT branch locations and online. For a list of branches, visit www.mybct.bank/locations/. Online donations can be made by visiting www.mybct.bank/about/bctcares/.

Download complete press release here.

Organizations in Washington and Frederick Counties are beginning to see families who escaped from Ukraine coming seeking housing and supports in our area.  Frederick has some agencies working together to help the refugees, but they need further assistance, and we don’t have any coordinated supports in Washington County.  If you can offer support in the way of housing, employment opportunities, funding, transportation, mentoring/guidance, your congregation “adopting a family” or any other form of support, please let us know!

Contact Kathy at 301-842-4272 or director@harc.datachievereview.xyz.

Islamic Ministries and Community Development (iMacD) distributes food to families every Monday between 1-3 pm in downtown Hagerstown.  They are low on many items in their pantry and are seeking donations of food and funds to fill it back up and continue to serve families in need. See list of items needed and contact info attached.

Attached is the info.