Hebron Mennonite Church will be offering a program of Sacred Listening Circles this coming year starting in October. These monthly gatherings are a form of Group Spiritual Direction. Small groups will meet together for contemplative prayer and personal sharing on the first Tuesday evening from October 2023 to May 2024. It is a process where small group members gather regularly to support one another in an ongoing responsiveness to God in all of life, based on the belief that in Christ, God enters our pain and joy. Circles will be facilitated by Ed Poling, retired Church of the Brethren minister and spiritual director, and Rebecca Rothenhoeffer, trained lay leader in the United Methodist Church. Both have been trained by the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, DC. Monthly gatherings will meet at Hebron Mennonite Church located in Paramount, north of Hagerstown. For more information and a brochure, contact Ed (phone: 301-766-9005 or email: elpoling1@gmail.com) The first meeting is on October 3.
Hebron Mennonite Church welcomes new pastor, Anna Ressler
Pastor Anna Ressler from Kidron, Ohio begins her ministry at Hebron Mennonite Church on Highlane Street in Paramount on September 1. She graduated from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana in 2023 with a Master of Divinity degree. She majored in Pastoral Ministry and received the seminary’s award for Excellence in Biblical Interpretation.
When asked what drew her to the Hebron congregation, Ressler said, “One of the things that caught my attention was the name – Hebron – and the idea behind it of being a place of refuge. It struck me as exactly what the Church should be, and what I want my church to be – a place of refuge. As I learned more about the congregation, not only did they seem to beautifully embody that identity but nearly everything else (from the size, to the worship style, to the community garden) seemed like a good fit for me.”
Mike Martin, co-chair of Hebron’s search team, noted: “As a search team, we were impressed with Anna’s speaking and storytelling skills. With each interaction during the interview process, we became more convinced that Anna and our congregation and community would be a good fit together. We look forward to the creativity and energy she brings.”
Ressler added: “I look forward to interacting with other communities of faith in the Hagerstown area (I’ve heard a lot of great things about HARC) and possibly participating in community theatre or choir.”
Ressler grew up in the Sonnenberg Mennonite congregation where from an early age she was encouraged by her family and congregation to lead in worship in many ways. She attended Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), graduating with honors in 2020, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. While in college, she participated in various music events and theater productions, as well as spending a semester in the Middle East as part of EMU’s Cross-Cultural program.
Pastor Anna is an avid baker and Biblical storyteller. She enjoys acting, singing, hiking and dark chocolate. Her first sermon as pastor at Hebron will be on September 10. The congregation eagerly anticipates learning to know her through her ministry here.
Sunday worship at 13315 Highlane Street begins at 10 am, with coffee and fellowship time from 11-11:30, followed by a second hour from 11:30-12:15 with discussion for adults and classes for children. The 10 am service is streamed on the “live” tab at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuzq-91FZKd8MXVYqbsC8og.
Hebron Mennonite Church is a community that believes in Jesus’ call to love and welcome all people. www.hebronhag.net
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Potomac Playmakers present “God’s Favorite!”
“God’s Favorite!” – September 8-10, 15-17
The Potomac Playmakers Performing Arts Center
17303 W. Washington Street, Hagerstown
Neil Simon comedy: “God’s Favorite!” In the play, successful businessman Joe Benjamin is a modern-day ‘Job’ who is confronted by a Messenger from God with a test of Joe’s faith. The jokes fly fast and furious as Neil Simon spins a contemporary morality tale like no other! Showtime Friday & Saturday 8:00 p.m., Sunday 3:00 pm. All tickets $18, available at the door or online at https://www.potomacplaymakers.org/get-tickets/. For more info, contact The Potomac Playmakers at www.potomacplaymakers.org, potomacplaymakers@gmail.com or (240) 513-6260.
Schedule a Presentation with Circles of Washington County
Circles Washington County, MD, is off to a great start with 10 current participants! Coordinators Elizabeth Howe and Marci Corea are accepting invitations to meet you in person or speak at your church or organization to share how it’s going and get your ideas on how we can continue to alleviate poverty in our community. Contact them at ehowe@wccac.org or mcorea@wccac.org They’d love to meet you!
Seeking Contemporary Music Director
Saint Ann Catholic Church, Hagerstown is seeking candidates to serve as part-time Associate Director of Music Ministry to provide leadership, coordination, and accompaniment of the “High Places” contemporary ensemble at the 9:00am Sunday Mass. If interested, please apply through the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s website, archbalt.org. Click on careers at the top of the page and search for this position title. If you have any questions, please email church@stannchurch.com.
Family Sign-ups for Angel Tree
Applicants for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program (gifts for Christmas) are welcome to call through September 22 for an appointment in October. See flyer for more information on eligibility and timeline.
