Brethren

Pastor Tim Ritchey Martin of Grossnickle Church of the Brethren in Myersville, Md., will travel to Africa for about two weeks with the executive director of Foods Resource Bank to visit several of the programs that the  congregation has supported. He will visit Malawi and Zambia, leaving the United States on Feb. 25. He will return March 12. In cooperation with Foods Resource Bank and six other area churches, the Grossnickle Church of the Brethren sponsors a Growing Project to help support food sustainability programs in the developing world.

Kerosene lights hanging from the ceiling, his and hers outhouses and two pot-bellied stoves to provide heat during the winter were among the features Downsville Church of the Brethren parishioners George Stumbaugh and Lila Mae Haywood remembered Sunday as the church celebrated its 155th anniversary. “We froze on one side and roasted on the other,” said Haywood, 83, of Hagerstown. The original 1857 church remains part of the current sanctuary, but carpeting now covers the bloodstains that are rumored to be from a Civil War soldier, said Stumbaugh, 80, of Williamsport.

The Rev. Michael Manthos is the new pastor of Welty Church of the Brethren near Smithsburg. He began his career with an engineering degree from Virginia Tech and serving in a variety of positions in engineering, teaching, government service, construction and timbering services. During that time, Manthos served a number of church offices and as a pulpit supply speaker. In 1997, he began his ministry training, which led to his licensure and ordination as a minister in the Church of the Brethren.

Ruby Gertrude (Grubb) Armbrester, 88, of Hedgesville, W.Va., went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 2, 2013, at Berkeley Medical Center. Born March 27, 1925, in Berkeley County, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Rev. Charles Newton Grubb and Ola Cannon (Cookus) Grubb. She was a member of Johnsontown Church of the Brethren. She is survived by her husband, James Raymond Armbrester, whom she married Feb. 24, 1949; daughter, Sherry Armbrester Harper of Hedgesville; grandson, Justin L. Harper; great-granddaughter, Riley Harper; close nephew, C. Thomas Neal and wife, Luann; and many other nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by five brothers, Earl Grubb, Fred Grubb Sr., Paul Grubb, Cyrus Grubb and Charles N. Grubb Jr.; and seven sisters, Mary Belle and Lillian Grubb, Virginia Pearl McDonald, Mabel Hedges, Pauline Kaufmann, Freda Neal and Grace Keylor.

Rouzerville Church of the Brethren, By Faith Ministries will present a concert this Sunday at 6 p.m. Call 717-762-9783.

Ron Fahrney, foreground, Jim "Sparky" Starliper, center, and Ed Bricker fry fastnachts at Greencastle (Pa.) Church of the Brethren on Tuesday.

Services for Walter C. Good will be held Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren in Hagerstown.

Welty Church of the Brethren , Smithsburg, the Skyline Boys Quartet will sing at the 10:45 a.m. service Sunday, Feb. 12.

DEC. 9, 1933-APRIL 21, 2009 SMITHSBURG -- Eugene M. Metz, 75, of Comanche Drive in Smithsburg, Md., passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown, Md. Born Dec. 9, 1933, in Fairplay, Md., he was the son of the late Ralph W. and Anna Lee (Jones) Metz. He attended Chewsville area schools. He was employed by Victor Products in Hagerstown, Tri Fab in Waynesboro, Pa., Pro Fab in Smithsburg, and retired from Stevens Excavating in Hagerstown.

Ruby Gertrude (Grubb) Armbrester, 88, of Hedgesville, W.Va., went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 2, 2013, at Berkeley Medical Center. Born March 27, 1925, in Berkeley County, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Rev. Charles Newton Grubb and Ola Cannon (Cookus) Grubb. She was a member of Johnsontown Church of the Brethren. She is survived by her husband, James Raymond Armbrester, whom she married Feb. 24, 1949; daughter, Sherry Armbrester Harper of Hedgesville; grandson, Justin L. Harper; great-granddaughter, Riley Harper; close nephew, C. Thomas Neal and wife, Luann; and many other nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by five brothers, Earl Grubb, Fred Grubb Sr., Paul Grubb, Cyrus Grubb and Charles N. Grubb Jr.; and seven sisters, Mary Belle and Lillian Grubb, Virginia Pearl McDonald, Mabel Hedges, Pauline Kaufmann, Freda Neal and Grace Keylor.

On Saturday, a group of hikers and bicyclists will be hiking or riding to raise funds for the Hagerstown Area Religious Council and its work in the community. The hikers will meet at 6 a.m. at Hagerstown Church of the Brethren for the hike that starts at Gambrill State Park at 6:30 a.m. The bikers will meet and start at 8 a.m. at Williamsport High School. Bicyclists have the option of riding 20 miles or 37 miles on the Hanging Rock Loop and hikers can hike 15 or 27 miles on the Catoctin Trail.

The family movie “Rise of the Guardians” will be shown Saturday at 3 p.m. at Hancock Library in Widmeyer Park.  When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world. The movie is rated PG. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.  To register, call 301-678-5300.   Poetry workshop The second of two poetry writing and reading workshops takes place Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Hancock Community Center.  Space is limited and there is a registration fee of $20. The workshop will be led by Dina Coe, award-winning poet and teacher, and assisted by poet and teacher Karen Randlev, author of “Light Runner.”   To register call 301-678-6700.

Catherine Lorraine (Deibert) Delauter, 88, of Hagerstown, passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at Coffman Nursing Home, with her granddaughter at her side. Born Feb. 14, 1925, in St. James, Md., she was the daughter of the late Walter and Beulah (Delauter) Deibert. Catherine was a 1943 graduate of Hagerstown High School. She was a lifetime member of Hagerstown Church of the Brethren where she served as the secretary of the United Workers Sunday school class for 65 years. She was a church hostess for many years, specializing in banquets and cooking meals.

Vivian Laverne Deneen, 82, formerly of Needmore, Pa., died Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Neiswanger Management Services in Hagerstown, Md. The family will receive friends Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pleasant Ridge Church of the Brethren. Needmore. The service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be held at the church.  Arrangements are by Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home, McConnellsburg, Pa.

Paul Ray Cartee, 90, of Hagerstown, Md., passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at Ravenwood Lutheran Village, Hagerstown. Born Jan. 24, 1923, in Smithsburg, Md., to the late Ray Clyde and Icie Rose Blickenstaff Cartee. He was employed by Fairchild Aircraft, Hagerstown for 30 years until retiring in 1986. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II. He was a member of Church of the Brethren, Wolfsville, Md. He was a member of AMVETS Post No. 10, Hagerstown; VFW No. 1936, Hagerstown; and Goodwill Athletic Club, Hagerstown.

Gary L. Hammond, 72, passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at his home in Sharpsburg, Md. Born on March 18, 1941, in Sharpsburg, he was the son of the late Samuel R. and Sarah I. (Bear) Hammond. He attended Boonsboro High School. He was retired from Rust-Oleum Corporation in Williamsport, Md. Gary was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Sharpsburg. He was an animal lover, and recently lost his faithful companion Willie. He is survived by two sisters, Linda Knight of Dargan, Md., and Kirby Hendrickson of Mount Wolf, Pa; and one brother, Frank Hammond of Sharpsburg.

A panel of speakers discussed different approaches to optimal health during a program sponsored by the Interfaith Coalition of Washington County at Hagerstown Church of the Brethren on East Washington Street on Wednesday night. One of the three speakers was Chris Holland, pastor at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Robinwood Drive, who spoke about the benefits of plant-based diets. Holland said people who follow vegetarian diets are less likely to suffer from health complications such as heart disease and stroke.

H. Darlene Sparaco, 82, of Hagerstown, Md., died Thursday, March 28, 2013, at Meritus Medical Center. Born Oct. 2, 1930, in Hagerstown, she was the daughter of the late Truman Carvel and Clara Bell White Smith. She was a 1948 graduate of Hagerstown High School. She was employed by the Washington County Department of Social Services for 43 years, retiring in January 1992. She was a member of Hagerstown Church of the Brethren and Maryland Classified Employees Association.

Hagerstown Area Religious Council will host a Good Friday Cross Walk 1 p.m. Friday, March 29, at Hagerstown City Park. This ia a meditative walk around the City Park lake to reflect on the meaning of Good Friday. Fourteen stops with dramatic monologue, singing and silence. Gather at large parking lot off Key Street. In case of inclement weather will be held at Hagerstown Church of the Brethren, (corner of East Washington and Mulberry Streets). For more information contact Ed Poling at 301-733-3565.