Chaplain

HAGERSTOWN -- As the director of pastoral care at Western Maryland Hospital Center in Hagerstown for nearly two years, Richard Bower is supposed to have his focus directed to the heavens. During his time on Earth, Bower also has gazed skyward as chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol in Washington County. Bower, 62, recently was named 2009 Chaplain of the Year for Maryland and for the middle-eastern region of the United States during a ceremony presided over by Lt. Col. Barry McNew, commander of Hagerstown's CAP squadron.

The Rev. Twyla Rowe has accepted the full-time position of director of pastoral care/ chaplain at Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village in Boonsboro. Her first day in the position will be July 30.  She is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. Rowe has served two congregations during the past 19 years, most recently at Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren, where, since 2001, she has been the minister of Christian nurture. Her responsibilities over the years have required a variety of skills, such as directing the Christian education programs for all ages, coordinating the older adult ministry task group, preaching, worship planning, hospital visitation and administrative functions.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in organizational management from Eastern Mennonite University, in Harrisonburg, Va., and a certificate for the completion of TRIM (Training in Ministry)

HAGERSTOWN -- As the director of pastoral care at Western Maryland Hospital Center in Hagerstown for nearly two years, Richard Bower is supposed to have his focus directed to the heavens. During his time on earth, Bower also has gazed skyward as chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol in Washington County. Bower, 62, recently was named 2009 Chaplain of the Year for Maryland and for the middle eastern region of the United States during a ceremony presided over by Lt. Col. Barry McNew, commander of Hagerstown's CAP squadron.

Doctors and staff briefly step back from incoming patients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to give the chaplain a moment with them. The chaplain asks the patients if they mind if he prays for them. In the Very Rev. John Bateman's time in that role, all of the patients agreed to prayer. Bateman described having that time with incoming patients as profound. “To me, that's remarkable,” he said. “That's the military seeing the role spirituality has in the healing process.” Bateman, a priest for 17 years, is pastor at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Waynesboro.

Ex-St. James chaplain extradited to Washington County An Episcopal priest charged with molesting two boys at St. James School more than 15 years ago was back in Washington County Monday after being extradited from Illinois, Maryland State Police said. The Rev. Kenneth Behrel, 51, former pastor of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Grayslake, Ill., was being held on $30,000 bond on each for two counts of child abuse, police said. Behrel, the former chaplain at St. James, was arrested Feb. 6 on charges he molested two boys at the private boarding school near Hagerstown between 1981 and 1986.

Former St. James chaplain being held on $2 million bond From AP and staff reports An Episcopal priest charged with molesting two boys at the St. James School in Hagerstown more than 15 years ago was being held in an Illinois jail on $2 million bond Wednesday. Police arrested the Rev. Kenneth Behrel Monday in the Chicago suburb of Grayslake, where he is rector of St. Andrew's Church. He was lodged in the Lake County jail Tuesday after a bond hearing. Behrel, 51, was chaplain at the Episcopal prep school near Hagerstown from 1980 to 1985, when he left due to liturgical differences with the school's administration, according to John Rabb, acting bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

LEITERSBURG - More than 30 years after fighting his last fire, one of the founding members of the Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Co. climbed aboard a firetruck Sunday for a nostalgic ride around the block. "Yep, this brings back memories," said Robert W. Blair, 83, who was a driver for the company for 15 years and still serves as its chaplain. Of course, many things have changed since Blair's firefighting days, including the trucks. When the company was founded in 1956, it purchased a used 1936 Chevrolet pumper from the Blue Ridge Fire Co. Blair also remembers driving a 1944 Hahn tanker and a 1963 Chevrolet Howe pumper.

LEITERSBURG - After 16 years as chaplain at Brook Lane, Deryl Fleming is trading his rather unique "congregation" for a more traditional one in Burke, Va. "One of the good differences being a chaplain in a hospital setting is that you are no longer the CEO, like the pastor is of a church," Fleming said. "If there was an emergency at Brook Lane, they'd call CEO Lynn Rushing or the doctors, not me. " Before working at Brook Lane, Fleming was pastor of a church for 28 years where he was on call around the clock.

LEITERSBURG -- After 16 years as chaplain at Brook Lane, Deryl Fleming is trading his rather unique "congregation" for a more traditional one in Burke, Va. "One of the good differences being a chaplain in a hospital setting is that you are no longer the CEO, like the pastor is of a church," Fleming said. "If there was an emergency at Brook Lane, they'd call CEO Lynn Rushing or the doctors, not me. " Before working at Brook Lane, Fleming was pastor of a church for 28 years where he was on call around the clock.

SAINT JAMES - When the Rev. Todd FitzGerald applied for the job of chaplain at Saint James School, the Louisiana native admits he was unfamiliar with the concept of an Episcopalian boarding school. In the three years he's been at Saint James, Father FitzGerald, as he's known to the students, has grown to love the school and Washington County. "We never thought in a million years God would lead us to Maryland, let alone a boarding school. This certainly feels like a wonderful blessing to be here," FitzGerald said.

Doctors and staff briefly step back from incoming patients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to give the chaplain a moment with them. The chaplain asks the patients if they mind if he prays for them. In the Very Rev. John Bateman's time in that role, all of the patients agreed to prayer. Bateman described having that time with incoming patients as profound. “To me, that's remarkable,” he said. “That's the military seeing the role spirituality has in the healing process.” Bateman, a priest for 17 years, is pastor at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Waynesboro.

Joel Hiraldo couldn't be better qualified for the job for which he was just hired - chaplain at the “backstretch,” where nearly 1,000 jockeys, gate crews, trainers, grooms and hot walkers keep the racehorses at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. Hiraldo, 36, a native of Puerto Rico, started his racing career there as a jockey 18 years ago. He came to Charles Town in 2004. In October that year, his career hit a temporary snag when a racing accident left him with fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

The Rev. David L. Coblentz of Middletown, Md., was called home by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, at the age of 58. He was born in Hagerstown, Md., and grew up in Hagerstown, Middletown and Laurel.  He was predeceased by his mother, Thelma Swomley Coblentz; stepmother, Vilma Blasko Coblentz; and several aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Coblentz; father, Walter Coblentz; two brothers and their wives, Mark and Joanie Coblentz, and Eric and Patty Coblentz; a stepsister and her husband, Kenneth and Joanne Byrnes; two stepbrothers and their wives, Daniel and Paulette Blasko and Joseph and Cindy Blasko; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Lois Brinkley, Janie and Stefan Nalborczyk Sr., and Sandra and William Stephens; nieces, Elizabeth Chisholm and Erica Coblentz; nephews, Andrew Coblentz, Ethan Coblentz and Evan Coblentz; niece-in-law, Margaret Coates; nephews-in-law, Ludwig Heubisch, Herbert Heubisch, Stefan Nalborczyk Jr., Joseph Nalborczyk, David Nalborczyk, Lee Stephens, Les Stephens and Frankie Stephens; stepnieces, Carol Hickey, Meghan Concepcion and Jill Alexander; stepnephews, Charles Hickey, Joseph Blasko, Brian Blasko and Timothy  Blasko; several great-nieces and great-nephews, great-great-nephews and great-great-nieces; Uncle Austin Coblentz; and Aunt Doris Coblentz.  Dave graduated from Arundel High School, received a B.S. in management and marketing from the University of Maryland, a Master of...

The Rev. Twyla Rowe has accepted the full-time position of director of pastoral care/ chaplain at Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village in Boonsboro. Her first day in the position will be July 30.  She is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. Rowe has served two congregations during the past 19 years, most recently at Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren, where, since 2001, she has been the minister of Christian nurture. Her responsibilities over the years have required a variety of skills, such as directing the Christian education programs for all ages, coordinating the older adult ministry task group, preaching, worship planning, hospital visitation and administrative functions.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in organizational management from Eastern Mennonite University, in Harrisonburg, Va., and a certificate for the completion of TRIM (Training in Ministry)

Wilson College will hold its annual Christmas vespers service at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, in Thomson Hall's Alumnae Chapel. The public is invited to attend the service, which will include scripture readings, songs by the Wilson College Choir and Christmas carols sung by all. Wilson's chaplain, the Rev. Rosie Magee, said guest musicians, Trinity Lutheran Church's Trinity Tollers Hand Bell Choir, will also perform. Wilson students, faculty and staff will take part in the service and the chapel will be decorated for the season.

HAGERSTOWN -- As the director of pastoral care at Western Maryland Hospital Center in Hagerstown for nearly two years, Richard Bower is supposed to have his focus directed to the heavens. During his time on Earth, Bower also has gazed skyward as chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol in Washington County. Bower, 62, recently was named 2009 Chaplain of the Year for Maryland and for the middle-eastern region of the United States during a ceremony presided over by Lt. Col. Barry McNew, commander of Hagerstown's CAP squadron.

HAGERSTOWN -- As the director of pastoral care at Western Maryland Hospital Center in Hagerstown for nearly two years, Richard Bower is supposed to have his focus directed to the heavens. During his time on earth, Bower also has gazed skyward as chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol in Washington County. Bower, 62, recently was named 2009 Chaplain of the Year for Maryland and for the middle eastern region of the United States during a ceremony presided over by Lt. Col. Barry McNew, commander of Hagerstown's CAP squadron.

Recently, the Hagerstown Area Religious Council distributed more than $20,000 to community agencies to help them continue their work. o The John R. Marsh Cancer Center, $5,000 to partially fund a chaplain. o REACH Social Help Fund, $5,000 o Habitat for Humanity, $2,750 o Community Action Council, $2,500 o Holly Place, $1,250 o Local food banks, approximately $5,000

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- A community POW/MIA service will be held on Armed Services Day, Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. at the Letterkenny Army Depot chapel. The service is jointly sponsored by the United Churches of the Chambersburg Area and the Joint Veterans' Council of Chambersburg. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Richard G. Hembrock, a retired Army chaplain and chaplain of the Washington County Hospital. Col. Steven Shapiro, commander of the Letterkenny Army Depot, will participate in the service.

Editor's note: The following story about Hagerstown native John Poffenberger was provided by Harry Covert, public information officer at the Alexandria (Va.) Sheriff's Office. After 23 years, John Poffenberger is getting out of jail. A Hagerstown native, Poffenberger got his first taste of jail life as a young Marine when he was assigned to brig duty at Great Lakes, Ill., in 1958. Now, Poffenberger, 71, is retiring as chaplain of the Alexandria Detention Center and Sheriff's Office, where he has served since May 16, 1986.