Church Service

The community is invited to a worship service Sunday at 10:45 a.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church. Those in attendance are invited to the “Be Our Guest” breakfast following the service. Others can come for breakfast at about noon. The church is at 17906 Garden Lane in Hagerstown. Breakfast with Santa Breakfast with Santa is planned Saturday, Dec. 10, at 9 a.m. at Garfield's Restaurant at Valley Mall.   Proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County and members of the club will serve the meal.

A Thanksgiving Eve service at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Funkstown will begin at 7:30 p.m. today and feature a combined choir music presentation. The congregations of Emmanuel and St. Andrew's United Methodist, Virginia Avenue Baptist and Church of the Holy Trinity will participate.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, Pa. - In the pews at Hawley Memorial Presbyterian Church, businessman sat shoulder-to-shoulder with senior citizen, with football fan, with teenager, even with Union soldier in full uniform. The service was part of a Civil War Trails Discovery Weekend in Franklin County, Pa., and drew 200 people, more than double the average weekly attendance at the small church nestled in a wooded, mountaintop community. "They were willing to pack it in," Pastor Bill Hammann said.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Area churches are reaching out to their communities -- to help those in need and to encourage people to check out what they have to offer. Some churches feed the hungry, while others provide entertainment as a way of getting people involved. The Bridge of Life Church in downtown Hagerstown, which invites the community to free movie screenings, also wants to help in the revitalization effort of the area, its pastor said. Bridge of Life opens its doors to anyone in the community to catch a free movie, and partake in drinks and popcorn, every other Saturday of the month.

Joseph "Ray" Fisher, 77, passed away Monday, March 18, 2013, at his home. Born Feb. 3, 1936 in Henniker, N.H., Ray was the son of the late J. Daniel Fisher and M. Alice (Damour) of Henniker, and later lived in West Melbourne, Fla. Ray lived his teenage years and young married life in Melbourne. He was a member of the Florida National Guard for 4 1/2 years. He loved music and was proud that he had three small bands playing around the Melbourne area. He was married to the late Madaline (Ward)

MARCH 16, 1950-AUG. 3, 2010 Mr. Lawrence Allen "New York" Dickson, 60, Hagerstown, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, at his home. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., March 16, 1950, he was a son of the late Robert Johnson and Grace Martin Dickson. He was employed as a welder with CANAM Steel in Point of Rocks and was a union steward with the Steelworkers Union. He was a member of the Greater Campher Temple in Hagerstown, and served as a captain of the security team at the temple and was also a U.S. Army veteran.

Girl Scout Troops 733 and 652 from the Pleasant Valley area celebrated World Thinking Day 2009 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Brownsville Feb. 15. Each girl presented a short talk during the church service about the country they chose to research. After the presentations, the congregation was treated to foods from around the world that the girls prepared. The Girl Scouts participating included Mikaela Wesmiller (Switzerland); Hannah Violet (Chile); Sierra Wesmiller (Sierra Leone)

Unity of Hagerstown is offering a workshop on "Be The Change You Wish To See through 'The Work,' Unity and You," at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 21, following the church service and potluck. The workshop is open to anyone who wants to break through barriers from childhood or adult trauma by applying "Inquiry" and Unity's Five Principles.  The event is facilitated by Maire Taylor and Valorie Kay. A suggested love offering is $25. For more information, contact Sandy Boyer at 240-409-5940, or unityhagerstown@live.com .

BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, Pa. - A Memorial Day service Sunday at the Church of the Transfiguration not only paid tribute to members of the armed services, but also emergency workers including firefighters and paramedics. "On 9/11, they took a hit," the Rev. Barton Berry said. "I think it changed Memorial Day for all of us," He displayed police, fire and soldier helmets at the front of the church. Behind them were the American, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine, Air Force and POW/MIA flags, all flanked by candles.

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of the Mason-Dixon Council were recently honored at a Hagerstown Suns game at Municipal Stadium. The flag ceremony was conducted by Pack 54, Hagerstown and Troop 10, Hagerstown. The Scouts and leaders marched in the outfield and were recognized in front of the fans. Cub Scout Aaron Little from Pack 54, Hagerstown, had the honor of throwing out the first pitch. After the game, approximately 150 Scouts camped out on the outfield. They were treated to the movie "Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark. " In the morning, a church service was conducted by local Scouts and leaders.

Unity of Hagerstown is offering a workshop on "Be The Change You Wish To See through 'The Work,' Unity and You," at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 21, following the church service and potluck. The workshop is open to anyone who wants to break through barriers from childhood or adult trauma by applying "Inquiry" and Unity's Five Principles.  The event is facilitated by Maire Taylor and Valorie Kay. A suggested love offering is $25. For more information, contact Sandy Boyer at 240-409-5940, or unityhagerstown@live.com .

Joseph "Ray" Fisher, 77, passed away Monday, March 18, 2013, at his home. Born Feb. 3, 1936 in Henniker, N.H., Ray was the son of the late J. Daniel Fisher and M. Alice (Damour) of Henniker, and later lived in West Melbourne, Fla. Ray lived his teenage years and young married life in Melbourne. He was a member of the Florida National Guard for 4 1/2 years. He loved music and was proud that he had three small bands playing around the Melbourne area. He was married to the late Madaline (Ward)

Members of the 140-year-old Sharpsburg Bible Church on Antietam Street in Sharpsburg broke ground Feb. 3 for a new addition to the present church building that was first used 32 years ago. After the regular Sunday morning church service, the congregation stepped outside, and in the cold and snow listened to Pastor Gene Renner's words from the Bible and retired Pastor Ralph Jamison's prayers. The congregation sang the hymn “To God Be the Glory” without instrumental accompaniment.

Mrs. Mary Anna (Mathers) Merrick Eichelberger, 66, of 3367 Coseytown Road in Greencastle, Pa., and formerly of Muncy, Pa., died Tuesday morning, Jan. 29, 2013, at The Shook Home in Chambersburg, Pa. Born May 1, 1946, in Muncy, she was the daughter of the late William Laird and Eleanor (Sharrow) Mathers. Mrs. Eichelberger was a 1964 graduate of Muncy High School. She and her husband, CSM Warren S. "Ike" Eichelberger Sr., U.S. Army Retired, were married Oct. 16, 1990. She was employed as a cost estimator by GE Sylvania in Williamsport, Pa., and retired as a bank teller for Patriot Federal Credit Union in Waynesboro, Pa., in 1999.

A Dec. 15 Christmas celebration in Blue Ridge Summit will harken to the holidays 150 years ago when the region's men were headed to battle in the Civil War. Living historians associated with the Monterey Pass Battlefield will gather in the battlefield's future interpretive center off Pa. 16 across from Happel's Meadow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There, they will get together around a fire and talk about families being separated by war in 1862. “There are a couple different scenarios we'll be playing out,” said John Miller, historian.

An all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast will be held Saturday from 6 to 10 a.m. at Christ Reformed United Church of Christ in Cavetown. The menu includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee and orange juice. The breakfast costs $6 for adults, $5 for those ages 6 to 12 and is free for those younger than 6.   For more information, call Kendra at 301-714-0189. Country Christmas Ringgold Country Christmas will be Dec. 14, 15 and 16 in the Ringgold Meeting House, 14426 Misty Meadow Road in Smithsburg.

One hundred people representing about 10 churches gathered Sunday afternoon for a Thanksgiving service focused on gratitude. The Rev. Delton Lehman from LifeGate Ministries provided the message and focused on Luke 7:36-50. In those verses, a sinful woman washes Jesus' feet. Lehman talked about how the woman wept in affection when meeting the savior. Pat West of Wayne Heights, Pa., said Lehman made her rethink the story. “I have read that (section of Scripture) so many times, and I've never put myself in the place of that woman,” she said.

Church offers breakfast on them A “Be Our Guest Breakfast,” is offered the first Sunday of each month at Concordia Lutheran Church, 17906 Garden Lane in Hagerstown. The community is invited to attend the 10:45 a.m. church service with breakfast to follow.   Christmas concert   Hagerstown Children's Theater performers will present a Christmas musical performance Saturday, Nov. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m.  at Valley Mall's Center Court. The performers range in age from 2 to 16 and are cast members from “Ferris Bueller, the Musical” and the musical “Broadway Bound.”   Arts festival Washington County Public Schools will present the 2012 Elementary Arts Festival Thursday at North Hagerstown High School.

Dunker Church , Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Phil Stone will preach on Lincoln and Antietam: Peacemaker or Warrior at 3 p.m. Sunday. The service will be similar to an 1862 Dunker worship service. Sponsored by area Churches of the Brethren. Call 304-267-4135 or 301-432-2653. St. Mark's Episcopal Church , Boonsboro, will offer a service of prayer and remembrance, using the Evening Prayer Service from 1862, at 4 p.m. Sunday. Hymns from the period will be sung. The Rev. Anne Weatherholt will wear a vestment that belonged to her great-grandfather, a chaplain in the Union Army who fought campaigns in Northern Virginia.