God

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Greencastle Church of God, 4480 Buchanan Trail West, Greencastle, will host Friends and Family Weekend Aug. 21 and 22 at the church's pavilion area. Saturday, Aug. 21, events include gospel music from By Faith Ministries, Blessed Friends and Master's Four Quartet from 4 to 8 p.m. A food stand will be available to purchase sandwiches, soups, assorted drinks, pies and cakes. Admission is free. On Sunday, Aug. 22, Daystar will perform at 1:30 p.m. after lunch is served at 12:30 p.m. Bring a covered dish to share for lunch.

Former TV sitcom star Kirk Cameron attempted to rid a Maryland Theatre audience of "Seaver Fever" on Friday night before delving into a more serious discussion about marriage and faith. Known as the lovable teenager Mike Seaver on the 1980s TV sitcom "Growing Pains," Cameron had the crowd of about 900 people sing the show's theme song to help "transport" him back to 1986 so he could recite a few of his lines from six years of the show in 60 seconds. In retrieving a bit of his teenage character's voice from the show, Cameron had the crowd laughing and hopefully forgetting his past television persona.

Luke Scott might be struggling at the plate this year for the Baltimore Orioles, but he’s 4-for-4 with the Hagerstown Area Church Softball League. Scott, in his fourth season with the Orioles, was the featured speaker at the league’s annual banquet Thursday at Tri-State Fellowship in Hagerstown for the fourth straight year. “God puts opportunities in our lives to serve, to give testimony,” Scott said in an interview before he took the stage. “He calls on us to do that, to talk about what He’s done for us in our individual lives.

karenh@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - Greater Campher Temple Head Deacon Robert McKoy has faith that the death of his friend, Bishop Derek Kee, is not the end. God has great things in store for his church, McKoy said. "The gain will exceed our loss," McKoy said, referring to Kee's death. "But, he was here for a purpose, and he accomplished his purpose - we didn't see it, but God saw it - and God took him home. " Kee, who suffered from kidney problems, died Thursday night.

andrear@herald-mail.com SMITHSBURG - Brothers Rob and Steven Wolfe of Smithsburg say they hope to "spread the word about God" through their Christian writings and activities. Rob, 12, writes a monthly newsletter called "The Christian Voice" and distributes it to fellow students by request at Smithsburg Middle School. Steven, 11, has planned a summer Christian fellowship gathering and Bible study called "The Christian Club. " Rob and Steven, the sons of Sue and Bob Wolfe, said these endeavors are ways for them to witness for their faith.

Alfred J. Smith Age: 60 Resides in: Williamsport Where do you volunteer and what do you do there?: Word of Life Outreach Ministries, which he founded seven years ago in the basement of his home. It then moved to a rented building, and three years ago bought a building at 15251 Falling Waters Road in Williamsport. What prompted you to begin volunteering?: A need to bring people to God. Your biggest reward as a volunteer?: Seeing life-changing experiences in people who come to the church.

BOONSBORO - While working to make repairs on area homes, 400 people will have a chance to work on their relationships with God. Participants in the Antietam Workcamp will make repairs to about 50 Washington County homes that belong to the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged. The workcamp that runs from July 22 to 28 will draw volunteers from across the country, according to The Rev. Anne Weatherholt of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Boonsboro, which planned the camp. She said the church partnered with REACH and other area groups.

Stunning politicians on both the left and right, a federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled that profanity that includes references to a supreme being is an unconstitutional breach of the separation of church and state. The ruling, if allowed to stand, would mean that school teachers, for example, would no longer be able to tell a child to "get your God-forsaken feet off the desk" because it amounts to an implied endorsement of monotheism. While it would not extend to swearing used in the private home, divinely inspired cursing would no longer be permitted in schools, public transit, courthouses or any virtually public gathering spot.

Bethel Assembly of God in Hagerstown will host a free community dinner on Christmas Day for anyone who would like to attend. The dinner will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at 515 E. Wilson Blvd., said Ed Kennedy, one of the organizers. There will be gift bags for children and the church's "clothes closet" will be available for those who want to use it free of charge, he said. The church has been holding a Christmas dinner for the last five years, serving an average of 250 people, Kennedy said.

Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas knows all about strange plot twists, and he is convinced that God often sends big messages in the final acts of people's lives. Once a scandalous Hollywood insider, the author of twisted thrillers such as "Basic Instinct" and "Jagged Edge" can quote chapter and verse about life and death in Tinseltown. Consider the ruthless movie mogul who died during a beach vacation when a metal bar fell from a construction crane and pieced his heart. Or how about the Casanova actor whose reputation made his testicular cancer a bit too ironic?

When Sam Clark participates in the Operation God Bless America benefit motorcycle ride each year, he is personally aware of how the money raised helps the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va. A U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, Clark has utilized services from the medical center. He added his 2007 Harley-Davidson Street Bob to the line of nearly 2,000 motorcycles in the 23rd annual Operation God Bless America ride Sunday. “I used the VA hospital they're going to. I'm not only contributing in the ride, but I'm benefiting from it,” said Clark, of Bunker Hill, W.Va.

Remember those who served on Memorial Day To the editor: Memorial Day is set aside for us to remember and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. Thanks to them, we can be with family and enjoy a day of picnics. We should also take time to think about and pray for those who came home safely and those who have served or are currently serving. We could never repay them, but saying thank you is a start. Don't forget those who “sit and wait” - the parents, children, siblings and friends who wait anxiously for their loved ones to come home, and the unfortunate ones who got that awful telegram or knock on their door telling them their loved one was not coming home.

“People wonder what's wrong with Washington. Well, it's the people themselves, that re-elect people like this former governor from South Carolina, who cheated and lied to his wife, and also lied to the people, by thinking he was above the law, and using taxpayer funds to fly to South America to meet his lover. Even though he paid the money back, the fact that he thought he could do it means he doesn't belong in Washington, D.C. But we keep sending these kinds of people to represent us, which is what is wrong.” - Hagerstown “We as humans do things from A to Z that God does not like.

Janet Louise Kegarise, 73, of Hancock, died Saturday, May 4, 2013, at her home. Born June 16, 1939, in Hancock, she was the daughter of the late Roy Franklin and Goldie A. Ray Younker, and widow of Samuel Carlton Kegarise, who died June 23, 2001. She was a member of the Hancock Assembly of God and was formerly employed by Hancock Hair Stylist. She was a graduate of Award Beauty School. She is survived by one daughter, Goldie Lynn Merica of Warfordsburg, Pa.; one sister, Freda Kerns of Hancock; two brothers, Henry Carl Younker and Ernest Chester Younker, both of Hancock; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by one son, Calvin Dennis Younker; one grandson, Ezekial Younker; and one brother, Glenn Ray. Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Hancock Assembly of God, 431 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Hancock.

Mildred Hays never set out to make it to 100 years old. But then, as a mother of 10 children and widowed in her mid-30s, she didn't have much time to think about it. “I was just doing everyday living,” she said. “But I'm thankful to be 100.” Hays hit that milestone April 28, and on Saturday, about 160 family members gathered at Virginia Avenue Church of God to celebrate with her. Many were locals, while others traveled from Montana, Massachusetts, Michigan and Florida.

Wanda Rebecca Lucas, 64, of Fox Tower Road in Foxville, Md., passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at her home. Born Dec. 13, 1948, in Frederick, Md., she was the daughter of the late Leslie Leroy and Jessie Arbutus (Myers) Tobery. She was a graduate of Middletown High School. She was employed by the Maryland Unemployment Office. She was a member of Mount Pleasant Church of God in Smithsburg, Md. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Paul E. "Pete" Lucas Sr., whom she married Dec. 16, 1966; one son, Paul E. Lucas Jr. of Foxville; grandchildren, Jennifer Ashley Lucas, Paul E. Lucas III and Rebecca Elizabeth Lucas; brothers, Leslie Tobery, Charles Tobery and Mark Tobery; and several nieces and nephews.

Nicholas Shane Bowen, 9, died Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at Winchester (Va.) Medical Center. Family will receive friends Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home. A memorial service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Bethel Assembly of God with the Rev. Arnold Brown officiating.  

What a glorious time of year; spring arrived 11 days ago (7:05 a.m. March 20); today is Easter; the opening game for Major League Baseball is tonight; and last week a conservative Republican delegate from Washington County, Md., introduced a bill with the word “tax” in its title. Wow, where to start! As most Christians, as well as most believers, regardless of religious persuasion, agree, I'll start with God. I'm no great religious or Christian theologian so the following paragraph is what the Easter season means to me. Quite obviously, you might see it differently and my only wish is that you reflect on the newness that comes with the season and remember the blessing of life.