Local Church

WILLIAMSPORT -- After other organizations started charging $6 to $7 per person for community holiday meals, Gateway Ministries decided it would provide one for free. About three months ago, members of the local church along Kemps Mill Road started planning for the community dinner, said Shon Duty, evangelism and outreach director at the church. The church, which has a food bank, paid for the food, and also received cash and food from other donors, Duty said. It all came together Sunday when the church offered its "Setting the Table" meal in its large family life center.

HAGERSTOWN -- Through the dim atmosphere of an aircraft hangar came an old familiar tune. The number bore a bluesy imprint, with every beat of the drum, every tap of the cymbal fitting carefully into the song. It was easy to soak in the pure tones. Minutes later, the band -- Dem Guise -- switched gears, firing up their electric guitars and leaping into music by Van Morrison. The night would hold something for everyone. An eclectic mix of blues, folk and rock was on the musical menu Saturday night for Dancin' in the Hangar.

HAGERSTOWN -- Howard Ruskie stayed around after the Sunday service at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown to watch the sanctuary transform into a Faith in Action fair. The fair was all about spreading the word that volunteers are a vital commodity to the health and actual survival of some agencies that provide services to many people. "I think this is the first time the Unitarians have done this," Ruskie said. "After all, ... part of the purpose of being a Unitarian is volunteering.

Antietam Bible College is accepting registration for summer classes, which are scheduled for Tuesdays in June and July. The summer classes include the Christian Life, Methods of Teaching, Cults and Isms, Introduction to Apologetics and Women's Ministries in the Church and Community. Although all classes are designed to be part of a degree program, women are especially encouraged to attend the class in church and community ministries with the goal of developing or extending the women's program that is appropriate for their local church.

HAGERSTOWN -- It's not something you would typically find in a church. But there it was, a rock show Sunday night at Covenant Life Church International on Dual Highway. Concert lights were erected over the pews while two electric guitar players, a bass player, lead singer and a drummer delivered a heavy, driving sound in their own rendition of tunes from Van Halen, Joan Jett, the Rolling Stones and other groups. The Christian rock group ApologetiX played to about 150 people at the local church, taking classic rock 'n' roll songs and changing the lyrics to deliver religious messages.

Share what you have with your neighbor What can a citizen do to respond in these tough economic times? First of all, don't panic. Assess your own situation and take responsibility for using your resources wisely. Remember, your resources are more than just financial. There are time and energy, health, and love and hope to share. Open your cupboard and take out two or three cans or boxes of food and donate them to the Interfaith Service Coalition for its food pantry (they anticipate a fall and winter of tough needs around Hancock.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - CrossWalk Church has announced the hiring of its first pastor as of July 1. Born and raised in Wolfsville, Md., Dave Wolf brings to the community a passion that the local church be a culturally relevant ministry, according to a news release. The fit for CrossWalk seems perfect since the focus of the church is toward young families and those who do not have a church background or are disillusioned with their church experience. Wolf graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park with a degree in electrical engineering and received his master of theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Highland View Church, at 21600 Academy Terrace in Hagerstown, is sponsoring a Lifeline Screening program Monday, June 2, for anyone interested in early detection for the possibility of stroke, vascular disease and irregular heart rhythms. The cost for all four screenings is $139. These tests are not reimbursable by Medicare. Call 1-800-324-1851 to preregister, which is required. For more information, go to www.lifelinescreening.com .

Pa. students awarded scholarships HARRISBURG, Pa. - Twenty-five students, including two from Franklin County, received $3,500 scholarships from the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation on Tuesday at the 2008 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Kristina Dice and Jaclyn Upperman, both of Chambersburg, were both announced as winners before the Sale of Champions, according to a news release. Since its inception in 1993, the foundation has awarded $632,000 in scholarships to 273 junior Farm Show exhibitors, the news release stated.