The Church in the Heart of the City with the City at Heart
Reaching Out to Serve Others
The Service and Outreach Ministry is responsible for, but not limited to, the following:
- Relationship of the Congregation to the Church of the Brethren District and Brotherhood
- Ecumenical, denominational and civic affairs
- World missions and service
- Social and political action
- Peace, temperance, and racial issues
- Brethren Volunteer Service
- Relief and refugee resettlement
- Youth exchang
- Community service
- Good Samaritan Fund.
Community Meals
Each month, the church prepares and serves a breakfast or brunch for the Hagerstown community. Food is often donated by members or businesses. Sometimes, guests receive a gift such as a coat in the winter.
In June, the community meal is a picnic, held in the church parking lot.
In December, church members prepare a brunch with a craft, toys and games for children and coats for the men.
Fahrney Keedy Birthday Party
In April, church members visit Fahrney Keedy, a Church of the Brethren nursing home in Boonsboro to celebrate residents’ birthdays.
Residents played bingo and winners received gifts. winGifts were given out to the bingo winners.
The HCoB volunteers served cupcakes, small, bagged cakes, puddings and diet soda. They also take tissue boxes that are collected by church members.
Mount Hope Prison Ministry
At Christmas time, inmates at the Mount Hope Prison make lists of things they would like to give their children. did not get their lists in on time so the ministry has given Suzie extra lists of things in each age group so when the inmates get their lists in, she can fill in those items. If anyone in the church would like to donate money for this, they can see Suzie. All of the unwrapped gifts need to be at the church by November 24th. Church members bring the request items and they are placed placed in a single bag for each child.
Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat
In October each year, the Search and Outreach team sponsors the Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat.
The event include …
- Food
- Games
- Moon bounce
- Crafts for kids
- balloon man
- bingo
- sweet treats
- popcorn,
- cake walk
- trunk or treat.
- Costume Contest for children.
Field of Hope
The Field of Hope Growing Project is a joint effort of eleven churches and is affiliated with Growing Hope Globally (formerly Foods Resource Bank), an international organization whose mission is to alleviate world hunger by globally connecting local communities through agriculture.
Each year, in support of the Field of Hope, members of the churches donate their land, time, labor and money to help eradicate hunger through sustainable programs that grow lasting solutions to hunger.
Each participating church asks their members to sponsor acreage. The committee chooses a place that needs our help. In 2024, Paraguay Lower Chaco,in South America, was chosen to be the place for the proceeds of this ministry, to reduce world hunger.
Prayer Walk
An HCoB Prayer Walk in February is a time when church members prepare bag lunches, set them on a table outside with two volunteers who offer lunches to anyone walking by.
Other members drive around town looking for people who need food, blankets,Bibles and prayer. This group also distributes lunches and finds joy when they wrap a blanket around a cold homeless person.