HEDGES CHAPEL
Highlights from Past News
Tornado Disaster Relief Results:
We are truly humbled to live among such an amazing group of kind and generous community members. Your response to our collection of funds for Tornado Relief was not only generous, but also swift! As a result of your gifts and the Hedges Chapel match pledge, we have been able to forward to the United Methodist Committee on Relief a check for nearly $12,000! Any subsequent gifts will be forwarded as they are received.
Thank you each and every one for your compassion and sacrifice - God loves you, and so do we!
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Holiday Easter Food Baskets:
Thanks to those who donated non-perishables and cash for our fresh food purchases, we were able to give over 3 full bags and a box of grocery items plus a ham, pie, eggs and a bag of refrigerated food to each of our 11 families (52 individuals). Congregation members as well as friends from The Woods community were generous in donating food and cash so we could give out even more food this year. Also, the Chapel continues to benefit from our partnership with Martin's on Foxcroft Ave. in Martinsburg. Mike Sword, store manager, and his staff are the best to work with!
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Thank you all for your role in making Easter a little brighter this year for 11 families in need!
Outreach Committee
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Laura and John taking inventory of items you donated.
Lots of fresh produce and other food pre-ordered from Martin's.
We could give more to each family this year, thanks to your generosity!
Gayle, Lisa, and John -- just a part of our team who makes this possible.
Individual Lenten Bible Study:
"Emily Dickinson and the Poetry of Lent" was the topic for a six week personal at-home devotional study beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 17th. Email Penny Gladwell for more information.
Special Celebration:
Thanks to all participants in the drive-by celebration for Evelyn and Henry Collins who celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on January 6, to be followed by Evelyn’s 95th birthday on January 12 and Henry's 97th birthday on January 19! Members of the congregation and the general community joined the caravan of cars to honor these two wonderful friends and servants of Our Lord and Hedges Chapel. We enjoyed the opportunity to see Henry and Evelyn as well as each other, although social distanced or in vehicles. Thanks to Dale and Lee, Carol, and the Sheilas for making this happen!
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Reflecting upon the passing of Henry Collins, from Psalms 147:
Praise you the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; He heals the broken heart, and binds their wounds. He reckons the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and great his power: his compassion is infinite. Steve Rudolph
From Evelyn and Henry: "We have to thank so many for the fantastic 'Drive Thru.' It was so spectacular with so many participants. We had a memorable day and it meant so much to us. Many Best Wishes for a happy and healthy 2021."
Souper Bowl of Caring:
Once again, members of Hedges Chapel and other residents in our wonderful community jumped in to help local families in need though our “Souper Bowl of Caring” food drive to benefit the Hedgesville Loaves and Fishes. Loaves and Fishes is a ministry of the Hedgesville Area Community of Churches, hosted by Hedgesville United Methodist Church. This ministry provides a set bag of food items, plus extras, to those in need on the 4th Friday of each month. Laura Powell and Donna Watson delivered over 40 large boxes and bags of food to them and Laura gave a glowing report of the operation there. In addition to all the food that was donated, we were able to make a generous cash gift as well. As this is usually a slower time of year for Loaves and Fishes to receive donations, they are especially appreciative. Thanks to all of you who gave so willingly to help feed local hungry families. “As you do for the least of these, so do you also for me”.
Outreach Committee
Special Christmas Eve Service:
As a gift to the Woods community, Hedges Chapel offered a special virtual Christmas Service on Christmas Eve. Thanks to Nancy Page, Kat Cooper and the many participants for this interactive story of the birth of our Savior in song and verse.
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Christmas Angels and Holiday Food Basket Program:
Thanks to those who have adopted one or more of our 21 angels for 2020 and/ or provided non-perishable food or cash donations. The 11 families we helped had been identified by Starting Points from the Pleasant View Elementary School area in nearby Morgan County. The food provided a nice meal as well as supplies to utilize the leftovers and stock the pantry during these difficult times for 46 individuals.
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We are proud to be a part of such a generous community. Donations were received from and angels were adopted by members of the congregation as well as those in the immediate community. Thanks again to you all!
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