Gingerbread Night

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church is holding a Family Gingerbread Night tonight from 7-8:30. It’s a time of family “fun with Christmas music, a hot cocoa bar, decorating gingerbread houses and a special guest.” Attending signed-up families are reminded to bring their favorite Christmas cookies or a favorite snack to share.

The place to sign up: https://pleasantvalleyag.churchcenter.com/people/forms/858141.

Early dismissal

Pleasant Valley School District families are reminded that students will be dismissed early on Friday. For times, contact the respective school where your student(s) is enrolled.

School will resume on Jan. 6, 2025.

Events at Legion

The West End Memorial American Legion in Gilbert is host site for upcoming events.

On Friday, the Auxiliary Unit 927 will hold its Christmas party from 7-10 p.m. for members and guests, and there will also be a Karaoke Night beginning at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, it is post cleanup day, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until noon. And from 6-10 p.m., it is the West End Home Association’s Christmas Party.

Sunday and Monday both include WEHA football games. Sunday’s is at 10 a.m., while Monday’s is at 7 p.m.

The post will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and remain closed for Christmas Day.

Christmas caroling

Effort UMC’s Church School children are planning to spread some holiday cheer (caroling) at some area nursing homes on Saturday. They will be going to Slate Belt Nursing Home and Pleasant Valley Manor, leaving the church at 10:45 a.m. and stopping for a light lunch. Plans are to return to the church by 4 p.m.

Praise service

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran, Kresgeville, will be lighting the Love candle at its 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. worship services Sunday.

‘Tree Lot Christmas’

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church will be presenting a Christmas musical by way of the PV KIDs, titled “A Tree Lot Christmas,” at both the 9 and 11 a.m. services on Sunday.

Honoring Seniors

Effort UMC is hosting a free dinner for its congregation’s seniors (age 60 and over) on Dec. 22 at 1 p.m.

The congregation wants to honor those seniors for all the support they have given the church and the youth program.

Sunday supper

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, is hosting it Community Supper at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Donations of toys, wrapping paper, Scotch tape, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and personal hygiene items are being accepted with thanks, but they must be at the parish office by Thursday.

Polk Township

The Polk Township supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. Monday to approve the upcoming budget.

Another meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Turkeys and hams

Effort UMC is asking that anyone who received a free turkey or ham for over the holidays and wishes to donate it to the church food pantry, the Supplemental Food Resource Center, to do so, as it would be greatly appreciated. However, it is requested that people do not buy one to donate as the church does not want to burden families with the extra expense.

The SFRC can also use protein-based canned goods including as stew, Spam, ravioli, SpaghettiOs, etc.

Christmas for Kids

Mount Eaton Church, Saylorsburg, will hold Christmas for Kids in a combined gathering from 10-11:15 a.m. Sunday in Faith Hall.

Christmas Eve services

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran, Kresgeville, will hold its Christmas Eve services at 2:30 and 7:20 p.m., including carols, Communion and candle lighting.

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effort, has announced its Christmas Eve service for 3 p.m. Dec. 24.

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Richards will lead the service.

It is hoped that with the change in time, more senior citizens can come to the worship than would be the case for an evening service.

Salem UCC, Gilbert, will have its worship at 7 p.m. focused on the Christmas story, with appropriate music and Holy Communion.

Effort UMC will hold Christmas Eve services at 4, 6 and 8 p.m.

The 4 p.m. is a service of lessons and carols; the 6 p.m. service will be the children and family service; and the 8 p.m. service will be a traditional worship service. All three services will include candle lighting.

McMichaels UMC, on White Church Road, will hold its Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m.

Middlecreek Christian, Kresgeville, invites folks to join for the first Christmas play, “Casting Call,” a comedy about church members auditioning for their Nativity play. There will also be Praise & Worship, candlelight service and afterward there will be fellowship downstairs.

The church is located at 343 Dorshimer Road near Route 534 at the intersection between Upper and Lower Middlecreek roads.

Mount Eaton Church, 7277 Mount Eaton Road, Saylorsburg, will celebrate an Old Time Christmas Eve from 9-midnight: a hymn sing from 9-10 p.m.; a Christmas Treat Social Hour from 10-11 p.m.; and the Christmas story and candlelight service at 11 p.m.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, will hold Christmas Mass at multiple times: 4, 8 and 10 p.m. Those will be livestreamed.

On Christmas Day, there will be one Mass, at 11 a.m.

Cornerstone Community Church, Kunkletown-Kresgeville, is holding its services at 5 and 7 p.m. Both are candlelight services. Child care is available from nursery through prekindergarten.

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, will hold its Christmas Eve candlelight service from 7-8 p.m.

Christmas dinner

Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, is hoping to host a free drive-thru Community Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. However, help is needed with the groceries for the event, including hams, turkeys, stuffing bread cubes (not the boxed stuffing mix, please,) apples, oranges, individual applesauce containers, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and desserts such as cakes or pies.

For reservations, questions or to help, call 570-992-6988.

Bereavement support

The next Bereavement Support Group gathering by St. Luke’s Bereavement Program at the Western Pocono Community Library, Brodheadsville, will take place from 1-2:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2025.

It is open to the public and led by a St. Luke’s Hospice bereavement counselor. No preregistration is needed.

K’town Thrift Store

Bargains galore can be found at the Kunkletown Thrift Store. However, once this week is over, the store will be closed until Jan. 8, 2025, according to the store’s website.

Spring return

The Western Pocono Community Library’s StoryWalk is set to return in the spring.

The StoryWalk program “provides an opportunity for children & parents to read a book as they walk through the park, pathway or garden.”

That helps “promote literacy, outdoor activity, and community involvement.”

For more information, call 484-526-2499 or the library at 570-992-7934.