Thanksgiving

The Tamaqua Salvation Army is offering local residents the opportunity to share in the joys of Thanksgiving through a free Thanksgiving Day meal. Turkey and all the trimmings will be served tomorrow, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the SAL Center, 115 W. Broad St. Delivery options are available for the disabled and the elderly.To arrange for home delivery, call (570 668-0410. For more information, call (570) 668-1234.Senior citizensThe Tamaqua Senior Citizens group meets every Thursday, at 1 p.m., in the Tamaqua Community Center, located to the rear of Boyer's Food Mart.Last week's meeting was attended by 82 members. President Jean Machamer conducted the business session.Vice President Doris Brobst added Jean Yanik, Norma Baker and Frances Koch to the sick list. Acting secretary Jo Ann Herring announced the addition of five new members to the group in November.In celebration of Thanksgiving, members were treated to pumpkin and apple pies with ice cream.Plans and menu for the Christmas party were finalized. The annual event will be held Dec. 2, at noon, with a total of 99 members planning to attend.October and November birthdays will be celebrated at the Dec. 9 meeting and a Chinese auction is planned for Dec. 16.Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join.SS. Peter and PaulThanksgiving Day Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. in SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Friday's daily Mass will be held at 4 p.m.Choir rehearsals will be held Dec. 1: Youth Choir at 6 p.m.; Adult Choir at 7 p.m.The choir and ladies auxiliary will hold a combined Christmas party at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Viennese Villa, Coaldale.Reservations may be made by calling the rectory at (570) 668-1150.There will not be a gift exchange this year.The children's Christmas party and liturgy will be held Dec. 4 in conjunction with the 5 p.m. Mass. A sign up sheet is located in the church vestibule.Community serviceA Community Thanksgiving service will be celebrated today, Thanksgiving Eve, at 7:30 p.m., in Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Rev. James Bechtel will offer the sermon.The public is welcome to attend. The church is located at the intersection of Greenwood and Mauch Chunk Streets.St. Jerome's RCCThanksgiving Day Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. in St. Jerome's Roman Catholic Church.The Giving Tree, sponsored by the St. Vincent dePaul Society, was erected this past weekend and lector workbooks are available in the sacristy.The parish office will be closed through Monday for the Thanksgiving holiday. It will reopen on Tuesday, Nov. 30.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Nursery care is provided.The service will include the "hanging of the Greens." Sunday school for all ages is held at 9:30 a.m.Also on Sunday, commission meetings will be held at 11:45 a.m.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, prayer time at 8:30 a.m., Men's Fraternity meets at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, adult Bible study, GriefShare and Tamaqua Youth Ministry meet at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, musician rehearsal at 9 a.m., praise practice at 9:30 a.m. and quilters meet at 11 a.m.St. Peter's UnionThe Rev. Rodney Wells will officiate at the 9 a.m. worship service Sunday in St. Peter's Union Church, Mantzville. Sunday school classes meet at 10:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, rehearsal for the Sunday school Christmas Program will begin at 10:30 a.m. Participants with speaking parts will rehearse at 11:15 a.m. Cub Scouts meet at 6 p.m.Activities for next week include: Monday, women's Bible study at 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Women's Association of St. Peter's meets at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, prayer group meets at 5 p.m., worship and music committee meets at 5:45 p.m., Confirmation class meets at 6 p.m. and Brownies meet at 6:30 p.m.Choir rehearsals are held on Thursdays. Next week's schedule will include: Cherub Choir meets at 6:30 p.m., Junior Choir at 7 p.m., and Senior Choir at 7:45 p.m.Trash changeDue to tomorrow's Thanksgiving holiday, there will be a change in the borough's weekly trash collection. Customers who usually have their trash collected on Thursday, will now have pick up on Friday., while the regular Friday pick up will be on Saturday.