Sorority news

Members of the local Preceptor Alpha Upsilon Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority met in the conference room of the offices of International Paper in Hazleton. Participants were treated to a light lunch and were presented with goodie bags. Patti Burke served as hostess and presented a program about St. Patrick's Day.An election of officers was held and the slate will be: Lori Schmerfeld, president; Donna Gerber, vice president; Donna Sterling, recording secretary; Pat Kibbler, corresponding secretary; and Marie Umbriac, treasurer.President Schmerfeld conducted the business session, finalizing plans for the annual Community Easter Egg Hunt, which will be held April 16 at the Howard Buehler Memorial (Bungalow) Park. This free event is open to children, up to the age of 12, who reside within the Tamaqua Area School District. Registration for the hunt will begin at 11:30 a.m. Also discussed was a clothing drive, scheduled for June 3-4. The drop off point will be the American Hose Company on Mauch Chunk Street. Items to be collected include clothing, bedding, toys and shoes. All items must be placed in plastic garbage bags. Toys and shoes should be bagged separately.The next meeting will be held April 6, at 7 p.m., at Basille's Restaurant in Hometown. Nancy Meiser will serve as host and the meeting will be followed by the Secret Sister Easter exchange.Lenten serviceThe Tamaqua ministerium will sponsor a series of free Community Lenten services leading up to Easter. The services will begin at noon and will be followed by light luncheons.Upcoming services and locations will be: March 30, First United Methodist Church, 124 W. Broad St.; April 6, St. Jerome's Catholic Church, 266 W. Broad St.; and April 13, Tamaqua Salvation Army, 105 W. Broad St.A Community Good Friday service will be held April 22, at noon, at Trinity United Church of Christ, 22 Lafayette St. This service will not be followed by a luncheon.St. Peter's UnionThe Rev. Rodney Wells will officiate at the 9 a.m. worship service this Sunday in St. Peter's Union Church, Mantzville. The service will include special music by the Cherub Choir. Sunday school classes will meet at 10:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, the Junior Choir will meet immediately following Sunday school and the Cub Scouts will meet at 6 p.m.Activities for next week include: Monday, Women's Bible study at 6 p.m. and Bell Choir rehearsal at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, weekly Lenten service, 7:30 p.m., at St. John's Church, Mahoning; Thursday, prayer group meets at 5 p.m., Confirmation class meets at 6 p.m. and Senior Choir rehearses at 7:45 p.m.Zion LewistownThe Rev. Sunny Stock will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service Sunday in Zion Church in the Lewistown Valley. The service will include a children's message. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:30 a.m.Also on Sunday, immediately following the service, there will be a special meeting to discuss the youth program.Candy making is scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. A special piano concert, featuring Harry Strack Jr., will be presented April 10, at 4 p.m., at Christ Church.Fitness for Friends, a community exercise class, meets Mondays and Thursdays, 6-7 p.m., in the social hall.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. 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. and the TYM will present the movie "To Save A Life," at 6 p.m. The movie presentation is open to all students in seventh grade and up.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, prayer time at 8:30 a.m., Men's Fraternity meets at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, GriefShare meets at 6:30 p.m., adult Bible study meets at 6:30 p.m., TYM staff meeting at 8 p.m.; Friday, TYM game night, 8 p.m., for students in grades 5 through 12; Saturday, Musician rehearsal at 9 a.m., praise practice at 9:30 a.m., quilters meet at 11 a.m.Calvary UMThe Rev. Brian Reading will officiate at Sunday's 10:25 a.m. worship service in Calvary Evangelical United Methodist Church. Sunday school classes meet at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, a session of praise, worship and Bible study, in the evangelistic style, will be held at 6:30 p.m.A community Lenten service will be held next Wednesday, at Calvary, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The service will be preceded by a hymnsing at 7:15 p.m.