Band festival

The 15th Annual Land of the Running Water Marching Band Adjudication, hosted by the Tamaqua Area Raider Marching Band, will be held Sept. 24 at the Tamaqua High School Sports Stadium. This year's event will feature a dozen participating local high school marching bands; including Bangor, Emmaus, Exeter Township, Hamburg, Mahanoy Area, Minersville, Panther Valley, Pottsville Area, Southern Lehigh, Tri Valley, Williams Valley and Wilson.Gates will open at 5

p.m.and the competition will begin at 6:30 p.m.Internet securityA free Internet security class, entitled "the Dangers We Face," will be held Sept. 29 at the New Life Assembly of God Church on Schuylkill Avenue. The class will begin at 7 p.m. and will introduce participants to the everyday dangers found on the Internet, whether accessed by desktop or laptop computers, cell phones or other mobile devicesTo register, contact the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce at (570) 668-1880 or email

tamaquachamber@verizon.net.Calvary UMThe Rev. Brian Reading will officiate at this 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, an evening of praise, worship and Bible study will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Tabernacle Family Life Pavilion.Wednesday prayer and praise services are held at 7 p.m. in the church.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 classes will be held at 9:30 a.m.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, Prayer time at 8:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry will meet at 6:30 p.m.A new GriefShare group is forming and will begin meeting on Sept. 21. GriefShare is a ministry for people dealing with the loss of a loved one. Meetings will be held Wednesdays, at 6:30 p.m., at Bethany. The 13-week sessions are Biblically based and non denomination. For more information, call (570) 668-2520.First MethodistGideon Sunday will be observed this week in First United Methodist Church. Floyd Zimmerman will present the message at the 10:45 a.m. worship service. Children's Sunday school will be held at the service time. Adult Sunday school will meet at 9:30 a.m.Activities for next week include: Monday, Board of Trustees meets at 6 p.m., Administrative Board meets at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, quilters meet at 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Senior Choir rehearsal at 7:30 p.m.A new Bible study program, "Prayers of Jesus," will begin at 7 p.m. on Sept. 27. A morning session will also be available, beginning at 11 a.m. on Sept. 28. The sessions will then be held weekly through Nov. 16. For more information, or to register, call (570) 668-3344.Zion LewistownThe Rev. Sunny Stock will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Zion Church in the Lewistown Valley. A children's service will be included. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:30 a.m.St. John LutheranThe Rev. Phyllis Wolford will officiate at the 9:15 a.m. worship service this Sunday in St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. Sunday school and Confirmation classes will meet at 10:30 a.m.Also on Sunday, the Allegro Bell Choir will rehearse at noon.Activities for next week include: Monday, Learning Ministry Committee meets at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Angel Choir rehearsal at 6 p.m., Shepherd Choir meets at 6:30 p.m. and Chancel/Adult Choir rehearses at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, garden maintenance will be done between 8 a.m. and noon.