SAL holidays

The Tamaqua Salvation Army is gearing up for its annual holiday traditions, including the Angel Tree Program and the Christmas Kettle Campaign.The Angel Tree Program provides a season brightener for needy children who may not otherwise receive any gifts during the holidays. Names of participating children have been written on angel tags, which are then placed on angel trees at participating locations. Each Angel Tag provides the name, age, gender, clothing sizes and special Christmas needs/wishes of the child.Deadline to return new, unwrapped items will be Dec. 12.The Christmas Kettle Campaign will kick off on Nov. 17, at 10 a.m., at Depot Square Park, at Tamaqua's Five Points Intersection. Volunteers are asked to spend two or more hours ringing the traditional bells at designated kettle locations. Funds collected are used to support local needy residents in the Schuylkill-Carbon area.For more information on either program, call the Tamaqua Salvation Army at (570) 668-0410.Gingerbread contestThe Tamaqua Spirit of Christmas Festival will add something new this year, a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest for children between the ages of 6 and 12. In preparation for the contest, a workshop session will be held this Saturday at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center on Pine Street.Linda Yulanavage will be the instructor. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.Pre-registration is required to allow Yulanavage to prepare enough supplies. For more information, call (570) 668-1880 or 668-1192.St. Peter's UnionThe Rev. Cheryl Moore will officiate at the 9 a.m. worship service this Sunday in St. Peter's Union Church, Mantzville. The service will include a WASP offering. Sunday school classes meet at 10:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, the church board will meet at: 10:45 a.m., Confirmation class will meet at 1 p.m., the St. Luke's Remembrance service will be held at 3 p.m., youth group, Daisies and Cub Scouts will all meet at 6 p.m.On Tuesday, the called to care committee will meet at 6 p.m. and WASP will meet at 7:30 p.m.First MethodistThe Rev. James Cavallero will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service this Sunday in First United Methodist Church. The service will include a children's message, offered by Marge Kropp. Sunday school will be held following the message.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, quilters meet at 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday, chancel choir will rehearse at 7 p.m.Calvary EvangelicalThe Rev. Dr. Ed Bean will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Calvary Evangelical Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley. Sunday school classes will meet at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, the annual Thanksgiving and Harvest Home service will be held at 6:30 p.m.SS. Peter and PaulThe Rev. William Linkchorst will celebrate Mass at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.Friday's daily Mass will be at 4 p.m.Also next week, choir rehearsals will be held on Wednesday: children's choir at 6 p.m.; adult choir at 7 p.m.