Meet the Raiders

The Tamaqua Area School District will hold its annual winter "Meet the Raiders Night" at 7 p.m., on Dec. 3 in the Athletic Center. Members of the boys and girls basketball, wrestling, and swimming programs along with the cheerleaders will be introduced. The Blue Raider pep band will perform.The event is free of charge and the public is welcome to attend.In case of inclement weather, the make up date will be 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 8 a.m. traditional and 10:30 a.m. contemporary worship services Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Sunday school classes will meet at 9:30 a.m.Also on Sunday, a Surviving the Holidays GriefShare session will be held at 2 p.m.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, Good News Club meets at the South Ward Playground at 3:45 p.m.; Wednesday, Community Advent service will be held at noon, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m., GriefShare meets at 7 p.m.; Thursday, Men's Fraternity meets at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Community Advent breakfast at 8:30 a.m., musician's rehearsal at 8:30 a.m., praise practice begins at 9:30 a.m.The Christmas celebration and hanging of the greens service will be held Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.SS. Peter and PaulThe choirs of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church rehearse on Wednesdays. The children's choir meets at 6 p.m. and the adult choir practices at 7 p.m.Dec. 1 will be a Fatima Saturday. Confessions will be heard at 7:30 a.m., with a recitation of the rosary and devotions before the 8 a.m. Mass.The Holy Rosary Society will attend the 8 a.m. Mass on Dec. 2 and receive Holy Communion as a group.The 2013 children's weekly envelopes can be found in the church vestibule. Extras are available at the rectory.Plotkeles (Christmas wafers) will be available at all weekend Masses, beginning Dec. 2. They are also available at the rectory.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. The service will include the celebration of the First Sunday of Advent and Holy Communion. Sunday school classes will meet at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, a time of praise, worship and Bible study will be held at 6:30 p.m.An hour of praise and prayer is held Wednesdays at 7 p.m.Rush taxesRush Township Tax Collector Dolores Walck has announced two changes to her scheduled hours. The tax office will be open on Nov. 28 and Dec. 26, from 10-11 a.m. and from 5-6 p.m.Tax bills may also be paid by mail, but must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31.