West End news
Lenten services
Effort UMC meets in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. Each week the message will be given by a person from a different area of leadership within the church. Today's focus will be suffering and humiliation based on Mark 15:16-19.On Sunday there will be a children's choir presentation.Our Lady Queen of Peace Church offers Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. every Friday in Lent. A fish dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday in McCawley Hall. There is a cost.St. Matthew's UCC in Kunkletown will host tonight's Lenten service that includes churches from Trachsville, Kresgeville and Gilbert worshipping together. The Rev. Debbie Scheffey from Salem-St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kresgeville will present the message. The theme of the these Lenten series is The Parables of Jesus, with tonight's focus based on Matthew 20:1-16, receiving Grace.A soup supper will be served at 6 p.m. Participants may bring a sandwich. Drinks and dessert are provided. A freewill offering will be taken.Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville holds a midweek Lenten supper and Bible study at 6:15 p.m. and the Lenten worship contemplative prayer service at 7:30 p.m.Rotary speakerDominic Sacci will be the West End Rotary Club's speaker at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. The club meets at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville.Deadline ThursdayThose wanting to experience a Community Messianic Passover Seder at Twin Pines Camp, Conference and Retreat Center on April 2 should contact Shari Landis at
stacte4Him@gmail.com or at 570-872-9444 for more information, including costs, by Thursday.Rabbi Glenn Blank of Beit Simcha Messianic Congregation will officiate at the full Passover banquet.Soccer LeagueThe West End Soccer League Board meeting will be Thursday at Kinsley's ShopRite in Brodheadsville in the community room, beginning at 7 p.m.PVHS MusicalThe Pleasant Valley High School musical "Shrek" will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.Tickets are available at the door, or contact Carol Ring at
ring.carol@pvbears.org.Special speakerEffort United Methodist Church will welcome Gaston Warner, executive director of the ZOE Helps program, next Sunday for both services. ZOE works with orphans and vulnerable children around the world to overcome extreme poverty, become self-reliant, and learn of God's love. It is currently active in Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Liberia, Guatemala and India.Pastie saleOrders and money for pastie sales are due at Salem-St. Paul's Lutheran Church or at The Growing Place offices by Sunday. For more information call the church at 610-681-5191.Irish Day paradeThe 38th Monroe County St. Patrick's Day Parade is Sunday, beginning at Stroudsburg High School on Main Street. The parade will start at 1 p.m. Anyone walking in the parade should arrive at 12:30 p.m.PVI competitionStudents at the Pleasant Valley Intermediate School students are having a savings competition. Classrooms are pitted against each other to see which room can bring in the most Box Tops, Coke Rewards lids or codes from 12-24 packs, Weis and ShopRite receipts, and Labels for Education.The competition will go toward end of the year activities and PTO sponsored events for PVI families.The winning homeroom, per grade, will receive a pizza party while the second-place classrooms will receive an ice cream sandwich party.Help from neighbors, extended family and friends will be appreciated while the contest runs through the end March.It is hoped that the value of all product proofs will total more than the school's last year's value of $4,000.Polk supervisorsThe township supervisors of Polk Township will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the municipal building on Polk Township Road in Kresgeville.Free programMrs. Bush's Personal Care Home in Kunkletown is hosting a presentation by Prime Time Health at 11 a.m. Tuesday, on Keeping Your Mind Active as We Age. It is free for the community and refreshments will be served.For more information contact activity director Carrie Shafer at 610-381-1009.Blood driveCornerstone Community Church in Kresgeville will host an American Red Cross blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Walk-ins are welcome and appointments are encouraged. Contact the American Red Cross at 800-RED-CROSS or go online to
www.redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment.Directions to the church are: from Route 209, turn north at the light onto Burger Hollow Road, turn left onto Polk Township Road. The church is located on the left next to the Pleasant Valley Elementary School.Lioness meetThe Western Pocono Lioness Club will meet Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion on Route 209 in Gilbert.The community is invited to come and enjoy a piece of cake and a cup of coffee. The guest speaker, wellness advocate, Carol Petrucci, will begin at 6:45.For more information, call Lioness President Ruth at 610-381-4274.West End GOPThe West End Republican Club will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cherry's Sunset Family restaurant in Kresgeville. The optional dinner is at 6 p.m.Seniors menuThe Chestnut Hill Seniors, meeting at Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsvile, will have tuna noodle casserole Friday and baked rosemary chicken next Wednesday.For meal reservations, participants are asked call the site manager, Dolores Casalaspro at 570-242-6770 by 11 a.m. the day before.Talent showPleasant Valley's National Honor Society will hold a second talent show at 7 p.m. March 27. It will be held in the PVHS auditorium and the audience will select the winner, with proceeds going to a worthy cause. The November show netted $750, which went to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.The show is open to the public. There is an admission cost.Easter fun eventsMrs. Bush's Personal Care Home will hold a children's indoor Easter egg hunt at 10:30 a.m. March 28. Participants are asked to bring a basket and RSVP to Carrie at 610-381-1009 or
carrie@mrsbushcares.com.Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville will host a community Easter activity on March 28 at the church, beginning at 11 a.m. It is open to those age 3 through grade 5 and will include face painting, an Easter egg hunt with prizes, and lunch available for purchase. To register, call the church at 570-992-6988.Proceeds will be used to help those in need.The party at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert will be from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on March 28. It is open to children of the community up to age 10. Donations will be accepted at the door.The annual Easter egg hunt at the Ross Township Park, Anchorage Road, Saylorsburg, will also be March 28 beginning at 1 p.m. It is for children ages 10 and under. The Easter Bunny may be available for pictures.St. Matthew's UCC Church will hold its children's Easter egg party from 1 to 3 p.m. April 4 in the Church Grove.Children age 0-12 years old are invited to a fun two-hour event featuring egg hunt, games, prizes and a bounce house. For more information contact Staci at 610-951-4214 or
stacigeorge0317@gmail.com. The event is free and open to the public. The church address is 102 Church Road, Kunkletown, PA 18058.MusicalWest End Seniors are invited to attend the dress rehearsal free of charge of High School Musical Jr. at 3:30 p.m. May 7 at the Pleasant Valley Middle School.Light refreshments will be served during intermission.RSVP to Grace at 570-977-4437 or