Christmas kettles

The Tamaqua Salvation Army's National Red Kettle Christmas Campaign will begin this Friday with a volunteer meeting. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at 105 W. Broad St.Bell ringer volunteers traditionally spend two or more hours at designated kettle locations. Businesses, schools, civic clubs, churches or groups interested in helping others are encouraged to take a day or weekend to minister in this way.Scheduled kettle hours are between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Bring your photo identification and Social Security card, if you will be volunteering regularly for the six-week Christmas season.Anyone who has questions but is unable to attend the volunteer meeting may call kettle coordinator Jesse Durning at 570-668-0410 or 570-728-6103.Soup socialMonthly soup socials are being held at Trinity United Church of Christ, 22 Lafayette St. The next outreach social will be held from 4-6 p.m. Saturday. The event is part of Trinity's "Feeding the Hungry" program.The public is welcome to attend and share in the free soup, friendship and God's love. Those attending are reminded to use the lower parking lot entrance into Founder's Hall.Rush-Delano seniorsThe Rush, Ryan and Delano Senior Citizens Inc. met Oct. 27 with 59 members in attendance. The meeting was held at the Ryan Township Fire Company in Barnesville.President Eleanor Schmerfeld conducted the business session and Chaplain Kathleen Valentine provided the invocation, "Strays in the Garden."A moment of silence was held in memory of Jim Engle. Joe Storge was added to the sick list.Upcoming activities include; Nov. 9, trip to Mohegan Sun; Nov. 15, trip to Hershey; Dec. 8, annual Christmas party at Chantilly's in Barnesville.The group meets at 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at the fire company. Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join. The next meeting will be held on Nov. 10.TEPTOThe Tamaqua Elementary Parent Teacher Organization will meet Tuesday. The meeting will be held in the Tamaqua Elementary School Library, starting at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month during the 2015-16 school year.Calvary UMThe Rev. Ed Bean will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Calvary United Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley. Sunday school classes are held at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, the Community Choir will present a patriotic concert at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the concert.An hour of prayer and praise is held at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or

kkunkel@tnonline.com. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or

tneditor@tnonline.com.