Spirit of Christmas

Tamaqua's Annual Spirit of Christmas Festival will be held from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4 at a variety of venues in the downtown area.Festivities will begin with a Christmas Around the World display and Mistletoe reception at the Lehigh Carbon Community College Campus. The display will be from 5 to 7 p.m. and the reception will begin at 7 p.m.The Tamaqua Historical Society will hold a holiday open house from 3 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 1.Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in town onDec. 2. The Santa Parade will begin at 6 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their way to Depot Square Park and flip the switch to illuminate the park for the first time this season. The duo will then make their way to the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St., where they will visit with local children.Also that Friday, the Tamaqua Area Community Theatre will present "the Life and Adventures of Santa Claus," a family-friendly musical, at 7 p.m. in the art center. Additional performances will be held at 2 and 7 p.m. onDec. 3.Saturday events will begin with a Breakfast With Santa, at 9 a.m., at the Salvation Army Community Center, 105 W. Broad St. Christmas movies will be shown, from noon to 2 p.m.Also on Saturday, kids crafts will be offered at the art center, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a craft show will be held at the Tamaqua Elementary School.Voting for the Little Miss Spirit of Christmas is currently underway at the Wells Fargo Bank.The festival will conclude onDec. 4, with the lighting of the Community Christmas tree at 6 p.m.Meet the RaidersThe Tamaqua Area School District will hold its annual Winter Meet the Raiders Night at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7. The event will be held in the district's athletic center.Members of the boys and girls basketball, wrestling and swim teams, as well as the cheerleaders, will be introduced.The Raider Pep Band will also attend.The public is welcome. There are no admission fees.St. Peter's UnionSunday worship services are held at 9 a.m. in St. Peter's Union Church in Mantzville. This week's service will include a Thankoffering, white gifts and hanging of the greens. Sunday school classes meet at 10:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, the Confirmation class will meet at 10:30 a.m.; Cub and Girl Scouts meet at 6 p.m.Activities for next week include: Monday, church board meets at 6 p.m.; Tuesday, prayer group meets at 5 p.m.; Wednesday, filling order pick up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 8 and 10:30 a.m. worship services this Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Sunday school classes meet at 9:15 a.m.Also this Sunday, the monthly service at the Hometown Nursing center will be held at 2:30 p.m.Activities for next week include: Tuesday, prayer time at 8:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m., GriefShare meets at 7 p.m., worship team leaders meet at 8 p.m.Zion LewistownPastor Jim Williams will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. worship service this Thankoffering Sunday in Zion Church of the Lewistown Valley. Sunday school meets at 9:15 a.m.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or

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

tneditor@tnonline.com.