World religions

Zion United Lutheran Church began a summer adult study on world religions earlier in July. The group hopes to review not only Judaism but also Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and other faiths as time permits. For more information, call the church at 570-992-6988.New meeting siteThe West End Democratic Club's Thursday meeting will be held at a new location at Helen Mackes' home. The time is still 7 p.m.For directions, call Julia at 570-242-8759 or email her at

hazanna@verizon.net.RSVPs are due to Helen by today.Regional meetingThe Chestnuthill, Jackson, Eldred, Ross and Polk Regional Comprehensive Meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Chestnuthill Township Municipal Building in Brodheadsville.Saturday picnicSt. Matthew's UCC will hold its 128th annual picnic on Saturday, in the grove on Picnic Lane in Kunkletown.Food stands open at 3 p.m.Children's activities begin at 4 p.m., starting with games followed by a kiddie cake walk and fish pond.Entertainment will be by Lenny and The Loafers from 3 to 7 p.m.Back by popular demand is an adult horseshoe contest. Register for that by 3:30 p.m.There will also be a basket raffle; a pie contest at 5:30, registration needed by 4:30 p.m.; and a cake walk at 6:30 p.m.Healing serviceSalem-St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, will have a healing service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.Then at 11, it's a Bible study and lunch at a home in Jonas.At 2 p.m. the church will offer Holy Communion at the Getz Home in Jonas.Hoagie saleSt. Matthew UCC's church council is holding a hoagie sale to benefit the mortgage and building fund. All orders are due Sunday. Order pickup is Aug. 9. Contact the church office for more details.Family rosaryOur Lady Queen of Peace is holding its Family Rosary Night around a bonfire from 7:15 to 9 p.m. Sunday, weather permitting.There will be games, music, prayer and s'mores. Bring a chair or blanket.VBS at QOPOur Lady Queen of Peace Vacation Bible School, with the theme Sport Camp, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Aug. 4. There is a registration fee. It is for children entering kindergarten through grade 8. Stop by the office to register.Serenity meetingsMcMichaels UMC hosts serenity meetings at 7 p.m. every Monday at the church for those with drug or alcohol problems. It is open to all. The helpline is 570-421-6618.Blood driveAn American Red Cross blood drive will be held at the Chestnuthill Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday.Chestnuthill supersThe board of supervisors for Chestnuthill Township will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the municipal building in Brodheadsville.MAL meetsThe monthly meeting of the Monroe Animal League will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the Eastern Monroe County Library, Route 611/North Ninth Street, Stroudsburg.All Monroe County animal lovers are encouraged to attend.Early startThe family and friends of Salem-St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kresgeville have begun making their filling for the West End Fair at the Polk Township Firehouse as of Aug. 2, to be ready for the fair which comes to the Gilbert Fairgrounds Aug. 20-26.The church gives a portion of its profits to the PVEN and to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.Eldred SupervisorsThe board of supervisors of Eldred Township will meet at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at the municipal building in Saylorsburg.Women's ClubMembers of the Western Pocono Women's Club will be serving at Project Healing Waters on Aug. 2 at Indian Mountain Rod and Gun Club, beginning at 10 a.m.That event lets veterans enjoy the quietness and joy of fishing.Lioness officersServing the Western Pocono Lioness Club as officers this program year are: lion tamer, Nicole Davies; tail twister, Carol Heppa; directors, Terry Reinhart and Yvonne Pagano; co-treasurers Paula Meitzler and Karoline Kormann; immediate past president, Cynthia Waters; secretary, Gail Malocheski; vice president, Barbe Sieg; and president, Georganna Wilken.They were installed at the club's June meeting by Charles Rush, a past president of the Western Pocono Lions Club.The club began its program year with a meeting Tuesday at Kinsey's ShopRite in Brodheadsville, with the board meeting at 6 p.m. and the regular meeting immediately following.The club has donated funds to the Western Pocono Community Library, Kunkletown Fire Department, Pleasant Valley School District Special Education Department, Salvation Army, West End Fire Company, AWSOM and other entities, including college student Nikolaus Herman.Fusion 2017Middlecreek Christian Church invites all to come to its free weekend of music, food, ministry, fun and more Aug. 4 through Aug. 6.To help with costs, love offerings will be accepted any time during the event. Folks are invited to camp for the entire weekend with their own camping gear or just come for the day. Friday night begins with dinner at 5 p.m. followed by music from Jordan River Ramblers and SWiM. Then, a movie under the stars with a campfire Bible study afterward to conclude the day.Saturday starts at noon with lunch, and music starts at 1 p.m. with William Doney, Grace Notes Big Band, Joey O and more. Throughout the day there will be numerous games to play and enjoy. Dinner will include a pig roast and, following dinner, a speaker and more music from One Word and Think of 3. The day will close with another campfire Bible study.Sunday begins at 9 a.m. with breakfast and a closing worship service starting at 10:30 a.m.For more information, contact the church at 570-629-4066 or

www.middlecreekchurch.org or follow on Facebook and Twitter @Fusion_Weekend.CPR/first aidLearn to aid in emergencies involving choking, breathing, cardiac issues and the basics of first aid. A class will be held at the Chestnuthill Township Park on Route 715 in Brodheadsville from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 5.The hands-on training will be by a certified American Heart Association professional.There is a fee. For more information, call 570-992-9733 or

bkozen@weposc.org.School supply driveOur Lady Queen of Peace Church is asking for donations of backpacks, as well as other school supplies, such as pencils, pens, crayons, spiral note, books, etc.These will be given to the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network for children in need in the West End and to the over 200 children in the Monroe County Foster Care program.Donors are asked to bring donations to the church office.Mountain bikingOn Aug. 5, the West End Regional Park on Evergreen Road, Saylorsburg, will hold a mountain biking event especially for beginners; however, all are welcome.A new single track has been added.For those who do not have bike, contact Peterson's Cycle at 570-646-9223 to reserve a bike to rent. One must call in advance as there are no plans at this time to have extra bikes at the park.All participants must wear helmets. More information is available at

www.weposc.org or check the Facebook page of WEPOSC.VBS at EffortVacation Bible School at Effort UMC will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon from Aug. 7 through the Aug. 11 each day. The theme is: Maker Fun Factory, Created by God, Built for a Purpose. For more information about VBS, contact Deb Audett at

daudett@ptd.net or Kimberly Kurtz through the church office at 570-629-1890.Help soughtPVEN has recently acquired some additional space and is forming a committee to help determine the best way to utilize and lay out a vast amount of space. Anyone who has architecture or drafting backgrounds, or electrical and plumbing skill sets and may be interested in helping, can contact Pastor Todd Glasmire, PVEN board president, at Neola United Methodist Church, by calling the church at 570-992-3878.Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or

arargot3@verizon.net. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or

tneditor@tnonline.com.