TEPTO

The Tamaqua Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization will hold its first meeting of the 2017-18 school year on Sept. 12. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the school library.Room parents will be selected and plans for the coming year, including fundraisers, will be discussed.Any adult interested in supporting the students is welcome.Soup socialThe next monthly Community Soup Social at Trinity United Church of Christ will be held on Sept. 2. The social will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the social hall.The meal is free to the public and everyone is welcome to enjoy the soup, desserts, refreshments and time with friends.For more information, or to volunteer, stop by the church, 22 Lafayette St., or call 570-668-4139.West Penn LionsThe West Penn Lions Club meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month as they work toward helping others, both locally and nationally.Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. at the West Penn Community Park, located just off Route 309. The next meeting will be held Sept. 6.For further information, call 570-386-2272.Tamaqua seniorsThe Tamaqua Senior Citizens met Aug. 24 with 46 members in attendance. President Melody Weicker conducted the business session and provided the inspirational reading "The Summer Day."Pat Bednarik was added to the sick list. July and August birthdays were celebrated, with best wishes going to Nancy Gerber, Anthony Zahora, Mary Taylor, Dolly Kamant, Barbara Gallagher and Pauline Fenstermacher.Upcoming trips include: Sept. 18, Dutchway Restaurant in Myerstown; Oct. 18, Mohegan Sun Casino in Wilkes-Barre.Diane Gould donated a Halloween wreath and a snack basket to be used as door prizes.The group is open to anyone 55 or older.Meetings are held at 1 p.m. Thursdays at the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St.Community concertIn recognition of reformation's 500th anniversary, Zion Lutheran Church will sponsor a "Community Concert of Celebration" on Sept. 17, at the church.Performers will include Paul Wolfe, Glenn Davis, Mike Clark, Patrick McMullen, Carol Tempest, Joe Mehalko and Sandy Mehalko.A freewill offering will be taken. Any proceeds will benefit the Zion's Capital Campaign Fund.Light refreshments will be served.The church is located at Greenwood and Mauch Chunk streets.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.Activities for next week include: Tuesday, prayer gathering at 8:30 a.m.; Wednesday, TYM REMIX meets at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, worship team practice at 7 p.m., worship leaders meet at 8 p.m.Primitive MethodistPastor Rick Clemson will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service on Sunday in American Primitive Methodist Church. The service will be followed by the annual church picnic.Also on Sunday, the monthly service at the Hometown Nursing Center will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m.A new junior membership class will begin on Sept. 10. The class is open to anyone between the ages of 11 and 18.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or

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

tneditor@tnonline.com.