Sign up due

Today is the last day to sign up for the auxiliary children’s Christmas party taking place from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 15.

The event is open to the public. However, the sign up must be done in person at the Post in Gilbert.

No phone reservations will be accepted.

Vocations service

At 7 p.m. today a vocations prayer service is being held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church for those contemplating or feeling called to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life and lay ministry, which are essential in the church’s mission of spreading the joy and love of Jesus Christ.

Eldred supervisors

The Eldred Township Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 tonight at the municipal building in Kunkletown.

Band concert

The Pleasant Valley High School band concert will be presented from 7:30 to 9 tonight at the high school. The snow date is Thursday evening.

Home Association

The West End Home Association of American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 tonight.

Knit & Crochet

Zion Lutheran’s Knit & Crochet group will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday to ply their needles of caring. Newcomers, including those who do not know how to knit or crochet, are welcome at the church. Members will teach newbies.

Lions celebrate

The Western Pocono Lions Club will celebrate the season Thursday evening at Cherry’s Restaurant in Kresgeville. Those who have already registered are reminded to bring nonperishable food items for the PVEN food pantry.

PV Board

The Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Administrative Center.

Legion meets

American Legion Post 927 will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday for its monthly gathering.

Menu choices

Seniors participating in the county’s Senior Center programs, including the center group which gathers at Zion Lutheran Church Wednesdays and Fridays, can choose from a regular or lighter fare menu.

For Friday, the choice for the regular fare is fish Thermidor over brown rice, lima beans, mixed vegetables and pineapple tidbits. For next Wednesday it is meatloaf, mashed sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, sliced peaches and a dinner roll.

The lighter-fare offering for Friday is egg salad, green bean salad, mandarin oranges, juice/pudding and milk.

For next Wednesday it is salami & mozzarella, broccoli salad, pineapple tidbits, whole grain bread, and yogurt and milk.

Participants must call the site manager by 11 a.m. the day before to give their choices at 570-242-6770.

There is a suggested donation per meal.

Riders events

The Legion Riders’ Christmas party is at 6 p.m. Friday at the Post home in Gilbert.

It is open to all Legion Riders and one guest. Participants are reminded to bring an exchange gift of a certain value and to also bring an unwrapped children’s toy for the USMC Reserve’s Toys for Tots program.

For more information, call Dana “Doc” Pepperin at 772-341-3262 or email at drplrn@msn.com. The group’s regular meeting is set for 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Cubbies meet

Effort UMC Cubbies will meet at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The group is for those in first through fourth grade.

PVHS movie night

The Friday night movie at PVHS will begin at 7 p.m.

Cookie sale

McMichaels UMC has announced its annual cookie baskets sale. It will be held Saturday when the church has its all-you-can-eat breakfast by donation only. Donations of cookies for the baskets are, however, needed by Thursday.

Enrollment ends

Medicare Open Enrollment for this coming year ends on Friday. Enrollment or any changes will take effect on Jan. 1.

The Monroe County Area Agency on Aging APPRISE program will have free plan comparisons for Medicare beneficiaries. The comparisons end Friday. Hours available for appointments are 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Monroe County Loder Building at 62 Analomink St., East Stroudsburg.

Limited appointments may also be available at Zion Lutheran Church Community Hall, Brodheadsville.

Call the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging for an appointment at 570-420-3735 or toll free at 800-498-0330.

Plan comparisons will be done by appointment only. No walk-ins.

QOP Masses

The Immaculate Conception will be offered at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church at 4 p.m. on Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday. There will be no 8 a.m. Mass on Friday.

Window dedicated

Last Sunday, the Effort UMC congregation celebrated the dedication of a stained-glass window of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane as gifted to the church by members Wayne and Fran Wylie.

Participating in the dedication were Pastor Robin Fisher, lay leader Steve Johnson and the Wylies as well as all assembled for the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services.

Getting the window was a long project because the vibrant red color of the window had to be imported from Germany.

The Wylies are both members in the church choir and have been active in other ways in the life of the church.

This window, a first stained-glass window in the main sanctuary, was dedicated by the pastor to the glory of God and in honor of God’s servants Wayne and Fran Wylie.

Prayer Shawl ministry

The Prayer Shawl Ministry at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will meet in the teen room from 10 a.m. to noon.

Santa visits

Santa is coming to Chestnuthill Township Park on Route 715 in Brodheadsville this Friday.

He is expected to arrive around 6 p.m. There will be music, hot cocoa and cookies.

Bring a camera to take pictures of young ones with Santa and also nonperishable food items for PVEN and unwrapped new toys for the Toys for Tots program if possible.

Bell ringers

Western Pocono Lions Club members are following a long tradition this holiday season: ringing the bells for the Salvation Army at Kinsley’s ShopRite in Brodheadsville.

Already having done so this season are Lions Jon Evans, Charlie Rush, Fred Klein, Michael Gagliano, Pat Buccieri and Eirene Charney. Providing this service on Saturday are Pat Buccieri, Michael Gagliano, Nick and Millie Hawkey, Rick Zimmerman and Charlie Rush.

Effort UMC pantry

The Supplemental Food Resource Center, a ministry sponsored by EUMC, will be open from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Families going through emergency or other short-term situations that are not eligible for local, county or state programs and is limited to a 12-week life time duration per family. A valid driver’s license or state ID with address proving residency in the West End is required.

For more information call 570-629-1890.

Old Time Christmas

Quiet Valley’s Old Time Christmas will be held Saturday and Sunday.

It includes a Victorian skit, a cabin story, a visit from the Belsnickel, seasonal carols, candlelight, a live Nativity, a bonfire, complimentary refreshments and gift shopping.

Tours are every 15 minutes from 3-7 p.m.

For more information including admission costs call Quiet Valley at 570-992-6161 or visit quietvalley.org.

The Giving Tree

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church has a Giving Tree which allows community to give direct help to sharing with those less fortunate.

The program provides gifts of new clothing and toys to many local children, homebound seniors and babies at Shepherd’s Maternity House, who otherwise might not have anything for Christmas.

Gifts to connect to names on the Giving Tree must be in the church in front of the Chapel by Sunday.

Sunday addition

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, has a full Sunday morning. It begins with the 8:15 a.m. worship service, a Confirmation class at 9 a.m.; then the 10:30 a.m. worship service and Sunday school where a collection of chew toys and blankets for the Carbon County Animal Shelter will be received; and, at 11:45 a.m. the Sunday school Family Christmas party.

During the whole month of December, the church will have ELCA Good Gifts Ornaments on a tree in the lobby to support people around the world. Take an ornament and give the money to the church or online.

Fellowship breakfast

Effort UMC is hosting its fellowship breakfast from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday. It calls for families and friends. A freewill donation can be made to support capital improvements at the church.

Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or arargot3@verizon.net. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or tneditor@tnonline.com.