Family Advent

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, is holding Virtual Advent Family Nights beginning Sunday at 6 p.m.

Families can pick up your Family Advent Packet in the church after Mass this Saturday evening and at all Masses on Sunday. Packets can be found along the back ledge of the church along the windows. Families are asked to take one complete packet.

There will also be Advent Wreath rings available. Since there are limited quantities of rings available, families are asked to only take one if they do not have one to fill with greenery.

Each Sunday on Facebook Live the leadership will examine and reflect on the meaning of each candle and present instructions on how to proceed with the materials in each family packet.

Scarecrow winners

The WEPOSC’s 2020 Scarecrow Coloring/Creativity Contest had 152 entries in the three age categories. The winners are: Ella Rufo, 9, of Ross Township (category ages 9-11); Joel Howe, 6, of Ross Township (category ages 6-8); and Brynn Frable, 4, of Towamensing Township (category ages 3-5).

They each won a large pizza with topping, donated by Big Cheese Pizza in Brodheadsville.

Honorable Mentions, who won bags of candy, are: Avianna, 5; Sebastian, 5 (Chestnuthill Township); Barrett, 8 (Chestnuthill Township); Jonathan, 7 (Chestnuthill Township); Adilyn, 9 (Jackson Township); Valaree, 9 (Polk Township).

Entries will be donated to local nursing homes for the residents to decorate their rooms for the holidays pursuant to COVID protocols.

Cardinal days

The Western Pocono Women’s Club’s Cardinal Days at Kinsley’s Market in Brodheadsville, in remembrance of former club member Sally Anthony, are ending on Sunday.

At checkout, one can add a name and an amount to donate on a card that has a picture of a cardinal. That card will then be posted on the wall at Kinsley’s. All proceeds will benefit the Hospice House of Monroe County in memory of Sally.

The club hopes there will be many donations for such a worthwhile cause in honor of their late member.

Advent Sunday

St. Peter’s UMC, Saylorsburg, will mark the first of the four Advent Sundays this Sunday in preparation for Christmas with hymns, carols and traditions.

The congregation continues to meet both in-person and virtually every Sunday at 10 a.m.

Anyone wishing to attend tune in virtually can log on to https://www.facebook.com/stpeterssaylorsburg/live/ or https://twitch.tv/stpsaylorsburg to join the service.

It is also United Methodist Student Day, and the church’s college students are invited into the pulpit to participate in service and share their college faith experience.

The church follows all CDC guidelines, hand sanitizing, masking, social distancing and sanitizing the sanctuary, to ensure health safety.

A special request

From a Times News reader to this column comes a special request for help. The reader is seeking a special home for her grandmother’s trousseau which her grandmother made in the 1880s.

Since the grandmother was born and raised in the Sciota area, she would like to donate it, preferably to someplace in the West End.

The grandmother and family owned a hotel in Sciota called Hemlock Grove on what was once Strawberry Lane.

Anyone with suggestions may contact this correspondent via her email address or phone number.

Energy assistance

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income families pay their heating bills. LIHEAP is a grant that does not need to be repaid.

One can either rent or own a home. Apply online at www.compass.state.pa.us or request an application by calling the statewide LIHEAP hotline at 866-857- 7095 or call PA Relay at 711 for the hearing-impaired.

Applications are available at the local county assistance office.

Monday deadline

The Polk Township Veterans’ Memorial Commission is planning a rededication of the Polk Township Veterans’ Memorial. They will be adding plaques with the names of Polk Township veterans from all U.S. conflicts.

To have a name included, contact the township for required information at 610-681-5376 or email polktwpmemorial@gmail.com. Information must be in by Nov. 30.

Choice distribution

The Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network will host a food pantry choice distribution Tuesday, beginning at 9 a.m.

For more information and/or to reserve a time slot on distribution days, call 570-992-3136.

PVEN donations

With Thanksgiving this week, PVEN staff will be preparing for December and helping people.

Requested food donations for December include canned vegetables, canned fruit, cereals, cake mixes and icing.

Giving Tuesday

Pocono Mountains United Way, located at 301 McConnell St., Stroudsburg, is hoping residents will donate at least $50 on Dec. 1. That will allow the donors to be part of the drawing for several prizes.

For more information, contact: michael@poconounitedway.org.

Poinsettia orders

Effort UMC is accepting orders for Christmas poinsettias through Dec. 2.

Food boxes

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, will have food boxes available from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 3 and Dec. 17.

The church secretary says people do not have to call, just come by. Church members will put the box on or in the car. No identification is required.

Santa visits

Ross Township will host a visit with Santa Claus on Dec. 5 with him arriving around 4 p.m. in a unique conveyance.

It will probably be a drive-thru event.

Live Nativity

Effort UMC hopes to present a live Nativity program for the 6 p.m. Christmas Eve Service. This program will be held in the Pavilion on Dec. 24.

Sweet stuff set

The Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center is once again promoting its Sponsor-A-Maple Tree program to help Monroe County students.

For more information, call the center at 570-629-3061, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit the center website at www.mcconservation.org to download a sponsorship form and a schedule of the programs being offered.

OTOH meeting

The next meeting of Operation Touch of Home will be held on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post in Gilbert.

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