New partnership

According to Effort food pantry Co-Director John Ostovich, as shared by Pastor Robin Fisher, Meals on Wheels and Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network are working together to bring food to those in the community who would benefit from the service of these organizations.

People who qualify for Meals on Wheels can also receive food from PVEN.

Contact Meals on Wheels of Monroe County at 570-424-8794 and the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network at 570-992-3136.

Worship situations

• Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, will have services at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and the PV Kids service at 11 a.m. People are asked to register their respective attendance as there are only so many who may fit into the maximum number of attendees allowed.

• Effort UMC has canceled in-person services through Jan. 3, 2021.

Virtual services will be available on Sunday mornings after 8 a.m. on the church website, effortumc.org, and on YouTube.

Christmas Eve services will be held virtually in light of the recent guidelines and recommendations. View the services at effortumc.org or YouTube. YouTube links will be provided by email.

• McMichaels UMC invites the community to join in an outdoor Christmas Eve service at either 3 p.m. or 5 p.m. There will be social distancing and masks must be worn. The music will be recorded.

• Middlecreek Christian Church, Kresgeville, will have its Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. There will be no child care.

During all services masks are to be worn when entering and exiting the church and whenever there is moving around. While in pews, the mask may be removed. Offering plates are placed at the back and front of the sanctuary, rather than being passed around.

• New Covenant World Outreach, on Switzgable Road, Brodheadsville, has posted a 7 p.m. Christmas Eve candlelight service. To verify, call 570-992-4996.

• Pleasant Valley Presbyterian, Brodheadsville, will be celebrating Jesus’ birth with a potluck luncheon at 1 p.m. There will be no formal service but a Christmas prayer and some special music.

Those who would like to be at the luncheon are asked let the church office know by calling 570-992-0158 or emailing pvpchurch@ptd.net and letting the church know what food will be brought in to share. If there are any changes to this plan due to the current COVID-19 situation those having notified the church of their intentions will be notified.

• St. Matthew’s UCC, Kunkletown plans for four Christmas Eve services, at 3, 5, 7, and 10 p.m. The 3 p.m. will be a simple service of carols, prayers and communion.

The 7 p.m. service will be the Country Christmas Eve Service with Randy and a few band members. It will include a sermon, Pastor Scott preaching, and Communion. The 5 and 10 p.m. services will be Lessons, Carols, Communion and Candlelighting, using electric candles. All of the services will be limited to 57 people total in the sanctuary (including participants) so reservations are required to be seated in the sanctuary. Call the church office to reserve your seat or email Rose at stmatts@ptd.net. Once capacity is met, others may worship in the social hall or gathering room where the service will be livestreamed to the church televisions. If new restrictions are required by the increase in COVID-19 positivity rates, and the church is required to return to online worship, worship will be virtual with two options - the 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. service. They will be able to be viewed on the church website at a later time if preferred.

Worshippers are reminded to bring their own communion elements to all of the Christmas Eve services. The church does have prepackaged elements, but they are a bit tricky to open.

• Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran in Kresgeville has announced that due to expected inclement weather the planned Christmas service in Adam’s Prayer Garden is now slated to be a drive-in car service at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26, with music and messages that folks love, over 88.3 on the car radio.

• Salem UCC, Gilbert, is worshipping inside following the various CDC guidelines, including wearing masks, seating, etc.

The Christmas Eve service will be held at 7:30 p.m. It will be a candlelight service.

• St. Peter’s UMC, Saylorsburg, will hold its Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m. The service will incorporate Scripture, carols, special music and candlelight. All are invited to worship with the church family in person or via Facebook Live at www.stpeterssaylorsburg/live.

St. Peter’s observes all CDC COVID guidelines - masks, physical distancing, hand sanitizers, complete sanitizing of building, etc.

For additional information, call 570-992-7311 and leave a message.

• Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, will have indoor services at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. by reservation, due to governmental constraints. Call Zion at 570-992-6988.

Help needed?

Monroe County homeowners in need of help with winter projects could get help from Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.

The organization provides for low-cost, deferred payment, volunteer-based home repair for those qualifying.

That includes falling below stated income maximums, being up to date on mortgage and taxes, having homeowner’s insurance and having owned the home in Monroe County for at least one year.

Contact the office of Monroe County Habitat at 570-216-4390 or email ExecDirector@HabitatMC.org for more information and an application.

Homeowners are required to pay back cost of materials to MCHFH over a five-year period interest free. No credit check.

Masses held

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, is having Christmas Eve Masses at 2, 4, 7 and 10 p.m. with the 4 and 10 p.m. being livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page and YouTube.

Christmas Day Masses are at 10 a.m. and noon. The noon Mass will be livestreamed. No reservations are required. The side atrium doors will open a half-hour before Mass. Worshippers are asked to wear a mask. Ushers will seat people to be socially distant.

Free community dinner

Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville has a free community dinner on its calendar for 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Christmas Day. It is a drive-thru meal pickup. Reservations are needed. Call the church at 579-992-6988. A pickup time will be assigned.

Tax/rent rebates

An announcement by the Department of Revenue states that the deadline for older adults and Pennsylvania residents with disabilities to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2019 has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31.

The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.

For help in completing an application, contact a local legislator’s office or call the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging at 570-420-3735 or 800-498-0330.

Legion closed

American Legion Post 927, Gilbert, will be closed until 11 a.m. Jan. 4, following Pennsylvania state, DHS, CDC and Legion state guidelines as per Danny Insalata, Commander, Post 927.

Eldred thrift store

The Kunkletown Thrift store at the Eldred Community Center will be closed until Jan. 4 as per Gov. Wolf’s guidelines, according to Donna Borger Deihl.

Relief fund set

Pocono Mountains United Way has established the Hospitality & Restaurant Worker Relief Fund to help hospitality and restaurant workers who are out of work due to the new Dec. 12 Pennsylvania restrictions.

For details, check with United Way at 570-517-3955.

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