Zion: One service

There will be only one service at Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville on Sunday, at 10 a.m. That is because Zion will hold its annual congregational meeting. A potluck luncheon will follow.

The church reminds folks that its parish hall is available for rent. There is plenty of inside space as well as parking space outside. For more information, call the church office at 570-992-6988.

The church’s regular worship schedule includes Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 8 a.m. (also via Zoom) and 10:30 a.m. (also via Facebook Live). A simple prerecorded spoken service is available on Facebook. Sunday school is held on the second and fourth Sundays at 9 a m.

Call the church at 570-992-6988, email zionulc@ptd.net, or visit www.zionulc.com or www.Facebook.com/zionulc.

AA meetings

AA meets at McMichaels UMC every Wednesday at noon and Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Another unit meets at Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville at 7:30 p.m. every Monday and Thursday.

TOPS meetings

From Linda Harpel comes this reminder: TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) meets at 5:30 p.m. at Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kresgeville every Wednesday.

“Learn the tools for success from people who share your challenges and support your efforts to create a healthier lifestyle,” she says.

The first meeting is free.

For more information, people can call Harpel at 610-681-6789.

Property tax/rent rebate

The state Department of Revenue’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is now accepting applications for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2025.

The program is open to residents 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 and older; and people with disabilities 18 and older. The maximum rebate is $1,000. The income limit for this year is $48,110.

State Rep. Jack Rader said that his constituents “do not need to pay anyone for assistance to apply for the rebates.” Contact his office in Effort for help at 570-620-4341 or the Blakeslee office at 570-643-7683.

Joint service

This year’s annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is being observed from Jan. 19-23. A worship service, which will be joined by other denominations of Christians, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville.

It will celebrate this year’s theme, “There is one body and one spirit, just as you are called to the one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:4)

The prayer service will be followed with a light lunch in McCawley Hall at 11:30 a.m.

Such a service has been “celebrated annually for over 100 years.” This year’s will include Scripture readings, sacred music and a sermon by the Rev. Bob Simon, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace.

Reset event

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God church did cancel both services this past Sunday.

And the marriage workshop that was scheduled for this past snowy Sunday, “Building with a Purpose,” has been rescheduled for this coming Sunday.

Habitat sales

Monroe County Habitat for Humanity is holding special sale days. Some have already passed, but some are still on the horizon.

• Thursday: Thrifty Thursday — 30% off storewide, with exclusions.

• Friday: Electrical Sale — 25% off all electrical.

• Jan. 30: Plumbing Sale — 25% off all plumbing.

To reach the ReStore by telephone, call 570-216-4390.

Another announcement from Habitat is that Jan. 31 marks the ends of its 2025 annual appeal.

Eagle watch trip

Bus trips along the Upper Delaware River in search of the national symbol, the bald eagle, are being offered by Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center. The trips are scheduled for Friday and Feb. 6. There is a cost.

Once a rare sight, bald eagles now inhabit this region and the probability for sightings is high. Participants should pack a lunch. Limited binoculars are available upon request.

Contact the KEEC at 570-629-3061 for more information on the eagle trips and other scheduled activities.

Effort UMC pantry

The food pantry sponsored by Effort UMC, the Supplemental Food Resource Center, is in need of canned vegetables.

Praise service

Salem-St. Paul, Kresgeville, will have a praise service with Sunday school this coming Sunday. It begins at 9:30 a.m.

Block shoot date

The Kunkletown Rod & Gun Club block shoot and meat raffle is happening Feb. 1, beginning at 11 a.m., at 122 Gun Club Lane in Saylorsburg.

The public is welcome. It is a 12-gauge shotgun-only event.

The event date was missing from the previous listing of the block shoot.

Orders accepted

St. Matthew’s ECC Church in Kunkletown is holding a soup sale. Orders are due by Feb. 1.

For more information, call the church at 610-381-2442.

Pickup is 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 7 and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 8.

Stromboli sale

Effort UMC’s Youth Missions Team is hosting a fundraiser for the group’s upcoming mission trip to Wallingsford, Connecticut. Stromboli orders are being accepted through Feb. 1 for broccoli and cheese, pepperoni and cheese, and cheesesteak.

For the cost of each kind, call the church at 570-629-1890.

Pickup is Feb. 15.

Deadline changed

AltruVision, a Lions Eye Bank, offers a special invitation: Children and teens under 18 years old are invited to join the Butterflies of Hope art contest. The submission deadline has been extended to March 21.

The butterfly, a symbol of “hope and transformation,” is the theme of the contest.

Youths under the age of 18 are invited “to create original butterfly-themed artwork representing hope, transformation, and joy.”

The winning artwork will become the “limited-edition AltruVision Butterfly Design, featured on AltruVision merchandise, this coming spring.”

For more details, contact alex@altruvision.org.

Souper Bowl set

On Sunday, Feb. 8, Zion Lutheran will help tackle hunger in the community by accepting donations for the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network Food Pantry in large soup pots representing the two football teams vying for the overall football championship.

Effort UMC will have soup pots in the Narthex for donations of canned goods such as canned fruit, canned pasta, canned vegetables, canned sauces, and non-perishables.

The church will also have a competition involving the teams that will be playing in this year’s Super Bowl.

Each soup pot will have a team name so people can vote for their favorites by placing donations in that particular pot.

There will be a third pot for donations from those whose favorite team didn’t make the Super Bowl but who wish to donate.

Lenten study

Effort UMC will be holding Lenten Bible studies beginning a week before Ash Wednesday on Feb. 11. The study will be on the first season of the “The Chosen.”

There will be soup and salad at 5:30 p.m., with the study starting by 5:45 p.m. and running to 7 p.m.

Drawing ending

Want a heart-shaped tub? Contact Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County soon.

Ticket sales for the drawing for the heart-shaped tub will end on Feb 13. People can purchase tickets online on or before that date.

The drawing will be on Facebook Live on Feb. 14

Garden needs

The Garden of Giving in Saylorsburg is dormant now, but indoor activity is humming, as new board member Christine McCausland is welcomed.

She has an extensive background in gardening and will work with volunteers in the garden on Tuesdays and Thursdays after the garden reopens on April 10.

Hours will be Saturdays only, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Starting on April 14, Tuesdays and Thursdays will be added to the schedule.

While the garden is dormant, there is an urgent need for someone who has experience with pruning trees. The 28 fruit trees that were planted three years ago are ready to be trimmed.

In the office, there’s a need for a treasurer who has experience with QuickBooks.

Contact the garden by phone at 570-402-1282 or email GardenOfGiving@gmail.com.

Also, people can check Facebook for news and updates.

The garden is located off Route 715 at 2556 Rising Hill Road.

Plan ahead

Eldred Township residents are reminded to plan ahead as township Clean-Up Days have been scheduled for 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25.

Dumpsters will be available.

Disposal is free to Eldred residents, except for tires.

Other items the township residents can discard are outdoor furniture, lawnmowers and bicycles, children’s toys, furniture, and tires of varying sizes for varying costs, ranging from $5 to $50.

If you cannot put it in the regular trash, bring it for disposal, is the township’s suggestion.