Soup deadline

Effort UMC is holding its monthly soup sale through Thursday. The soups available include seven-bean soup and chicken with rice.

The pickup date is Sunday. For more information call 570-629-

ReStore sale

Monroe County ReStore has announced a Thrifty Thursday storewide sale with 30% off.

For more information, call 570-534-4220.

Ash Wednesday

• Effort UMC will hold an Ash Wednesday worship service at 7:15 p.m.

• Our Lady Queen of Peace in Brodheadsville will have a prayer service with ashes at 4 p.m. and another Ash Wednesday service at 5:30 p.m. with ashes, and a 7 p.m. Mass with ashes.

• Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kresgeville will hold an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. The service will include Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion.

• St. Matthew’s ECC in Kunkletown will hold its Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 p.m.

• St. Peter’s UMC in Saylorsburg will hold its worship service on Ash Wednesday at 7 p.m. Other February services on Sundays are at 9 a.m. weekly, with Christian Education taking place at 10:15 a.m. on the first and third Sunday, and a fellowship time on the second and fourth Sunday, also at 10:15 a.m. In addition, Sunday worship services can be watched live or later on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/petersumc.saylorsburg.

• Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville will hold its evening Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. It will include the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion.

Lenten series

The Rev. Bob Simon’s Lenten series on Wednesdays at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville will be held on Feb. 25, March 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 10 a.m. (coffee and program) and 6 p.m. (dinner and program).

Library art show

In honor of America’s 250th birthday, there is a patriotic-themed art show at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville through the end of February. People can vote for their favorite pieces on display. The top three winners will be chosen by popular vote and receive monetary prizes.

PVEN stats

The month of January was another busy month for the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network.

Staff, including volunteers and paid workers, gave food to 226 families and 670 individuals; helped 61 families and 193 individuals with clothing; served 96 families via the Diaper Pantry; and served 18 individuals via the Menstrual Hygiene Pantry.

The Food Pantry’s current needs are cereal; peanut butter and jelly; canned chicken or tuna; pasta and pasta sauce; and dog and cat food.

The Clothing Closet needs lined hoodies and winter coats in all sizes for all ages; blankets/comforters; sheets and towels; toothbrushes and toothpaste; cleaning products; and deodorant and shaving supplies.

The Diaper Pantry needs adult-sized pull-ups; bladder control pads; and bed protector pads.

To support the work of PVEN, people can bring checks to PVEN at 2336 Route 209 in Sciota, or mail checks to PVEN, 2336 Rt. 209, Sciota, PA 18354. The PVEN phone number is 570-992-3136.

Pinewood Derby

On Thursday, the cars will be running, the Pinewood Derby cars, that is, at Effort UMC in Wesley Hall. The start of the exciting Scout event is set to begin at 6 p.m.

Fish dinners

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville will hold fish dinners, fried or baked, from 5-7 p.m. Friday and again on March 6 and March 27, in McCawley Hall.

Chili cook-off

There will be a chili cook-off from 1-4 p.m. Saturday to raise funds for Austin’s Blue Line, a nonprofit focusing on suicide prevention. The annual event will be held at the Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company in Kresgeville.

To enter the cook-off, contact Sharon Gerhart at austinsblueline.org. Registration for contestants is free. Supporters and students are asked to pay a fee. It is free for kids 12 and under.

Pastie sale ends

The Laymen’s group at St. Matthew’s Church in Kunkletown handmade pasties sale ends Sunday, with orders and money due that day. Pasties can be picked up at St. Matthew’s on March 16.

Being offered are original beef, with or without onions; chicken; Italian sausage; veggie melt; and spinach melt.

For costs or other information, call the church at 610-381-2442 or visit its website at st.mattsecckunkletown.com.

Zion free dinner

This month, with Ash Wednesday being on the usual evening for the church’s free drive-through dinner, Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville has rescheduled the dinner for Feb. 25 from 5-6 p.m.

The menu has been announced as ham, scalloped potatoes, a hot vegetable, tossed salad, dessert and a bottle of water. All are welcome.

The church has a new website: www.zionulc.org.

Weekly worship opportunities include 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 at 9:15 a.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.

Sweet sponsoring

Anyone who sponsors a maple tree at Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center will receive a pint of fresh maple syrup; a certificate; free admission to one of the Public Day Programs on either March 7 or 14 for up to four people; and a map showing the location of the sponsored tree in the center’s sugarbush.

For more information, call the center at 570-629-3061 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit www.mcconservation.org to download a sponsorship form. People can also call staff to pay by credit card and sponsor a tree by phone.

Maple sugaring

Quiet Valley, Monroe County’s living, historical farm, is hosting its annual maple sugaring day on Feb. 28.

For more details, call 570-992-6161 or visit www.quietvalley.org.

2 events set

The Kunkletown Rod & Gun Club is hosting a block shoot and meat raffles on March 1 and on March 29. They are 12-gauge shotgun only events.

The public is welcome at the events, which are held at 122 Gun Club Lane, Saylorsburg. For more information, call 610-381-3215.

Celebration meeting

The West End Historical Societies will meet at the Western Pocono Community Library’s public meeting room at 1 p.m. March 7.

Discussed will be the planning for the America 250th celebration that will be held July 2-4 at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert.

Anyone with questions may call Norm Burger at 610-681-7561.

Lasagna dinner

Effort UMC is hosting a takeout lasagna dinner on March 15. The church is accepting orders now for single serving meals. The meals will feature lasagna, salad, garlic bread and a dessert.

The meals will be precooked but will be refrigerated for pickup.

For costs, call the church at 570-629-1890.

U.N. Lions Day

All Lions are reminded that it is Lions Day at the United Nations in New York on March 19.

A special hotel rate is being offered to Lions at the Westin New York Grand Central through Thursday. Discounted rooms are limited and may sell out quickly; to book a room contact Lions International.

The LDUN registration includes: tickets to the LDUN program; printed souvenir program; commemorative LDUN pin; International President’s pin; as well as dynamic speakers and panel discussions.

Auction ahead

Effort UMC has scheduled its Missions Outreach Auction for April 11, beginning at 6 p.m., with preview time of items at 5 p.m.

Sign-ups will be accepted beginning March 15, and items will be on display outside of the church office. People need to place a value on their respective donations.

All donations need to be clean and in good condition. “Hot ticket” items include handmade items, themed baskets, gift certificates and homemade dinners.