Spirit of Christmas

Tamaqua's Annual Spirit of Christmas Festival will be held this weekend.Santa will arrive at 6 p.m. Friday, with a parade to Depot Square Park and the lighting of the park. He and Mrs. Claus will then make their way to the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St., to meet with the children.Also on Friday, the Tamaqua Area Community Theatre will present "the Life and Adventures of Santa Claus," at 7 p.m. in the art center. Additional performances will be held at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday.Breakfast With Santa will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Salvation Army Community Center, 105 W. Broad St. Christmas movies will be shown from noon to 2 p.m.Also on Saturday, kids crafts will be offered at the art center, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a craft show will be held at the Tamaqua Elementary School.The festival will conclude at 6 p.m. on Sunday with the lighting of the Community Christmas tree at Depot Square Park.Rush-Ryan seniorsThe Rush, Ryan and Delano Senior Citizens Inc. met Nov. 22 at the Ryan Township Fire Company with 48 members in attendance. President Bill Morrison conducted the business session. Ruthann Feane offered an inspirational reading titled "November."Dolly Schuetrumpf was welcomed back and birthday wishes were offered to Linda Humes, Joan Herring, Jean Konits, Doris Brobst, Pat brown and John Fredericks.Anniversary wishes were extended to Mr. and Mrs. James Valentine, who celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.The annual Christmas party is scheduled for Dec. 6 at Capriotti's in McAdoo.The next regular meeting will be on Jan. 10, 2017, weather permitting.Soup socialThe next monthly community soup social at Trinity United Church of Christ will be held Saturday. The social will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the social hall.The meal is free to the public and everyone is welcome to enjoy the soup, desserts, refreshments and time with friends.For more information or to volunteer, stop by the church at 22 Lafayette St., or call 570-668-4139.Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 8 and 10:30 a.m. worship services this Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Sunday school classes meet at 9:15 a.m.Activities for next week include: Wednesday, Christmas caroling to shut-ins at 12:30 p.m., Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m., GriefShare meets at 7 p.m., TYM staff meet at 8 p.m.; Thursday, Men's Fraternity group meets at 6:30 p.m., worship team practices at 7 p.m., worship team leaders meet at 8 p.m.The ministry council and nominating committee will meet at 11:45 a.m. Dec. 11.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or

kkunkel@tnonline.com. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or

tneditor@tnonline.com.