Chestnuthill news
Christmas caroling
The Health Ministry Team at Zion Lutheran will be hosting a caroling event for the church's shut-ins on Friday, beginning at 5 p.m. with refreshments.
Carolers will leave at 6 p.m. and return at 8 p.m. The snow/ice date is Dec. 19.
St. Peter's Methodist in Saylorsburg will be caroling for its shut-ins on Sunday, beginning at 4 p.m.
Santa's coming
Santa arrives at 6 p.m. at the Chestnuthill Park in Brodheadsville. Music, hot cocoa and cookies will be available. Families may bring a camera for pictures with Santa.
They are asked bring a nonperishable food item for donation to Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network and/or a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.
Breakfast offered
McMichaels UMC will be serving an all-you-can-eat breakfast, donation only, from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday. It is a full breakfast complete with beverages.
Christmas cookie baskets will be available for purchase at the breakfast.
Cookie sale
The Western Pocono Community Library is holding a cookie sale beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. It will last as long as the cookies do.
Five hundred cards
GFWC Western Pocono Women's Club, along with local Girl Scout Troop 50396, mailed over 500 handmade Christmas cards to a naval base in Okinawa, Japan. The handcrafted cards were made from recycled Christmas cards, signed by both the women's club and the Girl Scout troop, and wished the sailors a Merry Christmas.
The cards were sent along with about $15,000 worth of coupons to help out the service personnel and their families. WPWC clips and mails coupons monthly and has sent over $160,000 worth of coupons to Okinawa during 2014. These coupons are greatly appreciated by the sailors and their families judging by the thank-you notes received by the club.
In December, as they do on the second Wednesday of each month, the ladies of the Western Pocono Women's Club hold a cookie and juice social at Getz Personal Care Home. The residents enjoy the refreshments.
The club will hold its annual Christmas Party and December Club Meeting on Dec. 16 at the Stroudsmoor Inn. The party signals the end of club meetings until March 16.
While the monthly meetings may not be held, WPWC is a very active women's service club. Members continue to clip coupons for the military, make quilts for Quilts for Kids, go monthly to Getz Personal Care Home and volunteer in many ways in the community.
The Western Pocono Women's Club meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month, March through December, at the Effort United Methodist Church on Merwinsburg Road in Effort. The club is open to all women 18 years and older.
For more information, go to www.westernpoconowomensclub.org, email them at wpwomensclub@gmail.com, or call 610-681-4967.
Effort food pantry
The Supplemental Food Resource Center, a ministry sponsored by EUMC, will be open from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
This ministry is an outreach serving the communities of Effort, Gilbert, Kunkletown, Kresgeville, Brodheadsville, Saylorsburg, Sciota and Albrightsville.
A valid driver's license or state ID with address proving residency in the West End is required.
Pandas to carol
The Pandas, the Effort UMC youth group, will meet at the church at noon on Saturday and will be leaving shortly thereafter to do some Christmas caroling at local nursing homes and care centers.
Parents and friends may come along. Caroling will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Upon return to the church, there will be refreshments.
Special music
Zion Lutheran Church's Chancel Choir will present special Christmas music at the 10:30 a.m. worship service Sunday.
Benefit bingo
The West End Fire Hall in Brodheadsville will be the site for a benefit grocery bingo for the West End Fire Company and the West End Community Ambulance on Sunday.
The doors open at noon. Bingo starts at 1 p.m. There is a cost.
Donations of groceries are being sought. They can be dropped off at the Hoffman Insurance Agency, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the West End Fire Company, Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m.; and the West End Ambulance Effort Station, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Workshop in Chestnuthill
Monroe County is hosting a Planning Commission Seminar/Workshop at the Chestnuthill Township Municipal Building in Brodheadsville on Monday. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Prayer shawl ministry
Effort UMC's Prayer Shawl Ministry group and friends will meet from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone who knits or crochets or would like to learn is asked to join the ladies they would love to welcome newcomers.
Supervisors
The Chestnuthill Township board of supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the township's municipal building.
Penance Service
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will hold an Advent Penance Service at 7 p.m. Tuesday. For other services at area Catholic churches, contact the church at 610-681-6137.
Lioness Club meets
Due to the holiday the Western Pocono Lioness Club will meet one week early, on Dec. 16. The meeting will be the annual December Cookie Bonanza and gift exchange.
The meeting begins with a social time at 6 p.m. and a business meeting at 7 p.m.
On Dec. 18, Lioness will travel to Getz's Personal Care Home in Jonas to bring some Christmas cheer to residents.
Chorus Concert
The Pleasant Valley Chorus Concert will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 17 in the Middle School Old Gymnasium.
