West End news
Power of prayer
A Pastors & Ministry Leaders Day of Prayer will be held from 9-11 a.m. March 14.
Participants are asked to come together at Mountaintop Christian Community Church, 113 Pilgrim Way in Brodheadsville. A fellowship breakfast will be served after prayer.
The purpose of the gathering is to strengthen each other through the power of prayer.
This nondenominational event is open to all pastors and ministry leaders. Anyone requiring a mailed invitation or who has any other questions can contact program coordinator Tiffany Webster or Pastor Betty Grant, program overseer, at 570-517-6026.
RSVPs with names and total in attending party are due by Saturday to Webster or Grant.
PV Proud
Pleasant Valley Elementary held a mini-Thon to support pediatric cancer and raised over $5,000. The school thanks everyone involved.
Lenten services
Effort UMC meets in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. Each week the message will be given by a person from a different area of leadership within the church. Today's focus, Trial and Denial, is based on Mark 14:66-72.
Our Lady Queen of Peace, Gilbert, offers Discovering Christ, the Joy of the Gospel and the New Evangelization Series. Sessions run every Wednesday evening from 6:15 to 8:45 p.m. with dinner and worship through prayer and music. To register, contact the church office at 610-681-6137 or churchoffice@qopchurch.org.
Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kresgeville will host the five-church joint Lenten service with the theme The Parables of Jesus. Each evening begins with a simple meal at 6, and then different pastors will preach. The Rev. David Schnaars speaks tonight.
Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville continues with its midweek Lenten supper and Bible study at 6:15 at p.m. and a midweek Lenten worship contemplative prayer service at 7:30 p.m.
Home Association
The West End Home Association is slated to meet at 7:30 tonight at the Legion Post Home in Gilbert.
Office open
State Rep. Jack Rader has opened an office in Effort at 2785 Route 115, Suite 103 of Carriage House Square. The phone number is 570-620-4341 and it will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Services available through the office include driver's license and vehicle registration applications and renewals; voter registration forms and absentee ballot applications; free state maps, state park information and PA Vacation Guides; referrals to agencies to resolve state-related matters; and more.
Kunkletown presence
State Rep. Jack Rader Jr. or his legislative aide will have hours at the Eldred Township Municipal Building on the second Wednesday of the month to address residents' questions or concerns.
The first session will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 11. All are welcome.
Lions board meets
The Western Pocono Lions Club board of directors will meet at 7 tonight at the Western Pocono Community Library. All Lions are welcome.
Eldred Supervisors
The monthly meeting for Eldred Township Supervisors is at 7:30 tonight.
Rotary speaker
The West End Rotary Club will welcome Chris Eckert, Chestnuthill Township Supervisor, as its speaker at Thursday's breakfast meeting. The club meets for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville.
Band Parents
Pleasant Valley Band Parents will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in the high school band room.
30-hour famine
From Friday through Sunday, Effort UMC is holding a 30-hour famine.
Chocolate delights
This Saturday Cornerstone Community Church in Kresgeville will hold its Ladies Chocolate Festival, Chocolate Delights, beginning at 2 p.m., which includes a guest speaker, door prizes, favors, and recipes. Tickets are free and limited. Call 610-681-3534.
Girl Scout Sunday
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will celebrate Girl Scout Sunday this Sunday with Girl Scouts in the parish.
Anyone interested in joining, volunteering with, or donating to Girl Scouts in the local community can call 800-GSUSA-4-U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.
All Sports Club
Pleasant Valley's All Sports Club will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the high school library.
Legion meets
The West End Legion will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Legion Post Home in Gilbert.
Other groups meeting at the Legion Hall include; 927 Riders at 10:30 a.m. Sunday; Sons of the American Legion at 6:30 p.m. Sunday; the Legion Auxiliary at 6 p.m. Monday; and the Korean War Vets at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Touch of Home
Operation Touch of Home is slated to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert.
UMW meets
Effort UMC's United Methodist Women will meet Monday at 7 p.m. Hostesses will be Dawn Frances. Devotions will be provided by Nita Nydam and the program is Mission Outreach Auction Baskets with a kitchen theme. For additional information about the UMW, contact Dee Juris at 610-681-8217 or email deedlebug24@gmail.com or Jan Decker at the church office at 570-629-1890.
Seniors menu
The Chestnuthill Seniors meet Wednesdays and Fridays at Zion Lutheran Church. The lunch for Friday is tomato basil fish. March 11 it is sesame chicken.
Doors open at 9 for various activities. For the coming Wednesday they include a free blood pressure check from 11 a.m. to noon and a presentation: Bite Into a Healthy Lifestyle Eating Right on a Budget.
To make a lunch reservation, call the site manager Dolores Casalaspro at 570-242-6770 by 11 a.m. the day before.
Reminder: If the schools are closed due to inclement weather, the senior center will also be closed.
Special collection
Salem-St. Paul's Sunday School youth are hoping to fill a black garbage can for PVEN with nonperishable food items such as macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, small bags of rice, cans of tuna, peanut butter, cereal, etc. and hygiene and cleaning items, including laundry detergent, Lysol, Clorox, toilet bowl cleaner, etc., hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products, razors, shaving cream, etc. They hope to meet the challenge to fill the can to the top by Sunday. If so, they will have a reward gathering.
Hoodies for Heroes
Effort UMC is expediting a Hoodies for Heroes collection of hooded jackets and sweat jackets to benefit the homeless veterans and VALOR Clinic through March 31.
Anyone who would like to help out can simply drop a hooded jacket in the baskets located in the narthex. A member will take them to Valor. Also being sought are hiking shoes for men size 8 to 12 and for women 6 to 10.
Anyone needing more information can call the church office at 570-629-1890.
Three blood drives
There will be two American Red Cross blood drives in the West End on Tuesday.
Wawa in Brodheadsville is one site. Drive hours are from 1 to 6 p.m.
Getz Personal Care Home in Jonas is the second. Drive hours are from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.
In addition, there is a Miller-Keystone blood drive each Wednesday at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville, beginning at noon.
Needlework groups
Salem-St. Paul's Needlework Group in Kresgeville will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Zion Lutheran's Knit & Crochet Group in Brodheadsville will meet at 1 p.m.
Lioness board
The Western Pocono Lioness Club board of directors will meet at noon March 11 at Cherry's Family Restaurant in Kresgeville.
WEPOSC meets
West End Park and Open Space Commission will meet at 7 p.m. March 11, following the Friends of WEPOSC meeting at 6 p.m. The meetings are held at the Chestnuthill Park Building in Brodheadsville.
St. Patrick's parade
Although held in Stroudsburg, West Enders such as Scouts, 4-H and veterans will take part in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 22. Application deadline is Sunday.
Contact 347-452-1874, 570-807-9417 or 570-620-8991.
Relay for Life
The West End Relay For Life will take place on from 10 a.m. May 30 through 10 a.m. May 31 at the Pleasant Valley High School track & field area.
To join an existing team or to start your own, visit http://relayforlife.org/pawestend.
The next relay meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. March 11 in the Pleasant Valley Middle School cafeteria.
New participants and teams are welcome and important information will be presented.
Contact meghanmaltez@gmail.com with questions or concerns.
Upcoming fundraisers include: Middle School March Madness Basketball Game (teachers vs KRZ DJs) 6:30 p.m. March 12 at the Pleasant Valley Middle School;
Wendy's in Wind Gap: a percentage of all sales donated to relay, 5-8 p.m., March 18;
Bake sale, 2 to 6 p.m. March 20 at Kinsley's ShopRite in Brodheadsville;
Pet Vaccine Clinic, 10 to a.m. to 2 p.m. April 11, Creature Comforts Veterinary Service;
Bake sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 26, Kinsley's ShopRite in Brodheadsville.
