Community calendar

Feb 27

Pioneer Grange, Topton: order deadline for Italian Hoagie Sale is Feb 27. $5 each. Pickup March 7 at Grange Hall 3to 5p.m. Call orders to Tammy at 610463-7213.

Feb. 28

Leesport Area Historical Society Meeting: 7 p.m. Bethany EC Church, 308 Main St., Leesport. Business meeting followed by Show and Tell of historical item. Parking in rear of church.

March 6

Hamburg Automotive Swap Meet & Car Corral: 7 to 2 p.m. Hamburg Field House, 127S. Fourth St., Hamburg. Over 100 indoor spaces and unlimited outdoor spaces and car corral. Handicap friendly. Refreshments available. Held rain or shine. Items for everyone including white elephant items. Admission adults $3, children under 12 free. For more information call 610-823-4656.

March 7

Launch Party & Open Mic: 6 to 8 p.m. at Firefly Bookstore, Main Street, Kutztown. Evening of poetry celebrating the release of Robert Fillman’s full-length debut collection “House Bird.” Fillman will be reading from his new collection, as well as answering questions. Event is free and open to the public. Content may not be “Kid Friendly.” Refreshments, coffee and tea will be provided. BYOB is permitted for 21+ attendees.

March 11

Kutztown Folk Music Society Concert: 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s UCC, 47 S. Whiteoak St., Kutztown. Doors open at 6 p.m. Use rear entrance to social hall. Concert by Don Sinetti, Sea Shanty Singer, 5string banjo, concertina and bones. Food and drink available. Donation $9, $7 for military, veterans, and free for students age 12 and younger. CDC guidelines followed (masks required if not vaccinated). www.kfms.org

March 13

The History of the Kutztown Fair: 1 to 3 p.m. at Kutztown Area Historical Society’s historic 1892 Public School Building. Society librarian Dr. Brendan Strasser gives a presentation on the 150 plus year history of the Kutztown Fair. Historic photos and artifacts featured. After, explore the society’s museum.

March 13

Strausstown Volunteer Fire Company’s Breakfast: 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Strausstown Community Campus, 50East Ave., Strausstown. Full breakfast menu. Proceeds benefit the Apparatus Fund.

April 2 Church News St. Michael’s Church, Hamburg

Feb. 27: we worship at 10:15 a.m. to celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord and Holy Communion.

March 2: we worship at 7 p.m. to begin our Lenten journey with Ash Wednesday with Holy Communion. We are invited to the altar to receive the imposition of ashes, prior to receiving the holy Supper. The Pastor applies ashes in the shape of the cross on the forehead, while speaking the words, “For dust you are and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). This is what God spoke to Adam and Eve after they ate of the forbidden fruit and fell into sin. These words indicated to our first parents the bitterest fruit of their sin, namely death. Ashes remind each penitent of their sinfulness and mortality, and, thus, their need to repent and get right with God before it is too late. The cross reminds each penitent of the good news that through Jesus Christ crucified there is forgiveness for all sins, all guilt, and punishment.

Zion’s Lutheran Church, 354 Zion Church Road, Shoemakersville

Feb. 27: celebrate Transfiguration Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. worship service with Holy Communion. Service will be in person, on Facebook Live and posted on the church website. Sunday school for all ages will be held at 9:15 a.m. Palm fronds from previous years will be blessed in worship and burned to make ashes for use on Ash Wednesday. March 2: Ash Wednesday service at 7p.m. with Holy Communion.