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Religion

ARW to open new thrift store, donation center

American Rescue Workers is set to open its 10th thrift store location and second donation center early this year in Sunbury, with donations being accepted starting this week and a grand opening slated for March. The center, located in the Sunbury Plaza at 1125 N. Fourth St., is expected to be the largest store the group has operated to date. The thrift store will be spread out over 15,000 square feet of retail space. Donations, such as clothing, housewares and furniture, will be accepted Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The grand opening will be held March 7. The store ...

Stone Church opens for annual Christmas service

ALLENWOOD — Saturday, Dec. 14, was a gray and bleak day outside. However, inside the old Stone Church, on the grounds of the Federal Prison in Allenwood, was warm with candles and holiday lights. This illumination helped hold back the darker oppression, and allowed for a simple and quiet ...

Hanukkah commemorates religious freedom

For eight days in either November or December, Jewish families around the world light a candelabra, called a menorah, in celebration of the festival of Hanukkah, which commemorates a miracle that took place in Jerusalem in the second century BCE. For Marvin Hurwitz, a member of Williamsport’s Temple Beth Ha Shalom congregation, Hanukkah really symbolizes a celebration of freedom from persecution. “It’s a festival commemorating religious freedom. To me, that’s what the holiday is all about,” he shared. This year, Hanukkah, which is also known as the Festival of Lights, ...

New pastor installed at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

An installation service was held recently at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 142 Market St., for new pastor Brian David Vasey. Vasey’s first Sunday was in early November and, after a few weeks, a service is held to be “technically installed” with the church. An interim pastor had served ...

A history of the bell ringers

When the sound of bells ringing can be heard at malls or outside stores, then you know the Christmas season is beginning. In this area of the country, there are two main non-profits that employ bell ringers to usher in the holiday season. The Salvation Army and the American Rescue Workers ...

Shelter resident rings bell for ARW

If you happen to go to the Dollar General in South Williamsport, you will be greeted with the familiar sound of a bell ringing and the smiling face of Clayton Witherite, who is manning that spot as a bell ringer for the American Rescue Workers. Witherite readily shares how he understands ...