The Lower Milford Township office has been receiving calls from residents reporting illegal hunting in several locations in the township. Hunting using a light, shooting from a vehicle and hunting within 150 yards of an occupied structure are all illegal.

If residents see this happening and give information to the state police or the game commission, there is a reward for reporting the violation if the poacher is caught.

It is happening on several township roads, including Bell Gate and Kraussdale. Anyone seeing illegal hunting activities should immediately call state police at 610-395-1438 or Lehigh County 911. Residents can also call the game commission at 888-742-8001 (the game commission is offering a reward) or visit the website at http://bit.ly/1NbB91M to report a violation.

Following is the schedule of Lower Milford December meetings. All meetings are 7:30 p.m. in the township building unless otherwise noted: zoning hearing board, 7 p.m. Dec. 2; supervisors, Dec. 17: they are expected to adopt a 2016 budget at that time; planning commission Dec. 7; historical commission, Dec. 8; recreation and open space board Dec. 9.

Upper Milford Youth Association boys and girls first and second grade sign-ups will continue through Dec. 15. If you have any questions, email Jason Boulrice at jjboulrice@gmail.com.

Upper Milford Western District Fire Company will serve breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 6. There are senior, adult and children’s prices. The January breakfast will be Jan. 3, 2016. For information, call the fire company at 610-966-3541 or Carol Shade at 610-966-3902.

The Ladies Auxiliary meets 7 p.m. Jan. 5, 2016. New members are welcome.

Vera Cruz senior citizens meet 1 p.m. Dec. 3 and 17 at the Vera Cruz Fire Company. All are welcome.

Upper Milford supervisors will meet Dec. 3 and 17, with a workshop 7 p.m. and the regular meeting 7:30 p.m. Their year-end meeting is tentatively scheduled 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30. The supervisors will adopt a final 2016 budget at that time.

The tentative budget, which has no tax increase, was adopted in November and is available for citizens to review and make comments, either online or at the township office, until Dec. 16.

The Upper Milford Recreation Commission will not meet in December.

The Emmaus-Upper Milford Joint Environmental Advisory Council meets 7 p.m. Dec. 28 in Emmaus.

There will be no monthly pork and sauerkraut dinners at the Lower Milford Fire Company until further notice.

As Christmas approaches, neighborhood churches have planned a variety of services to commemorate this holy season. I hope you will all take time out from the hectic schedule of shopping, cooking and partying to experience the true meaning of the season at your place of worship.

St. Peter’s Union Church will hold its Christmas Eve service 7:30 p.m. There will be a children’s service and the lighting of individual candles during the singing of Silent Night. It promises to be a beautiful, family oriented experience. For anyone in the congregation who cannot make it in the evening, Pastor Jerel will be taking part in an afternoon service 3 p.m. at Huff’s Union Church.

The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit has several services scheduled Christmas Eve, beginning 1:30 p.m. with a traditional worship with sermon; 3:30 p.m. is a youth-led worship with Christmas story and the youth music team; 5 p.m. is a children-led worship with Christmas story, family choir and children’s chimes; candlelight worship service 8 p.m. – a blended worship with sermon and the Spirit Alive! Ensemble; 9:40 p.m. – carol sing and special music; 10 p.m. – traditional worship with sermon, adult choir, Spirit Ringers, strings, flute, trumpet and percussion.

Preparations are well under way for Holy Spirit’s annual Sunday School Christmas program.

The program, “From Creation to Christmas,” will be presented 9:45 a.m. Dec. 13 in the Worship Center. Each class (age three through fifth grade) has a part in the program. Each class will be singing a song in the program. The third, fourth and fifth grade students will fill the acting and speaking roles in the cast. The program will present several stories from the Bible and share how they relate to the birth of Jesus.

Check your church’s newsletter or the listings in The Press for a schedule of Christmas events and services at your church.

If you have news or information for this column, which runs the first Wednesday of every month, call me at 610-838-8923 or email me at bruce.swan@rcn.com. My deadline is the Wednesday prior to publication.