Emmanuel’s Lutheran Church, 3175 Valley View Drive, welcomes its new pastor, effective Dec. 11.

Pastor Rachel Ziese Hacker is a graduate of Texas Lutheran University and Yale Divinity School and has served in professional ministry for 15 years. Her most recent calls were to a historic church in Manitowoc, Wis., and to campus ministry in Nebraska.

She and her family moved to the Lehigh Valley in 2022. She and her spouse, Pastor Matthew, were both raised in South Texas and married while they were in seminary.

She brings particular training in music, liturgy and worship, preaching, ministry in death and bereavement and ministry with youth and young adults.

Matthew is the senior pastor at Nativity Lutheran Church on Tilghman Street in Allentown. They are the parents of two young daughters, ages 2 and 5.

Emmanuel’s Lutheran Church also wishes to give a big thanks to Pastor Paulette for her time as interim pastor and for all her help and guidance during this time of transition.

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The borough will be having a yuletide celebration, presented by Bath Community and Economic Development Committee, Dec. 17.

Bath businesses will be open 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Other features include a Santa Run, starting 9:30 a.m.; candy cane hunt, beginning 3 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 206 E. Main St.; and luminary night, starting 7 p.m. There will also be a boroughwide door decorating contest.

To register for the candy cane hunt, email bathpalions@yahoo.com; include the name and age of your child(ren).

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Emmanuel’s Lutheran Church will have its annual Christmas cantata 2 p.m. Dec. 18. Light refreshments will follow.

All are welcome.

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Emmanuel’s announces its Christmas services.

Christmas Eve services are family candlelight service in the fellowship hall, 5 p.m.; traditional service in the sanctuary, 7 p.m.; celebration of candlelight service in the fellowship hall, 9 p.m.

On Christmas morning, there will only be one service - 10 a.m. - in the sanctuary.

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Petersville Rod and Gun Club, 550 Club Road, invites you to join the club for Sunday football. The club will be open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. There will be appetizer and drink specials.

Hall and pavilion rentals are also available.

If you have any questions, call 610-261-2210 after 4 p.m.

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My email address is lhahn775@verizon.net if there is any information you would like published in this column. My next column will appear in The Press Dec. 29, so I need any information by Dec. 23.

Thanks, and have a great week and a very merry Christmas!