Mark your calendars for a special performance.

During the Sunday, Dec. 21, 10:30 a.m. service at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, the youth group will present their Christmas pageant.

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Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church will host its Blue Christmas Service 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.

For those who experience pain and sadness during the holiday season, this service welcomes those to come to know God as the abiding healer, comforter and restorer.

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Although I have been the Hokendauqua columnist for only five months, I have been a writer and photographer for the Whitehall-Coplay Press and Northampton Press for a little over a year, 14 months to be exact.

I have met so many wonderful and inspiring individuals through my various interviews and photo assignments. For instance, I met the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man of the Year recipient who alone raised $109,000 toward the total goal of $290,000 for the organization.

I also met a previous pastor of Christ Church of Bath United Church of Christ who, with tears in her eyes, told me how much she loved being a pastor and how much she was going to miss the church members.

I met a 10-year-old boy who has won over 300 awards for his racing quarter midget race cars and most recently, I met a couple from Coplay who are raising funds for the Whitehall Township Police's K-9 Unit simply because the unit needs it.

The compassion and diligence of some of the people I've met and spoken with has been delightful and heart-warming to see. I am very thankful I've had the opportunity to begin my writing and photography career with The Press.

I have always known writing was a talent I possessed and wanted to pursue. Meeting such friendly and inspirational community members is quite lovely, and I look forward to continuing those experiences for many years to come.

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Help me make the Hokendauqua column full of events! I would love to include your church, park association, boys and girls club or organization events. Email me at hokeycolumnist@gmail.com. I would need your information for my next column by the morning of Friday, Dec. 26. Thank you, and Happy holidays!