A Silent Night ... A Holy Night

once overseen by the Library System of Lancaster County, and it was a county-wide effort. The Lititz Public Library has chosen to continue the tradition, working with Community Action Partnership and the Salvation Army to provide new masks and umbrellas, along with socks, mittens, hats, gloves, scarves, and earmuffs. Items in sizes for children and adults may be brought in to decorate the tree located in the library. “We get a lot of handknitted and crocheted items,” noted Guscott, who added that baby blankets and sweaters have been donated as well. “Some of (the items were) absolutely gorgeous,” she said. Items for the mitten tree will be accepted through Saturday, Dec. 18.

While decorating the Mitten Tree has been an annual activity at the library, 2020 was the first year the organization took part in the Lititz Warwick Community Chest Christmas Basket Project, providing full holiday meals for three local families. A Giving Tree, located in the front of the library, has removable leaves that name food items the library is collecting for the project. Among those foods are cranberry sauce, stuffing, canned vegetables, canned pumpkin, and cocoa mix. “We’ve asked for gift cards to (local supermarkets) so (basket recipients) can purchase fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, turkey, or ham to make an entire meal,” explained Guscott, who noted that the library hopes to provide four meals this Christmas. Baskets of ingredients and gift cards will be delivered to families by library personnel. Items for the baskets will be accepted at the library through Dec. 18.

The Gift-a-Book program, overseen by children’s librarian Karen Payonk, provides the library with books for children and youths that Payonk would like to have in the collection. A table near the front of the library offers the names of children’s materials that may be purchased to commemorate a designated person, such as a grandparent or teacher. The book will be placed in the library’s collection with a special commemorative label inside the cover to tell readers the name of the person who was honored by the purchase. “It’s a gift and helps us to purchase books,” said Guscott. Books for the program may be purchased through Dec. 18.

Readers who have questions about any of these efforts may visit www.lititzlibrary.org or call 717-626-2255.

Local Company Helps NASA Ready Telescope For Launch

For more than a decade, Ephratabased Lester R. Summers Trucking has hauled equipment and material across the country and beyond for NASA.

The effort continues with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is set to launch from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on the northeastern coast of South America on Saturday, Dec. 18. Summers Trucking has worked alongside NASA hauling JWST each step of the way.

JWST and Summers Trucking have been on the move for much of the last month. In September, Summers worked to transport the massive container from Northop Grumman’s facility in Redondo Beach, Calif., to Seal Beach, Calif., where it was driven onto a ship. Over the next 16 days, the satellite was at sea, passing through the Panama Canal and eventually reaching the port in South America. Summers then worked to maneuver the observatory from the ship to the launch location.

The James Webb Space Telescope project started about 25 years ago and carries a $10 billion price tag. According to NASA, JWST’s revolutionary technology will explore every phase of cosmic history from within Earth’s solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe and everything in between.

“This is the second year in a row we have a brand-new scene,” said Adam Fox, summer camp director at Woodcrest Retreat. Last year, Journey to Bethlehem organizers added a final scene featuring the wise men. It was so well received that another change was made for 2021.

“At the beginning of the show, Mary has learned she is pregnant, and she is wrestling with that and the social consequences of that,” said Fox of the new scene. He explained Joseph and Mary will be together and discuss the ramifications of Mary’s role as an unwed mother in first-century Palestine. “We want the audience to feel the emotions that Mary and Joseph would have felt,” said Fox.

Now in its 11th year, Journey to Bethlehem differs from other live Nativity presentations because participants are given the opportunity to become part of the Christmas story as they follow Mary and Joseph from the time they receive the news that Mary will give birth to the Christ child to the arrival at the stable where Christ was born and beyond. The 2021 event will be held at the retreat center, 225 Woodcrest Drive, Ephrata, on Fridays, Dec. 10 and 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays, Dec. 11 and 18, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

The live Nativity is interactive in that adults and children who attend may participate in specific scenes. As they travel with the characters from the Bible, participants will witness the walk to Bethlehem, where they will experience the disappointment of finding there is no room at the inn. The journey will also take attendees to a marketplace, where they may spend a shekel to purchase raisins or crackers, and then to a field, where they will gather with shepherds to hear the angels announce Christ’s birth. Finally, visitors will arrive at a stable to see the Christ child in the manger. The final stop is now a live presentation that takes place in the palace of one of the wise men.

Fox noted that about 3,000 people attended the 2020 event. Because Journey to Bethlehem is held mostly outside and participants are divided into small groups, it was not too difficult to abide by COVID-19 restrictions last year. The cost to attend will be discounted for children ages 4 to 16. Children age 3 and under will be admitted for free. In addition, a special price will be available to members of an immediate family living in the same household. Reservations may be made at https://www.woodcrestretreat .org/events/journey. Readers who have questions may call 717738-2233.

All funds raised by the event will benefit the ministry of Woodcrest, a nonprofit retreat and camp center that serves more than 1,400 children each year. In the case of inclement weather, those planning to attend Journey to Bethlehem should check www.woodcrestretreat.org for information.

Zeiset To Speak At Gathering

Women of all ages and preschool children are invited to attend Neighbors Sharing and Caring, a women’s ministry of the Chiques Church, 4045 Sunnyside Road, Manheim, on Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 9 to 10:45 a.m.

Esther Zeiset will discuss “Mind Matters.” Esther is a pastor’s wife, married 40 years, with three adult children and 11 grandchildren. She recently published a book, “Behind Fences: A Prison Chaplain’s Story,” and has written articles, stories, and devotionals for various publications.

Classes are provided for children from infants through prekindergartners. Readers may contact Bonnie at 717-361-2613 or Veronica at 717626-7603 for more information and a copy of this year’s schedule.

Is Your Roof Leak Is Your Roof Leaking? ing?

Actors who will take part in Journey to Bethlehem include (from left) Gregg Gattuso, Natalie Klees, and Micah Martin.

John F. Martin Provolone Cheese

$3.39 Lb. HILLTOP ACRES FARM MARKET

DECEMBER 1-7

Kunzler Virginia Style Baked Ham

$5.59 Lb.

Extra Lean 85/15 Ground Beef

10 Lb. Bag $3.79 Lb.

Troyer Smoked Cheddar .................................................................... Whole Bar $4.59 Lb. ............ Lb. $4.99 John F. Martin Reduced Sodium Lacey Swiss .........................................................................Lb. $4.69 John F. Martin Country Bacon Cheese .........................................................................................Lb. $4.29 John F. Martin Pork Picnic Roll .......................................................... Whole Bar $3.69 Lb. ............ Lb. $4.19 John F. Martin Golden Roasted Turkey Breast ........................................................................Lb. $5.29 John F. Martin Rotisserie Chicken Breast .................................................................................Lb. $5.19 John F. Martin Ham Off The Bone....................................................................................................Lb. $4.99 Eckrich Sandwich Pepperoni .........................................................................................................Lb. $5.99 Pasta Salad .........................................................................................................................................Lb. $2.59 Chicken Corn Noodle Soup ........................................................................................................Lb. $3.79 Baked Oatmeal with Apples .....................................................................................................Lb. $3.39

John F. Martin Turkey Bacon

$3.49 12 Oz.

John F. Martin Cream Cheese

8 Oz. Bar $1.39 Ea.

Milk or Dark Chocolate Wilbur Coating Wafers

$2.49 Lb. $2.89 Lb.

50 Lb. Case 3 Lb. Bag

John F. Martin Scrapple ....................................................................................................................16 Oz. $2.59 Chobani Yogurt....................................................................................................................................5.3 Oz. 5/$5 IGA Sweet Gherkins Pickles ...................................................................................................16 Oz. $2.49 Florida's Natural Orange Juice ........................................................................................................52 Oz. 2/$7 Post Cereals Honey Bunches of Oats w/Honey or w/Almonds ................................14.5 Oz. 2/$4 Post Cereals Honeycomb or Golden Crisp ...............................................................12.5-14.75 Oz. 2/$4 Crisp White Grapes .........................................................................................................................Lb. $1.99 Fresh Produce Golden Pineapples ................................................................................................................................. 2/$5 Mini Sweet Peppers ....................................................................................................................16 Oz. 2/$4 Honeycrisp Apples ..........................................................................................................................Lb. $1.29 Florida Ruby Red Grapefruit ..................................................................................................... 3/$2.75

• Roof Repair & Replacement • Gutter Cleaning 717-283-4524

Fresh Blueberries

2/$4 Pints

Mini Seedless Cucumbers

$2.59 Lb.

Local White Potatoes

2/$4 5 Lb.