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JANUARY 14, 2026
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 11,290 HOMES
VOL LXII • NO 4
At ACYS, Singing Lessons Take on Whole Different Meaning New Year,
BY JEFF FALK
NEW
School District applied for the program, and the applications were reviewed by CrossNet Ministries workers and then were passed along to local businesses, churches, individuals and teachers and staff members in the school district seeking to spread some Christmas spirit. After the donors spent at least $100 on items on the wish lists, parents received the gifts during a pickup day in the middle of December. “It’s all anonymous,” said Reed. “If you could picture Santa’s workshop, that’s what our youth center looks like, filled with gifts. That’s where the magic happened. The
Amadeus Chorale Youth Singers (ACYS) uses singing as an avenue, a tool, to provide children with opportunities to discover themselves and learn about the worlds around them. “Singing is a natural process,” said Darla Bair, the founder and artistic director of ACYS. “Many children sing before they speak. We all sing. It’s a natural human function.” A repurposing of a proven successful program, ACYS will be introduced as an organization to Lancaster County for the first time during an informational meeting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, at Lancaster Church of the Brethren, 1601 Sunset Ave., Lancaster. ACYS’ first rehearsal will be conducted at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, at Lancaster Church of the Brethren. ACYS is broken down into two age-related groups - the SaraSingers for children ages 6 to 10 and the Lyric Choir for Singers for older kids between ages 11 and 14. Children and their families are asked to register before the informational meetings at www .amadeuschorale.org. There are fees associated with participation in the programs. “(The singers) will learn that there are people all around the world who share the dreams they have,” said Bair. “Different languages don’t separate us. It’s a global perspective. We teach children that there are right ways to do things. We teach them how to do things properly so they can grow in confidence. That’s the
See CrossNet Christmas pg 6
See Amadeus Chorale pg 8
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CrossNet Ministries volunteers Liz Harmon (left) and Nicki Martin prepare to distribute gifts as part of the organization’s Christmas program.
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rossNet Ministries is acutely aware of the difference between needs and wants. The local nonprofit conducts numerous programs throughout the year that address community needs. But CrossNet Ministries’ Christmas program focuses on wants. “The purpose of the Christmas program is to allow EL ANCO families to be able to celebrate Christmas,” said Corrine Reed, who’s been the community events and outreach manager at CrossNet Ministries for two years. “We hope
it spreads the love of Jesus Christ. We hope it allows them to celebrate Christmas just like everyone around them.” “Every kid everywhere should receive something for Christmas, and more importantly, they should get what they want,” continued Reed. “Oftentimes we look at it like, ‘Well, they got something.’ But it’s so cool to see these kids get something they ask for.” Located at 127 W. Franklin St., New Holland, CrossNet Ministries holds the Christmas program to connect generous donors and families that have low resources. Families living in the ELANCO
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