RELIGION BRIEFS

Churches announce summer service hours

NORTH BRANFORD — St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1382 Middletown Avenue, North Branford, will hold its Sunday worship starting at 9 a.m. until Aug. 25.

OLD SAYBROOK — First Church of Christ Saybrook announces it summer hours for Sunday worship beginning June 30. 8 a.m.: service of meditation and communion, 30 minutes; 9 a.m.: Jazz service, jazz music with scripture and song, 30 minutes; 10:30 a.m.: Traditional Service, 60 minutes For more information, visit www.firstchurchsaybrook.org

Church to host outdoor service July 28

NORTH BRANFORD — Northford Congregational Church and the Rev. Robin Blundon invite local residents to participate in a community and family worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 28, at the Farm River in Northford, behind the municipal buildings and ball field at Totoket Park. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket, bug repellent — and boots if it has rains.

This community event will feature the Rev. Robin Blundon from historic Northford Congregational Church, which is located in the Northford village in North Branford. For information, call 203-4840795.

Second service on summer break

NEW HAVEN — The deacons of United Church on the Green sent a message regarding the weekly Sunday bilingual service held at 12:30 p.m. with the Rev. Edwin Perez Jr., who led the service for the last time in May.

“Rev. Edwin left us with a framework for service of prayer and meditation to use during the summer months as we awaited the arrival of our new pastor ... sadly, the empty pews have made it clear this format is not meeting the needs of this segment of the community,” deacons wrote. “After much discussion the Board of Deacons has decided to let the second service take a vacation for the summer. When our new pastor arrives ... we will choose a path forward for this mission.”

All are invited to attend the church’s Sunday service at 10 a.m.

For information about the church and its activities, visit www.unitednewhaven.org or call 203-787-4195.

Congregation B’Nai Jacob schedules events

WOODBRIDGE — Congregation B’nai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge, announces the following:

Weekday minyan services, 7:45 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Shabbat Shmooze: Friday at 6 p.m. followed by service at 6:30.

Bread and Torah: Saturday mornings 9-9:45 a.m., followed by Torah service.

CBJ big read: “Eternal Life by Dana Horn for second day of Rosh Hashanah. Books are available at the office.

For information, visit https://www.bnaijacob.org/ or call 203-389-2111.

Temple Beth David schedules events

CHESHIRE — Temple Beth David, 3 Main St., Cheshire, announces the following events and programs.

Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Micah every Thursday at noon in the TBD social hall. Bring your own lunch;

Youth Shabbat Service: First Friday for youth, 6:30 p.m.

Shabbat service: First Friday, 7 p.m. In this musical Shabbat experience, sing through much of the service. Services are participatory, spiritual, and fun.

Torah study: Join Rabbi Micah and a group of adults for Torah Study on Saturdays beginning at 8:45 a.m. and enjoy coffee, bagels, and a discussion about the weekly parsha.

www.tbdcheshire.org

Lay ministry training available

WALLINGFORD — Masonicare Health Center, 22 Masonic Ave., seeks volunteers for its Lay Training in geriatric ministry.

Open to people of all faiths, the program has been teaching basic ministry skills to volunteers nearly 20 years.

Volunteers assist the chaplains with worship services, including vespers; programs that allow elders to explore and express their spirituality and faith through art, sacred circle dance and music; hymn singing; chanting and drumming; as well one-to one pastoral visits.

Other opportunities include transporting seniors to religious activities and instrumental accompaniment at worship services, vespers and hymn sings.

For more details, contact Chaplain Thayer Quoos at 203-679-6259 or tquoos@masonicare.org. For more about Masonicare: www.masonicare.org or 888-679-9997.

Discussion series for people 60plus

OLD SAYBROOK — The New Adventures Team of St. Paul Lutheran Church, 56 Great Hammock Road, is sponsoring a “new adventures” series geared to people 60-plus.

Attendees don’t need to be church members. RSVP to Charlotte Schlesselman at 520-560-0183 or chars1961@gmail.com. For more information, call St. Paul Church at 860388-2398.

Worship services scheduled

OLD SAYBROOK —— First Church of Christ Congregational, 366 Main St., is offering the following:

⏩ Early Bird worship, 8-8:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room, offers a more casual service with prayer, reflection, quiet music and communion.

⏩ Soul Service, 9-9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, offers a variety of music, centered around rhythm & blues and jazz, with time for prayer and Scripture message, all underscored by a live band.

⏩ Faith Exploration for All, 9:40-10:20 a.m., with church school for pre-K-Grade 8, and workshops for adults and teens, including Bible study, spiritual practices, such as meditation and praying, and faith and health workshops.

⏩ Traditional worship, 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, offers music, including the First Church Choir, singing, times for prayer and silent meditation, Scripture readings, a sermon, and an opportunity for giving.

Nursery care is available 9:30-11:30 a.m. for ages infant to 3 years.

For more information, contact 860388-3008 or www.firstchurchsaybrook.org.

‘Resting in God’ prayer groups

MADISON — “Resting in God, Two Centering Prayer Groups” is held 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30-11 a.m. Saturdays at Mercy by the Sea, 167 Neck Road.

Centering prayer is a method of entering silence in order to “be still and know” God. Free-will donation is accepted. For more information and to register, contact Claire at crusowicz@mercybythesea.org or 203-245-0401.

Introduction to Judaism, Hebrew

HAMDEN — Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, has two adult education classes that are open to the community.

⏩ Rabbi Herbert Brockman teaches the introduction to Judaism class, which is on the basics of the Jewish tradition, its history, theology and observances, surrounding the life-cycle of a Jew and the yearly festivals. The class is held Sundays 10-11 a.m.

⏩ Rabbi Steve Steinberg is teaching introduction to Hebrew, which can be taken alone or in concert with Brockman’s class. It meets Sundays 11 a.m.noon.

RSVP: Sarah at 203-288-3877 or slegassey@cmihamden.org.

Mosque opens doors to visitors

MERIDEN — Baitul Aman “House of Peace” Mosque, 410 Main St., holds Coffee, Cake, & Conversation at 8 p.m. Fridays.

Information: www.TrueIslam.com, www.alislam.org, zahir.mannan@ahmadiyya.us, @zahirmannan, facebook.com/zahir.mannan.7, MuslimWritersGuild.

ASL interpreter attends services

MILFORD — Once a month, Sunday worship services at United Church of Christ, 30 Ormond St., Devon, include an American Sign Language interpreter.

A grant for the interpreter was provided by the CT Concerned Citizens for People with Disabilities.

For more information, call 203-8784685.

Free dropoff program for ages 3, 4 years

WOODBRIDGE — Congregation B’nai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, offers Gan Hayeled 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sundays.

The free drop-off program for ages 3 and 4 will run every Sunday that religious school is in session.

Call B’nai Jacob at 203-389-2111 for details.

Meditation program slated in area

GUILFORD — “Meditation in Daily Life” is offered 3-4 p.m. Sundays at Shoreline Center For Wholistic Health, 35 Boston St. No. 2. Classes are $12 each. No one turned away for lack of funds, according to a center press release.

Contact meditationinconnecticut.org, info@odiyana.org or 860-266-6041.