Seventh-day Adventists welcome back pastor

NEW HAVEN — New Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church recently welcomed John E. Lewis as their full-time pastor, but he’s no stranger to many in the congregation, members said.

Lewis moved back to his native Connecticut in December, after living in Illinois for the past decade. “It’s great to be home,” said the 59-year-old.

Lewis was born and spent much of his childhood in New Haven, before moving to Ansonia. He started attending New Haven SDA in the mid 1980s and was baptized in the Humphrey Street church by 1986. He served various part-time roles in ministry, including elder, bible worker, and prophecy seminar leader — all while working at Sikorsky Aircraft as a senior programmer analyst.

In 2010, Lewis completed a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry from Andrews University in Michigan and started his full-time ministry in Central Illinois in 2011. He was ordained by the Seventh-day Adventist

Church in 2017.

Lewis returned to the area in late December to minister at New Haven after the retirement of Pastor Warren Ruf.

“I’ve been able to pick up where I left off with so many,” said Lewis. “It’s also been such a privilege to meet several new faces.”

He said he has a vision in mind for both groups. “I hope to get everyone involved in a ministry and make the church even more of a bright light in our community,” insists Lewis.

New Haven SDA Church offers Saturday services at 11 a.m., 355 Humphrey Street, New Haven, 203-776-6646.

Congregation Beth El – Keser Israel schedules services,

NEW HAVEN — Congregation Beth El – Keser Israel, 85 Harrison Street in Westville, offers in-person services twice daily. We ask that anyone entering the building be vaccinated and wear a KN-95 or better mask. Weekday services are also available on Zoom; Shabbat morning services are live streamed Saturdays at 9:15 a.m.

Youth services have returned on Saturday mornings: Children’s Havura, K-2 Kehila, and Junior Congregation all meet at 11 a.m. Child-friendly Havdalah on Zoom continues on Saturday evenings. For more information, email Youth and Family Programming Director Annie Norman-Schiff at anormanschiff@beki.org.

Feb. 5: Artist Bruce Oren will discuss his current exhibition in the BEKI galleries of sculpture, photography and paintings, called “Entropy Warriors,” at 12:30 p.m. (snow date Feb. 12). Sabbath rules will be observed.

Feb. 7: Ethnomusicologist Rachel Adelstein continues a 6-part online program on Mondays at 8:00 p.m., focusing on the origins and the evolution of tunes for Jewish prayers. To request the Zoom link, email office@beki.org.

Congregation B’Nai Jacob schedules services, events

WOODBRIDGE — Congregation B’nai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge, announces the following services and programs. If you don’t know how to Zoom, visit https://www.bnaijacob.org or call 203-389-2111. We are Zooming and live for Shabbat evening and morning services.

Saturday, Feb 5, 9 a.m., Bread and Torah, 10 a.m., Shabbat services, 11 a.m., Tot Shabbat in the library

Weekday morning Minyans at 7:45 a.m. in the Chapel and on Zoom.

Sunday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m. Tova Mirvis Zoom presentation of her memoir “The Book of Separation”

Feb. 12, 9 a.m. Meditative Shabbat walk starting behind the church in the Woodbridge town center.

Evening Minyans at 6 p.m. Sat.-Thursday. 6:30 p.m. on Friday Shabbat evening.

Congregation Mishkan Israel schedules events

HAMDEN — Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Rd, Hamden, invites people in-person or online for Friday night Shabbat services at 6 p.m., led by Rabbi Brian Immerman and Cantor Arthur Giglio.

All in-person events require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and wearing of face masks. To join us online, visit cmihamden.org for login and password, or call the office at 203-288-3877.

Northford Congregational invites all to services

NORTHFORD — Northford Congregational Church welcomes everyone to join in services each Sunday at 10 a.m. Anyone who is unvaccinated is required to wear a mask while all fully vaccinated people have the option of whether to wear a mask or not.

Northford Congregational Church is located at 4 Old Post Road at the corner of Route 22 and Route 17 in the Northford village in North Branford. To reach the church, call 203-4840795, visit www. northfordcongregational.church, or email ncchurch@snet.net. Or visit their Facebook page.

Saint Andrew’s invites all to worship

NORTHFORD — Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1382 Middletown Avenue, Northford, invites residents to Sunday services at 10 a.m. Coffee and fellowship follow each service.

For information, visit standrewsnorthford.org/. The Rev. Bryan Spinks is Priest-InCharge. For further information, contact Nan Monde, Sr. Warden, 203-710-7005; or Rev. Spinks, 860-304-5266.