Remembrance service to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

STRATFORD — A service in remembrance of the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be held Sunday, Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Stratford, 1301 Stratford Ave., hosted by the Stratford Interfaith Clergy Association.

This year’s service will feature special music from the choirs of Harding High School in Bridgeport and Bunnell High School in Stratford, readings from various holy texts, as well as several readings from Dr. King’s own writings.

“In light of the continued racial tensions in our nation we need to look to the words and actions of Dr. King to remember our call to challenge the evils of systemic racism, poverty, economic and ecological devastation, and seek a moral revival of our nation,” said the Rev. Jeff Lukens, vice president of the Stratford Interfaith Clergy Association.

This event is open to the public. A freewill offering will be collected to benefit the Stratford Interfaith Clergy Association’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund. Each year the Association awards two scholarships to graduating seniors to students at Bunnell and Stratford High Schools.

Facility work day planned

NEW HAVEN — Bethesda Lutheran Church, 305 Saint Ronan St., New Haven, is holding a facility work day on Saturday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Members will be installing shelves in various locations in the church and organizing and cleaning closets that need attention. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

The door at St. Ronan Street will be open.

Archdiocese to hold Masses of Reparation

In seeking to apply spiritual remedies to the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church and the tragedy it has caused so many victims, Archbishop Leonard P. Blair will be offering three Masses of Reparation at the following parishes on the following dates:

Sunday, Jan. 27: St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish at St. Bartholomew Church, 736 Middle Tpk. East, Manchester, 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 16: St. George Parish , 33 Whitfield St., Guilford, 11 a.m.

Tuesday, March 26: Our Lady of Hope Parish at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 78 Litchfield Road, Harwinton, 7 p.m.

Church dinner benefits bell tower fund

NORTH BRANFORD — A corned beef dinner to raise funds for Northford Congregational Church's Bell Tower Fund will be held March 16, 5 p.m.

Space is limited to 50 people. The dinner will be held in the church's social hall, 4 Old Post Rd., corner of Rt. 22 and 17 in Northford village in North Branford. Take-out dinners (pickup at 4:15 p.m.) will also be available if ordered in advance.

Reservation/advance payment deadline is March 9. Adults: $18; children under 12: $10. Reservations and questions, call 203234-7794 or 203-484-0794. Make checks payable to Northford Congregational Church, send to Peter Jenkin, 32 Fieldstone Ct., North Haven CT 06473-2892. All meals must be paid for in advance.

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 though 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.

Teen Torah study: Jan. 12, 10 a.m. Temple Beth David, 203-272-0037; www.tbdcheshire.org