RELIGION

Spiritual assembly to observe Race Amity Day

NEW HAVEN — Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of New Haven, 161 Glen Haven Road, invites the public to observe Race Amity Day on June 14 “as a day for you, your family, organization and community to celebrate the truth that our nation is comprised of multicultural, multi-ethnic people, and an opportunity for you to collectively encourage friendship, collegiality, civility, respect, and kindness among all our great nation’s citizens,” members said in a statement.

“With few exceptions, the most ‘American’ of us can trace our lineage back through a few short generations to include ancestors who, themselves once were immigrants to this country, and were, in all probability, subject then to the alienation of distrust, disunity, and doubt that many in our country still struggle under. Let us then, in thanks to, and in the spirit of, those who came before us and what they surmounted, welcome, with open hearts and generous hands, all who are, after all, our fellow Americans,” members said.

Their founder, Baha’u’llah, teaches that: “There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God.”

“We encourage you to use Race Amity Day as an occasion to celebrate the most spiritual of qualities: kindness, humility, peace, and love in celebrating the commonly shared ideals of collective citizenry to which our nation aspires in its most noble, core beliefs, and to reflect and celebrate with amity, the beauty of the diverse garden peopled with the heritages of many backgrounds, that is our rich heritage.”

St. Andrew’s collecting used clothing

NORTH BRANFORD — St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1382 Middletown Avenue, Northford, is holding a clothing drop off project.

The church has teamed up with St. Pauly Textile Inc., to collect used clothing. The company works with non-profit organizations, like St. Andrew's Episcopal, to set up used clothing drop off sheds designed to give community members a clean, attractive, and well-monitored place to donate gently used textile items, which are then distributed both here in the U.S. and worldwide to people who need them. To learn more, visit www.stpaulytextile.com/

The church receives funding for clothing collected, and additionally has the option to use any of this clothing to serve local community needs.

St. Pauly Textile, Inc. collects over 120,000 pounds of clothing every day and estimates that this clothing ends up in 44 different countries (including the United States) yearly. All of the usable clothing is worn by someone, somewhere in the world. In 2017, the company was able to help keep over 20 million articles of clothing out of landfills. The company was founded 22 years ago in Rochester, NY and is an A+ rated member of the Better Business Bureau.

Accepted items include clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, blankets, sheets, drapes, linens, pillowcases and stuffed animals. Donors are asked to put items in a plastic bag to protect against dirt and the elements.

There is a small box on the shed that contains receipts to help donors take a tax deduction.

For information, call Nan Monde, Sr. Warden, St. Andrew's, at 203-710-7005.

Beth Israel Synagogue is online

WALLINGFORD — Beth Israel Synagogue, 22 N. Orchard St., Wallingford, is closed.

Torah teachings will be conducted online at www.bethisraelwallingford.org

The Rabbi will remain in contact on when and what time any events will take place online. The Board of Directors continues to meet monthly via tele/videoconferencing.

Visit www.bethisraelwallingford.org for more information.

Temple Beth David offers online programs

CHESHIRE — Temple Beth David, 3 Main St., Cheshire, is closed, but virtual events are being held on the online platform Zoom and on Facebook Live.

For a complete schedule, visit tbdcheshire.org or www.facebook.com/TBDCheshire/

June 5, 5:15 p.m., Pre-Shabbat songs, on Facebook Live.

June 6, 9 a.m., Torah study with Rabbie Micah.

To reach the temple, email office@tbdcheshire.org or call 203-2720037; Rabbi Micah is always available to talk at rabbiMicah@tbdcheshire.org.

Congregation B’Nai Jacob programs on Zoom

WOODBRIDGE — Congregation B’nai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge, is continuing to hold services using Zoom.

June 7, 10 a.m. Daniel Headrick , PHD, will speak with us on Zoom about Pandemics in Perspective

June 14, 3:30 p.m. To honor departing Cantor Malachi Kanfer, we will have a festive

⏩ When Dodd Middle School student Chloe Galloza entered Cheshire Academy’s Admission Office on March 9, she didn’t expect that she would be named the recipient of the 2020 Town Scholarship and newest member of the school’s class of 2024. Originating in 1938, the Town Scholarship annually awards one eighth grade student from Cheshire a fouryear, full-paid scholarship to Cheshire Academy. The Town Scholarship recipient must have demonstrated scholarship, citizenship, and leadership during their middle school years and, throughout the application process, expressed a sincere interest in and an ability to contribute positively to both CA and the greater Cheshire community. Galloza’s parents, Jacob and Inez, said she has been driven to get into Cheshire Academy for several years. Galloza will join her brother Micah, class of 2023, on campus this fall.

⏩ The National Geographic Society named Vishwa Balamurugan, an eighth-grader at Amity Middle School in Orange, as one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2020 National Geographic GeoBee State Competition. The contest was held March 27 at Central car parade through the synagogue parking lot. Following that evening’s minyan, there will be a Zoom tribute to the cantor.

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

Shabbat Shmooze: Fridays, 6:p.m. followed by service at 6:30 Shabbat morning service: 9:45 a.m. Havdalah service: 8:30 p.m. Bread and Torah, Sundays at 10 a.m. Pirkei Avot class, Monday, 7:30 p.m. If you don’t know how to Zoom, visit https://www.bnaijacob.org/ or call 203389-2111.

Church holding can, bottle drive

ANSONIA — Christ Episcopal Church at 56 South Cliff Street, Ansonia (directly across from Ansonia Public Library), is collecting clean bottles and cans.

Grocery stores have closed their bottle redemption centers during the pandemic. Clean bottles and cans can be dropped off in THE collection bin next to the office entrance at any time.

First Church continues online worship

OLD SAYBROOK — First Church of Christ Saybrook has moved to online worship. “First Church understands that many in the community are isolated and are practicing social distancing,” members said in a statement. “Social distancing does not mean social isolation. First Church continues to reach and encourages everyone to practice social distancing. Please join them in worship at their on-line live worship service.”

The 9 a.m. Sunday Jazz service and the 10:30 service may be found live at www.facebook.com/firstchurchOS. On Tuesdays, join an online Tuesday morning coffee, conversation, and Corinthians.

To contact First Church of Christ Saybrook info@firstchurchsaybrook.org or www.firstchurchsaybrook.org

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

EAST HADDAM — Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is revising its calendar for the remainder of Lent and Holy Week. All in-person worship services have been moved to online platforms, and all other events at the church have been moved online or canceled.

St. Stephen’s will still hold online worship services on Sundays at 10 a.m. St. Stephen’s holds prayer services via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 a.m. and noon. See www.StSteves.org for more details on how to participate.

No change: “The Path” online Bible study via Zoom, 8 p.m., Wednesdays

For more information on St. Stephen’s events, visit www.StSteves.org.

Connecticut State University in New Britain. This is the second level of the National Geographic GeoBee competition, which is now in its 32nd year. GeoBee competitions were held in schools throughout the state with students in the fourth through eighth grades to determine each school champion. State champions will receive a medal, $1,000 in cash, and other prizes, as well as a trip to Washington, D.C., to represent their state in the National Championship where they will compete for additional cash, awards, and college scholarships. The second and third place State GeoBee winners will receive cash awards of $300 and $100, respectively. The national championship was scheduled for May 18-21. Pictured are, from left, Sheryl Wilder, Vishwa Balamurugan, Nicholas Tice, Matthew Muravnik, and Jennifer Byars, Amity Regional School District No. 5 superintendent of schools.

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