Religion

PRAYERS FOR THE COUNTRY – The Rev. Sonya Redd reads a prayer during the Franklin Township Interfaith Coalition’s observance of the National Day of Prayer May 1 in Veterans Memorial Park. Members of Franklin Township’s faith-based community gathered at Veterans Memorial Park on DeMott Lane on May 1 for the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer. The observance …

VISITING MAYOR – Newark Mayor Ras Baraka speaks during the annual Interfaith Iftar held March 16 at Masjid-e-Ali on Cedar Grove Lane. Speeches, charitable donations and, of course, food, were featured at the annual Interfaith Iftar held at the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane. An Iftar meal is eaten at dusk by Muslims observing the holy month of Ramadan. …

ISRAELI ART – Some of the pieces offered for sale at the Israeli Art show held at Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street. More than two dozen Israeli artisans are being hosted by Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street in a two-day art festival. The works displayed and for sale by the 27 artists run the gamut from jewellery to …

SINGING FOR RAMADAN – Members of the Little Nasheeds Girls of New Jersey sing during the annual Ramadan Lighting Ceremony held February 23 at the Township Senior/Community Center. The Township’s fifth annual observance of the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan was held on February 23 at the Franklin Township Senior/Community Center. The highlight of the observance was …

ISLAMIC HERITAGE DISPLAYED – Samina Sattar, Amir Muhammad, and Sara Kharazi-Didehvar, left to right, at the Muslim Heritage Month exhibit January 12 at the Franklin Township Library. The contribution of Muslims to American culture was the focus of a exhibition held January 12 at the Franklin Township Library’s main branch on DeMott Lane. The displays, which lined the library’s Community …

RECOUNTING FAMILY HORRORS – Board of Education member Sami Shaban speaks to the crowd about the many members of his family who were killed in Gaza since the 1940s. Colonial Park’s Knob Hill Pavilion was the scene October 27 of a gathering showcasing Palestinian culture. Called “Connect with Palestine,” organizers designed the event to highlight the art, culture and heritage …

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – Pastor Rodney Staton speaks to the congregation during the Faith Temple anniversary celebration. The congregation of Faith Temple gathered at their home at Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street on October 27 to celebrate a milestone: the church’s 43rd anniversary. Founded in February 1981 by the late Elder Horace Staton and his wife, Pastor Lydia Staton, as …

Balmy weather on October 13 served as a backdrop for a number of events in the township. Franklin High School Project Graduation held the first of what will be three clothing drives. The organization get paid by the pound for the clothes, which are sent to needy people overseas. We stopped in at the event, held at Franklin Middle School …

More than 1,000 high school students ventured out to the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens on Somerset Street October 5 to meet with representatives of colleges and trades in the church’s second annual College Fair. The goal of the event, said the Rev. Danté Quick, the church’s pastor, is to “expose young people to future opportunities around higher education …

HUSAIN DAY MESSAGE – Amir Ahmed Atozai, representative of the Pakistani Consulate, delivers his message during the Husain Day commemoration at Masjid-e-Ali mosque. Muslims from around the region gathered at Masjid-e-Ali on Cedar Grove lane August 10 for their annual commemoration of Husain Day. The day memorializes Imam Husain, the grandson of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, who was killed along …