Religion

The U.S. Attorney for New Jersey was honored by a township-based church Jan. 18 for his “impeccable record of meeting the cause of justice.” Calling him “an advocate for all things right and an enemy to all things unfair,” the Rev. DeForest B. Soaries of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens presented U.S. Attorney Paul G. Fishman with the church’s Martin Luther …

Sunni and Shia Muslims gathered Jan. 10 at the Masjid-e-Ali Mosque to celebrate the birthday of their Prophet Muhammad and to denounce the violence carried out in his name. The Cedar Grove Lane mosque holds its interfaith service annually to celebrate Muhammad’s birthday, said mosque Imam Rizwan Rizvi. “The objective is to look at and ponder over the teachings of …

An ambitious project for Franklin Boulevard that would include veterans’ housing, a health care facility and financial literacy services was announced Jan. 6 by the Rev. DeForest Soaries. Soaries said that to fully accomplish the project, he wants to purchase and raze the U.S. Post Office building at 602 Franklin Blvd. In turn, he said, he would provide the U.S. Postal …

Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street celebrated the first night of Chanukah Dec. 16 with the ceremonial lighting of menorahs. Rabbi Eli Garfinkel takes us through the ceremony.    

WAWZ Star 99.1 – Central Jersey is playing all Christmas music through Christmas Day. “In ‘Merry Christmas Charlie Brown,’ Linus shared, ‘that’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown;’ a baby born in a manger,” morning man Scott Valentine said in a release about the format change. “That’s why we’re excited about playing all Christmas music, because we know who …

It took several years, but the debut CD of the Zarephath Christian Church’s worship team will be unveiled in a release party on Nov. 15. Titled simply, “Zarephath Worship,” the 10-track disc includes originals written by members of the worship team as well as a hymn and contemporary Christian songs that don’t get a lot of play. In addition to …

One of the most sacred days in the Shia Muslim calendar was commemorated Nov. 9, as area Shia gathered at the Masjid-e-Ali Mosque on Cedar Grove Lane to remember the martyred grandson of the Prophet Mohammad. The day featured poetry and lectures on the legacy of the killing of Husain Ibn Ai and about 70 of his followers and family …

Renovation of the Kingston Presbyterian Church’s steeple began Oct. 28 with the removal of the steeple’s 6-foot tall finial. The aluminum and wood structure, built in the mid-1800s, was removed from the steeple by about 10 a.m. The finial will be refurbished and placed atop the new, modernized steeple later in the year. Once the finial was removed the four-man crew began the …

The Shree Saminarayan Hindu temple on Amwell Road wrapped up its annual observance of Diwali – the Festival of Lights – Oct. 25 with a celebration of food. Hunderds of homemade sweets, breads pastries and other foods were displayed under statues of Hindu gods in preparation for the celebration, which was expected to be attended by hundreds of worshippers. Diwali is …

About 40 people took part in the 41st annual CROP Walk on Oct. 19, sponsored by the Somerset Presbyterian Church on John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Participants walked 6.2 miles to raise money for the program, Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty and for the Franklin Township Food Bank. Last year the group raised about $2,100 for the food bank. Joining Somerset …