Religion

Children aged 5 years through the completion of 6th Grade are eligible for the Middlebush Reformed Church’s Vacation Bible School, which runs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 3 to 7. Registration for the school ends on July 2o. With the theme, SonHarvest County Fair, children will be “Growing the Fruit of the Spirit.” For information and to register, call (732) 873-2776 …

The Islamic celebration of Ramadan was acknowledged June 23 by the Township Council. Councilman Rajiv Prasad (D-At Large), read a proclamation from himself, Mayor Chris Kelly and Deputy Mayor Kimberly Francois and the rest of the council urging residents to learn about the celebration’s “religious and historical significance.” Ramadan is celebrated as the month in which the first verses of …

Township police will step up their patrols of Franklin’s dozens of houses of worship, according to a press release from the department. The move comes in the wake of the June 17 shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., according to the release. Police Chief Lawrence Roberts said in the release that he and other members of the department …

The 28th annual St. Matthias carnival kicked off May 12. The carnival, which will run through May 17, features more than 15 rides, games, a variety of food and a super 50-50 raffle. The schedule is as follows:6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 0 p.m. Sunday. From the Web site: ONE-PRICE …

Representatives from about 20 faith-based and community groups gathered at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara on Route 27 in Kendall Park May 9 for the 5th annual International Peace Day. Organized by Tulsi Maharjan president of Friends of Nepal – New Jersey, the event featured music, meditation, prayer and food. The day also included prayers for those killed and injured during …

Congregants of the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara Meditation Center on Route 27 gathered at the site May 2 to celebrate the birthday of their Lord Buddha. The center, located on a largely wooded 10-acre site, is home to what is considered the largest Buddha statue in the West. The statue will soon be joined by a meditation center that is …

Nearly six months to the day the removal of the original began, a new steeple was placed atop Kingston Presbyterian Church on Route 27. The entire process took about three hours, with first the bell vault being replaced, then the spire and finally – to applause and cheers from onlookers – the finial. While the copper finial was refurbished, the …

Hundreds of members of the Jain Center of New Jersey paraded down Cedar Grove Lane April 18 top honor some of their fellow members who have participated in a year-long fast. Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that stresses nonviolence and vegetarianism. There are about 1,800 members of the Jain Center, which opened in 2008. The parade – or varghodo …

Members of the Masjid-e-Ali Mosque welcomed the community into their center on Jan. 24. The goal of the open house, according to organizers, was to talk about some of the programs offered by the mosque, and to answer any questions residents might have about Islam. Organizers said the event would be repeated in the future.

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 …