Religion

Information submitted by Sajida Bandali Comfort Aid International (CAI) is a USA registered non-profit 501(c)(3) entity that is involved in global humanitarian assistance, especially education of poor and destitute children. CAI is constructing a girls elementary school for 300 and an orphanage for 60 destitute girls in Kabul, Afghanistan. This $410,000 school/orphanage facility will commence construction on May 8, 2014 when …

Like their fellow believers around the world, congregants of Somerset Presbyterian Church and St. Matthias Catholic Church observed Good Friday April 18. The Presbyterian Church held a special “Seven Last Words of Jesus” program starting at noon. The church invited ministers from six local congregations to speak on each of the seven sentences said to have been uttered by Jesus …

A special presentation of “The Seven Last Words of Jesus” will be held from noon to 3 p.m. April 18 at the Somerset Presbyterian Church, 100 John F. Kennedy Blvd. in Somerset. The program will be an ecumenical service, with ministers of various area congregations delivering the messages. The presenters will be: Rev. John Potter, Honorably Retired, PC(USA) – “Father, …

Actor and author Hill Harper will be the keynote speaker for the “Arts in the Afternoon” program presented at 1 p.m. April 13 at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, 771 Somerset St. in Somerset. Hill will do a book signing of his latest release, “Letters to an Incarcerated Brother” during the program, which is sponsored by the church’s …

A proposal to build a Buddhist temple on Hamilton Street ran afoul of the township Environmental Commission at its March 4 meeting. That’s because the developers, the Phuoc Duyen Buddhist Association of New Jersey, want to take down a number of mature trees on the property. The approximately 20,000-square-foot lot is located a few properties west of Berry Street, at …

The Renaissance Community Development Credit Union (RCDCU) and the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) have teamed up to offer an auto loan “Refinance and Save” program. According to a press release about the program, it is “designed to encourage borrowers to take advantage of lower interest rates, which will result in lower monthly auto payments.  Financing will be …

The Middlebush Reformed Church held its 10th annual Living Nativity the weekend of Dec. 13, 2013 in the park across the street from the church on Amwell Road. Luminarias lighted a path through the park, at which various reading stations were set up and readings from the Christmas story were presented. At the end was the living Nativity scene, complete …

Christ the King Lutheran Church, 3330 Route 27, Kendall park, has set its Advent and Christmas services schedule. Advent services will be held 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Dec, 1, 8, 15 and 23, 2013. Christmas Eve services will be held at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Dec. 24, 2013. For more information, call (732) 297-1200.

The annual Chanukah Festival, featuring the lighting of a giant Menorah, was held Dec. 2 at the Shop-Rite on Elizabeth Avenue, Somerset. Co-sponsored by the supermarket and the Hillsborough-based Chabad Center for Jewish Life, the festival featured Chanukah music and refreshments. On hand to help Chabad’s Rabbi, Shmaya Krinsky, light the Menorah were Franklin Mayor Brian Levine and Deputy Mayor …

The Gospel Shepherds, a singing group comprised of Franklin Township residents, will perform a free concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Middlebush Reformed Church, corner of Amwell and South Middlebush roads. Formed in 1996, the group has toured Sicily and has performed at many local events, according to its Web site. “The Gospel Shepherds have performed at Middlebush …