Religion

By PJ Parker. The field behind St. Matthias Church was the gathering place on Oct. 7 for many township furry friends and their families as they came for Sunday’s Blessing of the Animals. The event honored the Feast of  St. Francis, patron saint of animals. Deacon John of St. Matthias Parish conducted the blessings as he greeted and welcomed all. …

As it has since Rutherford B. Hayes was the U.S. President, the Griggstown Reformed Church held its annual Harvest Home Festival on Aug. 18 on the church grounds. This was the 138th annual gathering that brings village residents out to taste home cooking, hear music and singing and play a variety of games. One of the event’s co-chairmen, Kevin Grennen, …

By PJ Parker The thunderclouds and rain did not dampen the August 11 Peach and Strawberry Festival/Fish Fry at Somerset Presbyterian Church on John F. Kennedy Boulevard. A fundraiser for the church, the peach and strawberry theme had been resurrected after a three-year hiatus. Originally planned for the church’s wide, grassy frontage, activities shifted indoors with abundant dessert offerings, kids’ …

History was made at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens June 17 as 20 deaconesses were officially ordained as members of the church’s hierarchy. In the past, deaconesses were seen largely as the church’s “auxiliary,” given the title simply because their husbands had been ordained deacons, FBCLG Senior Pastor DeForest Soaries said in an email announcing the event. “However, …

Hundreds of congregants gathered at Masjid-e-Ali June 15 to celebrate Eid al Fitr, the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Muslims around the world engage in fasting during daylight hours throughout the month of Ramadan, which began this year in mid-May. Eid al Fitr, or festival of breaking of the fast, marks the end of the obligation. Observing …

Several hundred people gathered at the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane May 31 for the annual Ramadan Iftar meal. Observant Muslims are about halfway through the month of Ramadan, which is marked by fasting between sunrise and sunset. May 31 is also the birthday of Imam al-Hasan, the second Imam of Islam and first grandson of the Islamic prophet …

By PJ Parker. For more than 40 years, the first Saturday in May has marked the annual spring flea market at Somerset Presbyterian Church, on John F. Kennedy Boulevard. According to Barbara Nicol, chairperson of the event, “over 70 vendors from Franklin Township as well as surrounding communities and as far as New York and Pennsylvania set up their tables, …

Members of the Franklin Township Interfaith Coalition gathered May 3 in the Veterans Memorial Park, in front of teh municipal building on DeMott Lane, to observe the National Day of Prayer. Attending the observance were the Rev. George Montanari from Middlebush Reformed Church, Rabbi Eli Garfinkel from Temple Beth El, Alex Kharazi, president of the Interfaith Coalition, Imam Rizwan Rizvi …

Somerset Presbyterian Church will hold its annual Spring Flea Market from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 5 on the church’s front lawn, 100 John F. Kennedy Blvd. There is no rain date. Spaces are available at $20 each, and are assigned on a “first-paid” basis. If needed, table rentals are available at $10 each. The flea markets, held twice …

True 2 Life Ministries, based out of 121 Victor Street, has started a fund-raising drive to help it continue its good works in the community. The Franklin Reporter & Advocate sat down with the ministry’s founder, Pastor Thomas Lewis, for a live-streamed interview about the project, which is called the Circle of Life. We also found out a few things …