News

Religion: Events sponsored by our houses of worship


Published: October 16, 2008

Guest minister at UU Congregation

The Rev. Dr. Ken Reeves will be the guest minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6 Locke St., Andover on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Reeves is a graduate of the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, Calif., and has served congregations in Ohio and Delaware. He has also earned a masters degree in pastoral counseling and a doctorate in clinical psychology. The service is titled "Mystery at Walden Pond" and is the story of a community coming together to explore a mystery. Their exploration begins when Henry David Thoreau walks into a detective agency and reports, "I long ago lost a hound, a bay horse, and a turtle dove and have been on their trail ever since."

14th Annual Women's Spirituality Series

A forum on Mary Magdalene entitled "Bride and Beloved: The Greatest Story Never Told" will be offered at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover this Sunday.

Margaret Starbird will present a lecture, slides and a book signing on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6 Locke St. Admission is $15.

Starbird asks and presents her answers to the questions "Was Mary Magdalene the wife and beloved of Jesus? What became of her after the crucifixion?"

According to a release, "Starbird's work helps to correct the tragic design flaw in Christian doctrine — the loss of the Sacred Feminine — that has become painfully obvious as we enter the third millennium. Her lecture includes a slide presentation of medieval art associated with Mary Magdalene."

Starbird is an author whose books "seek to restore Mary Magdalene to a position of honor denied her for 2000 years by the entrenched patriarchy." Her first two books are cited as catalysts for the best-selling novel "The Da Vinci Code."

At Temple Emanuel: Shabbat Unplugged

On Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m., Temple Emanuel in Andover will hold a Kabbalat Shabbat Unplugged Service, led by Rabbi Robert Goldstein, Cantor Donn Rosensweig and Assistant Music Director Idan Irelander, accompanied by a variety of professional musicians. The service of soulful music and inspiring prose is open to all, regardless of age, affiliation or faith. Wine and cheese will be served prior to the service at 6:30 p.m. Temple Emanuel is at 7 Haggetts Pond Road., Andover. Visit templeemanuel.net or call the Temple Office at 978-470-1356.

Ecumenical service at Merrimack College

Lay and ordained leadership from the Merrimack Valley will hold an Ecumenical prayer service to pray for peace before our national and local elections in November on Friday, Oct. 17, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher at Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St., North Andover. Those interested in praying for peace are invited to attend.

The service will be modeled after Taize singing and prayer, an ecumenical community of 100 brothers located in France where youth between the ages of 17 and 30 come from every continent to take part in daily worship and reflections, small group study or to participate in a summer pilgrimage. Giant peace dove puppets, from the Kids as Peacemakers initiative, and Peace Dove flags will begin the service. There will be diverse musical, meditative, prayerful and reflective offerings. In addition, there will be candles placed throughout the worship space as a hallmark sign of a Taize style service.

For more information contact Monica Steele at 978-430-7922.

Service for children followed by dinner

On Friday, Oct. 24, at 5:30 p.m., Temple Emanuel in Andover will hold a special abbreviated "TOT Shabbat" Sabbath service for toddlers, preschool- and school-aged children. Rabbi Robert Goldstein will lead the child-centered liturgy and tell a story. Cantor Donn Rosensweig will lead the singing. This service is open to the public. Service will be followed by a Shabbat Dinner at 6 p.m. Reservations are required for the Shabbat Dinner. Temple Emanuel is at 7 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover. Visit www.templeemanuel.net or call the Temple Office at 978-470-1356.

Casino night fundraiser offers raffles, fine food

Temple Emanuel in Andover is hosting a wonderful social evening to benefit all of the important programs the temple offers. Tickets are $100 per person and include a smorgasbord of fine food from local caterers, an open bar, an assortment of entertainment including a piano player and flutist duet, a DJ with several dancers, a casino featuring black jack, roulette and craps and a magic show. Entertainment is being provided by Bates Entertainment.

There will be five raffle items valued at over $1,000 each: a downtown Andover shopping spree, a New England Sports Team ticket package, a cruise for two with two airline tickets, a home decorating package featuring an oriental rug and a golf enthusiast dream package with foursomes at five local golf courses. Raffle tickets are $25 each or five for $100.

The special event of the evening is a chance to win a $10,000 one-carat diamond courtesy of Hearts On Fire and Royal Jewelers. There will be 50 boxes available. Tickets will be sold separately that night for $100 per box.

Registration information for the Oct. 25 event is available online at www.templeemanuel.net. For more information call the Temple Emanuel's office at 978-470-1356.

Christian perspective on Islam

Renowned author and journalist James Carroll will present "Islam: Threat or Gift? A Christian Perspective" during the fourth annual Reverend Robert W. Bullock Memorial Lecture. The late Reverend Bullock was a parish priest interested in interfaith relations.

The presentation response will be on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St., North Andover. Asma Afsaruddin, associate professor of Arabis and Islamic Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and chairwoman of the center for the study of Islam and Democracy will deliver the presentation. Event co-sponsored by Facing History and Ourselves.

For more information call 978-837-5428 or e-mail aldebran.lonabaughburg@merrimack.edu.

Italian night fundraiser at West Parish

The Women's Evening Circle of West Parish Church, 129 Reservation Road, Andover, will host its seventh annual "Italian Night" on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. The dinner includes eggplant, lasagna-meat and vegetarian, chicken cacciatore, spaghetti and meatballs, garden salad, italian bread, cake, coffee and tea. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Yogi, mystic visits

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, a yogi and mystic is coming to Andover's Unitarian Universalist Church at 6 Locke Street. Led by an Isha Yoga Teacher for a free Intro Talk on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 7 to 8 p.m., He will offer a seven-day program from Wednesday, Oct. 22, through Tuesday, Oct. 28. Weekday hours will be 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday hours will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday hours will be 8 a.m to 5 p.m. A press release said "He is one of the few yogis capable of transmitting the subtlest aspects of yoga, enabling every person to explore the deepest dimensions of life. A thought-provoking speaker, Sadhguru's wit, wisdomw, and piercing logic examines and reveals the essential nature of life."

For more information, contact 603-433-6135 or newengland@ishafoundation.org.