Religion: Stem cell discussion and other events sponsored by religious groups

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November 13, 2008

'Stem Cells: Where Do We Go From Here'

Hadassah is offering an educational program on stem-cell research at Andover's Memorial Hall Library on Monday, Nov. 17, from 7 to 8:45 p.m.

This unique program open to the general public will gather several experts to celebrate scientific achievements, confront challenges and chart the future of regenerative medicine. Learn how cutting-edge biomedical research might impact your health and the health of your loved ones. Registration with light refreshments begins at 6:30 p.m.

Representing Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Children's Hospital Boston, M. William Lensch, Ph.D., is an instructor in pediatrics at the Harvard Medical School, affiliate faculty of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and senior scientist in the laboratory of George Q. Daley, M.D., Ph.D., at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Children's Hospital Boston. His current research revolves around the use of human embryonic stem cells as platforms for understanding genetics, development, and diseases of the blood-forming system. Dr. Carla Kim, Principal Investigator at the Carla Kim Lab located at Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School's Department of Genetics, is researching the role of stem cells in lung injury repair and in lung cancer. Kim is interested in the relationships between stem cell biology, cancer biology and lung biology.

Representing Hadassah, Shelley Klein, director of the National Advocacy and Public Policy Department, will update the panel on the advancements made in Israel on behalf of stem cell research. As director of advocacy, Klein is responsible for the totality of Hadassah's national advocacy on domestic and international issues.

For more information on how to register and the benefits for Hadassah members, contact Jacqui Kamlet, president of the Merrimack Valley chapter of Hadassah at hadassahmv@gmail.com.

Help with utility costs

On Saturday, Nov. 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. at West Parish Church, 129 Reservation Rd., Andover, learn how to increase energy efficiency in your home from Michael Berry, chairman of the sustainable building committee, Builders Association of Boston, energy efficiency expert and contractor. Learn about new income guidelines for fuel assistance from Linda Soucy, director, fuel assistance program, Greater Lawrence Community Action Council. Learn about rebates, loans, new federal tax credits and renewable energy from Vince Maraventano, clean energy coordinator, Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light. You will save money and help in the fight against global warming. Free; all are welcome.

'The Gods of War: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on War and Peace'

How is it possible that the three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, simultaneously preach peace and bless war? How is it possible that so much blood has been shed in the name of God, whom all three traditions acclaim as a God of peace?

Dr. Mark Allman, associate professor of religious and theological studies and a faculty associate in the Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations at Merrimack College, will present "The Gods of War: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on War and Peace" at Merrimack College on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Merrimack College, Cascia Hall, 315 Turnpike St., North Andover.

Allman's lecture will explore how these three traditions have, throughout history, endorsed different strategies and rationales for war and peace and how religion both contributes to and mitigates violence, as well as the role — for good and ill — that religion plays in current conflicts.

For more information, contact the Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations at 978-837-5428 or e-mail Aldebran.longabaughburg@merrimack.edu.

Jewish Historical Society of the North Shore annual meeting

The annual meeting of the Jewish Historical Society of the North Shore will also be the first of the Dr. Richard A. Winer Annual Memorial Lecture Series. Winer was fascinated by his Lithuanian background, completed his first family tree and was doing research on a second volume just before his untimely death this past July.

The meeting will take place on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 4 Community Road, Marblehead. Guest speaker will be Joel Ratner, Vilna District coordinator for the LitvakSIG Vilna District Research Group, from 1998 to 2006. Ratner will speak on the LitvakSIG Vital Records Translation Project. In addition to the lecture, a short documentary film, "Jewish Life in Vilna," will be shown. Ratner has been involved with the acquisition, translation and distribution of the entire 1858 Vilna City Revision List, as well as other genealogical records for the Vilna District. LitvakSIG maintains a Web site, www.litvaksig.org.

The meeting is free of charge and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Donations will be appreciated.

Central Catholic president to receive award

The Archdiocese of Boston has selected Central Catholic President Brother Rene D. Roy of Lawrence as the recipient of its first Bishop Cheverus Medal, in recognition of exemplary service given in the name of the Lord.

This new award is being instituted as part of the archdiocese's bicentennial and will be presented during a special bicentennial Mass on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.

Guest minister at Unitarian Universalist Congregation

The Rev. Victor Carpenter will be the guest minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 10:30 a.m. Carpenter is a former minister of the Arlington Street Church in Boston, the First Unitarian Society in San Francisco and the Cape Town Unitarian Church in Cape Town, South Africa. He is also minister emeritus of the First Church in Belmont. He has also served as president of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to international efforts to promote and protect human rights and social justice.

His sermon is titled "Is This Your Religion?" and will provide a brief tour of traditional values such as freedom, respect and compassion from a liberal and personal perspective.

On Sunday, Nov. 23, the congregation will celebrate bread, the "staff of life," in its traditional Thanksgiving service.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation is located at 6 Locke St., Andover. For more information, call the office at 978-475-4454 or Nancy Mulvey at 978-475-2411.