Yom Kippur service at Old Town Hall
Havurat Shalom will hold its High Holiday Service at the Andover Old Town Hall on Main Street in downtown Andover. Our Yom Kippur service will be Thursday, Oct 9, at 10 a.m. Check the Web site www.havuratshalom.org as the date approaches for any update to time or location.
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.
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.
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.
Married couples retreat at Franciscan Center
Married couples are to spend a day, Oct. 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Franciscan Center, 459 River Road, Andover, as an opportunity "to strengthen your love for one another, pray together and ask God to continue to be an important part of your married life," according to a release.
The cost for the day is $50 per couple. Lunch is included. Those interested are asked to send their name, address, phone number and date of marriage to Franciscan Center, 459 River Road, Andover, MA 01810.
Divorce Care series starts Oct. 14
Free Christian Church is once again offering Divorce Care a 13 week session starts Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m.
The Parish House 28 Elm St. Andover across the street from Freeh Christian Church.
Find help and healing for the hurt of separation and divorce. Divorce Care is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life's most difficult experiences.
For more information call John Hess at 978-470-0327 or johna.hess@comcast.net.
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 presenstation. 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.
