Page 40 – North Central News, September 2012
FAITH
Faith Briefs Catholic organization hosts Family Celebration The EWTN Global Catholic Network comes to the Phoenix Convention Center Sept. 8-9 for its annual Family Celebration. This year, one of the highlights will be a special panel on religious liberty, which will include a questionand-answer session for the audience and media who attend. The program will begin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8. EWTN was the first religious entity to file suit against the federal government regarding the HHS mandate (see www.religiousliberties.org for more information). The two-day celebration also will include speakers such as “World Over” anchor Raymond Arroyo; “Journey Home” host Marcus Grodi; “EWTN Live” host Fr. Mitch Pacwa, and the former Rosalind Moss, now Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God. Saturday
Your home for liberal, progressive Judaism in the heart of central Phoenix on the southeast corner of Central Ave & Northern Ave.
Warm, friendly, engaging services led by Rabbi Barb Moskow and Tracy Leonard Warner
7901 N Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85020
Shabbat Services: 2nd Friday of each month 6:30 pm 4th Saturday of each month 9:00 - 10:00 am
Do you want your kids to be proud of their Jewish heritage? Come shmooze with the families of Merkaz and experience our learning program for kids and adults!
HEBREW SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Sunday, September 9th 9:30 - 11:30 Bagel Brunch for all
High Holiday Services will be held at the historic Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center 122 E. Culver Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Rosh HaShanah
Yom Kippur
Sunday, September 16th at 7:00pm Monday, September 17th at 9:30am Light Kiddush lunch following services Tashlich 4:00pm
Kol Nidre: Tuesday, September 25th, at 6:30pm Wednesday, September 26th at 9:30am 5:00pm Yizkor and Healing Service, Evening Service & Neilah Break the Fast immediately following services.
A High Holiday donation of $180 is requested from non-members and will be applied to your membership if you decide to join. No charge for military, college students, and children under the age of 18. Membership, Education and High Holiday Ticket information is available at our website.
To learn more about Congregation Merkaz Ha-Iyr, visit
www.congregationmerkaz.org or call 602-795-0471 We are family, Inter-faith and LGBT friendly
night attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the live taping of a special “Life on the Rock.” Mass will be celebrated by the Friars on Saturday and on Sunday, Phoenix Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted has agreed to serve as the event’s celebrant. Throughout the weekend, fans will have opportunities to get books signed at the “Meet the Author” booth, meet EWTN’s hosts and the Friars at the “Family Corner” booth, and browse the EWTN Religious Catalogue shop. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and admission is free. For additional details, visit: http://www.ewtn.com/familycelebration.
Preschool expands after-school options Paradise Valley United Methodist Church Preschool, 4455 E. Lincoln Drive, has updated and expanded its after-school programs for 2012-13. This year’s classes are Artworks, Books & Cooks, Little Kicks Soccer, Kidtastics Dance, Little Devils Gymnastics, Lil Yogi’s Yoga, Baker’s Cents, Godly Play and Hola! Spanish. Each class is taught by a seasoned teacher with early childhood experience. New to this year’s roster are Kidtastics Dance and Hola! Spanish. Classes are reviewed annually by parents, staff and the preschool board of directors to ensure that children are offered a current and enjoyable range of options. Paradise Valley United Methodist Church Preschool has been specializing in the education of young children since 1967 and was the first preschool in Arizona accredited by the National Academy for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Children must be enrolled in the preschool to take part in the After School Classes. For more information, contact the preschool at 602-840-8265.
Beth El’s Talmud Torah receives national honor Beth El Congregation’s Talmud Torah has been recognized as a “Framework for Excellence School” by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Beth El is the most recent congregation to receive this status and is only one of 95 schools nationwide and only
one of three in Arizona to be so recognized, marking it as one of the top religious schools in the country. This certification marks the fact that Beth El’s Talmud Torah has met rigorous standards in all academic areas that include professional development, curriculum development and family education. As a Framework for Excellence School, Beth El Congregation has been recognized for its ability to integrate formal and informal educational programming in a seamless way, further highlighting the importance of both. This standard for academic excellence also recognizes the Congregation’s success in creating a partnership between the professional staff and the lay leadership in building the kind of relationships that result in establishing high quality, meaning centered religious school learning opportunities. Education Director Janette Silverman has put her mark on the school by propelling it to national heights of recognition. Silverman’s staff of teachers is enhanced by Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky and Hazzan Sam Goldman. Congregational President Preston Mayon and Religious School Education Chair Barbara Becker have all played an integral part in the success of the overall educational program. Together, all of these leaders are role models for Beth El’s students as they engage in the task of transmitting the Jewish traditions. For more information, call 602-944-3359, ext. 123.
AWANA program returns to Royal Palms Children ages 4 years to sixth grade will learn Bible truths through fun games, scripture memory and music while making good friends during the AWANA Club at Royal Palms Baptist Church, 8802 N. 19th Ave. The club meets Wednesdays from 6 to 7:45 p.m. beginning Sept. 5 and continuing through May 1, 2013. For more information, contact Jackie Fry RPBC Music & Children’s Ministries, at jackie.fry@qwestoffice.net or log onto www.royalpalms.org. Visit North Central News online at www.northcentralnews.net