FAITH BRIEFS

Church hosts concert of ‘Amazing Grace’ The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix presents Amazing Grace–One People, One Spirit Concert, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. The UU Congregation is located at 4027 E. Lincoln Drive. Join a diverse group of local musicians celebrating the resiliency and beauty of the human spirit through classical and contemporary music. Amazing Grace features pianist Lynne Haeseler, director of Sanctorum, in collaboration with the UU Congregation choir and director Connie Jahrmarkt’s band Europa. Sanctorum includes the chanting choir as well as African drums, flute, cello, viola, and guitar. Tickets are $10 at the door. For reservations, call 602-955-3611. Beth El institutes voluntary dues Beth El Congregation, a Conservative synagogue at 1118 W. Glendale Ave., offering voluntary dues for the first year. This offer is open to any Jewish person or families that have never been affiliated with Beth El or our new to the area. For returning members, Beth El offers half off first year’s dues after a three-year absence. The voluntary dues policy has been created to make it easy for people to join the synagogue’s family. Beth El offers programming for all ages, from seniors all the way down to infants.  Beth El rents space to Jewish Family & Children Service, Senior Enrichment Center, and at times will offer joint programming. Beth El’s Center for Early Childhood Education provides year round childcare. According to Anne Schafer, executive director, “With the high number of unaffiliated Jews in the Valley, many living in the midtown Phoenix area, Beth El sees it as our mission to reach out to them and make synagogue membership attainable and affordable. Beth El cares about the Jewish families in our midst who desire a spiritual connection with their heritage.” For further membership information, contact Schafer at 602-944-3359, ext. 109. Theological classes offered at church The Arizona Center for Theological Studies (ACTS), in partnership with the Claremont School of Theology, announces a new series of theological and Biblical symposiums. Upcoming symposiums include: • St. Paul and the Diversity of Interpretations, Sept. 21—All Christians share the letters of Paul as part of the inspired texts of scripture. But there is no one way of understanding or interpreting Paul and his writings. The panel will explore the diversity of interpretations. • The Bible and Politics, Oct. 19—The American principle of separation of church and state has not stopped Americans from using the Bible to support various ideologies and agendas. This panel will facilitate a discussion of the challenges and pitfalls of using the bible in politics. All symposiums will be held 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays at Crossroads United Methodist Church, 7901 N. Central Ave. Registration is $25 per symposium or $60 for the series. Call 602-944-1704 to register or more information. In addition to the symposiums, ACTS offers many fall classes in September and October. For a complete listing of fall courses, visit www.AzCTS.org or call ACTS at 602-944-1704. Beth Ami holds Open House Sept.12 Beth Ami Temple, a Reform congregation, is holding a special Friday night service for prospective new members at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12. The service is in the sanctuary at Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, 3535 E. Lincoln Drive (southwest corner Lincoln and 36th Street). Rabbi Arthur Abrams and Cantorial Soloist Pam Beitman will conduct the service. Refreshments and social hour will follow. Beth Ami Temple was established in 1978 and has met in the same location at the Palo Cristi Church for 30 years. The Reform prayerbook, Mishkan T’filah, with transliterations and annotations, is used. This is a new, highly acclaimed edition published last October. Friday night services are held biweekly. Potluck suppers are shared before services once a month. The Temple is mainly oriented toward “empty nester” singles and couples, but families of all ages are most welcome and Bar and Bat Mitzvah tutoring is available. Beth Ami encourages members to participate in services and its various activities. The Temple has a Torah Study Group and is active in the Jewish Community Council, Meals for the Homeless and other community activities, and is a sponsor of the Jewish Film Festival. Dues are minimal with no Building Fund. For additional information, call Bobbi Lazarus, Temple administrator, at 602-956-0805 or visit the temple’s Web site at www.bethamitemple.org.

 

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