Record-Journal from Meriden, Connecticut • A5

Record-Journal myrecordjournal.com Saturday, June 6, 2015 A5 Religion Scripture Bits A A I A I A X. CLUE: Scr i ptur i ts Solut i on Answer: Take up your cross, the savior said, if you would my disciple be; deny yourself, the world forsake, and humbly follow after me. Hymn Clue: Solution on Page A2. Religion Puzzles note: The Scripture Bits from the Record-Journal of May 30 did not run. Both last and this puzzles are below.

May 30, 2015 puzzle June 6, 2015 puzzle Scripture Bits A I A XM A A A A A XN D. ----G I 130 CLUE: If you, Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive? But with you is found forgiveness: for this we revere you. -Psalm 130 Clue: Solution on Page A2. June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage. An ancient tradition designates it as a lucky month for weddings.

There still are plenty of marriage ceremonies in June, but today early autumn can give it tough competition. Marriages have changed over the past decades. Years ago people were expected to wed those of the same faith. I recall the hubbub in our small Vermont village if a Protestant dated a Catholic or vice versa. In fact if an Irish Catholic married a French-Canadian Catholic, that might upset some family members.

Today this attitude can still prevail, but much less so. Young people often their parents, too are more tolerant of other religions. Many of the old ethnic neighborhoods are gone. Far more young adults leave their communities, often to attend college, where they meet people of different faiths.The country has become more religiously diverse with millions of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and those of other faiths sparsely represented in the past. Perhaps most important, religion is less influential in society today.

There is the impact of other modern trends. Since the sexual revolution of the more and more couples choose to live together benefit of Or, they decide to be married by a Justice of the Peace or someone by such new groups as the Universal Life Church, Fellowship Church, American Marriage Ministries, or One Spirit Interfaith Ministries. Divorce, once a stigma, is now acceptable and rampant. Same-sex marriages are performed in some places and within some denominations, though the issue continues to cause fierce debate. The recent referendum in Ireland revealed how rapidly attitudes can change.

In my own ministry I witnessed some of these changes. In the early years I would always ask for the addresses of the bride and groom. Gradually it become apparent that many were already living together. My weddings then were still overwhelmingly a Protestant marrying another Protestant (although seldom two Methodists). Denomination rarely mattered, though problems could arise if, say, a broadminded Congregationalist married a hidebound Southern Baptist.

The Catholic Church had strongly discouraged interfaith marriages. Before Vatican II they were held outside the altar, and the non-Catholic partner had to promise to raise the children Catholic. Often Catholic relatives and friends were warned by their priest against attending any ceremony held in a Protestant Church. By the time I was ready to retire, I was marrying as many Catholics as Protestants. Why? Several reasons, with divorce one of I would usually conclude that divorce had caused enough pain and that the bride or groom (or both) should have another opportunity for love and happiness.

Ca- tholicism requires an annulment which takes time, money, and the possibility of refusal. Even more troubling to many, an annulment declares that the Church viewed the earlier marriage invalid from the outset. There is speculation that Pope Francis may support some changes. Many denominations let the minister decide when to officiate. I married most couples meeting certain criteria.

They had to agree to premarital counseling. If they had met a month earlier at a bar I would insist that they give courting more time. If their first question when they phoned the church was much does a wedding cost my response was: are not in the wedding Still, I tried to be accommodating so that the couple knew the church was genuinely interested in them and their future welfare. Many situations were difficult. As one example, the daughter in a devoted church family and her came to see me soon after their college graduation.

He immediately informed me that he was an atheist, that religion was a source of ignorance and bigotry, and that he had agreed to a church wedding only to avoid conflict with her parents. I officiated, hopeful that he was going through that rebellion typical of many youth. Two years later they returned, baby son in arms, to have him baptized. The Dad still was a freethinker, but they were regularly attending a church in the Midwestern city where they lived. I later heard from his in-laws that he had become Superintendent of that Sunday School! Then, there were those weddings that involved a Christian and a non-Christian.

It was difficult to find a rabbi who would co-officiate, somewhat easier One father of a Jewish groom grimly remarked to me: intermarriage do what Hitler tried to Traditional Judaism had condemned intermarriage, yet about half of all American Jews today wed gentiles. I also participated in marriage ceremonies involving Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists and encour- aged the inclusion of both clergy and customs of those ancient faiths. As often pointed out, the world today is much smaller, and our nation is increasingly diverse. Churches need to adjust to this reality and earnestly help interfaith couples find happiness. One of the more unusual sanctuaries in the United States is the Tillman Chapel, located in the Church Center for the United Nations, close to the UN in New York.

It has hosted many interfaith weddings over the years. A banner in the chancel bearing a cross is balanced by a banner with the symbol of the faith of the non-Christian bride or groom. The Church Center is owned by the United Methodist Women, an organization that makes office space available to various denominational and secular groups focusing on such issues as peace, human rights, gender equality, and refugees. Ralph Lord Roy of Southington is a retired United Methodist minister. Email: Religions are facing changes in wedding traditions Ralph Lord Roy Commentary Front Porch News: Sundays in the Record-Journal Cheshire Calvary Life Family Worship Center, 174 E.

Johnson Wednesday 7 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. (203) 272-1701. Cheshire Lutheran Church, 660 W. Main Sunday worship 8 a.m.

and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Education for all ages 9:10 a.m. (203) 272-5106. Cheshire United Methodist Church, 205 Academy Road, Sunday 10:15 a.m. service; Sunday school, 9 a.m.

(203) 272-4626. Christ Community Church, 120 Main Sunday 10:15 a.m. service; Sunday school, 9 a.m. (203) 272-6344. Fellowship of Life Church, 150 Sandbank Road, Sunday 10 a.m.

worship and teaching; Wednesday 7:30 p.m. revival prayer, (203) 272-7976. First Congregational Church, 111 Church Drive, Sunday 8 and 10 a.m. services. (203) 272-5323.

Oasis, 176 Sandbank Road, Sunday- 1015 a.m.; church and nursery available. (203) 439-0150. St. Episcopal Church, 59 Main Sunday 8:15 a.m. Rite 10:30 a.m.

Rite 2. (203) 272-4041. Temple Beth David, 3 Main 7:30 p.m. service Friday, except first Friday of month when family services are at 6:30 p.m. (203) 272-0037.

Meriden Alpha and Omega Christian Church 134 Springdale Sunday 12 p.m. worship service; 11 a.m., Sunday school; Tuesday 7 p.m., Bible study; Thursday 7 p.m., worship service. (203) 238-2500. Apostolic Community Church of Jesus and Ministries, 146 Center Sunday 11:45 a.m. and 6 p.m.

services; 10:30 a.m., Sunday School. Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, 269 S. Colony Sunday 11:30 a.m. service; Sunday school, 10 a.m. (203) 237-7592.

Center Congregational Church, 474 Broad Sunday 10 a.m. service with Sunday school. (203) 235-1389. First Baptist Church, 460 Broad Sunday Sunday school for all ages-9 a.m.; Sunday worship service- 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday 7 p.m., Bible study and prayer fellowship. (203) 237-5529.

First Congregational Church, 62 Colony Sunday 10 a.m. service, sanctuary; Taiwanese Christian Church, 10 a.m., chapel; 2 p.m., worship with Casa De Gozo Church, Smith Hall. (203) 235-5704. First United Methodist Church, 159 E. Main Sunday 10 a.m.

family worship service; nursery available. (203) 235-9620. Grace Fellowship Christian Center, 131 Windsor Sunday 9 and 11:30 a.m. worship services nursery school, Sunday school and church; Thursdays: Midweek worship service, youth with purpose, Sunday School, and nursery 7 p.m. (203) 235-5325.

Holy Angels Church, 585 Main South Meriden, Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 and 11 a.m. Mass. (203) 235-3822. Holy Word Foundation Ministries, 5-9 Norwood Sunday 10:45 a.m. service; 9 a.m., Sunday school; Wednesday, Bible study, 7 p.m.

(203) 630-2849. Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 164 Hanover Sunday 9:45 a.m., service. (203) 238-1248. Life of Faith Ministries, 174 State Services: 7 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Friday and 10 a.m. Sunday. (203) 440-0808. Meriden Hills Baptist Church, 139 Charles Sunday 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Sunday school, 9:45 a.m.; Spanish service, 11 a.m.; Wednesday Bible study, 7 p.m.

(203) 237-0302. Mount Hebron Baptist Church, 84 Franklin Pastor Willie J. Young. Services: Midweek Service Wednesday, 7 to 8 p.m.; Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.; Sunday Worship at 10:45 a.m.; Adult Bible Study on at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Youth and Young Adult Bible Study, Wednesday at 6 p.m.; New Member Class Sunday, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 109 Goodwill Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. Parker Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 1280 N. Broad the Rev. Walter Davis, Pastor; Bible study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.; Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, worship, 11 a.m.

(203) 634-0747. Praxis Church, Silver City Hall, 680 Old Colony Road, Sunday 10 a.m. (203) 809-7464. St. Episcopal Church, 20 Catlin Sunday 8 a.m.

holy Eucharist and 10 a.m. choir and organ; Sunday church school 9:30 a.m. (203) 237-7451. St. John Lutheran Church, 520 Paddock Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.

service; Bible study, 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. (203) 238-2331 or www. saintjohnmeriden.org. St. Joseph Church, 177 W.

Main Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8 and 11 a.m. (203) 237-5593. St. Laurent Church, 121 Camp Sunday 9 a.m. Mass.

St. Mary Church, Church Street, Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 9:30 a.m. (203) 235-0519. SS. Peter Paul Orthodox Church, 54 Park Saturday, 5 p.m.

vespers; Sunday, 9:30 a.m. (203) 237-4539. St. Rose of Lima Church, 35 Center Saturday 4:30 p.m. vigil English; Sunday 8:30 a.m.

Bilingual, 10:30 a.m. English, and 12:30 p.m. Spanish Mass. (203) 235-1644. St.

Stanislaus Church, 82 Akron Saturday 4 p.m. vigil Mass; Sunday 8 and 10 a.m., also 11:30 a.m. in Polish. (203) 235-6341. Seventh Day Adventist Church, 300 Paddock Saturday 11 a.m., worship service; 10 a.m., Sabbath School.

(203) 630-3320. South Meriden Trinity United Methodist Church, 145 Main South Meriden; Sunday 10 a.m. service; 10:15 a.m., church and youth group; 9:15 a.m., adult conversation. (203) 235-6002. Temple Abraham, 127 E.

Main Thursday 8 a.m.; Friday 6:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m.; Sunday 9:30 a.m. (203) 235-2581. Unitarian Universalist Church, 328 Paddock Sunday, 10:30 a.m. worship service and children and youth religious education, (203) 237-9297. Southington Central Baptist Church, 1505 West Sunday 10:30 a.m., and 6 p.m.

services; Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday 7 p.m. service. (860) 621-6701. Faith Baptist Church, 243 Laning Sunday worship 11 a.m.; Sunday school up to the sixth grade 11 a.m.; adult Bible school 9:45 a.m. (860) 628-8147.

First Baptist Church, 581 Meriden Sunday 10 a.m. service. First Congregational Church, 37 Main Sunday 8 a.m. chapel communion; 9:30 a.m.-Traditional worship and church school; 11:15 a.m. Contemporary worship and church school; 7 p.m.

Contemplative worship meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month. (860) 628-6958. First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 232 Bristol Sunday 9:30 a.m. service; Sunday school, 9:15 a.m. (860) 628-9001.

Grace United Methodist Church, 121 Pleasant Sunday 8:30 a.m., and 10 a.m. worship service. (860) 628-6996. Immaculate Conception Church, 130 Summer Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 7:30 and 10:30 a.m., English Mass; 9 a.m., Polish Mass; (860) 628-2181. Plantsville Congregational Church, 109 Church Sunday 10 a.m.

service. (860) 628-5595. St. Episcopal Church, 145 Main Sunday 8 and 10:15 a.m. service; Christian foundation for all ages, 9 a.m.

(860) 628-8486. Wallingford A Church of Christ (non-denominational), 1213 Old Colony Road, Tracy, Sunday 10 a.m., Bible classes; 11 a.m., worship service; Wednesday 7 p.m., Bible classes. (203) 284-2171. Calvary United Pentecostal Church, 26 Meadow Sunday 10:30 a.m. service; Wednesday 7 p.m., Bible study, church and teen class.

(203) 265-9581. Chabad Center of Wallingford, 174 Center Friday 7:30 p.m. services; Saturday 10 a.m., Shabat services. Church of the Nazarene, 26 Parker Farms Road, Sunday 10:45 a.m. service; 9:30 a.m., Sunday School.

(203) 269-9313. Church of the Resurrection, 115 Pond Hill Road, Saturday 5 p.m. Vigil Mass; Sunday 7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. (203) 265-1694.

Congregation Beth Israel, 22 N. Orchard Friday, 6:45 p.m. services, Oneg to follow. (203) 949-8656. Door of Hope Community Church, 120 Church Yalesville, Sunday 10 a.m.

worship gathering. (203) 741-1001. Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, 105 S. Cherry Sunday, 10 a.m. service.

(203) 269-4827. First Baptist Church, 114 N. Main Sunday 10 a.m. service; Sunday school 8:50 to 9:50 a.m. (203) 269-4796.

First Congregational Church, 23 S. Main Sunday 8 a.m., communion service; 10 a.m., service; 10 a.m., church school; 2 p.m., Ecumenical worship at Ashlar Village. (203) 265-1691. First United Methodist Church, 941 Old Rock Hill Road, Communion Service 8:30 a.m.; Sunday School for all 9:30 a.m.; Worship a.m. (203) 269-9100.

Good News Christian Church, 46 John Sunday 10 a.m. service; 7 p.m. Wednesday. (203) 284-9383. Heritage Baptist Church, 161 S.

Whittlesey Sunday 11 a.m., service in English; 6 p.m., service in Spanish and Filipino; Sunday School 10 a.m.; Wednesday 7 p.m., Bible study. (203) 265-6320. Most Holy Trinity Church, 68 N. Colony Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m.; noon, Spanish Mass. (203) 269-8791.

New Life Church, 350 High Hill Road, Saturday, 5 p.m.; Sunday 9 and 11 a.m. services. (203) 630-3012. St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, 360 Church Yalesville, Sunday 9:30 a.m.

service; church school, 9:15 a.m. (203) 269-9526. St. Episcopal Church, 65 N. Main Sunday 8 and 9:30 a.m.

service. (203) 269-5050. SS. Peter and Paul Church, 127 N. Orchard Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.

and 10 a.m.; 11:30 a.m., Polish Mass every third Sunday. During Lent there will be Mass Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays 5:30 p.m.; Rosary at 5 p.m. (203) 269-4617. Unitarian Universalist Church, 328 Paddock Sunday a.m. worship service.

(203) 237-9297. Ward Street Church of Christ, 164 S. Whittlesey Sunday 10:30 a.m.; Sunday school 9:15 a.m.; Wednesday Bible class, 6:30 p.m. (203) 265-2787. White Oak Baptist Church, 20 N.

Whittlesey Sunday 9:15 a.m. worship; 11 a.m. Sunday school. (203) 265-3548. Yalesville United Methodist Church, 8 New Place Yalesville, Sunday 8:30 and 10 a.m.

services; 10 a.m., Sunday school. Zion Lutheran Church, 235 Pond Hill Road, Saturday 5 p.m. service; Sunday 10:30 a.m. service; Sunday School and Bible Study, 9:15 a.m. (203) 269-6847.

To include your services in this listing, please email com or call (203) 235-1661. Worship Services FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD Sunday School 9:30 am Morning Worship 10:45 am Evening Praise 6:00 pm Wednesday Bible Study, Youth, Royal Rangers, Missionettes 7:00 pm Pastor Mark Sharnick 601 Paddock Meriden (203) 235-0410 7161-01 Zion Lutheran Church 235 Pond Hill Wallingford (203) 269-6847 Pastor Robert Hass Saturday Worship ...................................5 pm Sunday School or Bible Study ............9:15 am Sunday Worship ..............................10:30 am 7163-01 St. John The Evangelist Episcopal Church 360 Church Street, Yalesville (203) 269-9526 Church School 9:15 am 9:30 am Holy Communion www.stjohns-yalesville.org 7164-01 1269931 St. Episcopal Church 65N.Main Wallingford (203) 269-5050 Sunday Worship 8:00 9:30 am www.stpaulswallingford.org this Church there will be no 1269931 St. Episcopal Church 65N.Main Wallingford (203) 269-5050 Sunday Worship 8:00 9:30 am www.stpaulswallingford.org this Church there will be no 6712-01 Church School 9:15 a.m.

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