Program To Focus On The History Of Islam

The Network of Religious Communities and the American Muslim Council of Western New York will present a six-month educational series on "The World of Islam" beginning at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Trinity United Methodist Church, 711 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst.

The first session on the "History of Islam" will be conducted by Imam Ibrahim Memon of Masjid-e-Zakariya Mosque, 182 Sobieski St. The second program, focusing on the "Religion of Islam," will be held at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 in the Islamic Society of the Niagara Frontier mosque at 741 Heim Road, Getzville. Other dates, topics and locations will be announced later.

Invested as cantor

Julie Kamenir, who previously served congregations in California, Nevada and upstate New York, will be invested at 8 p.m. Friday as cantor of Temple Beth El of Greater Buffalo, 2368 Eggert Road, Town of Tonawanda.

A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Kamenir studied opera performance at the University of California. The investiture will be conducted by Cantor Emeritus Gerald DeBruin and Laurence Boxer, co-chairman of the cantor search committee.

Station seeks members

Catholic radio station WLOF-FM 101.7 will conduct a membership drive from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and next Saturday to raise $75,000 to cover operating costs.

The drive will be hosted by Gregg Prince, radio ministry coordinator for the Buffalo Catholic Diocese, and Jerry Usher of "Catholic Answers Live." A morning show Friday will be hosted by Kevin Keenan, communications director for Buffalo Diocese, with Bishop Henry J. Mansell.

Programming will include taped interviews with Mother Angelica, founder of EWTN television, composer-performer John Michael Talbot and Buffalo Bills General Manager Tom Donahoe.

To be ordained

Kenneth H. Perreault Jr. , a May graduate of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, will be ordained to the ministry during a service at 4 p.m. Sunday in Faith United Presbyterian Church, 3150 Elmwood Ave., Town of Tonawanda.

The service will be conducted by the Rev. Joyce E. Sirianni, interim pastor of Faith Church, and the Rev. Donald F. Garrett, former pastor of Faith Church, will preach. The son of Kenneth H. and Debra Perreault Sr. of North Tonawanda, Perreault has been called to serve as pastor of Franklinville Presbyterian Church effective immediately.

Talk on sexuality

H. Darrell Lance, professor emeritus of Old Testament interpretation at Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, will give a talk on homosexuality and the Bible at 12:30 p.m. Sunday in Pilgrim St. Luke's United Church of Christ, 335 Richmond Ave.

The recipient of Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellowships, Lance will present Biblical research that supports the affirmation of gay and lesbian people in the church. The talk, free and open to the public, will follow the worship service at 10:45 a.m.

Evenings of reflection

The Rev. Joseph C. Gatto, director of the Office of Worship of the Buffalo Catholic Diocese, will explore the "Mystery of the Trinity" during three evenings of reflection at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 885 Sweet Home Road, Amherst.

"God the father and creator" will be the theme of Tuesday's talk. On Wednesday, the topic will be Jesus. Thursday's theme will be the holy spirit. Music will be provided by Holy Ground, a contemporary music ministry. The programs are free and open to everyone.

To speak on theology

The Rev. Arnold L. Frank, a longtime pastor, will present a series of lectures on Reformed Theology next Saturday and Nov. 18 in Niagara Reformed Presbyterian Church, 10 Indian Trail Road, Amherst.

Frank will give talks at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. next Saturday and at 10 a.m. Nov. 18. He will preach during the worship service at 11 a.m. Nov. 18. The founding pastor of South Hills Reformed Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, Pa., he is completing work on a doctorate of ministry degree at Westminster Theological Seminary, Escondido, Calif. Everyone is welcome.

The Abraham tradition

The Rev. Francis X. Mazur, ecumenical officer for the Buffalo Catholic Diocese, will present talks on "The Abraham Tradition" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in St. Martin de Porres Church, 555 Northampton St., and at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in St. Bernadette's Church, 5930 S. Abbott Road, Orchard Park.

In the two-part lecture-discussion program, Mazur, pastor of St. Gerard's, will explore the basic beliefs of Catholicism, Judaism and Islam and their relationship to each other. The talks are free and open to everyone.

Interfaith discussion

"Where Is God Today" will the theme of an interfaith discussion on the current cultural, political and economic upheaval at 7 p.m. Wednesday in St. John's-Grace Episcopal Church, 51 Colonial Circle.

Speakers will include the Rev. Ann Markle of Calvary Episcopal Church, Williamsville; Rabbi Emeritus Martin Goldberg of Temple Beth Zion; Imam Orthman Shibley; and Native American Jay Claus of the Tuscarora Reservation. The program will be moderated by Lee Coppola, dean of the School of Communications at St. Bonaventure University.