God Squad advice on charity gifts and remarriage
Readers ask about handling unsolicited religious trinkets and the ethics of giving. The column advises disposing of items with the church's name, checks charity costs, and recommends sharing contributor lists before donating. It also clarifies Catholic views on remarriage, noting one spouse remains free to remarry while the other is not, and invites questions to The God Squad for personal guidance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
God Squad
CharityNavigator.org
Give.org
CharityWatch.org
GuideStar.org
God
Jesus Christ
Rochester
N.Y
Ancient Mandaean faith scattered by Iraq war
The Mandaean faith, dating to Roman times, has shrunk from 60 000 in Iraq in the early 1990s to about 5 000 7 000. Thousands have fled amid killings rapes and forced conversions as extremists target adherents leaving about 1 500 in the United States with supporters worried the ancient sect could vanish within generations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iraq
Mandaean Society of America
U.S
Washington
Jordan
Syria
Suhaib Nashi
Mandaean Book Reprint Hopes Amid Exile and Danger
Haberl at Rutgers laments Mandaean literary heritage may vanish as efforts to reprint a key holy text emerge after 150 years. Among expatriates in new lands, many pursue professional success while marriages outside the community raise religious status questions. In Iraq, Mandaeans face growing peril from extremist groups. relatives Suhail Jani Sahar and Yahya Al-Chuhaily were slain by Shiite and Sunni fighters respectively.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eastern Studies
Rutgers University
Haberl
Habert
Iraq
Iran
Nashi
Suhail Jani Sahar
Yahya Al-Chuhaily
Vietnamese Catholics to celebrate Lunar New Year Mass
Vietnamese Catholics at St Matthew's Cedar Rapids will hold a Lunar New Year Mass with special readings and concelebrants. The service, led by Rev Thu Pham, precedes a Vietnamese feast in the church basement and is expected to draw about 200 people from 35 families.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
St. Matthew’s Catholic Church
First Ave
Thu Pham
Divine Word College
Epworth
Seminary
Pham
Mentors train to help struggling couples in Iowa churches
The Iowa Family Policy Center uses a federal Healthy Marriage Initiative grant to develop marriage mentors with Hillside Wesleyan and Cedar Valley Bible Church. Mentor training begins Feb 20 and pairs couples who faced similar issues, guided by lay volunteers who refer to professionals when needed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bill Rezac
Church
Leanne Rezac
Iowa Family Policy Center
Hillside Wesleyan Church
First Ave
Cedar Valley Bible Church
Cottage Grove Ave
Center
Lynn Nelson
Cedar Rapids
Northeast
Towa
Mike Hart
First Assembly of God
Blairs Ferry Ra
Keys To Living Counseling
Iowa City
Randy Richter
Hillside Wesleyan
Religious Event Submissions Due by Wednesday Noon
Gazette Communications invites notices of religious events for Mmessagecenter submissions. Submit details by noon Wednesday to be included in upcoming editions. Include event name, date, time, location, and sponsoring organization.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gazettecommunications.com
Cedar Rapids Faith Series Speakers Schedule
Sunday talks at Cedar Rapids churches cover religion topics with diverse speakers. Chris Seeman from Coe College speaks at First Presbyterian on Jesus personal religious experiences, John Kam of Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist speaks on Equal Marriage, Susan Seatwright from Mission to Educate Every Kid leads sessions at Kenwood Park Presbyterian on aiding libraries in Namibia,Linda Dutton noted, and Christian Women’s Club meets Tuesday at Longbranch for Tall but Still Growing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chris Seeman
Coe College
First Presbyterian Church
Fifth St
Cedar Rapids
Jesus
John Kam
Peoples Church
Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist
Third Ave
Susan Seatwright
Mission To
Kenwood Park Presbyterian Church
35Th St
Rundu
Namibia
Linda Dutton
Alexis
Ill
Christian Women’s Club
Longbranch
Twixt Town Rd
Connection
What's for Dinner Featuring Cynthia Hames at The Cooking Cottage
Community dinner event with Cynthia Hames of the Cooking Cottage and Sue Gradwell performing music for a $10.25 cost. Reservations required and contact numbers provided.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cynthia Hames
Cooking Cottage
Sue Gradwell
Jackie Haverman
Prayer Service and Weight Loss Program Announced in Cedar Rapids
Special services list a prayer service at Sacred Heart Chapel Cedar Rapids at 8 30 p m Thursday and a weight loss program at St James Methodist Church Cedar Rapids at 7 p m Monday Speaker is health minister Richard Polton Information line and phone numbers provided for details
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sacred Heart Chapel
Prairie Dr
Cedar Rapids
St. James Methodist Church
Ellis
Richard Polton
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Thomas Hartman
Tribune Media Services
New Haven
Conn
Telecare
Glenn Curtiss Blvd
Uniondale
Chris Newmarket
Associated Press
Trenton
N.J
John the Baptist
Morristown
New York
Detroit
Traq
Middle East
Charles Haberl
Suhaid Rashi
AP Abdul Kareem Dulaimi
Nat
Mandaean Associations Union
Mandaeanunion.net
By Molly Rossiter
St. Matthew's Catholic Church
St. Matthew's
St. Matthew’s
Mark Osterhaus
Osterhaus
Molly. Rossiter
Bazettecommunications.com
Hart
Rev
Molly
Ressiter
Bazetlecommunications.com
Fynn Nelson
Ciady Welshar
Tom McDermott
St. Ludmila Catholic Church
Mercy Medical Center
Sharon Benell
Word of Faith Pentecostal Church of God In Christ
16Th Ave
Jim McDonough
Unity Center of
Blairs Ferry Rd
First United Methodist Church
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Fellowship Hall
E. Jefferson St
Iowa
American Guild of English
25Th St
Marilyn Lake
Kansas City
Pai
Isd
Ater
Iinter-Religina
Weseione Jo
Kcrg-Tv
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