Religion Notes

Topic is discovering Jewish ancestry

Novelist and retired professor Carolivia Herron will talk about her discovery of her Jewish ancestry at a "Lunch and Learn" program after Shabbat morning services tomorrow at Columbia Jewish Congregation.

Her talk, "Peacesong: An African-American Journey to Judaism," will describe her conversion to Judaism from the Baptist faith in which she had been raised, and her subsequent discovery that she had a Jewish great-great-great-great-grandmother.

Lunch will be served. Columbia Jewish Congregation meets in the Meeting House in Oakland Mills Village Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia. Reservations are requested for those planning to eat lunch.

Information: 410-730-6044.

Rabbi to talk about Franklin

In celebration of the 300th birthday of Benjamin Franklin, Rabbi Susan Grossman of Beth Shalom Congregation will discuss Franklin's relationship with the Jewish community of his time. The discussion is to begin at 8 p.m. Feb. 3.

Beth Shalom is at 8070 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia.

Information: 410-531-5115.

Gan Israel plans open house Feb. 3

Gan Israel Preschool and Jewish Day School at the Lubavitch Center for Jewish Education will hold an open house from 9:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 3.

Parents are invited to spend time in the children's classrooms and hear about the preschool, kindergarten and first-grade programs. Families from all denominations, as well as unaffiliated families, are welcome; classes are small, and individualized instruction is offered.

Adult classes at the Lubavitch Center include a new class in Torah and Haftorah reading at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays. A class in Talmud is offered at 8 p.m. Both classes are free. A new class in conversational Hebrew is being held from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at a private home.

A class in "Tanya: Leading a balanced life with joy and humility" is offered at 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, and a women's Bible study class with Morah Chanie (Rebbitzin Chanie Baron) is held at noon Wednesdays. Children are welcome.

The Lubavitch Center for Jewish Education is at 770 Howes Lane, Columbia.

Information: 410-740-2424.

Gospel Extravaganza, a fundraiser, is Feb. 11

The Howard County Office on Aging and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity will sponsor the fourth Gospel Extravaganza, a fundraiser to assist Howard County senior citizens with emergency needs and provide scholarships to local minority students.

The annual concert will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 11 at Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia.

Performing will be the St. John's Baptist Choir; Handel and Victoria Smith of Celebration Church; Guilford Baptist Men's Choir; Morgan University Dance Ensemble; Gospel Revelations; and Tage Steel Drum Band.

Donations of $20 are requested for adults; $8 for children.

Information or tickets: Ed Franklin, 410-730-5665, or Mike Clark, 410-730-7624.

Thrift shop to hold bag sale next month

Trinity Gift & Thrift Shoppe, a project of Trinity Episcopal Church, will hold a bag sale next month and in March. Patrons can fill a shopping bag with clothing and other items for $3 a bag.

The thrift shop is at Pfeiffer's Corner, at Old Montgomery and Waterloo roads. Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

Information: 410-799-9175.

Our Savior Lutheran slates rock concert

Our Savior Lutheran Church, 13611 Laurel-Bowie Road, Laurel, will sponsor a performance by the Fabulous Hubcaps, a rock-and-roll band, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Blob's Park in Jessup.

Tickets, available at the door, are $25. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Proceeds will benefit the church's Open Arms Child Development Center.

Information: 202-438-1494.

Service agency referrals offered

Christ Church Link, a program of Christ Episcopal Church in Columbia, offers referrals to service agencies in Howard County and Maryland. Callers can be referred to agencies that help prevent evictions and utility cutoffs, provide food and help with employment and other needs.

Hours of service are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays; and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays.

Information: or to request help: 410-309-9695.

If you have an annoucement for Religion Notes, please send it to howard.events@baltsun. com.