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Spiritual notes

Christmas craft, bake sale Fields of Harvest Fellowship Church, 3620 Fifth Ave., Altoona, will host its annual Christmas craft and bake sale from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Hanging of the Greens service Juniata United Methodist Church, 808 N. Fourth St., Altoona, will host a Hanging of the Greens service at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. A luncheon will follow. The public is welcome to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent and experience the tradition of preparing for the Christmas season. For more information, contact the Juniata United Methodist Church office at 814-942-6065 or ...

Beliefs clash as Ten Commandments go up in Texas schools

DALLAS — When it became clear to Texas high school theater teacher Gigi Cervantes that she couldn’t ignore a new state law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in her Fort Worth classroom, she felt she had no choice. She resigned from the job she loved. In the small city of ...

Spiritual notes

Food distribution is Saturday Newry Lutheran Church, 1030 Shamrock Land, Newry, will distribute bags of food from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. Bags will include food items for preparing a Thanksgiving meal and will be distributed while supplies last. There are no income guidelines needed to receive food. The Meal in a Bag program is a social ministry initiative of Geeseytown-Newry Lutheran Parish made possible through grant funding from the Allegheny Synod, Newry Lions Club, Stewardship of Life's Feast of Abundance grant, and donations by members and community members. For more ...

Spiritual notes — Nov. 14

Bible study planned Evangelical Lutheran church of Duncansville will hold Bible study every Thursday in November (except Thanksgiving day) from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Family Life Center. For more information, call the church office at 814-695-0508. Free lunch offered Providence Presbyterian ...

Borso D’Este Bible goes on display in Rome

ROME — A 15th-century Bible which is considered one of the most spectacular examples of Renaissance illuminated manuscripts went on display in Rome on Thursday as part of the Vatican’s Holy Year celebrations. The two-volume Borso D’Este Bible, which is known for its opulent miniature ...

Antisemitism in schools faces calls for scrutiny

In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas two years ago, high school teacher Josh Hirsch posted comments on social media in support of Israel. It was unrealistic for Hamas to expect a ceasefire, he wrote, as long as they were holding hostages. Soon afterward, a former student called for his firing. A note taped outside the door of his Adams County, Colorado, classroom contained his wife’s name and their home address. And a sticker that appeared on his chair read: “Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.” The reaction startled Hirsch, the only Jewish teacher in his ...