Temple Beth El is celebrating its 100th year with a gala concert, “Soul to Soul: Yiddish and African-American Music Meet in a Celebration of Two Cultures,” on April 28
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Ground was broken on April 13 for the $1.45 million social center at St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church on Dwight Road in Springfield. From left, Deacons Khanh Tran and Frank D. Rogers, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, the Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, the Rev. Quynh Dinh Tran, St. Paul's bilingual pastor, and Deacon Ly Cao. The center will allow parishioners to meet and mingle and will include four classrooms. The parish, which does not have a rectory and meeting hall, has two religious education programs for its young -- one in English and one in Vietnamese that numbers some 150 children alone. Many in the parish are from the former St. Joseph mission in East Longmeadow, with many of them of Italian heritage.
Gala concert
SPRINGFIELD – Temple Beth El, Western Massachusetts’ largest Conservative Jewish congregation, is celebrating its 100th year with a gala concert, “Soul to Soul: Yiddish and African-American Music Meet in a Celebration of Two Cultures,” on April 28 at 4 p.m., at the temple.
The production of Folksbiene, the National Yiddish Theatre based in New York City, will be directed by Zalmen Mlotek, and feature both African-American and Jewish performers.
These include Elmore James, a veteran of five Broadway productions, Tony Perry, young singer-actor, and Lisa Fishman, a celebrated singer, actress and Jewish songwriter.
The performance features American standards, spirituals, Hebrew, and Yiddish songs, and will offer subtitles for Yiddish and Hebrew pieces.
Tickets are available for purchase on the synagogue website at www.tbespringfield.org. Admission is $12 for students and senior citizens, $18 for general admission, and $54 for “Producer’s Circle” (preferred seating and post-concert reception). The temple is located at 979 Dickinson St.
Church dinner
CHICOPEE – The First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 306 Chicopee St., will hold its semi-annual roast beef supper on April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost is $12 adults, $6 children ages 6 to 12, children 5 and under free. Take out dinners are also available. Reservations will be for 5 or 6 p.m., and will be held for 10 minutes. Reservations may be made by calling (413) 593-5061. Walk-ins are welcome.
Fisherman’s breakfast
WEST SUFFIELD, Conn. – West Suffield Congregational Church, 1408 Mountain Road, is holding a Fisherman’s Breakfast on April 20 from 4:30 to 7:30 a.m. Breakfast includes eggs, French toast, sausages, bacon, home fries, coffee or hot cocoa. Cost is $8 per person. Bag lunches available for purchase for $5 with sandwich, chips, water or soda.
Strings concert
MONSON – The Unitarian Church on Main St. will host the Strings Attached ensemble on April 20 at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be available at intermission. For more information call (413) 596-9075.
Tag sale
NORTHAMPTON – Florence Congregational Church, 130 Pine St., will hold a multi-vendor tag sale on April 20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday forum
SPRINGFIELD – Unitarian Universalist Society, 245 Porter Lake Drive, will First Hour Forum for April 21 is “Funding our Communities, Not War” with Marty Nathan. The forum is held before tSunday service in the Balcony Room, second floor from 9 to 10 a.m.
German supper
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 60 Broad St., is holding a German supper on April 25 with sittings at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The menu includes roast pork, hot dogs and dessert. Cost is $14 for adults, $6 children 6 to 12, and children under 5 are free. For tickets, contact the church at (413) 568-1417, Jane McClure at (413) 562-0492 or Sally Sienkiewicz at (413) 562-3186.
Chicken dinner
AGAWAM – First Baptist Church, 760 Main St., will host a chicken dinner on April 27 at 5:30 p.m. The dinner will include salad, stuffed chicken breast, dessert and beverage. Cost is $10 adults, $4 children 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and under. Reservation deadline is April 22. Call (413) 786-1993 or 9413) 786-7300.
Pork dinner
SPRINGFIELD – Saint Barnabas and All Saints Church, 41 Oakland St., is hosting its annual pork dinner on April 27 at 5:30 p.m. $12 adults, $6 children 3-12, free for children under 3. Take out available. Reservations appreciated. call (413) 567-7762 or email
Italian dinner
WILBRAHAM – Grace Union Church, 10 Chapel St., is holding a Italian dinner night on April 27 at 5 p.m. The menu will include pasta, meatballs, sausage and dessert. Cost is $10 adults, $3 children. For reservations call Gayle at (413) 596-3936. Take out dinners available.
Crafters wanted
EAST LONGMEADOW – St. Paul Lutheran Church, 181 Elm St., is looking for crafters and artisans for the juried portion of their 3rd annual fall festival, scheduled for Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To request a crafter-artisan application form, call Joyce at (413) 525-2045, Connie (413) 525-1290 or Betty (413) 567-1318.
Listings should be mailed two weeks in advance to The Republican, P.O. Box 1329 Springfield, MA 01102-1329; email pmastriano@repub.com