News

For Christmas a few years ago, the author was given the ‘50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition’ of Ben-Hur. It’s one of her favorite movies of all time. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

My introduction to God didn’t come from my parents or

By Janis Fontaine

In 2017, Gena Vallee heard God’s call. When she answered, he put her to work immediately. “I don’t know if I can really call it work,” she said. “Much of what I do is an honor, and most times it goes by in a wink.”
Vallee, 43, was

Charles Milling and his son, Ellis, who was born last April during the pandemic shutdown. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Is it too soon to call the coronavirus a gift?

For Charles Milling and millions of others, life slammed on its brakes a year a

Father Paul Kane of St. Paul’s Episcopal worked four hours on Nov. 3 at the South County Civic Center. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine 

Ensuring a person’s right to vote in a presidential election usually doesn’t fall to the local priest, but Father

By Janis Fontaine

As the Jewish High Holy Days approach, we offer four places to commemorate the somber day and five things you may not know about Rosh Hashana.

• The name Rosh Hashana isn’t in the Torah. The Torah calls it “a day of shofar blowing.”

Cameron Newman talks with Shayne Wright of WPBF-TV about helping victims of the shooting at the Chabad of Poway. His Go Fund Me page has raised more than $127,000. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Cameron Newman is only 15 years old, but his mother

Rabbi Ruvi New of the Boca Beach Chabad speaks at the inaugural Women of Valor brunch in January. New invited women to share stories of courage and commitment for the Chabad’s book, due to be published early next year. Photo provided

By Janis Fontai

Jack Jaiven and Wayne Barton developed the annual meal. Photo provided by Susan Stallone, Temple Beth El

By Janis Fontaine

Why would a group of Jewish people set up, serve, then clean up Easter dinner for Christians they don’t even know?

Call it a m

The Spontaneous Christmas Pageant at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church lets children come onstage as they wish when the pastor calls out the need for story characters. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Imagine a children’s Christmas pageant with no assig

As with past celebrations of  ‘Chanukah Under the Stars,’ music will be an important part of the Dec. 7 event, with three choirs performing. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Thanks in part to a Jewish Outreach grant from the Jewish Federation of Sou

ABOVE: Gina Logan (standing) laughs with Jane Amme as they prepare for the sale of holiday crafts. BELOW: B.J. Mays dresses handmade angels. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Janis Fontaine

The women used to be bankers and teachers, nurses,

By Janis Fontaine

To Rabbi Shmuel “Shmuli” Biston of Chabad of East Delray Beach, offering free services this month for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the holiest days of the year in Judaism, is the right thing to do.

“Unfortunately, the world revolve

Members of Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Boynton Beach gather after a service. The Rev. Dr. Bruce Turner (center) is interim pastor. The church sold the property to a city agency and plans to lease part of the space. Photos by Ti

Connor Lee took charge of all aspects of the labyrinth: design, site preparation and finding people to help. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Connor Lee had always wanted to do something for his church, Unity of Delray Beach.
“I’ve been attending Un

Gospel singer Renee Rowan Basel will perform at Barwick Road Baptist Church, but often sings at Church of All Nations in Boca Raton, where her husband is pastor. Photo provided

By Steve Plunkett

She’s the daughter of a pastor, the sister of a pastor

Author and contemporary Christian scholar Brian McLaren spends between 90 and 100 nights on the road each year traveling to public speaking engagements. This month he plans to be in Boynton Beach. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

They are age-old qu

This will be the sixth year for Ride 4 Orphans, which has raised more than $260,000. Cyclists can pedal 62, 30 or 4 miles through South County. The ride begins and ends at Spanish River Church in Boca Raton. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

On a medi

By Janis Fontaine

How often do you stop to listen?
And even if you do, how often do you encounter silence?
If you don’t, how will you ever hear the “still small voice” of God?
Silent worship is one of the hallmarks of the Quakers’ beliefs, and the

Chloe Pugh takes the lead in a choral performance last season at Advent Lutheran Church in Boca. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

You’ve heard the saying: You can’t please all the people …
    But at Advent Lutheran Church in Boca Raton, the ministr

Rabbi Shmuel Biston leans heavily on his wife, Sarah, in his new role as the chabad’s co-director. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

    For Shmuel Biston, being a rabbi is the family business. His father, Yosef Biston, is a rabbi in Parkland. His bro