Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:

Is religion bad for women? Or do religious resources offer new pathways for connecting women to economic development and the advancement of women's rights?

While visiting a small Franciscan college last week, I toured a nearby historic chapel with the college priest, who learned that I was headed to a family funeral. While knowing I wasn't a Catholic, he offered to say a prayer for the rest of my relative's soul.

In many workplaces, it's impolite to talk about religion. But in a nation that becomes more diverse every day, even the smallest company probably includes people of various religions, and when you work closely with others, it's natural to be curious about different practices.

Temple Emanuel of Tempe, part of the Union of Reform Judaism in the East Valley, has announced that its Judaica Shop has undergone several renovations.

Clergy from a range of religious faiths will discuss hope from their spiritual perspectives in two sessions 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Feb. 21 at The Wellness Community, 360 E. Palm Lane, Phoenix.

Mesa church opens ramp park: Velda Rose United Methodist Church, 5540 E. Main St., Mesa, has established a free ramp park for bikers, skateboarders, skaters and scooters.

“Discovering Judaism,” a six-month course designed to educate anyone interested in learning more about Jewish faith, will be offered Thursdays beginning Aug. 23 at two East Valley temples on alternate weeks.

The Rev. Ann Baines, who has led a prophetic ministry for 20 years, will hold a conference, “Come Expecting Your Miracle,” at Power Life Center, 6215 E. Main St., Suite 2, Mesa. Sessions will be 7 p.m. Friday and Aug. 25 and 10:30 a.m. Aug. 26.

Chabad of Arizona and Phoenix Children’s Hospital are co-sponsoring “Toys for Hospitalized Children” Monday, July 16, at the hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road.

An African children’s dance troupe will perform at 6 p.m. today at the Wigwam Resort and Golf Club, 300 Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park, to support the Antioch Global Outreach of Peoria.

The Jain Center of Greater Phoenix will sponsor a concert, “Unlimited Ability,” featuring disabled artists, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Phoenix Symphony Hall, 225 E. Adams St. The performance is being called “a first in North America” and features artists in wheelchairs doing dance, sword fighting and ancient arts.

Adele Gordon of Scottsdale, a member of Har Zion Congregation in Phoenix, was honored at Friday night’s Shabbat service on her 100th birthday. She joined the congregation in 1983 after moving from New York.

Darylle Dennis, a motivational speaker, business coach and radio show host, will offer “Spirit in Business” seminars in Scottsdale. The first will be 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 4 at New Vision Spiritual Growth Center, 9659 N. Hayden Road. She will speak on the “Law of Attraction” as featured in the book and film “The Secret.”

The Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Cemeteries’ first cemetery-based funeral home will be open for business July 9. The facility is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1500 E. Baseline Road, Mesa. It will provide mortuary and cemetery services to Catholic families.

Chinese Culture Summer Camp will be Monday through Friday at Phoenix Preparatory Academy, 735 E. Fillmore St. Students will be taught from a diverse program including arts, crafts, dance, puppets, traditional dough figures, and painting and calligraphy.

Religious explorer Thomas Pearce can offer a dizzying account of his 56 years of rambling through the canyons of faith — Catholicism, Unification Church, Hinduism, Taoism, Unity, Confucianism, Zen Buddhism and others. He somehow loves and embraces them all because “there are no exclusive religions.”

Sharon Friendly, Ms. Senior Arizona 2007 and the cantorial soloist at Desert Foothills Jewish Community Foundation congregation, will give a concert at 12:45 p.m. Monday at the Jewish Family and Children’s Services Center for Senior Enrichment at Beth El Congregation.

A benefit concert for renowned Chinese conductor Timothy Su will be 6 p.m. Sunday at Grace Church, 8701 E. Brown Road, Mesa. Also performing will be pianist Sam Rotman, who has performed all over the world and is pastor of the church. Su is a graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, while Rotman earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Juilliard School in New York.