Saturday

Hands Around the Capitol, annual rally in Augusta sponsored by Maine Right to Life, starts with a prayer service at 9:30 a.m. at Hope Baptist Church, Route 202, Manchester; 10 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 41 Western Ave., Augusta. Rally begins at 11:15 a.m. with Gov. Paul LePage at St. Michael’s Parish Gym followed by the march to the Capitol at 12:15 p.m., where the hand-to-hand assembly will take place at 12:30 p.m. The Capitol bell will ring 42 times to represent the years since the Roe v. Wade decision.

Stress Buster Tea, 1 to 3:30 p.m., tea and refreshments, meditation, Tai Chi, crafts and more. Brunswick United Methodist Church, corner of Church and Raymond roads, Brunswick. Call 837-9404 for tickets, which are $8 each. Snow date is Jan. 24.

Festival of Lights, 5:30 p.m., talent show featuring church members and friends. Standish Congregational Church, Oak Hill Road, Standish. Refreshments will follow the show.

Holy Grounds Coffee House, 6:30 p.m., with singer/songwriter Courtney Reid with Juniper opening. Free with donations accepted. Dinner is available for a reasonable price. Church of the Holy Spirit, 1047 Congress St., Portland.

Sunday

Soprano Vivian Boone, 9:30 a.m., will sing spirituals at the service, in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 350 Route 1, Scarborough.

“Inward/Outward: Two Paths – One Destination” 10:30 a.m., interfaith worship service at Portland New Church, 302 Stevens Ave., Portland. For more information, visit chimeofmaine.org or call 347-6740

Introduction to Tibetan Buddhist meditation, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., first of five weekly sessions. Fee is $50 for the course. Register at portlandmainebuddhism.org or call 774-6986. Sponsored by Vajra Vidya Portland, under the direction of the Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.

Talk by Eleanor McCullen, 2 p.m. McCullen, 78, was the lead petitioner in a 2014 case that struck down a Massachusetts law imposing a buffer zone outside every abortion facility. Held at St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road, Kennebunk. Event is free and all are welcome to attend.

Rejoicing Spirits, 4 p.m., special worship service for people with cognitive and/or developmental disabilities. Fellowship and supper follow the service. Trinity Lutheran Church, 612 Main St., Westbrook.

Other

The Rev. Joseph E. Daniels, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Farmington and St. Rose of Lima Parish in Jay, has been named interim director of the diaconate for the Diocese of Portland, effective immediately, by Bishop Robert P. Deeley. Daniels will continue as pastor of the two parishes where he has served since August, while temporarily overseeing the diaconate program, replacing Monsignor Charles M. Murphy, who announced his retirement in October. Daniels will manage the ongoing formation of 30 deacons and 15 deacon candidates in the diocese.

Daniels was born in Jersey City, N.J., and was ordained to the priesthood in 1990. He has served at parishes in Presque Isle, Lewiston, Bar Harbor, Bridgton, Fryeburg, and as pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville. He has also been a chaplain at Maine Medical Center and Saint Joseph College. In 2003, Daniels received the Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. Since 2007, he has been a facilitator for deacon candidates through Loyola University in New Orleans.

The Episcopal Church of St. John Baptist in Thomaston will be a partner site for Trinity Institute’s 44th National Theological Conference from Thursday through Jan. 25. The theme is “Creating Common Good: A Practical Conference on Economic Equality,” and features a varied group of scholars, faith leaders and economists. The conference will be held either in real time, via webcast or will be shown by video at a later time. For details, email stjohnsinthomaston@gmail.com or call 354-8734. All are welcome to attend.

Religion calendar items must be submitted before noon Monday to be considered for the following Saturday. Mail to: Religion Calendar, Portland Press Herald, P.O. Box 1460, Portland, ME 04104; or email to:

religion@pressherald.com.