THEOLOGY CONFERENCE: The First Presbyterian Church of...

THEOLOGY CONFERENCE: The First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills will host a theology conference titled “For Christ Must Reign!” today. The conference, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will present a Reformation view of the Bible’s statements from the Book of Revelations. Speakers include Kim Riddlebarger of Christians United for Reformation and Marianne Thompson of the Fuller Theological Seminary. Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for students. The conference will conclude on Sunday with sermons at 9 and 10:30 a.m. by the Rev. Tedd Lyons, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Orange Cove. Admission to the Sunday sermon is free. The church is located at 10400 Zelzah Ave. in Northridge.

POSITIVE FEELINGS: Encino Community Church will present a seminar called “Keying: The Power of Positive Feelings” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. The guest speaker will be Donald E. Dossey, a former Science of Mind minister, who is an expert in the treatment of anxieties, phobias, stress and addictions. A $20 donation is asked at the door. The church’s address is 5955 Lindley Ave., Tarzana.

SOVIET MUSICIANS: A professional group of musicians from the former Soviet Union will perform a concert titled “Friends of the Melody” tonight at Temple Judea, a Reform congregation at 5429 Lindley Ave. in Tarzana. The 9 p.m. concert will be followed by refreshments and a Selichot service, which ushers in the High Holy Days season, at 10:30 p.m. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

COMMITMENT: The Burbank Church of Religious Science will kick off its sixth annual Commitment Program at 9:15 and 11 a.m. Sunday at the church, 260 N. Pass Ave. The program’s theme is “Campaign ‘92”: For seven weeks members and friends will conduct personal “campaigns” designed to improve their lives. Admission is free.

DANCE BENEFIT: A party and dance benefit to celebrate the coming Rosh Hashanah holiday will be held Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. for adults with developmental disabilities and their friends. Andrea Friedman, better known as Corky’s girlfriend on ABC’s “Life Goes On,” will be the special guest. The event will be at the Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus, 22622 Vanowen St. in West Hills, and is sponsored by the West Valley Jewish Community Center and Chaverim, a program serving developmentally disabled adults. Admission is $5. Proceeds will benefit the United Jewish Fund and Chaverim. Reservations can be made by calling (310) 453-9662.

INTERFAITH PANEL: The Interfaith Relations Committee of the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council will present the second in a series of panel discussions called “What My Faith Means to Me” on Sunday. Panel participants will be: the Rev. Gregory Safchuck of St. Innocent Orthodox Church in Tarzana; the Rev. William T. Broadous of Calvary Baptist Church in San Fernando; the Rev. Robert Fernandez, acting executive presbyter of the Presbytery of San Fernando; and Farah Ramchamdani, Los Angeles County health education consultant representing the Bahai faith. The moderator will be Beth Say, religious studies professor at Cal State Northridge. The program will begin at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Northridge, 9659 Reseda Blvd. Admission is free.

SENIOR GROUP: The Likrat Shabbat Senior Group of the West Valley Jewish Community Center will meet on Friday with Rabbi Bernard M. Cohen, who recently retired from Temple Solael in West Hills, to discuss Jewish religion, culture and history. Following the discussion, there will be a Shabbat candle lighting, kiddush and blessing of the bread. The event is planned from 1 to 2:15 p.m. in the boardroom of the community center at 22622 Vanowen St. in West Hills. Admission is free for members and guest passes are available at the center.

DISABILITIES PROGRAM: The Moses Program of Temple Beth Hillel--an integrated group of people with disabilities, their families and friends--will begin its ninth year with a Shabbat dinner Friday. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. in the activities building, followed by a 7:45 worship service in the sanctuary of the Reform-affiliated synagogue located at 12326 Riverside Drive in North Hollywood. Headsets for the hearing-impaired must be reserved in advance. Cost of the dinner is $8. Reservations, due by Tuesday, can be made by calling (818) 846-5692.

FESTIVAL: St. Andrew’s Abbey will hold its 36th annual Valyermo Fall Festival on Sept. 26 and 27. Highlights include a dance celebration, drama and music, art exhibits, boutiques, craft demonstration, freshly picked farm products and four ethnic restaurants. Saturday Masses will be said at 10 a.m., 5 and 6 p.m. Sunday Masses will be said on the hour from 7 a.m. to noon, in addition to 5 p.m. A Sunday Mass will be said in Spanish at 6 p.m.

The event will benefit the maintenance fund for the retreat center and the reconstruction of the youth center on the upper grounds. The festival will run 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days and free baby-sitting is available. Admission is free, but a $4 all-day parking fee is requested. The abbey is located at 31001 N. Valyermo Road in Valyermo, about 20 miles southeast of Palmdale.

News and announcements for this column can be sent to Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311.