MINISTER VISITS: Fifteen years ago, the Rev....

MINISTER VISITS: Fifteen years ago, the Rev. Fletcher A. Harding was diagnosed as having cancer and given three months to live. Due to his illness, he retired as minister of Encino Community Church, which he founded in 1953.

On Sunday, Harding will celebrate his 80th birthday by taking to the pulpit of the church, preaching on “The Spirit of a Great Church.”

Harding credits his recovery to his faith, prayers from friends and immunotherapy, the use of vitamins and strict diet and vaccines made from his own cultured cancer cells.

“You hear of people’s cancer going into remission. Mine didn’t go into remission. I got rid of it,” said Harding, who now lives in Camarillo.

In the years since his retirement from Encino Community Church, Harding has aided the fight against cancer by moderating 18 one-hour documentaries for public television titled “The Conquest of Cancer.” Occasionally, he performs funeral services and wedding ceremonies and fills in for vacationing ministers.

In attendance at Sunday’s service will be Harding’s wife of 46 years, Patricia, who played the organ and was music director at the nondenominational church.

The service will begin at 11 a.m. at the church, located at 5955 Lindley Ave., Tarzana.

ALTERNATIVE FAIR: An alternative Christmas gift fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, 5700 Rudnick Ave., Woodland Hills. Donations can be made to various organizations that help improve social conditions throughout the world and the United States.

DEAN VISITS: Albert Truesdale, dean of the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., will speak at the 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. services Sunday, in addition to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Northridge Community Church of the Nazarene, 10650 Reseda Blvd. Truesdale is currently editing a work on Christian ethics and co-editing a work on bioethics.

CORNERSTONE LAYING: Members of the West Valley Church of Religious Science will hold a cornerstone-laying ceremony for their new sanctuary at 2 p.m. Sunday at 7101 Oso Ave., Canoga Park. A scroll, signed by all those attending, will be sealed in the cornerstone, along with other memorabilia from the church’s 40-year history. The Rev. Tom Johnson will preside at the ceremony for the 600-member church.

ORDINATION: An ordination service for the Rev. Galen Goben of First Christian Church of Burbank is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday in the church sanctuary, 221 S. 6th St. Goben has been pastor of the congregation for a year. He recently completed his studies at the School of Theology at Claremont and has been approved by the Commission on the Ministry of the Christian Church. His wife, the Rev. Louise Sloan Goben, who serves as pastor of the First Christian Church in Rialto, will deliver the sermon. A reception and dinner are planned following the ceremony.

PERFORMANCE: The First Presbyterian Church of Burbank will present an hour of sacred music by the 75-member Chancel Choir and orchestra Director Bruce Frazier at 7 p.m. Sunday. The concert, at 512 E. Olive Ave., is part of the church’s 105th anniversary celebration. Admission is free and no offering will be taken.

CATHOLIC MEETING: The East San Fernando district of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women will meet on Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 6628 Cedros Ave., Van Nuys. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. program, “What Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women Did to Change My Life.” Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch.

CELEBRATION: The annual “Celebration of Thanksgiving,” sponsored by Glendale Adventist Medical Center, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church of Glendale, 134 N. Kenwood St. The fifth annual program will feature Lewis B. Smedes of Fuller Theological Seminary, internationally known organist Ladd Thomas and USC music professor James H. Vail. The Los Angeles Children’s Choir will also perform. Free tickets are available by calling (818) 409-8100.

SPEAKER: British author Benjamin Creme will offer a metaphysical perspective on “The Return of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Masonic Temple, 5122 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood. A $5 donation is suggested. The event is sponsored by the Tara Center in North Hollywood.

NEW CANTOR: Temple Judea will install a new cantor, Fran Lawson, at 8:15 p.m. Friday at the Reform synagogue at 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. Lawson received her master of sacred music degree from Hebrew Union College and the Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City, where she received her cantorial vestments. She served as cantor of a temple in Seattle and two temples in New York before coming to the San Fernando Valley.

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