PANEL DISCUSSION: The Society for the Advancement...

PANEL DISCUSSION: The Society for the Advancement of Humanistic Values will present the first in a series of panel discussions on “Afterlife: Is There One?” at 2 p.m. today at Cal State Northridge, Engineering Auditorium, 18111 Nordhoff St. Panel members will be Michael Shermer, adjunct assistant professor at Occidental College and director of Skeptics Society; Rick Talbott, religious studies lecturer at CSUN and history department lecturer at UCLA, and Randal Cummings, religious studies professor at Loyola Marymount University. Admission is free and the public is invited.

KING TRIBUTE: The San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council will present its fifth annual service honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., titled “Our Future Dream” at 7 p.m. Monday at Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ, 13333 Vaughn St., Pacoima. Following a processional of robed clergy, there will be tributes and songs commemorating King. A reception will follow the service. The public is invited and admission is free.

CLERGY NETWORK: Charles Ara, a former priest who officiated at the marriage of Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner and Kimberley Conrad, will speak Wednesday on marriage and family counseling at a luncheon sponsored by the Clergy Network. Ara, who served as parish priest at five Catholic churches in the Los Angeles area, married at age 40 and has five children. He works as a marriage and family counselor. The luncheon will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Woodland Care Center, 7120 Corbin Ave., Reseda. Reservations, due by Monday, can be made by calling (818) 225-8125. Admission is free.

SABBATH DINNER: The eighth annual Sabbath dinner for the Moses Program--an integrated group for Jews with disabilities, their families and friends--will be offered at 6 p.m. Friday at Temple Beth Hillel, 12326 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood. The guest speaker will be Lynne Koral, a peer counselor and coordinator for Southeast Alaska Independent Living. Cost of dinner is $8 per person. Reservations for dinner, which are due today, can be made by calling (818) 846-5692. Headsets may be reserved for the hearing-impaired.

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