RENAISSANCE PROGRAM: An evening of Renaissance song,...

RENAISSANCE PROGRAM: An evening of Renaissance song, music and dinner will begin at 6 p.m. tonight at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, 12355 Moorpark St. Madrigal singers will highlight the evening’s musical performances with selections from 15th- and 16th-Century English popular and sacred song. Guests are invited to come in costume. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at the door.

GOSPEL MUSIC: Gospel singing and recording artists Mike and Charlotte Turner from Nashville will lead the 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 15950 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills.

RETIREMENT: Members of the Reseda First United Methodist Church on Sunday will celebrate the retirement of music director Jeanette Bedel after 43 years of service. Music selections will be sung by the 40-member choir, highlighting the theme “Joy.” Services are at 8:45 and 10 a.m. at 18120 Saticoy St.

GUEST SPEAKER: The Rev. Kenneth R. Brown will speak on “Is There Room at the Inn? The Inviting Congregation” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Emerson Unitarian Church, 7304 Jordan Ave., Canoga Park. Brown is coordinator of the Crisis Response Network at the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles.

PURIM FESTIVITIES: The joyous Jewish holiday of Purim, commemorating the deliverance of the Jews of Persia in the 5th Century BC from a plot to destroy them, will be celebrated this weekend at local synagogues. The following is a sample of activities in the San Fernando Valley:

* Temple Beth Hillel’s Purim carnival will begin at 5 p.m. today with a megillah reading and costume parade, followed by a Purim feast and a carnival with rides. A masquerade ball begins at 9 p.m., with a $3 admission charge. On Sunday, a boutique will open at 10 a.m. and the carnival will resume at 11 a.m., with activities running until 5 p.m. The synagogue is situated at 12326 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood.

* Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino, will offer Purim services at 5 and 7 p.m. today for toddlers through kindergartners and their families. A congregational service and megillah reading will be held at 7 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring costumes. There will be a carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday with food, games, rides, ponies and costumed characters.

* A Purim carnival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Congregation Beth Kodesh, 7401 Shoup Ave., Canoga Park. Activities will include rides, games, a chili cook-off, bingo and a costume parade at 11:15.

* Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, will offer a Purim carnival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Activities will include food, games and rides.

* Temple Ramat Zion will host a Purim carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday including game booths, magicians, fortune tellers, a haunted house, music and a costume parade. The synagogue is at 17655 Devonshire St., Northridge.

CONCERT: Grayson Warren Brown--singer, composer and liturgist--will give a concert at 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church, 1600 East Ave. R-4, in Palmdale. Admission is free.

CHRISTIAN ACTIVITIES: La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, 2902 Montrose Ave., will host “Thursday Night Together,” beginning with a dinner at 6 p.m. followed by choir and Christian education activities for ages 3 to adult. Child care is provided for children under age 3. Cost of dinner is $4 each for adults and $2 each for children.

KIDS’ DAY: The First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills, 10400 Zelzah Ave., will host Kids’ Day from 9 a.m. to noon on March 13. The event, for third- through sixth-grade children, will feature the Covenant Players and a variety of hands-on activities. Admission is $2 per person and participants are asked to bring a sack lunch. Drinks and dessert will be provided.

FELLOWSHIP: The Westlake Women’s Aglow Fellowship will meet at 8:30 a.m. March 19 at the Plug Nickel Restaurant, 717 Lakefield Road, Westlake Village. Guest speakers will be Judy and Ron Radachy, street evangelists in Hollywood. Cost is $8 per person. Reservations, due by Friday, can be made by calling (818) 889-6518.

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