DONATIONS: When Americans contribute money, the collection...

DONATIONS: When Americans contribute money, the collection plate at church is by far the most common means, according to a new national survey by the Barna Research Group in Glendale.

Two-thirds of adults (66%) surveyed in February said they gave money at a church or other house of worship.

Face-to-face appeals brought donations from 27%, mail appeals 26%, payroll deduction 19%, telephone solicitations 13%, and responses to television, radio and newspaper appeals amounted to 8%.

Among Americans active in church life, 79% of those who identified themselves as born-again Christians had contributed money in the previous month, compared with 59% of other Christians.

The telephone survey interviewed 542 adults with a 95% chance that the figures are accurate to within plus or minus four percentage points, a spokesman said.

WOMAN PASTOR: The 700-member First United Methodist Church of Reseda this week welcomed its first woman pastor. For her, it’s the first pulpit she doesn’t share with her spouse.

The Rev. Emma Moore-Kochlacs, 44, who holds a doctor of ministry degree from the School of Theology at Claremont, was appointed pastor of the Reseda church to succeed the Rev. Dennis Ginoza, who was assigned to a church in Chula Vista. Methodist ministers are subject to possible reassignments each year by the regional bishop.

Since 1980, she had co-pastored a succession of three churches with her minister-husband, Peter, in Fontana, Culver City and, most recently, Redlands. This will be her first solo pastorate because her husband will spend the year on a sabbatical to establish a church-related network on environmental concerns, she said.

Her first sermon at the church, 18120 Saticoy St., will be July 11.

ROCK OPERA: A contemporary Christian musical, “Acts,” inspired by the New Testament’s Book of Acts, will be performed seven times at the Pierce College Theater, starting at 8 p.m. Friday.

The rock opera, produced by Forest Oden and directed by Jon Berry, has 30 songs, all written by Jerry Cahill and Jim Ineson of Woodland Hills. Performances will be Friday and July 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18. The curtain time is 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays, with a special 2 p.m. performance July 17.

Tickets are $18 at the box office and through Ticketmaster outlets. Proceeds will benefit the West Valley Food Pantry for homeless and needy families.

CONCERT: A free outdoor concert featuring Harmony, a gospel group from Inglewood, will be held at 6:30 p.m. today on the lawn of First Baptist Church of Canoga Park, 20553 Sherman Way. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner.

TALK: The Rev. Glenn Smiley, an advocate of nonviolent social change, will speak about his association with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 9:30 a.m. service Sunday at Panorama City Church of the Brethren, 14517 Osborne St.

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