OBON FESTIVAL: Folk dancers in colorful kimonos...

OBON FESTIVAL: Folk dancers in colorful kimonos and hapi coats will be part of the two-day Obon Festival starting at 5 p.m. today at the San Fernando Valley Japanese Community Center in Pacoima and open to the public.

The festival is one of the more important Japanese Buddhist celebrations, “emphasizing the oneness of life,” according to the Rev. Kakyue Tada of the sponsoring San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Pacoima.

The festival, which will run from 5 to 11 p.m. today and 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday, will offer free exhibits of bonsai trees, flower arrangements and Japanese dolls as well as food and games booths. The center is at 12953 Branford St. For more information, call (818) 899-4030.

JEWISH CONCERT: “Eicha,” a work for piano, violin and cello performed by the Brandeis-Bardin Ensemble, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Monday in North Hollywood as part of a special service sponsored by two Valley synagogues.

In observance of Tisha B’Av, which commemorates tragic events in Jewish history such as the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, the composition by Maxine Warshauer will be followed by traditional and contemporary religious services in the social hall of Adat Ari El Synagogue, 12020 Burbank Blvd. Encino’s Valley Beth Shalom is presenting the musical portion of the program.

The services will be led by Rabbi Leslie Alexander of Adat Ari El and the synagogue’s new cantor, Ira S. Bigeleisen.

CHRISTIAN DUO: Toby and Barb Waldowski, who have sung at Billy Graham Crusades and on Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power” broadcast, will perform and speak Sunday at the 9 and 10:45 a.m. services at Agoura Bible Fellowship, 5564 Foothill Drive, Agoura Hills. For information, call (818) 889-7449.

NEW RABBI: Rabbi Richard Ettelson has become the spiritual leader of Granada Hills’ Temple Beth Torah, an 80-family Reform synagogue that shares facilities with the Episcopal Church of St. Andrew and St. Charles at 16651 Rinaldi St. Ettelson, who previously was rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Downey, this month replaced Rabbi Stuart Lasher, who recently retired.

NEW PASTOR: The 37-year-old Desert Highlands Church, a Palmdale congregation in the nationwide Conservative Baptist Assn., this week selected as its pastor the Rev. Charles L. Miller, who earlier led the Hacienda Heights Christian Church for 10 years. Miller, who began duties immediately, succeeded Pastor Hal Lentz, who resigned in April to become regional director of new church development for the Baptist association. The church is at 40021 N. 11th St. West.

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