Autumn is a season of beginnings. Renewed...

Autumn is a season of beginnings. Renewed after summer retreats and vacations, members of the Southland’s religious communities have scheduled a full calendar of fall activities, including worship services, classes and conferences. Some are listed below.

DATES

* Several thousand people are expected to attend three days of free talks by well-known U.S. theologians at the third annual Catholic Family Conference, from 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, through Sunday evening, Sept. 26, at St. Cyprian Catholic Church in Long Beach. Father Joseph Fessio, a Jesuit and founder of Ignatius Press, will receive the first Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Award for his zeal and dedication to promoting the spiritual lives of families. Among the speakers are Msgr. George Kelly, author and founder of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, and Scott and Kimberly Hahn, producers of a popular audiocassette series. Child care is provided. 4700 Clark Ave. For a complete schedule, call (818) 331-3549.

* The third International Christians in Recovery Conference will be held at the Crystal Cathedral at noon Friday, Sept. 24, through Saturday evening, Sept. 25. Psychologist Jack Jones and the Rev. David Moore are among the scheduled speakers. More than 20 workshops, including Spanish-language sessions, will be offered. Subjects include “Women Who Love Sex Addicts,” “Healing the Father Wound” and “Boundaries: When Food is Your Best Friend and Worst Enemy.” For registration information, call (800) 859-5979 or (310) 697-3994.

* The difficult transition after a major loss, such as death, divorce or separation, is the subject of “A New Beginning,” a nondenominational workshop offered by licensed marriage, family and child counselor Mary Garbesi at First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica from 7 to 9 p.m. on five Tuesday evenings beginning Sept. 21. Child care is available. Registration is $40. (310) 393-8258.

* The South Coast Ecumenical Council’s Peninsula-Harbor Cluster will hold its Fall Gathering, a potluck dinner, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Rancho Palos Verdes. Bring a dish to share and your own table service. Donations accepted. 31290 Palos Verdes Drive West. (310) 595-0268.

* Financial management of churches and ministries is the subject of the daylong Regional Christian Management Institute Thursday at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel. Tax issues, new accounting laws and fund raising are among the topics to be addressed by attorneys and management specialists. For information and registration, call (800) 727-4CMA.

* First United Church of North Hollywood will hold a “back to church” worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by a carnival and potluck picnic. 4832 Tujunga Ave. (818) 763-8231.

* The Witherspoon Society, a Presbyterian social action group, will present the Rev. Bear Ride Scott speaking on “Leadership for the Once and Future Church” at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at Packard Hall, Westminster Gardens, 1420 Santo Domingo Ave., Duarte. (818) 357-6045.

* Congregational Church of the Messiah in Westchester will hold a Kick-Off Sunday celebration in honor of its new minister, the Rev. Paul Clark. Worship and school registration will begin at 10 a.m. A reception will follow the service. 7300 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester. (310) 670-2242.

* St. John’s Presbyterian Church in West Los Angeles will present its Adult Bible Study Seminar, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on eight Wednesday evenings, beginning this week. The course, taught by attorney and author Gary Maeder, offers instruction and practice in studying the Bible and leading Bible studies. Materials cost $15. 11000 National Blvd. (310) 390-2682.

* Sixty-four of 110 plants mentioned in the Bible are growing in St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church Bible Garden in Long Beach. The Herb Society of Long Beach will present a talk, slide presentation and tour of the courtyard garden at 2 p.m. Sunday at the church, 6201 E. Willow St. For information about the garden, call (310) 421-4918; for the Herb Society, call (310) 438-1073.

* Saint Peter’s By-the-Sea, formerly the New Presbyterian Church, will receive its charter at a 4 p.m. ceremony Sunday at the church site, 16871 Bolsa Chica St., Huntington Beach. (714) 846-6641.

* UCLA professor Scott Bartchy will discuss the Dead Sea Scrolls, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 18, at Culver-Palms United Methodist Church in Culver City. Registration is $10; child care is available. 4464 Sepulveda Blvd. Register by phone. (310) 390-7717.

* All Nations Literature, a Christian ministry that trains church members to teach English as a second language, will offer a training seminar Sept. 22-25 at the San Fernando Valley Holiday Inn. Call (800) 962-0080 for fees, registration and scholarship information.

HIGH HOLY DAYS

Rosh Hashanah will begin at sundown Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Jewish New Year 5754 and 10 days of introspection and interpersonal reconciliation. Rosh Hashanah will be celebrated through sundown Friday, and by some Reform Jews, through sundown Thursday. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will be observed from sundown, Friday, Sept. 24, through sundown Saturday, Sept. 25.

Traditional, liberal and innovative worship services for adults and children will be held throughout the Southland. Tickets usually are required. With advance notice, most sponsoring institutions and organizations offer sliding-scale payments. Many offer child care.

People seeking referrals to High Holy Day services near them may phone the Board of Rabbis of Southern California at (213) 852-7710. Below are listed services that meet special needs. All organizations suggest telephoning in advance for ticket prices, addresses, times and reservation requirements.

* The Chai Center will hold free Hasidic Reform services in English, followed by a social hour and discussion conducted by Rabbi Shlomo Schwartz. (310) 391-7995. Chabad of California will offer free Hasidic Orthodox services at locations throughout Southern California. (213) 934-7066.

* The Council on Jewish Life of the Jewish Federation Council provides a limited number of tickets for synagogue services at no cost to recent Russian immigrants, welfare recipients and disabled people. (213) 852-7706.

* Serving the arts community are the Synagogue for the Performing Arts, (310) 472-3500, and Creative Arts Temple, (213) 767-6692. The Laugh Factory, (213) 656-1336, offers free services for out-of-towners and others in the entertainment community.

* Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi will lead meditation- and mysticism-based services. (818) 725-7600. Rabbi Richard N. Levy will conduct creative services in Westwood sponsored by the UCLA Hillel Council (310) 208-3081. Participatory, creative services will be held by the Movable Minyan. (310) 285-3317.

* Synagogues serving the lesbian and gay communities are Congregation Kol Ami (213-656-6093) and Beth Chayim Chadashim (213) 931-7023.

* The Jewish Secular Assn. and Orange County Kindershule offer High Holy Day programs. (310) 860-1068 or (714) 968-0998.

* Free services for families with small children will be conducted by Temple B’nai Hayim in Sherman Oaks, (818) 788-4664. Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel will offer a free, participatory learner’s service from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Child care is provided. (310) 475-7311. Temple Beth Zion-Sinai in Lakewood will present a free class on the history and technique of blowing the traditional shofar (ram’s horn) at 10:15 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 12, (310) 429-0715.

Notices may be sent to Southern California File by mail c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, Calif. 90053, or by fax to (213) 237-4712. Items must be brief and arrive at least three weeks in advance of the event announced. Include a phone number, date, time and full address.