“We want to equip people with the...

“We want to equip people with the spiritual resources to live in our culture,” said the Rev. Steven E. Berry, senior minister of First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. “We’re trying to create a vision of hope for the city.”

To do that, the 126-year-old Wilshire district church has forged a partnership with USC, called the Commonwealth Learning Center, to offer classes designed to help the effort to spiritually rebuild Los Angeles in the aftermath of the 1992 riots.

The university’s participation is through its Emeriti College, a community-outreach program taught by retired faculty members.

Sherry May, a consultant on the project and a former dean at USC, said the center “is a linking of two major institutions, both of which have been committed in different ways, long-term, to educational outreach.”

On consecutive Sundays starting Oct. 10, the learning center, located at the church, will offer nine four-week courses taught by the church’s clergy and retired and current USC faculty members.

Among the courses offered will be “Growing Up in Los Angeles: Disturbing Developments, Positive Solutions”; “Care of the Soul,” a discussion of Thomas Moore’s best-selling book about finding meaning and spirituality in troubled times, and “The Church’s Role in Rebuilding L.A.”

The 15 USC faculty members who will lead classes during the fall session include May; Alvin Rudisill, associate vice president for community outreach; Guilbert Hentschke, dean of the School of Education, and Norman Sigband, professor emeritus of business administration.

The program is open to the public. Participants may select one, two or three classes each Sunday. Sessions begin at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and last 75 minutes. Free child care is available from 7:30 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. The cost is $40 per person for the four-week session, regardless of the number of classes taken. Scholarships are available. An optional light lunch is offered before the 12:30 p.m. session for a donation to cover expenses.

The Commonwealth Learning Center is at First Congregational Church, 540 S. Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 385-1341.

DATES

* People are invited to bring pets of every kind the third annual Pets in Church Day at St. Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Santa Monica for the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday. Bring dogs on leashes and cats, birds and rodents in carriers or cages. Speakers include Elaine Irving of Petville Park USA and Father Fred Fenton. A St. Francis Day blessing of the animals follows in the churchyard. 1227 4th St. (310) 395-0977.

* Parishioners and visitors are also invited to bring their pets when St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Hollywood holds its annual Blessing of the Animals on Sunday during the 10:30 a.m. Mass. 7501 Hollywood Blvd. (213) 876-2102.

* The Christian Singles Activity Assn. of Southern California sponsors its third annual Christian Singles Conference on Oct. 9 at the Beverly Hills Ramada Hotel. Bob and Yvonne Turnbull, relationships and communications specialists, will speak at an afternoon session. At 8 p.m., the keynote speaker will be Warren Gilmore, a certified public accountant, who will discuss financial concerns for singles. The conference continues with a smoke-free, alcohol-free dance party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with deejay Rick Garcia. Admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. (310) 372-3779.

* St. James Armenian Apostolic Church will hold its 52nd annual Fall Festival from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday on the parish grounds. Music by John Bilezikjian and his ensemble; food, games and prizes will be featured. Free. 4950 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 295-4588.

* Lutheran, Episcopal, United Methodist and Presbyterian congregations are among those celebrating “unity in diversity” with a worship service followed by an appetizer-and-dessert agape feast from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Carlson Park in Culver City. Bring friends and a finger food or dessert to share. (310) 390-7717.

* Gateways Beit T’Shuvah, an addiction rehabilitation program affiliated with Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center, and the Jewish Federation Council will launch a series of six free teen-agers-only and parents-only seminars with a 10 a.m. breakfast Sunday. The goal of the sessions, led by Mark Borovitz, director of the Beit T’Shuvah Outpatient Clinic, is to explore Jewish spiritual values as an avenue for better communication in families, and prevention of drug and alcohol addiction and obsessive/compulsive behaviors such as lying, stealing and vandalism. Sunday’s breakfast and future seminars on dates to be determined by the participants will be held at the Southern Region office of the Jewish Federation Council, 22410 Palos Verdes Blvd., Torrance. For reservation information, call (310) 998-5500.

BRIEFLY

The Rev. Judith Ellen Meyer has been named minister of the Unitarian Community Church of Santa Monica. Meyer, who has served as vice president for programs at the Unitarian Universalist Assn. in Boston for the past five years, succeeds the Rev. Ernest D. Pipes Jr., who retired in 1991 after 35 years at the church.

Catholics in Media recently granted its Production Award to the MGM feature film “Benny and Joon,” the television drama series “Picket Fences” and the Disney Channel’s remake of the classic film “Heidi.” The Rev. Anthony Scannell, provincial of the Capuchin Order and former president of Franciscan Communications, received the group’s Individual Achievement Award.

Palisades Lutheran Church is seeking volunteers to befriend families with chronically ill children. Supervision and training are provided; hours are flexible. Applications are now being accepted for an Oct. 16-17 training program. (213) 661-9629.

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.