WOMAN RABBI: Rabbi Paula L. Reimers has...

WOMAN RABBI: Rabbi Paula L. Reimers has been named the spiritual leader of the 160-family Burbank Temple Emanu El, a spokesman for the Conservative synagogue announced this week.

Reimers, who will lead her first services Aug. 4, will join half a dozen other women rabbis now serving Conservative and Reform synagogues in the San Fernando Valley area.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Hebrew literature at the University of Judaism in 1986, Reimers studied for the rabbinate at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, and was ordained in 1990. She earlier earned degrees from Barnard College and Columbia University.

“The congregation is very happy to welcome Rabbi Reimers and her husband of 25 years, Robin Meisels, whom she met at an anti-war conference in Chicago,” said the temple’s announcement.

The synagogue, at 1302 N. Glenoaks Blvd., has been without a rabbi since Rabbi Ephraim Warshaw resigned a year ago, a spokesman said.

Reimers most recently served a synagogue in Colchester, Conn. A dinner will follow her first Friday night service on Aug. 4. More information: (818) 845-1734.

GUEST SPEAKER: Republican Assemblyman James E. Rogan of Glendale will be the featured speaker Sunday at the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services at Calvary Bible Church in Burbank.

Rogan, who won a special election for the Assembly seat about a year ago, is a member of the church at 1101 S. Main St.

FOURTH PICNIC: A Fourth of July picnic open to the public will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Church of the Master, 13424 Glenoaks Blvd., in Sylmar to raise funds for Lutheran High School in Sylmar.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, snacks and drinks will be free, but an offering will be taken. The Aid Assn. for Lutherans has promised to match all donated funds up to $700, a representative said.

The Sylmar church and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of San Fernando are co-hosting the event. More information: (818) 367-2636.

BUDDHIST SCHOOL: A 10-week summer school for Thai-heritage children began this week at North Hollywood’s Wat Thai Buddhist Temple with more than 200 students enrolled, but the total will probably rise to 300 after classes in the Los Angeles public schools end for the summer this week, said the Venerable Sumanatissa Barua.

The five-day-a-week classes taught in the Thai language have been conducted at the large temple complex for 10 summers now, the monk said.

HABITAT SPEAKER: James Fields, a participant in the Habitat for Humanity home-building projects, will describe the work of the nationwide organization at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service of Emerson Unitarian Church in Canoga Park.

The congregation is holding services at the neighboring Senior Citizens Center, 7326 Jordan Ave., pending construction of a new building to replace the earthquake-damaged church.

SUMMER MUSIC: Two performers will be featured Wednesday night at Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino as a part of the Catholic center’s outdoor summer music series.

Joshua will play, among other instruments, a saxophone, flutes, alto clarinet and an African thumb piano, and Mitzi Albert, a featured soloist in Los Angeles churches and synagogues, will sing popular Jewish music and Broadway songs.

Admission to the 7:30 p.m. concert is $8 for adults; $2 for children. The price for the Wednesday night series, which ends July 26, is $30. More information: (818) 784-4515.

AUTHOR’S TALK: Author Patricia Treece, who has written books and articles on Catholic saints and writes a biweekly column for the newspaper of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, will be the Catholic Community Luncheon speaker Wednesday at Barone’s restaurant, 10123 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake. For more information or reservations, call Joseph Stevens at (818) 784-1960.

News and announcements for this column may be sent to Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. News releases may also be sent by fax to (818) 772-3338.