SILVER ANNIVERSARY: It’s been a quarter century...

SILVER ANNIVERSARY: It’s been a quarter century since the Rev. Laurence C. Keene began preaching at the Little Brown Church in Studio City, and his congregation has gone through many changes since his first sermon on Independence Day 1974. Having outgrown the original building on Coldwater Canyon, the congregation merged with Central Christian Church in 1988 to become Church of the Valley. Sunday services, which attract an average of 400 people, are now held at 6565 Vesper Ave., with midweek Bible study and Sunday evening services at 4418 Coldwater Canyon Ave., the site of more than 21,000 weddings since 1940. A celebration of Keene’s 25 years of leadership, dubbed “The Keene Diaries,” will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Vesper Avenue location. The program will include music, testimonials and a reception afterward. (818) 786-4070.

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY: Bethany Foursquare Church will celebrate its golden anniversary at Sunday services, which will include appearances by the church founder, the Rev. Minnie Whaley, and the Rev. Don Long, general supervisor of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Started in North Hollywood with a dozen members, the church moved to its current location in 1953. Although it has had a larger membership in past years, the church currently counts 32 members, the Rev. Ken Grissom said. A buffet luncheon will follow the 10:45 a.m. service at 5853 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood. (818) 761-6000.

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION: Mordecai Finley, rabbi of Ohr Ha Torah, which meets in West Los Angeles, and co-rabbi of Makom Ohr Shalom, which meets in Tarzana, will lead a class this month at the University of Judaism on spiritual preparation for the Jewish High Holy Days. He will focus on prayers unique to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with special attention given to the list of sins for which Jews ask forgiveness and the concluding Yom Kippur service in which the “gates of repentance” are closed. Classes will be from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 27 and Sept. 3 and 10 on campus, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. Cost is $45, or $18 per class.

The University of Judaism will offer another class this month related to the High Holy Days. Reconstructionist Rabbi Jane Litman, a lecturer in religious and Jewish studies at Cal State Northridge, will prepare students for recitation of the traditional confessional prayer on Yom Kippur with the class “Overcoming Jewish Guilt: The Al Chet.” Classes are scheduled from 6:15 to 8 p.m. Aug. 27 and Sept. 3 and 10. Cost is $45 per person. Registration for either class: (310) 476-9777, Ext. 246.

OPEN HOUSE: Temple Ner Maarav will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday to mark the launch of its membership drive. Additional events are planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 25 and Sept. 8 and from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 4 and 11. The Conservative synagogue is at 17730 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. (818) 345-7833.