RELIGIOUS GROUPS SEMINAR: A seminar for clergy,...

RELIGIOUS GROUPS SEMINAR: A seminar for clergy, church officers and school administrators titled “Management for Religious-Oriented Organizations” will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St. Topics will include employment, salaries, discrimination, sexual harassment, termination and wage laws applicable to religious-oriented groups. The program, sponsored by the CSUN Extension, costs $95 per person. Registration: (818) 677-2786.

WOMEN, VIOLENCE AND THE CHURCH: Church Women United will meet Friday for World Community Day, featuring a drama with music on the topic of “Women and Violence and the Church.” The group will gather at 9:45 a.m. for registration and coffee, followed by the program at 10:30 a.m. at Chatsworth United Methodist Church, 10824 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Participants are asked to bring either a candle in a holder or a flower. (881) 341-1270.

JEWISH MYSTICISM: An all-day program titled “God and the Big Bang: Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism” will be presented Sunday at the University of Judaism. Daniel Matt, professor of Jewish spirituality at the Center of Jewish Studies and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, will explore the parallels between contemporary physics and the ancient cabala, focusing on theories of God, creation and revelation. The program, offered through the university’s Continuing Education Department, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on campus, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. Cost is $60 per person. (310) 476-9777.

TALK ON HOMOSEXUALITY: Retired Bishop Melvin Wheatley will lead a free seminar on “Our Dealings With Homosexuality” at 1 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of Tarzana. Wheatley served as a pastor for 30 years in California and as a resident bishop for 12 years with the Rocky Mountain Conference, headquartered in Denver. The church is located at 5619 Lindley Ave. (818) 708-7068.

HALLOWEEN FUN: An estimated 2,000 children and adults are expected to attend a Hallelujah Harvest on Halloween at Shepherd of the Hills/Hillcrest Christian Church. Children are encouraged to dress up in a costume that is not scary for the event, which will include games, contests, a petting zoo and a pie toss at the pastor. Scheduled hours are 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the church, located at 19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch. Admission is free. (818) 831-9333.

BOUTIQUE: The First United Methodist Church of San Fernando will have a fall festival and boutique featuring handcrafted gifts, baked goods and plants from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at 1525 Glenoaks Blvd. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a complete lunch will be served for $4 or beverage and pie for $1.50. Admission is free. (818) 365-3156.

BENEFIT CONCERT: A special concert to benefit the Harambee Preparatory School for inner-city and disadvantaged children is planned for 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Bel-Air Presbyterian Church, 16221 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. Admission is $12.50 per person. (818) 788-4210, Ext. 137.

SPEAKER: Chatsworth resident Harry Schwartzbart, founder of the San Fernando Valley chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, will speak on “Thunder From the Religious Right” at 6 p.m. Friday services at Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. (818) 766-9426.

“GODSPELL”: A revival of the hit Broadway musical “Godspell” will open Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Northridge. The show is a modern and humorous interpretation in song and dance of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The program will be presented by members of the Theater Repertoire of Our Lady of Lourdes (TROLL). Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Nov. 8 and 9, and 2 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 10 at the church, located at 18400 Kinzie St. Tickets are $7. (818) 360-1695 or 349-3891.

SPIRITUAL VALUES: A philosophy conference titled “The Search for Spiritual Values” will be held Nov. 2 at Mission College’s Campus Center Auditorium, 13356 Eldridge Ave., Sylmar. The keynote address, “Feeling Like Yourself: An Emotional Path to Spiritual Values,” will be given at 10:15 a.m., followed by a variety of mini-seminars from 1 to 2 p.m. Admission is free. (818) 364-7683.

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