Religion Notes

NEW LEADERSHIP: Cardinal Roger M. Mahony has named Agoura Hills resident Tom Griffiths the new executive publisher of the two weekly newspapers put out by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Tidings and Vida Nueva. Griffiths, 60, has worked in broadcast journalism and print media, most recently for the Los Angeles Times Feature Syndicate. The Archdiocese hopes to increase circulation of the Tidings and build the advertising base of Vida Nueva, which is distributed free, so it can be more self-sufficient. “My priority will be to make sure that both papers remain viable to everyone touched by them,” he said in a statement. “I’m convinced they have the potential to be the best in the nation.”

AWARD-WINNING EDUCATORS: Van Nuys resident Sonia Liberman, a teacher for 32 years at Temple Ahavat Shalom Religious School in Northridge, recently received one of the first Sara and Simha Lainer Distinguished Educator Awards. Liberman, in addition to Ellen Goldberg, principal of Temple Isaiah Religious School in Los Angeles, and Michael Singer, a longtime Los Angeles Hebrew High School instructor, were given the awards at the Bureau of Jewish Education’s Religious School Educators Conference. The awards carry a $2,500 cash gift for each honoree and were established by the Lainers to highlight the critical role that Jewish educators play in their students’ lives.

NEW MINISTER: Christ the King Lutheran Church welcomes its new minister, the Rev. Jeffrey A. Nelson, on Sunday. Nelson comes to Van Nuys from serving as pastor of a Lutheran church in Wausau, Wis. He and his family will reside in Van Nuys. Services begin at 10:30 a.m. at the church located at 17400 Vanowen St. (818) 342-0302.

IN MEMORY: St. Paul’s First Lutheran Church will honor the memory of the late Rev. Al Wagner, who lead the congregation from 1948 to 1972, during a special service Sunday morning. Wagner died Jan. 11 at the age of 90. Under Wagner’s leadership, the congregation experienced its largest growth in membership and building additions, including its present sanctuary with stained glass windows, a nursery and classrooms. The service will be held at 9 a.m. at the church located at 5244 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood. Former members and friends are invited to attend. (818) 761-1846.

BENEFIT PERFORMANCE: A fund-raising concert featuring recording artists Christopher Cross and Karla Bonoff, accompanied by the group Soulskin, will be held Sunday at Sportsmen’s Lodge. Proceeds will benefit Women At Risk, San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council and Pantries and the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Studio City. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the concert at 7 p.m. at 12825 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. Tickets, which are available at the door, are $50, $35 and $25 each. (818) 769-5713.

AVALON SPEAKS: Pop culture icon Frankie Avalon will share his personal and professional experiences at an Entertainment Fellowship dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Barone’s restaurant, 10123 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake. The nonprofit organization is composed of people who are concerned with ethics and morals in movies, television, recordings, stage, print and the Internet. Cost is $12 for members and $17 for nonmembers. (818) 909-0841.

LENTEN PROGRAM: A six-week series of “Lenten Soup Suppers and Programs” will begin Sunday at the First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood. The Rev. Larry Stamper, pastor of Burbank First United Methodist Church and Burbank Police Department chaplain, will kick off the series with a message of “Joy and Hope.” Supper will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. at the church located at 4832 Tujunga Ave. Admission is free. (818) 763-8231.

FROM PRIEST TO HUSBAND: Charles Ara, who left the active priesthood 25 years ago for a love and marriage of his own, will speak at Valley Outreach Synagogue’s monthly Shabbat service on Friday. The service begins at 8 p.m. at Kirk o’ the Valley Church, 19260 Vanowen St., Reseda. (818) 348-4867.

CHOIRS ASSEMBLE: The Festival of Choirs, San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Choral Conductors’ Guild, will feature more than 30 choirs from throughout the Valley. Paul Salamunovich, conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, will be the guest clinician for the event scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday at Bel Air Presbyterian Church, 16221 Mulholland Drive, in Sepulveda Pass. Admission is free. (818) 788-4200.

BREAKING GROUND: The First Baptist Church of Sunland, which has served the Sunland community for more than 85 years, will have a ground-breaking ceremony Sunday for its new multipurpose building that will include a basketball court, kitchen facilities and meeting rooms. The ceremony will take place after the worship service about 10:30 a.m. at the church located at 10438 Oro Vista Ave. (818) 353-8555.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC: The female trio Out of Eden will perform at 2 p.m. today at Six Flags Magic Mountain, near Valencia, as part of the statewide True Love Waits Rally to encourage abstinence until marriage. Park hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the concert is included in the park ticket price. General admission is $34, $20 for seniors 55 and older, $17 for children under 48 inches and free for kids under 2. (805) 255-4111.

HEALING: A special “healing gathering” for Jews and non-Jews alike will be held twice at Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills. The first service is planned Wednesday and the second will be held March 5, both from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the synagogue located at 20400 Ventura Blvd. Admission is free. (818) 348-0670.

MEDITATION RETREAT: Wat Thai of Los Angeles will offer a free meditation retreat from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Buddhist temple located at 8225 Coldwater Canyon Ave., North Hollywood. A two-day meditation retreat is planned from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23. (818) 780-4200.

MUSICAL OFFERING: As part of homecoming weekend, the music faculty of The Master’s College will join students in presenting a potpourri of vocal and instrumental music in a casual setting Friday evening. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Grace Baptist Church multipurpose room, 24736 Quigley Canyon Road, on the north edge of the college campus. (805) 259-3540, Ext. 329.

EXHIBIT OPENS: Ancient burial caves discovered in Jerusalem in 1989 will be featured in a traveling exhibition titled “Akeldama: In the Shadow of God’s Mountain” opening Sunday at the Finegood Art Gallery on the Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and closed Saturday. The exhibition closes April 13. (818) 587-3218.

EAT AND HELP OTHERS: The North Hollywood Interfaith Pantry will be the beneficiary of a fund-raising event held 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Wild Thyme Cafe and Bakery, 110 N. 1st St., Burbank. A portion of the sales, including take-out orders, will be given to the food pantry. (818) 845-3433.

SPECIAL WEEKEND: Temple Beth Hillel will host a scholar-in-residence weekend featuring Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer, who is also a lawyer and therapist. The weekend begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with the regular Shabbat service, and ends Sunday, Feb. 23, at 11:30 a.m. The weekend is open to all adults at a cost of $5 per person, with an additional fee for Saturday lunch. There is no charge for the session during Friday evening services. Advance registration is necessary. (818) 763-9148.

GUEST SPEAKER: Rabbi Immanual Schochet will speak on the topic, “Can Judaism Help You Get What You Want Out of Life?” at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Conejo Jewish Academy, 30345 Canwood St., Agoura Hills. Author of more than 20 books on Jewish philosophy and mysticism, Schochet is a professor of religion and philosophy at Humber College in Toronto, Canada. General admission is $7 or $6 for students and seniors. Seating is limited and advance reservations are recommended. (818) 991-0991.