Finding the Meaning in ‘Lord’s Prayer’

* The meaning of the words in the “Lord’s Prayer” will be addressed in a series of sermons throughout November at Camarillo United Methodist Church, said Pastor Jim Decker-Mahin.

“When we hear, ‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,’ that is about making the ideal real and immediate,” Decker-Mahin said. “Jesus talks about our daily bread and forgiving others. He ends with a great thanksgiving. We have in this glorious prayer a model of praise, petition and thanksgiving.”

Sunday services at Camarillo United Methodist get underway at 9 and 10:30 a.m. at 291 Anacapa Drive. For information, call 482-4312.

Songs, Service to Mark Feast of All Saints * The Feast of All Saints will be celebrated with a service of choral evensong Sunday at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Ojai.

“Evensong is a service of evening worship in the Anglican tradition,” said Holly Mitchem at the church, 409 Topa Topa Drive. “Psalms and prayers are chanted and intoned by St. Andrew’s rector, the Rev. Coryl Lassen-Willems, St. Andrews choir with music director David Locke and the congregation.”

After the 4 p.m. service, Locke will perform a concert of organ works by Bach, Messiean, Wider and Alain. For information, call the church at 646-1885.

Temple Beth Torah Service Invites Families * Western Ventura County’s largest Jewish congregation, Temple Beth Torah, invites new families to attend its monthly family Sabbath at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Ventura. The shorter service, oriented toward children with music and refreshments, has been a popular activity among Jewish families in the Ventura area for years, said Martha Baskerville, the temple’s executive director.

Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller agreed. “Monthly family services strike a warm chord with both children and adults. It gives the family an opportunity to sit close, sing together and hear inspirational ideas.” Hochberg-Miller often recounts traditional and humorous stories reflecting the weekly Torah theme.

Temple Beth Torah is at 7620 Foothill Blvd. For information, call 647-4181.

Patriarch Bartholomew Due in Santa Barbara * His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader to more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, will visit Santa Barbara on Nov. 8. He will address an environmental symposium, conduct an environmental prayer service and address the public with Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church at 9:30 a.m. at 1205 San Antonio Creek Road.

Tickets to the public address are free but must be obtained in advance. Contact the church at 683-4492 for more information.

Bartholomew is the 270th successor to the Apostle St. Andrew. His travels in the United States have included addressing the United Nations and meeting with President and Hillary Clinton.

Noted for his interest in environmentalism, he has earned the nickname the “Green Patriarch.” The full symposium runs from Nov. 6 to 8 and focuses on “Caring for God’s Creation: Religion, Science and the Environment.”

Trinity Community Church Plans Boutique * The yearly holiday boutique for Ventura’s Trinity Community Church is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 8.

Homemade crafts will be for sale, and also baked desserts that can be frozen. The church kitchen also will serve hot lunches.

The church is at 3645 Telegraph Road, across from Anacapa Middle School. For information, call 642-3801.

Women’s Ministries to Sell Holiday Items * Women’s Ministries of the United Methodist Church of Westlake Village will sell holiday gifts and homemade goods at its Nov. 9 holiday boutique and luncheon.

Held at the church at 1049 S. Westlake Blvd. from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the boutique and lunch proceeds will benefit mission outreach.

Sharon and Don Anderson will cater the luncheon from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at $5 for adults and $3 for children. Call the church office at 497-7884 for tickets.

An alternative Christmas-gift market will be open at the same time on the grounds.

“The alternative market gives the opportunity for the precious gift of hope to be given in honor of a friend or relative, with 100% of donations given to Heifer Project International,” said senior minister John Nagel. The project helps feed hungry and poor people worldwide.

For information or to place an order, call the church office at 497-7884.

Alternative Christmas Market Provides Aid * The annual “alternative Christmas market” will be held Nov. 9 and 16 at Camarillo United Methodist Church.

Habitat for Humanity, UNICEF, SERRV, Camarillo Hospice, Project Understanding and Operation Warm-Up will participate.

“Purchase a gift or make a donation and you will provide hope, shelter, dignity and income for people in need around the world,” said church secretary Patricia Carroll.

The alternative Christmas market will be held in Brooks Hall at the Camarillo church, 291 Anacapa Drive. For information, call the church office at 482-4312.

Rabbi to Host ‘Know Your Faith’ Series * Rabbi Benzion Kravitz, founder and director of “Jews for Judaism,” will host a four-part series on “Know Your Faith” at the Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills on Tuesday evenings from Nov. 11 through Dec. 2.

Kravitz has lectured throughout the United States, Russia and Israel.

General registration is $36; or $25 for students and seniors. The academy is at 30345 Canwood St. For information, call (818) 991-0991.

Composer to Perform Originals, Lead Singing * Composer Tom Sayer will perform original compositions and lead the Unity Center in group singing at its Nov. 14 meeting in Westlake Village. The Rev. Irma Oestmann will speak on “Let the Spirit Move You.”

The Unity Center is an interdenominational faith that focuses on “personal spiritual awareness and universal peace, health and prosperity through Bible study, prayer and meditation.” It is affiliated with Unity School of Christianity and Assn. of Unity Churches, publishers of Daily Word.

The public is welcome at the 7:30 p.m. Friday meeting at the Westlake Community Room in the library building, 4373 Park Terrace Drive. For information, call 480-9689.

School to Hold Holiday Crafts Boutique * The public is invited to a holiday crafters’ boutique Nov. 16 at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Ventura.

“We’re looking for crafters interested in displaying their items,” said Sister Rebekah at the school. “The event should draw not only from the 200 school families, but also from worshipers before and after Masses--it should give artisans plenty of exposure.”

To reserve a craft table, call 642-7198. The school is at 3169 Telegraph Road.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number, to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.