‘Student Sunday’ Sermon

Ventura High School student Tori Plueger will deliver the “student Sunday” sermon Sunday at College United Methodist Church in Ventura. Tori will be joined by a local rock band, Fear Not, and actress Marlene Daigneault at both the 8:50 and 10:30 a.m. services.

The church will also hold its first Sunday of Advent celebration at 5 p.m. the same day with a free spaghetti dinner, crafts and singing.

On Dec. 13, College United will sponsor a dessert concert at 6:30 p.m. The $5 event will feature a choral group, band, solo performances and award-winning violinist Ondine Young, who will direct the concert. Carol singing and dessert will follow. The proceeds will benefit Project Understanding and College United Methodist Church’s ministry.

The church is at 4300 Telegraph Road, across from Ventura College. For information, call 642-3282.

Talk on Nature Spirituality

* The Rev. Dick Weston-Jones, minister of Ventura’s Unitarian Universalist Church, will speak at Canoga Park’s Unitarian Universalist Church on Sunday. His topic, “Nature Spirituality and Unitarian Universalists,” will trace the church’s heritage of nature spirituality from its roots to the present day, said Karen Moore of the church.

Weston-Jones is also director of the church’s eco-spirituality program, WhaleCoast. He describes himself as a religious naturalist.

The Canoga Park church is at 7404 Jordan Ave. The Ventura church is at 4949 Foothill Road. For information, call 644-3898.

Youth Group Seeks Donations

* United Synagogue Youth of Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks is seeking donations of household goods and clothing to benefit people in Third World countries.

Dubbed “Rags to Riches,” the project will oversee a drop-off bin in the temple parking lot at 1080 E. Janss Road through Sunday. Used clothing, shoes, purses, linens, towels, blankets, curtains and bedspreads are needed.

For information, call Joan Sandoval at 497-6891.

Advent Series to Begin

* An Advent series “How Can I Better Prepare for the Coming of the Prince of Peace?” begins Wednesday at St. Anthony’s Church in Oxnard. Sister Karen Wilhelmy, director of adult faith formation at the church, will present sessions Wednesday and Dec. 10 and 17 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. To enroll, call 486-7301 by Monday.

St. Anthony’s will celebrate the rite of acceptance into the catechumenate Sunday during the 9 a.m. liturgy.

The church, at 2511 South C St., may be reached at 486-0018.

Puppeteers to Perform

* JFC-Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo will hold a Hanukkah program titled “A Day to Remember” at 5 p.m. Wednesday featuring the Alphabet Soup Puppeteers. The half-hour show is appropriate for all school-age children and tells the story of Hanukkah, in which a small army of Jews fought for the right to practice their religion.

Before and after the show, games and a Hanukkah bazaar will feature local vendors selling holiday gifts and baked goods.

JFC-Temple Ner Ami is a 150-family Reform congregation that meets at 4098 Calle Tesoro, Suite D. The 5-year-old congregation offers Shabbat and holiday services, social events, adult and children’s classes. For information, call the temple at 388-3824.

Nativity Reenactment

* A living nativity and musical will be performed in Ventura’s Plaza Park at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Friday. Students from Ventura County Christian High School will enact the drama of the nativity in costume, with song and piano accompaniment.

“It’s a celebration of Christmas,” said Lisa Darby, who is helping the students. She suggests that audience members bring blankets or seats.

The event is free; refreshments will be served. The park is at Thompson Boulevard and Chestnut Street.

Variety of Creches on Display

* More than 200 creches, made of everything from a small set of spools of thread to a 30-piece Lenox set, will be exhibited in “A Celebration of Christ--Nativities of the World” at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ojai.

They can be viewed from noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Dec. 6 and 4:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7. A showing for handicapped people is set 10 a.m. to noon Friday.

The church’s youngsters will present vocal and instrumental music from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, and adult choirs will sing from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6. The Hallelujah Chorus will be performed at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7.

The entertainment is free and open to the public. The church is at 411 San Antonio St. For information, call 646-7806.

Unity Center Plans Discussion

* The Unity Center in Westlake Village will offer a discussion Friday on “Your Greatest Gifts.”

“Most people have a unique quality, gift or talent just waiting to be discovered and used,” the Rev. Irma Oestmann said. “When you find it, a whole new world experience may unfold for you.”

The evening begins at 7:30 at the Westlake Village Community Room, 4373 Park Terrace Drive. For information, call (818) 889-5589.

Carols From Around the World

* Camarillo United Methodist Church’s Journey Program will present “Christmas Journey Around the World” in the church’s Brooks Hall at 4 p.m. Dec. 6.

The program will include carols from around the world, along with murals and vignettes from the German / Austrian countryside. English carolers and Mexico’s Las Posadas will be depicted.

This is the program’s third annual event and features children in kindergarten through sixth grade, the Noel Singers, the Chapel Bell Choir and the Chancel Choir.

Attendees are asked to bring a dessert to share.

The church is at 291 Anacapa Drive. For information, call Patricia Carroll at 482-4312.

Convent to Hold Boutique

* The Sisters, Servants of Mary convent will hold a Christmas boutique from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7 at the convent, 3779 W. Gonzales Road, Oxnard. Handmade gifts, wreaths, ornaments, homemade cookies and novelty items will be sold.

In 1961, the Sisters, Servants of Mary brought their mission of caring for the sick and dying to Ventura County. Although they lived at the West Gonzales Road site for 34 years, they are temporarily in a central Oxnard house. They are raising funds to build a new convent, classrooms and living quarters for the sisters and young women studying to become sisters.

The entrance to the convent is on Victoria Avenue. For information, call 486-5502.

Environmental Fair at Temple

* The Jewish League for Environmental Awareness will hold its first environmental fair at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura on Dec. 7. Video presentations, educational sessions and hands-on activities are planned. The Raptor Rehabilitation and Release program will bring endangered animals for its hourlong wildlife presentation.

A bagel and cream cheese breakfast and organic salad bar will be available. The Carl Blevins trio will perform bluegrass music.

Fair hours are 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Temple Beth Torah is at 7620 Foothill Road. For information, call group director Jeffrey Auerbach at 647-7760.

Baha’i Human Rights Luncheon

* The seventh annual Baha’i Human Rights luncheon and awards ceremony in Westlake Village on Dec. 7 will commemorate the 49th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Tickets for the luncheon are $10.

Awards will be presented to Priscilla Partridge de Garcia, Ventura County United Way chairwoman; Lee Montemorra, executive director of the Ventura County Master Chorale; Cynthia Lompart, a Ventura County senior deputy probation officer who works in the Oxnard domestic violence subunit; Warren Faue, former president of the Ventura County chapter of the United Nations Assn., and Omar Megana, a high school student and Moorpark Boys & Girls Club counselor.

The Baha’i faith is an “independent world religion dedicated to the promotion of a world civilization characterized by the unity of mankind,” said Bob Martin of Simi Valley’s Baha’i Community.

The 12:30 p.m. ceremony will be at the First Neighborhood Center in Westlake Village, 31830 Village Center Rodd. Call 520-0443 by Monday for tickets.

Encountering Jesus Program

* Father Cedric Pisegna, who preaches retreats and missions throughout the United States, will offer a program titled “Come and Encounter Jesus” Dec. 8 through 10 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fillmore.

The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. all three nights, with confession held after the Dec. 9 conference and Mass after the Dec. 10 conference. The church is at 1048 Ventura St. Call 524-1306 for information.

Pisegna will also preach at the weekend Masses on Dec. 6 and 7.

Shabbat Services for Teens

* Temple Beth Haverim is “calling all teenagers” to attend its teen Shabbat the second Friday of every month in Agoura Hills. The next event is scheduled Dec. 12.

Temple Beth Haverim is a conservative synagogue serving the Conejo Valley. It is at 5126 Clareton Drive, Agoura Hills. For information, call the temple office at (818) 991-7111.

Handicapables to Meet

* Ventura County Handicapables will hold a special Christmas meeting Dec. 13 at Padre Serra Parish Hall, 5205 Upland Road, Camarillo.

Registration is at 11 a.m. followed by an optional Mass, lunch and entertainment. People of all faiths are welcome.

Transportation may be arranged. For information, call Catholic Charities at 643-4694 in Ventura or 486-2900 in Oxnard, or Ed Conway at 499-4437.

Community Vespers Program

* Bardsdale United Methodist Church in Fillmore invites the public to an evening of music Dec. 14 when the Bardsdale Chancel Choir offers a community vespers program. The choir will be joined by instrumentalists.

The music will be a selection of traditional carols and works ranging from Handel to plainsong. Vespers will feature vocal solos, organ, cello and guitar.

The Bardsdale church’s Christmas Choral Vespers is a 40-year musical tradition. The church is in the orange groves south of Fillmore on Bardsdale Avenue, Pastor Ed McRae said.

The free program begins at 6:45 p.m. For information, call 524-2070.

Local Freethinkers Group Forms

* A new group, Freethinkers of Ventura County, is in the formative stage, according to Charlotte Poe of Somis, one of the group’s founders. Poe expects the group to begin twice-monthly meetings at the Camarillo High School faculty lounge in January, but encourages anyone who is interested to call 386-4232 for information and to help shape the direction the group takes.

“I expect we’ll discuss current events that challenge the separation of state and church, and also philosophical / theological issues,” Poe said.

The group is an offshoot of the nationwide Freedom From Religion, based in Wisconsin. The nearest chapters are in Sherman Oaks and San Luis Obispo, which is what spurred Poe to form a Ventura County group.

“Freethinkers do not attend any church, temple or synagogue. However, they do feel the need for fellowship. Freethinkers of Ventura County will provide a means to allow persons free from religion to interact with one another,” Poe said.

Write to Freethinkers of Ventura County at P.O. Box 346, Somis 93066, or fax the group at 386-4232.

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.